Trial date set for "Kitsap Kisser"

District Judge Ramona Cameron on Wednesday denied final appeals from defense attorneys and set the trial date for Dave "Kitsap Kisser" Crownover, the Kitsap Peninsula resident who was arrested on  August 3, 2009 for publicly embracing a dog on a Bremerton-to-Seattle Ferry run. Because the offense, which involved a small mixed breed owned by Shelton, Wash., resident Marynell Parker, Crownover has been under a restaining order that has kept him away from public parks and transportation hubs, as well as all 13 Puget Sound area PetSmart locations.

According to police reports, Parker was posing for a snapshot with  the dog, Biscuit, when Crownover, 56, allegedly stepped forward from a small crowd on the aft deck and planted one on the unsuspecting canine. The terrible moment is captured below by Parker's camera; the photo will be used by prosecutors as "exhibit A" in court.

Eye-witness BFF Chris Hansen of Bremerton, who has been retainied by the dog's attorneys as a witness, recounted what he saw for reporters after Wednesdayy morning's hearing. "We were tossing Cheez-Extreme Bugels to the seagulls and I turn to my left, over my shoulder, and (Crownover) sidles up and snoggles the spaniel," he explained. "At first, the dog didn't know what to think, but then you could see it relax a bit and wag its tail."

According to Parker, who's been in counseling ever since the incident, the dog has been permanently scarred by the kiss. "Biscuit is very fragile and very confused. This has been an ordeal for her and it's taken months to train her not to jump into men's laps and lick their faces."

Crownover, speaking through his attorneys, stands by his actions. "I love dogs and I always will. I hope that  some day Biscuit and I can be friends and I hope the jury will understand the feelings I have for her."