By MELISSA N. WARREN / Review Appeal Staff Reporter

Day four of the Jennifer Siliski animal cruelty trial produced six hours of testimony by veterinarian Dr. Mary Fooshee, as well as condemning accusations by two other state witnesses.

In defense of the dog breeder, attorney Rebecca Byrd continued attempts to tear down the credibility of state witnesses, beginning with questions about why Fooshee did not keep detailed medical records.

“When taking care of 230 animals, you do what you can do at the time,” Fooshee answered. “You don’t stop to take notes every minute.”

Fooshee, who cared for the seized Maltese dogs and cats since a Jan. 22 raid on Siliski’s Franklin home, stated she did not have her medical records with her on the stand because they are in the custody of the County Attorney’s Office.

“Tell me how I can tell from these records when you did the physical exam if the date is incorrect?” Byrd asked.

The defense also insinuated that staff at Williamson County Animal Control (WCAC) had not acted quickly enough in executing the treatment themselves. However, when Assistant District Attorney Braden Boucek redirected, Fooshee gave a tearful testimony as to why she and volunteers at WCAC are so passionate about the case.

“I was so angry about the conditions of the dogs,” she said, admitting that she slept on a conference table for three days following the raid to stay close to the animals. “It broke my heart.”

The state also called Amber Morton, former caretaker for Siliski’s daughter. That witness said she saw the defendant throw a still-living newborn puppy in the trash on at least two occasions during 2003.

“The puppy didn’t have all of its legs, and she threw it in the trash can,” Morton said, alleging that Siliski called the animal a f.....g waste. Morton also stated she had reported the home’s conditions to her supervisor at Friendship Home Health Care, but was following privacy laws by not interfering non-health care issues.

The final witness, garbage collector James “Jimmy Dean” King, claimed he found a small, white dog in a trash bag, after working Siliski’s street. That dog died a few days later. According to the defense, there is no evidence that the dog is specifically from Siliski’s home, as it did not have a tag and King did not notice a missing leg.

At 3:30 p.m., the State rested, and the Defense began to call some of their 44 subpoenaed witnesses, including WCAC officers Vinissa Bailey and Valerie Clarke.

Staff Reporter Melissa N. Warren can be contacted at melissa@reviewappeal.com.

More...Hollybelle Maltese Scandal