My Dog Killed Our Neighbors Dog

For context the neighbor who’s renting the house next to me for a few years hasn’t gotten along with me due to petty little things, for example our car parked on the road. We don’t have an hoa, and we own our house (24 years). Now fast forward, we have a gated backyard with two German shepherds. They have free access to the back yard and can open the back door (house door) independently. So anyhow the neighbors dog who always barks and runs the fence line, one day it got in. Our dog killed it. The neighbors comes running over and saying she doesn’t know how it got in our back yard we have it on our front door camera, “Can you check your back yard we think our dog got into your back yard”. She called animal control and stated that our dog pulled her dog through the fence (no holes). Animal control comes they ticket me 1300 dollars for public nuisance, violation of potentially dangerous dog, and animal at large. I immediately stated these are incorrect as my dog was on my property in my gated backyard. They wanted me to cage him in a cage with a roof along with a muzzle on when he’s in his own back yard that’s already gated and secured with locks. Court date comes, I haven’t paid (refuse due to incorrect ticket). I take witnesses who include other neighbors, a new roommate, and a few family members who are grown out of the house who stated he’s a well trained dog who also gets tormented by the said neighbor through fence but poking with sticks, kicking fence ect. They have witnessed these actions with their own eyes although we don’t have footage. Judge asked if I pled guilty to tickets or if I’d like to attend trial. Of course I choose trial because my dog again was secured safely in my yard with beware dog sign and no trespassing sign. The day after first court date animal control placed an order to cease my dog with the state. However this time there is a new cause number and new judge as before (assumed new case). The state says they enforce the tickets and orders (collectors). Next day, after receiving the order to cease my secured dog I called animal control to speak with supervisor. Was told she refused to get on the line due to being on the other line for the rest of the day (hours before they close). I also contacted the city to get more information and they told me that they are separate entities and that they are just the collectors/enforcers. I also have been told throughout the case that I have not been cooperative, but since it all started in April I have emailed the city, called and given them everything they have requested. Only thing I have not technically complied with is the improper containment of my German shepherd who needs to run and have space in his gated back yard, and not muzzled him on his property. Also I refused to pay the fines due to the improper ticketing.

Now there is no evidence given, all hearsay, I haven’t received any information on what to do or how to resolve this. I don’t have anything to prepare for court due to refusal and lack of communication from the state and animal control. I only can go off of tickets and the few little information I have had to pull from bits and pieces from my extensive calls and questions.

Also important information is the animal control guy that wrote and pushing all these tickets have since been fired (no idea why or what happened)

So my question/questions are: What can I do? Can they take my dog? Can they question the whereabouts of my dog? Do I have to surrender my dog? Do I have to pay the fees? How do I appeal? How do I get my copy of evidence submitted to court?

Can they solely go off of hearsay like they have? Any advice would be great as we are all broken and love our family pet. (Our daughter has been in and out of hospitals for mental health and she relies on him)