Monday, June 22, 2009 at 5:30 p.m.
Read more: Local, Trial, "Bubbles", Hyena
The trial involving "Bubbles" the hyena is on hold.
Nicolas Petock from Myrtle Beach was cited and had his pet hyena taken away back in April.
A jury trial over that citation was set to start today, but was continued in court because Petock's attorney, Michael Wells, hurt his shoulder and will need surgery.
Animal control officers found "Bubbles" the hyena living in a cage in the yard of a home on 1st Avenue North back in April. Petock was given a ticket for harboring a dangerous and vicious animal, and Bubbles was taken away.
Petock's attorney, Michael Wells says his client didn't do anything wrong according to Myrtle Beach's own ordinances.
Petock said to NewsChannel 15 in a previous story, "I had done my research. I looked up all the laws and the only ones that pertained to hyenas in general was that you could not sell them or display them. And I was doing neither."
He said Bubbles was like a family member to him.
"Most people just consider him as a wild animal in the backyard or a pet and he really was a family member to me," Petock said.
The case could now come back up sometime next month.