Dog Whose Rescue Initiates Legal Battle has Died

Dog Whose Rescue Initiates Legal Battle has Died

"Duke", "Doogie", "Jake" dies peacefully and on his own terms
after 5-1/2 months of loving care, proper medication

March 3, 2007, Altoona, PA—The dog whose September 11, 2006 rescue initiated an ongoing legal battle has died. Duke, alias "Doogie" and "Jake" died Thursday morning, March 1st, at the home of his foster mother. He went peacefully, waiting for her to leave the room before passing, as many dogs (and humans) do.

He had been struggling with up and down health through December, until his foster mom found a medication that seemed to give him relief from pain; he then flourished, turning into a loving family member. She wrote: "It’s with great sadness in my heart that I tell you Doogie passed away yesterday morning (March 1st) around 9:10 am.

Doogie had surpassed all goals I had set for us both. He learned how to smile, love, kiss, hug, wag his tail, trot (yes! literally trot!) up to me and check me with his hip in an attempt to play. He gently took food from me and never complained about anything we had to do to help him.

I thank you, Tammy, for letting me have time with him. He was an amazing little old man and sadly, the way he lived, no one enjoyed his comedy; a life spent chained had done a number on his mind. I have had much training; I studied animal behavior, first aid, and thank God live in a place where cruelty charges would have been given and upheld on the owners of Doogie for the condition I saw him in—and that was after a month of care.

I want to thank everyone for the presents Doogie received and all the well wishes. Please know he went very peacefully and on his own, he chose his time and was not in any noticeable pain. I hugged him and told him all the amazing stories about the bridge, about how people who have hurt him will suffer in the end, and about Tammy’s amazing love in refusing to give him back to an immediate death. He had almost 5 months with me, during which time we both learned so much about love."

Doogie's body was returned to Altoona, Pennsylvania, where an autopsy is being performed, and where it has been confirmed by the vet to be the same dog examined September 11, 2006.

Video of Doogie's condition at the time of his rescue has been viewed over 43,000 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.

The case against Grimes for rescuing Doogie is still pending in the Blair County, PA court system; visit the site at dogsdeservebetter.org for updated information.

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.