Dog hailed as hero makes courtroom appearance

PALMER — Bear got his day in court Monday afternoon when Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak had the massive hero dog take the stand in the Christopher Erin Rogers Jr. murder trial.

Bear, a wolf-mastiff mix, has been credited with saving the life of Elann “Lenny” Moren, fiancée of murder victim Christopher Erin Rogers Sr. The mild-mannered dog suffered a severe wound when he fought off the machete-wielding killer, giving Moren time to escape to a closet where she used a cell phone to call for help.

Veterinarian Cynthia Collins told the court Bear had a flap of flesh about 7 by 3 inches hanging from his face when he was brought to Far Country Animal Hospital the evening of the attack, Dec. 2, 2007. Collins said it was later discovered that bear also had a shattered tooth. She estimated it took her and an assistant 50 to 60 minutes to patch Bear up.

She described him as calm and easygoing despite being in pain.

Bear looked a little confused when first he entered the courtroom, but eventually showed his laid-back manner as he lie beside his owner, Ernestine Arron Harmon, who is engaged to the defendant’s brother.

Later as Collins testified, Bear nodded off in the gallery and had to be awakened when court broke for a 10-minute recess.

Kalytiak said the only other time he recalls an animal being so central to a case that they needed to be in the courtroom was a custody suit over a cat.

In the crowded hallway, Bear was the center of attention as people bent to pet him.

Farther down the hall, Rogers’ defense attorney, John Richard, who had no cross-examination for Bear or Harmon, said, “I’m just glad he didn’t bark at my guy.”

Contact T.C. Mitchell at tc.mitchell@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.