ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va.- An Accomack County family's civil case against People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will proceed to court after a recent ruling from a Virginia judge.
It was back in October of 2014 when the Zarate family of Parksley claimed two members of PETA came onto their porch when the family was away, took the family's dog, and had it euthanized. A woman coming onto the Zarate property and leaving with the family's pet chihuahua was all caught on a surveillance camera.
The animal rights organization eventually admitted to the wrongdoing by the two employees. Late last year, the family filed a lawsuit against PETA seeking millions of dollars in damages.
PETA has attempted to have the case thrown out citing several factors, but a recent ruling from a Virginia Circuit Court judge in Norfolk will allow the case to proceed to trial. The judge believed PETA did have strong arguments on some portions of the case, but it was not enough to have the whole suit thrown out.
A trial date for the case has not yet been set.
