Arrested for Helping a Dying Chained Dog

[babonsi 0]

I volunteer at a Pet Rescue Organization in CA and I received this in my e-mail today ... I decided to also post it on here as I know that VJ members can go a long way when we care about something. Please read on and visit the website linked further down, as well as watch the videos from You Tube. Hope you guys will consider forwarding this to anyone who you think would care enough to pick up the phone or write an e-mail to the parties involved. It doesn't matter where you're from, ANY voice making itself heard would really be appreciated.

Thanks so much for your attention!

Miha (& Steve)

Grimes Arrested for Helping Dying Chained Dog

Altoona, PA, U.S. September 14, 2006: Dogs Deserve Better Founder Arrested for Helping Dying Chained Dog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO THE PRESS

Tammy Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, was arrested Monday, September 11, 2006, for helping a dying chained dog she dubbed Doogie in East Freedom, Pennsylvania. Grimes organization was called with frantic pleas for help by a neighbor and another concerned citizen who alerted them to his plight.

Kim Eicher, the neighbor, stated that Doogie had been unable to stand since Saturday, and she had gotten no response from the local humane society after calling all weekend. Grimes instructed her to call again, leaving a detailed message. When Ms. Eicher had gotten no response by noon, Grimes team went out to see if they could help Doogie.

Grimes, upon seeing Doogie from the road, initially felt he had already died, as he was lying with his back to the road and was not moving. Her team went to investigate, and found that he was still alive, but was unable to stand, his legs flailing about in the mud and his own feces. She documented his condition with video and photos, and—making the decision to put Doogie's welfare ahead of any fears of legal action—took him to a local veterinarian, getting him immediate and necessary care. She then took Doogie to her home, bathed him, gave him food and water, and made him comfortable. She was later arrested for her refusal to return Doogie to a certain and immediate death on the end of a chain. She is now facing misdemeanor theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass charges.

Grimes states, "I will always be proud of what I did for Doogie. There is one thing I know for sure: helping Doogie was the only morally right thing to do. The video has been placed on You Tube, and has received over 13,000 views in two days. People are astounded and outraged that we live in a society where those who help suffering animals are arrested, and those who abuse them are not punished. I am calling for my immediate release from all charges, and for the Arnolds to instead be charged with abuse—based on video and photo evidence, the testimony of a neighbor and another citizen, and the testimony of the veterinarian. I am asking all concerned citizens to stand with me against this atrocity. Speak out, do not let the press and local authorities railroad me while the Arnolds get away with this abuse. Please visit the website at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/doogie.html. View the video. You will understand why I had to stand up for Doogie; he could not stand up for himself."

Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Tipton, Pennsylvania, is the 2003 First Place Winner of the ASPCA Pet Protector Award, and currently has 150 area reps in 38 states as well as in Canada and Australia.

About Dogs Deserve Better

Dogs Deserve Better works to bring dogs out of the backyard and into the home and family.

Website: Dogs Deserve Better

Dogs Deserve Better

Tammy Grimes

Executive Director

email: tammy@dogsdeservebetter.org

phone: 814.941.7447

(photos from Dogs Deserve Better )

[Ban Hammer 14,290]

this is appalling! i'm writing them a hot email

E-mail: opinion@altoonamirror.com

Mail: Altoona Mirror Letters

P.O. Box 2008

Altoona, PA 16603

Fax: (814) 946-7540

Start Calling/writing the D.A.s office at:

Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio, Esq.: 814.693.3010

423 Allegheny St. Suite 421, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648

other vj members, write!

good post btw

[danae 0]

This is ridiculous. When did the world become so crazy?

Thanks for the contact info charles, Ill get straight on that

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

basturd dog owner!

Daniel

:energetic:

[babonsi 0]

*bump*

[cmartyn 0]

I agree, Totally nuts. Im sure there is some more to this. Did the owner call and complain and thats why the cops arrested her? Or were they looking to get her on something cause she let all the Lobsters out at the supermarket last week.

I know around here that the cops dont do a damn thing unless somebody complains 100 times.

If the dogs owner complained then I hope the cops charged the owner too. There is not much you can do. The law is the law is the law. The Judge will let her off with a 50.00 fine I'm sure.

[anya-D 8]

THIS IS AWFUL!!

Thanks for the posting.. i'm sure would try to do somthing!

[Reba 2]

If the dogs owner complained then I hope the cops charged the owner too. There is not much you can do. The law is the law is the law. The Judge will let her off with a 50.00 fine I'm sure.

but laws can be changed and amended. Animal cruelty laws, while still uncommon in some areas, are well needed in quite a lot. Its appalling how some people treat their animals, and it should be pointed out that dogs are not plastic garden gnomes or lawn ornaments.

The poor beastie.

[Marc and Olga 0]

It reminded me of a show I use to watch. It was police officers (in Florida, I believe), their job was to rescue abused and neglected pets!

[Nizzy 1]

I watch those animal rescue shows all the time and cannot for the life of me imagine how the owners of these animals could be so cruel. The law is so weird. She saved a living breathing animal...she is a hero in my eyes...

[vartan 0]

I just wrote thanks Charles.. Ya.. it is a sick world sometimes.. My family had this happen to us .. luckily we were in a small town.. but my dad and I saw our neighbors dog hanging from his chain from their patio .. the dog was being hung to death .. we went and saved the dog and chained him to the fence (assumed it was a mistake the patio rail slats were pretty big) we went over to tell the neighbors about it and they got irate.. they said they can put their damned dog where they want.. well we made sure to watch them very carefully and the same thing happened again.. (this wasn't the only bad things they did to their dog.. some things will remain unsaid) we took the dog and took him to a friends house who had lots of property for the dog to run on .. the neighbors excused us of stealing their dog.. (luckily it was a small town and the sheriff just told them to deal with it (sheriff was a reputible dog breeder) it was horrible some people do to kind animals that would do anything for their owners.. ANYTHING.. I am sickened by this article but I am happy about the people that are saying they will do something.. that is great!!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'll probably get flamed for this but I'm looking at the pics and I can't see any feces? Secondly, if the dog was lying on it's back for a long time and flailing it's legs, wouldn't it be covered in mud? If the humane society investigated and found no cause for alarm, then I'm not sure why she took the law into her own hands. Did she go to the door and ask the owner(s) about the dog?

If you look at her foundation's motto, it says...

Dogs Deserve Better works to bring dogs out of the backyard and into the home and family.

She's the director...perhaps she's a bit over-zealous in finding neglected dogs?

What was the vet's report on the dog?

[Mrs. Forgetful 2]

if my dad saw this he would go nuts! He loves german shephards! I can't believe people are so cruel to animals! I wonder why the owners left Doggie out like that? Does it say why somewhere and I just over looked it? I am glad she came to the rescue! I hope those owners get whats coming to them!

[danae 0]

I'll probably get flamed for this but I'm looking at the pics and I can't see any feces? Secondly, if the dog was lying on it's back for a long time and flailing it's legs, wouldn't it be covered in mud? If the humane society investigated and found no cause for alarm, then I'm not sure why she took the law into her own hands. Did she go to the door and ask the owner(s) about the dog?

If you look at her foundation's motto, it says...

Dogs Deserve Better works to bring dogs out of the backyard and into the home and family.

She's the director...perhaps she's a bit over-zealous in finding neglected dogs?

What was the vet's report on the dog?

It says the neighbour first contacted the humane society and got no response for her pleas. Large organisations can and will noly deal with certain cases. There are just so many. All I know is, if it had been me that came across that dog- I for sure would have taken it. And you know, I wouldnt have contacted the 'owner' no- if anyone can treat another being like that I dont want to know them, and could guarantee they would not be helpful.

Seriously, since when did society consider 'property' as more important than life. IMO no human has 'ownership' of any living being- this dog was dying- she saved it.

I just wrote thanks Charles.. Ya.. it is a sick world sometimes.. My family had this happen to us .. luckily we were in a small town.. but my dad and I saw our neighbors dog hanging from his chain from their patio .. the dog was being hung to death .. we went and saved the dog and chained him to the fence (assumed it was a mistake the patio rail slats were pretty big) we went over to tell the neighbors about it and they got irate.. they said they can put their damned dog where they want.. well we made sure to watch them very carefully and the same thing happened again.. (this wasn't the only bad things they did to their dog.. some things will remain unsaid) we took the dog and took him to a friends house who had lots of property for the dog to run on .. the neighbors excused us of stealing their dog.. (luckily it was a small town and the sheriff just told them to deal with it (sheriff was a reputible dog breeder) it was horrible some people do to kind animals that would do anything for their owners.. ANYTHING.. I am sickened by this article but I am happy about the people that are saying they will do something.. that is great!!

Good for you and your dad for taking action

[Karen_L 1]

I'll probably get flamed for this but I'm looking at the pics and I can't see any feces? Secondly, if the dog was lying on it's back for a long time and flailing it's legs, wouldn't it be covered in mud? If the humane society investigated and found no cause for alarm, then I'm not sure why she took the law into her own hands. Did she go to the door and ask the owner(s) about the dog?

If you look at her foundation's motto, it says...

Dogs Deserve Better works to bring dogs out of the backyard and into the home and family.

She's the director...perhaps she's a bit over-zealous in finding neglected dogs?

What was the vet's report on the dog?

The dog in those photos looks very thin to me, especially in the back legs, and if you look closely, you can see that his fur IS very dirty, like he's been lying in mud/dirt for a while. Also, he's just lying there and letting at least two strangers (the woman and presumably someone else who's holding the camera) approach and touch him and not getting up. My doggie is very sweet and friendly, but she would NEVER just lie there on her side while 2 complete strangers come into the yard and start touching her. She'd be up and barking WAY before that; I think most healthy dogs would do the same (even if they wouldn't bark, I think they would at least rise to their feet).

Also, that chain looks VERY rusty. Poor puppy Let's hope that he can be nursed to health and that he can find a better home with people who deserve to have a sweet doggie