Complete Insanity, DA wants to dismiss evidence of dying dog! Please help by signing petition

[EV_Ares]

Complete Insanity, DA wants to dismiss evidence of dying dog!

this case is completely turned upside and unjust and just plain TWISTED... its like the DA is holding hands with abuser. The DA wants all video evidence and motive related testimony barred from trial!



Here is the background info:

We got a call from Kim Eicher in East Freedom 9/11/06, crying because
Doogie hadn't gotten up since Saturday. (the dog was lying on the
ground in the drizzling rain for 3 straight days) 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. We told her to make sure she left a message, very clearly,
about the problem. 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, was
very, very upset and we were very worried about him, so we promised her
we'd go out and see what we could do. When we arrived, 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 I would not
leave him lying there on the cold wet ground for one moment longer, and
I would accept all consequences of my decision.

Kim Eicher has agreed to testify as to the animal cruelty perpetrated against Doogie.

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.

As we got to the vet, the CPHS Humane Officer Gotshall was just leaving,
and he stopped us. He was about to go out to the residence. When he
found out we had Doogie with us, he was not happy. I volunteered to
take Doogie back and he could pick him up instead. He refused that, and
stated that I should get him the vet care he needed, and to call him
afterward on his cell.

When I later called him, he did not answer, I left a message asking him what he wanted me to do with
Doogie, he never called back. Shortly after we got Doogie to my home, situated, bathed—had to, the stench was too bad—and fed and
watered an Officer Flaig called from the Freedom Township Police Department (Freedom, isn't that ironic?). He wanted me to return
Doogie, which I refused to do. I explained that I had video and photos documenting the animal cruelty, and the neighbor was willing to testify; why didn't he pursue that as they were the perpetrators of the crime, and should be charged? He refused, and was not interested in seeing my evidence.

He and three other police vehicles arrived at my home at approximately 9:30 p.m. As I refused to hand Doogie over to be returned to death on a chain, and would not tell them where he was, I was taken into custody, transported to the East Freedom police office, and charged with theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass. I was released on $50,000 unsecu I was released on $50,000 unsecured bond and ordered to appear at a preliminary hearing September 21, 2006. I was treated like a common criminal, especially by Chief Reilly, who called me a 'freakin' idiot', 'incompetent', and I overheard him telling Officer Flaig that if I ever came near his dog I would have aslug in my a**. Again, there was no interest in any evidence that the dog had been abused or criminally neglected. As far as they were concerned, the dog's safety or condition was not even an issue.

Article & petition @ link below, thanks:

http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/469301

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Who's the owner? The article confused me a bit. nt

[LisaL]

5. The article basically says the woman took someone else's

dog, took the dog to the vet. Now DA is going to try this woman for theft of property, and wants to ban the defense from presenting evidence as to the dog's condition.
It boggles my mind as to why this woman is even being tried.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

19. I wrote the DA a long letter

I asked him to do a speedy trial and not to ask for crucial evidence to be removed. I told him the desire to "win" in court is great and that I know this, as I work in a law firm, but that it's more important to think of the indefensible dog that was slowly being murdered by his/her owner. I also told him about an incident that happened when I was younger, whereby I saw a dog being mistreated by its owner, a very angry man, and how I did nothing and the dog died, and I've never forgiven myself. I told him to please do the right thing and forget about winning this time around.

[LisaL]

21. Trial? In my opinion, the charges should be dropped.

I do not understand why this woman is being tried. Even considering dog as property, and putting everything else aside, what was the value of the dog in his condition?
Would anyone pay anything for this dog in the state he was in?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

28. I agree, but the assholes seem hell-bent on pursuing it.....

Since they're such assholes, the least they could do is not be rabidly evil in wanting to do away with the evidence.

[LisaL]

2. I am outraged.

Why is this woman even tried in the first place?

[Richard Steele]

3. Because it's Central PA, that's why. nm

[LisaL]

6. What's so special about central PA?

[Junkdrawer]

7. Ever wonder how Rick Santorum got to the Senate?

Wonder no more...

[Richard Steele]

10. You'd be hard-pressed to find a higher FReeper-to-thinker ratio anywhere in the USA.

If you had grown up there, you'd not be surprised at
the way Tammy Grimes has been abused by the local legal
system. She's a liberal troublemaker, so therefore she's
a threat that will be neutralized by whatever means necessary.

[Junkdrawer]

12. I grew up in Johnstown...

Every one of my friends with half a brain FLED as soon as they turned 18...

During the 80s and 90s, the traffic jams to visit relatives during Thanksgiving were legendary...

[Richard Steele]

13. I actually grew up in that county in the article, Blair...

...and I still have family living right there
in East Freedom Township. They probably know
whose dog that was.

Same deal- any of us who COULD leave, did.

I've been to Johnstown a time or two. Dated
a gal from there briefly.

[LeftyMom]

11. arseton of puppymills

They must not take animal cruelty very seriously back there.

[Double T]

4. DONE. A BIG K & R!!

Thank you for this thread, your help is important to this grave injustice.

[Junkdrawer]

8. YouTube has the video marked as "Mature content, members only"....

I guess a few freepers think this hits a little too close to home...

[Branjor]

9. Yes, total insanity...

SIGNED, complete with a good piece of my mind.

K&R

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

14. Who's dog is it?

The police chief's?

[Sarah Ibarruri]

20. Who knows!?!?

Some people are so evil.

[tblue37]

15. Did the poor thing die? (eom)

[Junkdrawer]

16. Yes, after 5 months of good care...

3/3/07. Doogie died Thursday morning, March 1st, at the home of his foster mother. He died 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 I 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.



http://www.dogsdeservebetter.com/doogie.html#827update

[tblue37]

17. Thank you. I am glad the poor precious dear at least had a few

months of love in his life before he passed.

[phusion]

18. damn...

that made me cry.

[EV_Ares]

29. It got to me too man. Really tore at me. Nothing gets me more than

animal abuse, child abuse, elderly abuse. They have no way to defend themselves. You & I can defend ourselves so someone has to stand up for them which is you and me. Thanks for caring. There was absolutely no excuse for this act by the owner nor for any type of abuse.

[BlooInBloo]

22. The prosecution wants to bar ITS OWN evidence? That sounds, um, odd.

[LisaL]

23. No. You don't get it. Dog owner is not going on trial.

The woman who took the dog to the vet is going on trial. The prosecution wants to ban evidence of why she took the dog to the vet.

[BlooInBloo]

24. Ooohh - like dog-napping or something - and DA wants to bar the extenuating circs.

[LisaL]

25. Pets are considering property, and DA wants to put her on trial

for theft of property, as I understand it. When I at first glanced through it, I also thought they were going to put the owner on trial, but no, it's the woman who took that dog to the vet the DA wants to put on trial.

[BlooInBloo]

26. Yup - thx for clarifying - I'm distracted by football.

[Longhorn]

27. K&R and petition signed.

Hard to believe this could go on for so long!

[ellie]

30. All of the other

crimes have been solved in this little burg for the authorities to waste resources on this? It must be the safest place in the U.S.!