A 3rd District Court judge on Tuesday apologized for saying on Monday that a woman with seven dogs should have shot five of them rather than return to court in blatant violation of a Herriman city ordinance. Judge Stephen Henriod said Tuesday during court that his comments were about the woman continuing to violate the law. Henriod insisted he is a pet lover and did not wish any harm to come to the dogs. Also Tuesday, the judge released Janet Lane, 45, who had spent a night in jail. The release was possible because Lane's friends had taken her five extra dogs to the Humane Society of Utah. A Herriman city ordinance allows only two dogs, unless a resident has a kennel license. Lane, who pleaded guilty in December to three class B misdemeanors for having too many dogs, having a dog at large and no license, must now pay a $350 fine and complete a 12-month probation by having no further violations of the law.Court spokeswoman Nancy Volmer said Henriod was upset with Lane because he perceived Lane was being "blatantly disrespectful" to the court by not getting rid of the surplus dogs.

Attorney Victoria Cramer said Lane fosters homeless pets for local shelters and "had the hardest time getting rid of dogs because she grew attached to them."

Cramer said she and Lane had tried to find solutions other than getting rid of the dogs, including a challenging of the Herriman city ordinance.

Cramer said she believes Lane does not want more trouble with the court, but wants to continue helping the Humane Society and helping animals.

Wasatch Humane, an animal rescue group, is encouraging its members to ask the Utah State Bar's Judicial Conduct Committee to remove Henriod from the bench.

- Stephen Hunt