Today's hot email has to be this story about Dogs Deserve Better activist Tammy Grimes, who was arrested earlier this week for removing a chained dog she nicknamed Doogie from his East Freedom, Pa., yard and taking him for medical treatment.
www.dogsdeservebetter.org/doogie.html
Be forewarned: The video is difficult to watch.
Photo courtesy of Tammy Grimes
Comments (25)
Denise - I want to be the first to thank you for following up with this story on your blog.
Once again, this blog does a very valuable service to prevent such cruelties as these by bringing them to the forefront along with these incredible bloggers.
Still waiting to hear from the Governor. This media will be invaluable to help Tammy Grimes and hopefully get these issues changed.
Good job Denise----heartbreaking but good job
Everyone, please go to this website and let's e-mail the Governor and ask for his help for Tammy. We might even ask if he could appoint an defender to defend her case to help this lady.
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Also, called the contact phone number for the Governor. Still could not talk to him, but I talked to his assistant who was a LOVELY lady. She very much agreed with me. I think she will talk to him, but she suggested that we e-mail him as well. TIME FOR ANOTHER E-MAIL CAMPAIGN LADIES (AND ANY GENTS OUT THERE TOO). You will have to go through the website to e-mail the Governor. Do it today please. Time is very limited before the Court date.
http://www.governor.state.pa.us/
Contact the Governor
To write a letter to the Governor send to:
Governor Edward G. Rendell's Office
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
To telephone the Governor call:
(717) 787-2500.
Fax number for the Governor as well:
717-772-8284
I spoke to another lady in the Governor's office, and she was aware of the situation. Here is basically what I was told and my own opinion.
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They feel the Governor can do NOTHING. They said, as the laws are written, Tammy did break the law. They have contacted the person dealing with the puppy mill situation though, and asked that this type of issue also be addressed in any legislation pertaining to the puppy mills. I voiced to her that this law NEEDS to be changed. She said it was the Humane Society's duty to investigate. So I told her I certainly hoped that some people WHO DID NOT RESPOND would be fired, and things would be changed in the future.
I personally think there may be a "loophole" here. Tammy DID see the Humane Officer (at the vet's office, I believe), and offered to return the dog to the scene for HIM to handle this. He told her to go ahead and gave her his cell phone number to call afterwards. Now the Humane Officer will not return her calls. Seems to me she had the proper authority's approval at that point to proceed. Maybe this can be used for her defense.
I'm sure hoping so. Hopefully these laws will be changed for the future regardless.
Kathleen - did you say you had an attorney friend who could help her out - if so - have you told him this?
I just can't believe that the governor can't do anything about this - they stay killers that are about to get executed - and he can't do anything about this???????
Would someone send me the email address to the Pa Humane Soc that reads something like: Rocky@DogsDeserve.org???Its not working and I was told to email them to get an update on Doogie...Anyone out there who can help me?????
Write to me at lillymae2222@yahoo.com or leave the info on the blog!
Ruby - I'm going to try and reach Scott tonight and discuss with him. I'll let everyone know if I am able to get any info or reach him.
Try using Rocky@DogsDeserveBetter.org
This is the organization that Tammy Grimes founded to try and stop chaining and penning of animals. Be sure and check out the site. There are a lot of opportunities to voice your feelings about bills to stop this on their site.
http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/doogie.htmlg Rocky@DogsDeserve
Ignore the last line of the previous post. Should have previewed before posting.
I just e-mailed a letter to Gov. Rendell. Hopefully they will be flooded with letters on Doogie's and Tammy's behalf. We have become a force to reckon with.
Excuse me, but on what planet is allowing an animal to be in THAT deplorable state acceptable, while administering humanitarian aid is viewed as criminal? What is wrong with you people???? And now the rescuer is in jail because she refuses to return a very much improved animal that she has invested time effort and money, and showered with love to the abusive owners so that they can have him killed!!!
Perhaps the police could do their job, and actually investigate the claims of animal cruelty. If they had initially taken appropriate steps to see that the dog was given adequate care, Miss Grimes would not have been put in the untenable position of either breaking the law or allowing an innocent animal to die because the officials had failed to respond to requests for intervention. SHAME ON YOUR ACO/HUMANE for their lack of compassion. The people of this town need to ask for some accountability from their paid officials who neglected their duties so badly that a private citizen was forced to break the lawin the interest of justice. IMO she is being penalized more for their embarassment than for any pertinent legal reason.
Gail- yes, I am still reading the blog and have indeed contacted the reporter at the Altoona Mirror via e mail. I also spoke with a representative in the DA's office, who said they were being inunated with calls from across the country.
For the sake of proof, my suggestion is for people to put their feelings in writing. Phone calls are wonderful, but putting something in print can't be denied.
The fax # for the Altoona DA is 814-695-8210.
I suggested "strongly" to the reporter of record that he view the video and also print a photograph of Doogie in the paper for all to see.
Keep the letters coming.
Tammy- you are Doogie's Angel. Thank You!
Here is something positive, albeit not enough. This guy needs to spend time in Rikers Prison for a year and not a day less. It is scary the thoughts that run through my mind of what I would do to a person I myself caught harming an animal. My husband is going to commit me soon because I don't even let him kill a bug in the house, I carry them outside. I'm starting to worry about me too. :) My love for animals just grows stronger everyday and I am waiting to hit Lotto to save as many as I can when I buy that Ranch I want.
LANDMARK DECISION: NEW YORK’S FIRST-EVER ORDER OF PROTECTION FOR A PET!
Late last month, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement officers arrested 20-year-old Bronx resident Frederick Fontanez for beating a 14-pound bichon frise named Bebe—and prompting a judge to issue the first-ever order of protection in New York for a pet.
On July 20, Fontanez was in the home of Bebe’s owner with the dog. The owner returned that evening to find that Bebe had sustained multiple injuries, including severe bruising on his back and trauma to his left thigh and right eye. Neighbors reported that they had heard Bebe yelping loudly several times during the day. Bebe was taken to a local veterinarian and is expected to recover.
Assistant District Attorney Heather Nicoletti of the Queens District Attorney’s office was granted the order for both the dog and his owner by Judge Alex J. Zigman. Fontanez was ordered to keep at least 100 yards away from Bebe and his owner. “The issuance of an order of protection for a pet in New York is a significant new development,” says the ASPCA’s Joseph Pentangelo, Assistant Director, Humane Law Enforcement. “Oftentimes animals are caught in the cycle of domestic violence. The ASPCA welcomes this additional tool in the fight against animal cruelty.”
For more on this landmark decision, please visit ASPCA online.
DECK THE HALLS FOR FALL AT 1-800-FLOWERS.COM
Loretta,
Thank you. I knew you'd pull thru for Doogie. Hope all is well.
Loretta - do we know the altoona da's name?
Just wrote my letter to the DA
I emailed Gov. Rendell and then I saw he has no authority?????? in Rhode Island the Gov. has authority to pardon anyone so why can't Rendell pardon Tammy Grimes.
Kathy- the DA actually represents Blair County, where Altoona is located.
His name is Richard Consiglio, Esq.
In my fax to the DA I quoted two individuals whom I feel say it all about our society and the treatment of animals:
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progess can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
GHANDI
"He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."
The philosopher Immanual Kant
Nothing more needs to be said!
Why not inform the Governor of PA that if he continues to allow atrocities such as this in his state, that an all out campaign will be started by animal lovers nationwide that "PA IS NOT THE STATE TO VISIT - THEY ALLOW PUPPY MILLS WITH HORRIBLE CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION AND ALSO ALLOW ANIMAL CRUELTY TO BE OVERLOOKED. THIS IS A BARBARIC STATE THAT NO ONE SHOULD VISIT AND SPEND MONEY IN." I guarantee you that something will happen for the better with advertisement like that. No governor wants to see state money profits fall due to a scenario like this. He will find a way to pardon Tammy for just trying to save an innocent animal's life, even if she did "break" the law. If he doesn't, then my GOD, what has this country come to. Then we all need to think twice about who we are electing into office.
Lisa - I swore I was not going to get involved in the blog anymore, but for Doogie, Tammy and other animals, I felt I had to respond to your post.
Your objectives are very great and noble, but I do not think this would be a good approach. Governor Rendell (on his own) has very much started a campaign and legislation to stop these puppy mills in his state. We do not want to jeopardize this in any way please. The lady I spoke with told me this very situation with Tammy Grimes and Doogie has already been presented to the people drafting this new legislation for Pennsylvania to address this never happening again. So they are trying to help with the situation.
The fact does remain (after talking with my attorney friend also), that when Tammy went on private property to rescue the dog, she did break current laws (which MUST be changed). So I feel this Governor and his people may be able to get these laws changed in the near future.
Even if the Governor could drop the charges, the family would probably place a Civil lawsuit against Tammy (and maybe even address the State as well for dropping the case). With the current laws on their side, they would be able to win this lawsuit probably and hurt the cause all the way around.
I think the approach needs to be, "Why did the Humane Officer give Tammy the right to proceed with Doogie and his cell phone number and tell her to call him afterwards, and then not come to her defense on this issue or even respond to her phone calls." Sounds like someone is concerned about his job to me. Also, sounds like he gave Tammy the proper permission from the authorized authority at that point. I think when Tammy gets her day in Court and has the witness nextdoor, the vet's testimony, her videos, and hopefully a subpoenaed Humane Officer we will find these charges dropped to virtually nothing.
Right now, let's not attack the Governor as I feel he is maybe one of our strong points to getting these laws changed and the puppy mills put out of business in Pennsylvania as well.
Thanks for your love for this little animal, I just wanted to present the picture as I have seen it after talking to the Governor's office twice.
Be sure and listen to Tammy's instructions about what her organization wants us to do. I'm sure this is not the first time this organization has faced a similar situation and I feel her explicit instructions of the help she wants would be good to follow for this reason. She is probably also getting direction from legal counsel there. Media is what she requests and a fair story, let's make sure she gets this.
Lisa and everyone else. Here is the latest post from Tammy. I think if we follow these instructions from Tammy and her organization, this would be the very best effort we can give to them for Doogie. I will try to remember to check this frequently and repost the Alert Notices as they change on here for everyone.
I really believe the Court system will go very gentle on her for this. As my attorney friend and I discussed, she was released on a $50,000 "unsecured" bond. This indicates to us that they feel Tammy is definitely not a threat in any way and probably have sympathy with her cause.
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Alert Updates
(Please read the background, below...
Bottom Line: keep calling, it's working!)
Press Release
9/15/06. I will be out of town all weekend in Harrisburg, speaking at Awareness Day and then Woofstock. Our new action alert is to send letters to the editor of the Altoona Mirror at
E-mail: opinion@altoonamirror.com
Mail: Altoona Mirror Letters
P.O. Box 2008
Altoona, PA 16603
Fax: (814) 946-7540
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlBTv7Kh6JY
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
Ask him to drop all charges against Grimes, and file charges for cruelty against the Arnolds based on video, photos, eye witness accounts, and veterinary witness.
The dogs owners said he was like family. In what world do you let family starve, lie out in the mud unable to get up?
Shame on them.
If that's the case Catherine, let's hope they don't have children.
White Pitbull : Female Maybe 1-2 years old. Beautiful according to my friend Mariana.
Found around Northern Blvd and Lakeview Ave.
Maybe Thurseday or at least around that time.
In good shape I believe.
Brought into Great Neck Animal Hospital
660 Northern Blvd.
Great Neck , New York 11021
516 482 0588
Fax 516 482 6554
They do take rescues for For Our Friends for boarding as well as others so she is in good hands.
If anyone lost a white pitbull or knows someone who did please check this out.
Thank You
Barbara-Jean
this brings back sad memories...when i was a kid i saw my neighbors' dog get abused. the poor thing was chained up every day, all day. he never got to move around.
btw, no planes:
http://www.911Hoax.com