Grimes Turns Down Plea Bargain Which Stipulates She Return Dog;
Attorney States Intention to File for Dismissal of all Charges
Altoona, PA—The founder of Dogs Deserve Better, Tammy Grimes, was in court today in Blair County, Pennsylvania, for a pre-trial conference stemming from charges of theft and receiving stolen property for the help she gave a dying chained dog she dubbed Doogie in East Freedom, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2006.
Grimes and her attorney rejected a plea bargain which stipulated the return of Doogie in exchange for Advanced Rehabilitation for Grimes, and elected instead to go to a jury trial. Mr. Thomas Dickey will concurrently file for a motion to dismiss all charges against Grimes.
Grimes states, "All evidence in the case clearly points to abuse and cruelty neglect on the part of the Arnolds. Pennsylvania anti-cruelty law is not being upheld in this case, and with eyewitnesses, video, photos, and vet testimony, there is more than enough evidence to convict the Arnolds.
The Arnolds have shown no remorse, and have been charged with no crime by what I feel is a very corrupt system in Freedom Township and Blair County, Pennsylvania. I could never in good faith return Doogie, presently flourishing and treated with the utmost respect by his caretakers, to a situation which would lead to his most certain demise."
Kim Eicher, the Arnold's neighbor, stated that Doogie had been unable to stand for three days, and she had gotten no response from the local humane society after calling both 911 and the humane society.
Grimes, upon seeing Doogie from the road, initially felt he had already died. 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 then documented his condition with video and photos, and took him to a local veterinarian, getting him immediate and necessary care.
She was later arrested for her refusal to return Doogie to a certain and immediate death on the end of a chain.
Video of Doogie's condition at the time of his rescue has been viewed over 41,000 times on You Tube. Subsequent videos can be also be seen on You Tube, with the latest showing Doogie's much-improved condition from October 18th. The case has made national headlines, and has been featured on Inside Edition, the National Enquirer, Animal People, animal magazines, and on blogs all over the internet.
A further pretrial conference is scheduled for February 5th, 8:30 a.m., in the Blair County Courthouse.
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.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Animal Welfare or Animal Rights?
Who knows the difference between animal rights and animal welfare? I for one never really knew and never really cared. I never had to think about it before now, since being attacked by so many people who claim to know what I'm about, what Dogs Deserve Better is about, what Best Friends is about. And they have it all wrong.
Here's what I believe, classify me where you will. I believe in dedicating myself to the welfare of chained dogs. I want the best for them, I want them to receive love, vet care, food, water, exercise, and family. Those are the things that matter to me. Those are the things in which chained dogs are lacking.
I believe in the rights of chained dogs. I believe they have the right to receive love, vet care, food, water, exercise, and family. Those are the things that matter to me. Those are the things in which chained dogs are lacking.
To me welfare and rights are one and the same. I believe if you love animals you should get out there and fight for them. Notice I said for THEM, not for YOU!
Someone told me they are starting a group for Owners Rights. Haven't owners had all the rights for thousands of years? How's that working out for our companions?
5 million animals a year are dying in shelters, because we have all the rights and they have none. An estimated 1 million dogs are living chained in America, because we have all the rights and they have none.
Doogie was to die at the end of his chain, because his 'owners' have all the rights, he has none. I was arrested because his owners have all the rights, he has none. Thousands of other Doogie's are dying out there right now because their 'owners' have all the rights, they have none.
I challenge anyone who thinks anti-tethering legislation goes too far and takes away THEIR rights to go live next to a chained dog for even a month and let me know how that works out for them.
I had a call from a woman in Tennessee this morning who cried the entire conversation. She is living next to a chained dog.
Until you live next to it you have NO IDEA what it is like to see on a daily basis. I would gladly give up any and all right to ever tether a dog again to save every other dog in America. I don't do that for ME, I do that for THEM. I'm an intelligent human being, I can always find another way. And so can you.
I challenge those who say they are welfare but mostly seem to go around attacking others without justification to put their money where their mouths are. Find a solution to the Doogie's of this world. Find a solution to the 5 million deaths in shelters each year. Instead of attacking those who are out here trying.
I for one would love to have only two dogs and two cats in my home right now, instead of 16 cats and 6 dogs.
I long for the day when I am lucky to have my two cats and two dogs, and get to spoil them and be grateful for them daily. Our companions deserve that, and so do we rescuers. We deserve the peace of knowing the job is done.
Be part of the solution, stop being part of the problem.
For the record: Dogs Deserve Better is AGAINST Breed Specific Legislation, and would propose anti-tethering legislation as a good alternative.
Best Friends is AGAINST Breed Specific Legislation, and is currently working up alternative models as a result of a conference on how to address the issue last weekend.
If you have a question about a group's beliefs, ask the group. Don't believe all the hooie you see thrown about on the net.
Tammy
Here's what I believe, classify me where you will. I believe in dedicating myself to the welfare of chained dogs. I want the best for them, I want them to receive love, vet care, food, water, exercise, and family. Those are the things that matter to me. Those are the things in which chained dogs are lacking.
I believe in the rights of chained dogs. I believe they have the right to receive love, vet care, food, water, exercise, and family. Those are the things that matter to me. Those are the things in which chained dogs are lacking.
To me welfare and rights are one and the same. I believe if you love animals you should get out there and fight for them. Notice I said for THEM, not for YOU!
Someone told me they are starting a group for Owners Rights. Haven't owners had all the rights for thousands of years? How's that working out for our companions?
5 million animals a year are dying in shelters, because we have all the rights and they have none. An estimated 1 million dogs are living chained in America, because we have all the rights and they have none.
Doogie was to die at the end of his chain, because his 'owners' have all the rights, he has none. I was arrested because his owners have all the rights, he has none. Thousands of other Doogie's are dying out there right now because their 'owners' have all the rights, they have none.
I challenge anyone who thinks anti-tethering legislation goes too far and takes away THEIR rights to go live next to a chained dog for even a month and let me know how that works out for them.
I had a call from a woman in Tennessee this morning who cried the entire conversation. She is living next to a chained dog.
Until you live next to it you have NO IDEA what it is like to see on a daily basis. I would gladly give up any and all right to ever tether a dog again to save every other dog in America. I don't do that for ME, I do that for THEM. I'm an intelligent human being, I can always find another way. And so can you.
I challenge those who say they are welfare but mostly seem to go around attacking others without justification to put their money where their mouths are. Find a solution to the Doogie's of this world. Find a solution to the 5 million deaths in shelters each year. Instead of attacking those who are out here trying.
I for one would love to have only two dogs and two cats in my home right now, instead of 16 cats and 6 dogs.
I long for the day when I am lucky to have my two cats and two dogs, and get to spoil them and be grateful for them daily. Our companions deserve that, and so do we rescuers. We deserve the peace of knowing the job is done.
Be part of the solution, stop being part of the problem.
For the record: Dogs Deserve Better is AGAINST Breed Specific Legislation, and would propose anti-tethering legislation as a good alternative.
Best Friends is AGAINST Breed Specific Legislation, and is currently working up alternative models as a result of a conference on how to address the issue last weekend.
If you have a question about a group's beliefs, ask the group. Don't believe all the hooie you see thrown about on the net.
Tammy
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