Dauphin County man convicted of aggravated animal cruelty in killing of family dog
After a retrial, a Clinton County jury found Robert J. Wallish III guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals and tampering with evidence for fatally shooting a family dog in December 2024.
A Clinton County jury returned guilty verdicts against 55-year-old Robert J. Wallish III of Hummelstown on one count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (F3) and one count of Tampering with Evidence (M2) after a retrial. Prosecutors say Wallish shot and killed an 11-year-old yellow Labrador named Hemi at his Westport hunting cabin on Dec. 16, 2024, concealed the body and transported the remains to Dauphin County; DNA and a microchip linked the dog to evidence recovered at his property. Wallish testified he acted in self-defense and panicked, but the prosecution presented 139 exhibits and called the defendant’s account a fabricated attempt to evade the evidence; sentencing will be scheduled and he faces up to nine years in prison.