Park City man denies felony animal cruelty charge for death, neglect of dogs

A Park City man has denied criminal charges in connection with a dog death case.
Zane Michael Story, 37, appeared in 22nd Judicial District Court last Thursday and pleaded not guilty to one felony count of animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count of animal cruelty.
The case stems from a June 2015 incident in which someone reported that Story’s two dogs did not have food or water and one appeared to be dead, according to court documents filed by Deputy Stillwater County Attorney Ryan Addis. A deputy found a bulldog deceased and an emaciated mastiff whose hips and ribs “were exposed and its skin hung loosely from its body,” according to court documents.
Both dogs were found in an enclosure that contained a single dog house, very little shade and covered with feces. The bulldog’s corpse had also begun to rot and deputies could hear flies swarming around the dog. It had been in the 90s for the previous days leading up to the discovery.
A neighbor told deputies the dogs’ health had been declining and she had filled one of the water dishes in the enclosure and given the mastiff food.
When contacted about the dogs, Story allegedly told deputies he had been gone all weekend but was aware one of the dogs had died. He was then issued two citations for cruelty to animals and refused to speak with deputies about the matter, according to court documents. When a deputy returned to the house later in the day to take photos of the mastiff, it was gone. Deputies learned that Story had taken the mastiff away, despite being told that law enforcement would be returning to take photographs.
Story was not required to post bail in the case due to his lack of criminal history but is prohibited from owning, caring for or being responsible for the care of any animal while the case is pending.