Damn straight. Let me be clear here. If I were to be forced to stone to death either a good bird dog, a priest, an imam or a rabbi, and I got to choose, the dog would be safe. 
FQ13 who does have some issues with people who get a pay check for being holier than thou.
Why? You used to get paid for exactly that, perfesser!
As for the "rabbinic court", that could be anything and anyone, probably on the far, far out fringe of the yammi-bobbers (ultra orthodox). I know of nothing in Torah that indicates a dog's lowly status - it is simply one of God's creations. As Jesus said, God cannot create something offensive and vile or impure. But then, if they believed in Jesus. . . .