Dogs Deserve Better Founder Tammy Grimes asks for your help in her stand against authorities, as she fights to help a chained dog who was malnourished, ill, and unable to stand.
The following email was received Monday from Tammy Grimes, founder of
Dogs Deserve Better, an organization dedicated to helping chained dogs. Tammy took action Monday to rescue a dying dog off the end of a chain in rural Pennsylvania, and now is asking for your help in contacting authorities and the media, as she defies police by refusing to return the animal. Please read Tammy's plea, watch the videos through the links below, and take action to tell the media and the local government that Tammy is not the criminal here.
For more on this story, stay tuned to The Legal Animal.
Tammy's email:
OK, everyone, if you're getting this e-mail it means the police
followed through on their threat to put me in jail for taking Doogie
today.
We got a call from Kim in East Freedom this morning, crying because Doogie hadn't gotten up since Saturday. She had been calling the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society since Saturday to no avail. We told her we aren't law officers, and she needed to call the humane officer.
Then we got another call about the same dog, from another person who passes him every day. At that point we called Kim back to see if she'd heard from the Humane Officer. She had not, so we promised her we'd go out and see what we could do. When we got there, we took photos and video of Doogie. We initially thought he was dead, as he was not moving and his back was to us. We found out that the people were not home to talk to about him, so I made the decision that he could not lay there on the cold wet ground for one moment longer, and I would accept all consequences of my decision.
The neighbor Kim has agreed to testify on my behalf if necessary. She cried the whole time we were there, you can hear her on the video.
I think once you see the video and pictures, you'll understand why I made this decision.
The vet documented his general negligent condition, low weight, sores, missing fur, and took xrays of his back and hips. He determined that he has very bad back spurs that are causing him a lot of pain and are most likely responsible for his inability to walk. He also saw an undetermined mass near his hip on the xray. He gave him a shot for pain plus some B vitamins for energy, so that perhaps he could have even one good day or a few good hours. He wrote a letter stating his condition in case we needed it.
Shortly after we got Doogie to my home, situated, bathed (had to, the stench was too bad), and fed and watered an Officer Flag called from the Freedom Township Police Department (I know, Freedom, isn't that ironic?). He wanted me to return Doogie, which I refused to do.
Here's what I need from you all. View the videos and photos, below. I think you'll agree with me that this is NOT acceptable in ANY kind of humane society, and we cannot allow this kind of animal abuse. We MUST stand up and STOP accepting this to be ok for people to do to their dogs, and STOP jailing those who are trying to help them.
I could never look myself in the eye again, much less sleep tonight, had I left Doogie there dying, shivering in the dirt. I will spend the rest of my life in jail as opposed to handing him over to be abused further by these people.
Please, contact ALL media with these photos and videos. Get justice, for Doogie and for me. Do NOT allow this treatment of those who are here to help, and who actually care. Call the Pennsylvania Humane Society and tell them you expect them to stand with me against this kind of abuse.
Doogie laying on the ground, neighbor crying in background.
Doogie after vet at Grimes house.
Officer Flag: Cell 814.201.0149
Freedom Township Police Headquarters: 814.695.8545
Pennsylvania Humane Society: 814.942.5402
Humane Officer Paul Gotshall: 814.942.3780
Altoona Mirror: 800.287.4480 ;
WTAJ-TV10: 814.944.1414
WJAC-TV 6: 814.255.7600
Don't stop until there is Justice for Doogie and ME! I'm just not tolerating this kind of treatment, for either of us. No one should. -- Tammy S. Grimes, Founder, Dogs Deserve Better
Bringing Chained/Penned Dogs Into the Home and Family
through Education • Rescue and Rehab • Legislation
P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684 • 814.941.7447
Photo: Tammy Grimes attempts to help Doogie as he lies chained in his yard, unable to rise.