A man who has been charged with animal torture and animal cruelty may be one court appearance away from getting a trial date set.

Purav Bhatt, attorney for Michael Peterson, 31, asked Cook County Judge Colleen Ann Hyland Tuesday, Aug. 21 for one more status date before a trial will be set. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to six counts of felony animal torture and three felony counts of cruelty to animals.

According to reports, police went to the home on May 8, 2011 after neighbors complained of several dogs locked up in a back room. Neighbors told police the dogs had been barking and fighting for several hours and that it was an ongoing problem.

Police found four emaciated dogs home alone, one of them gravely injured after being attacked by the other dogs, on the 10000 block of South 52^nd Avenue. The injured dog ultimately died, authorities said.

Peterson appeared in a royal blue polo shirt and black slacks on Tuesday. He is scheduled to be back in court for status on Sept. 19.