This week, on Thursday March 8th a trial readiness conference will be held in Amador County Superior Court in the matter of the people of the state of California versus Zachary and Starlene Taylor. The Taylors stand accused of a violation of penal code 597b, a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge. The indictment stems from an incident on July 5, 2005 when the Taylors allegedly subjected their pet, a growing dog to “needless suffering” according to the complaint filed in Amador County Superior Court, by failing to adjust the size of the dogs collar in accordance with the dogs rate growth. District Attorney Todd Riebe states that his office is no stranger to animal abuse cases. Riebe states “Our office takes animal cruelty cases very seriously not only because of the needless pain and suffering caused our county's pets, but because studies have repeatedly shown that animal abuse is often a predictor for crimes of family violence.”