Greencastle man charged with Dog Law violations for 4th time since April

PENNSYLVANIA -- A Greencastle man already facing six sets of dog law violations from 2014 will face three more on Tuesday, for offenses in September and October, despite an August court ruling prohibiting him from owning a dog for 12 years.

Daniel J. Baer, 64, is facing three new counts of violations of confinement and control laws, according to court documents.

Baer has been in and out of court all year, including his August conviction of 48 counts of animal cruelty, which he is currently appealing. Other dog law violations he has faced include improper operation of a kennel and confinement and control violations.

According to court documents, a Labrador-type dog was seen in the 4700 block of Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, at 8:40 a.m., Sept. 27, 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Oct. 1, and 1:30 and 2 p.m. on Oct. 2. Witnesses saw the dog in the area and are willing to testify that the dog belongs to Bear, from a property at 4815 Buchanan Trail East, Zullinger.

Baer's previous dog law convictions, which include additional violations from past years, meaning that each new charge must be graded as a third-degree misdemeanor, according to court documents.

After the animal cruelty conviction in August, Baer was prohibited from dog ownership for 12 years by Magisterial District Judge Kelly Rock. At a recent appeal hearing, Baer's attorney stated that there were still 12 dogs on one of his properties, where there had previously been at least 23 dogs.

The conviction occurred after multiple witnesses testified that the conditions the dogs were in while at Baer's Buses, 8766 Wayne Highway, were unsanitary. Baer's employees testified to Judge Rock that they were tasked with cleaning up after the dogs, but often could not keep up.

Baer, a retired science teacher from the Greencastle-Antrim School District, was not ordered to jail for the animal cruelty charges, with Judge Rock opting to prohibit him from owning dogs instead.

In his recent appeal he attempted to amend the decision by agreeing to only own one dog during the 12-year-period, but was thwarted by a technicality.

Baer's appeal is ongoing. The most recent charges will be fought along with six other sets of dog law violation charges from this year.

(Public Opinion Online - Nov 23, 2014)