Christopher Pallone

Christopher Pallone has been an attorney since 2003 and a prosecutor in Siskiyou County, California since August 2008. Growing up, Chris always had a cat and was taught that animals had feelings and should be respected and cared for. Generally, Chris prosecutes various felonies, including serious and violent felonies like child molestation, rape, and assault. However, when Chris started as a prosecutor, he specifically asked to be able to prosecute animal abuse cases because he detested animal cruelty.

Chris has prosecuted several animal abuse felonies, the most notable being the Kevin Haller case. In 2010, officers responded to a call after reports from neighbors that shots had been fired and there were sounds of an animal screaming. Police found 27 year old Kevin Haller at home, his dog dead in the backyard. Haller claimed his dachshund had caused damage to his home and it was the “last straw.” Haller was taken into custody and booked on charges of animal cruelty and negligent discharge of a fire arm. Chris and Deputy District Attorney Tara McManigal contacted the Animal Legal Defense Fund for assistance. ALDF paid for the necropsy that induced a plea. Haller received jail time and was fined in excess of $500.00.

In addition to the Haller case, Chris has prosecuted a man for kicking a cat off a second floor landing. The cat landed on the ground floor and suffered a sprained leg. The case is currently pending as the perpetrator has a warrant for his arrest. In another pending case, a man shot a cat to death in an attempt to dissuade his victim from assisting Chris in a case. While Chris cannot prosecute that as animal abuse (the shooting took place in another county), Chris insists that the act of shooting the animal will be the defendant’s undoing.

Chris lives in Siskiyou County with his wife and two cats, Sophie and Abigail. They were both adopted from shelters.