Meet Doogie:
Doogie is 19 years old, and there is no reason at all why he should still be alive. Were it not for Tammy Sneath Grimes of Tipton, Pennsylvania, he would not be. Yet for saving Doogie, Ms. Grimes is today facing criminal prosecution. This is just wrong.
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Ms. Grimes is the founder of Dogs Deserve Better, which is dedicated to making sure that no dogs live on chains. She began the organization in 2002, after observing this dog, whose name was "Worthless":
(all photos courtesy of Ms. Grimes unless otherwise noted)
You can read more about the miracle of Worthless here. In addition to lobbying for laws prohibiting the long-term tethering of dogs, educating owners about making their dogs real members of the family, and providing information about the dangers chained dogs pose to communities, Dogs Deserve Better sponsors a "have a heart" drive every year, in which school children and other groups across the United States create Valentines that are delivered (along with information and coupons for dog treats) to thousands of homes where dogs live on chains.
(photo courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society)
In 2006, Dogs Deserve Better delivered 5277 Valentines. They are hoping to send out 8000 next week. This wonderful program is supported by both the Humane Society and Best Friends Animal Society. Valentines for this year’s drive were supposed to have been sent by February 7, but if you want to create a few tomorrow and forward them to Dogs Deserve Better, I’m sure they would be welcome.
Also welcome would be support for Tammy Grimes as she faces a criminal trial later this month. This is her story:
On September 11, 2006, Ms. Grimes received a frantic telephone call about Doogie. The caller, one of Doogie’s neighbors, said that the elderly shepherd mix had been lying on the ground, chained, for three days. The caller had been trying to get help for Doogie, but had been unable to do so. The caller was worried that Doogie was dying – or dead. Tammy drove to Doogie’s home in East Freedom, Pennsylvania to see what she could do.
This is what she saw when she arrived:
This is what she remembers:
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.
A veterinarian who examined Doogie:
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.
Ms. Grimes, feeling she had no other options, cut Doogie's chain, wrapped him in a blanket and took him home with her:
Several hours, later, she was arrested. The police demanded that she hand Doogie over, which Ms. Grimes refused to do. She was then taken into custody, and charged with theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and criminal trespass. Bail was set at $50,000. No one was interested in viewing the photos or video of the terrible circumstances of Doogie’s life. The videos are available here. Caution: They are very disturbing.
Last October, after Ms. Grimes’ attorney succeeded in getting the mischief and trespass charges dropped, prosecutors offered her a deal: return Doogie and they would let her go with just Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. (In Pennsylvania, this would mean community service and perhaps a fine; at the conclusion, Ms. Grimes’ criminal record would be expunged). Ms. Grimes refused; she had no intention of returning Doogie to owners that had chained him outside and left him to die. Doogie continues to live in an undisclosed location, where he receives food and medical care and love.
Jury selection is currently scheduled to begin February 26.
Here is a statement from Tammy Grimes:
I made a hard decision; I could not have lived with myself or looked myself in the eye if I were such a coward as to leave Doogie lying there dying on the ground for fear of what would happen to me. I see this case as a travesty against justice...the true perpetrators of a crime are the people who left Doogie to lie there dying for three days without doing right by him. I am very saddened that we live in a society where people have to be afraid to do the right thing, to help those in need, whether that need be human or animal. Arrests such as mine are a pitiful statement for America, and I ask all dog lovers to stand with me to insist that all charges against me are dropped and charges of animal cruelty are instead placed against the (owners) . . . (who) left Doogie to die. . . . I did what was morally right; I stand by my decision to help him and will be proud of it until my dying day. No one can take that from me.
Please take action!
- Write to Blair County District Attorney Consiglio at 423 Allegheny Street, Suite 421, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. You can also send Mr. Consiglio an e-mail at this address: blairda@keyconn.net. (Please be polite; please inquire why Ms. Grimes is being prosecuted for saving a helpless, abused dog.)
- Write a Letter to the Editor at the Altoona Mirror at opinion@altoonamirror.com.
- Send a contribution to Dogs Deserve Better.
Do this for Doogie:
Do it for all the chained dogs, everywhere:
Dogs do deserve better. Thank you, Tammy Grimes!
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Tonight's Top Comments!
From Cronesense:
Diary: The end of the blogroll controversy
By: dmsilev
dmsilev's (spew alert) comment summarizing the really important things!
~~~~~~~~~~
Diary: I Still Cry When I Watch This
By: onetwostep
NightProwlKittys' comment on how some NOLA citizens are returning home.
4Freedom's comment on what the government has thrown away.
From goodasgold:
This comment from Gooserock, on the Obama announcement.
From dems2004:
This comment from prodigal, on the many thems we are/were fighting over there so we donÕt have to fight them here.
From
carolita:
Commenter leevank certainly knows what leadership isn't and explains it in almost liberal european's Hillary diary.
From va dare:
Commenter litigatormom had some important views to share re: Barack Obama's candidacy and today's announcement.
nolalily started a discussion that lead to Sanuk's 'TC-recommend.' Good point, Sanuk! I agree.
From clammyc:
Lithium Cola makes a comment in my diary that is the best comment I have heard in a long time.
From emeraldmaiden:
Cookiebear makes a great point about about tick-borne diseases in the US, and our complete lack or preparation for them in robertdfeinmans's diary titled: Homeland Security - Not Protecting Against Real Threats.
Bernie68 waxes poeticÊ about deregulation in Eternal Hope's diary titled: The Pernicious Effects of Deregulation.
From sardonyx:
From Hunter's astonishing diary The Horsef***er Conspiracy, comes
this gem that is true evidence of Dallasdoc's excellence as a commenter: the subject and first paragraph are pure gold, and then the final three-word paragraph delights in both image and truth.
Thanks to dearest gloriana for tonight's Top Mojo:
Without obvious tip jars:
1 And even more 'unspecific'... by spread the word IRAQ NAM - 151
2 I hear Chalabi has a photo: by highacidity - 75
3 Cheny has no respect for the Constitution. by blue jersey mom - 62
4 Obama by elveta - 61
5 No, I think MY blogroll should take precedence. by cskendrick - 56
6 no by miholo - 55
7 The truth shall set you free. by perro amarillo - 54
8 Sort my F***** blogroll, kos! n/t by dmsilev - 51
9 Arctic cold front photography by Kayakbiker - 50
10 That works too well. Take it back :) by cskendrick - 49
11 but if you want dumbasses by nailbender - 48
12 Good Morning all.... by CanadianBill - 48
13 Neither does Gonzales or Condi by MrSandman - 46
14 It's great Larry went on NPR by SusanHu - 44
15 Success! by Sprinkles - 44
16 C-C-C-old by blue jersey mom - 43
17 shhhh by georgia10 - 43
18 Look for Halliburton serial numbers by JuliaAnn - 43
19 Welcome back! by Asinus Asinum Fricat - 42
20 Welcome back! by chuckvw - 42
21 A beautiful young woman is missing by Coldblue Steele - 42
22 Or even... by kredwyn - 41
23 That would be proof, too by RepubAnon - 41
24 My FP by vigilant meerkat - 41
25 Great rant, Larry; by wozzle - 40
26 Dear RubDMC by Buckeye BattleCry - 40
27 . . . by Dreaming of Better Days - 40
28 Enquiring minds... by highacidity - 39
29 Rub! by bumblebums - 39
30 Bet there are people all over the world... by Plutonium Page - 38
With everything:
1 Tip Jar by dmsilev - 270
2 Tips for the impeachment & removal of Dick Cheney by Major Danby - 203
3 And even more 'unspecific'... by spread the word IRAQ NAM - 151
4 meet the new boss... by clammyc - 145
5 I was really worried it was a new trend. by cskendrick - 142
6 And thanks again to DarkSyde . . . by nyceve - 108
7 There are stupider people by BalanceSeeker - 88
8 Tip Jar by PLS - 84
9 For peace by RubDMC - 81
10 Yeah, by Hunter - 79
11 Tips / Mojo 10 February 2007 by A Siegel - 76
12 I hear Chalabi has a photo: by highacidity - 75
13 Please, no tips by Patriot4peace - 74
14 SecDef Gates by kredwyn - 73
15 February 24 will be the 2nd anniversary by Frankenoid - 62
16 Cheny has no respect for the Constitution. by blue jersey mom - 62
17 Obama by elveta - 61
18 I will be around if anyone wants to discuss this by teacherken - 59
19 No, I think MY blogroll should take precedence. by cskendrick - 56
20 no by miholo - 55
21 Rep. Weiner by Magnifico - 55
22 The truth shall set you free. by perro amarillo - 54
23 Sort my F***** blogroll, kos! n/t by dmsilev - 51
24 Arctic cold front photography by Kayakbiker - 50
25 That works too well. Take it back :) by cskendrick - 49
26 but if you want dumbasses by nailbender - 48
27 Good Morning all.... by CanadianBill - 48
28 Neither does Gonzales or Condi by MrSandman - 46
29 It's great Larry went on NPR by SusanHu - 44
30 Success! by Sprinkles - 44
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