Tammy Grimes convicted
In case you haven't already heard: On Friday, Dec. 15, Tammy Grimes of Dogs Deserve Better was convicted of theft and receiving stolen property in the case involving her rescue of a dying dog named Doogie.
Below is an open letter from Tammy:
On September 11, 2006, I rescued a dog that was dying at the end of a chain in a muddy yard in a small Pennsylvania town. I was subsequently arrested. A little over a year later, on December 15, 2007, I was convicted of theft and receiving stolen property.
The last year has been the most traumatic and the most inspirational of my life. I have been labeled a "terrorist" a "vigilante", a "publicity hound" and an "anarchist." I have been called a hero. I have been humbled by encouragement and well wishes from people all over the world. I have been attacked in person and in print in my small town, where the prevailing view is that it is fine and dandy to tie a dog to a tree or a dog house and leave it to pace back and forth for year after agonizing year, in skull-cracking cold or 100-degree weather, with nothing but parasites for company.
I don't regret what I did. Not for one second. And when it comes to rescuing dogs and changing minds and laws, I'm just getting started. Here's why.
The dog at the center of all this, a dog we would eventually name Doogie, had been lying in the mud and rain for three days, chained to the dog house he had been attached to for years. He was unable to stand and was pawing the air in desperation. His owners chose to go four-wheeling and to work on Monday instead of getting him the vet help he needed and deserved, but most importantly was entitled to by law. A distraught neighbor had called animal control repeatedly over the course of the three days. But as so often happens, no "humane" officer called back. No one ever showed up. (Surprised? Trust me, it happens all the time, and not just in my town.)
The frantic neighbor eventually reached out to me and to Dogs Deserve Better.
What I did next set in motion a chain of events that would eventually garner national attention, the wrath of some, the support of others, and an agonizing trial during which I had to listen to lies and mischaracterizations for three days: I removed that dog's chain and I took him to the veterinarian. It was all very clear to me as I lifted the emaciated, wet dog into my van.
I had been in animal rescue long enough to know that I would probably be labeled the villain while the dog's caretakers wouldn't even be questioned for leaving a suffering dog on the ground for three days, not to mention all the years they tied him to a shabby box in the yard; letting his toenails to grow so long they were curling back toward his pads, denying him vet care when he most needed it.
But I also knew that what I was doing was morally correct. It was the compassionate thing to do. It was the only thing I could do. Time was of the essence. A dog was suffering. I felt he was dying.
In court, it became increasingly clear that our 'humane officer' left me "holding the bag," in this case little more than a bag of bones. He had been offered the dog by me as part of what should have been a cruelty case against the caretakers 2 times on September 11th, but ignored me both times. On the witness stand the officer, in an attempt to cover his own hide, stated he told me and the vet assistants not to remove Doogie from the vets. This is absolutely untrue, and if he had done so I would not have been put in the position of choosing between Doogie's skin and my own.
So, now I'm guilty. Ah yes, guilty of caring about a dog that had been left to die. Guilty of putting myself and my reputation on the line because I can't stand to see suffering. Yes, call me guilty.
At Dogs Deserve Better, we see dogs in horrific situations every day. Sometimes these sad animals are neurotic or aggressive from years at the end of a chain. Sometimes, they are half-starved or have collars embedded in their necks. Sometimes they are dead. So, why go out on a limb for one old dog? Why take a moral stand in this one instance? Why challenge a law, when Dogs Deserve Better has stuck to the letter of the law in almost 1,000 rescues to date?
The answer is simple: because it was the right thing to do. Because our laws regarding personal property and animal welfare are contradictory and archaic. Because Michael Vick can't kill his dogs, but the Arnolds can. Because, at the end of the day, I knew I simply couldn't live with myself if I walked away from that dog and left him to suffer there in the mud.
Doogie blossomed after we got him medical care and showed him a warm bed and a little love. He not only walked again, but actually ambled around with a spring in his step. Imagine. A dog that for many years could not take more than a few steps before being yanked back by a chain, was trotting around a yard and enjoying soft hands and a warm home!
I have no illusions about my life's work. I know some people will never get it. I know some people think "it is just a dog." I know some people consider me the representation of all that is evil because I have compassion for animals and because in one isolated incident, where the clock was ticking and life was ebbing, I took someone's "property" -- property that the owners had for all intents and purposes abandoned on the ground like a used-up piece of junk. But I don't care what my detractors think because I now know that I have more support, more friends, more allies, than I ever dreamed possible.
The support I have received during the last year has made me stronger in my convictions and more steadfast in my work. I know that the vast majority of reasonable, educated, compassionate people believe that it is barbaric beyond imagining to chain a dog for its life. I know that anti-tethering laws will continue to be passed in states, cities and counties across this country. ("No-brainers" a recent news article called these laws.) And I'm going to work harder than ever to make sure that happens.
Five years ago, when I started Dogs Deserve Better, people laughed in my face when I talked about laws against chaining. Today, three states have passed laws that severely limit the practice, as have hundreds of cities and counties, some banning chaining altogether. I know that I will see the day when our society sees tying a dog to a doghouse for 15 years as abhorrent as eating a dog.
Oh yes, make no mistake: times change and morality and compassion eventually triumph over ignorance and stupid, blind habit. Slavery ended. Women got the right to vote. Wife beating is no long accepted. You don't see a lot of kids working in mines or sweat shops anymore. Even dog fighting was made a crime.
I can't help but think about Rosa Parks. We can be sure she never regretted refusing to budge from that Montgomery bus seat. And though I may never be as brave as she was, I'll never regret taking a half-dead dog from someone's yard.
In memory of Doogie. May he rest in peace. -- Tammy Grimes, December 17, 2007.
Click here to read the press release and just-released photos.
Mara Quinn · January 10, 2008 12:28 PM
I worked at an animal control facility for three years, and everytime I thought I had seen the worst animal cruelty ever, sadly something worse came along. Things you cannot even fathom. The horrific abuse, mistreatment and abuse these animals suffer today is truly at an EPIDEMIC. And unfortunately it is BECAUSE those people who HAVE the power to take these crimes seriously CHOOSE NOT TO. The lawmakers, enforcers, judges, and attorneys who think such heinous crimes are ok: you are just as sick as the perpetrators guilty of animal cruelty! You are a loser, a coward, a disgusting form of "life" and a disgrace to the human race.
I was also a police officer for 8 years and KNOW FOR A FACT THROUGH EXPERIENCE that animal cruelty and serious crimes are RELATED!! MANY serious crimes, even gruesome murders, happened AFTER the offender's animal cruelty acts were IGNORED.
I am no longer at my shelter because I, too,like Ms.Grimms chose to stand up for what was right. Conditions at the facility were REPEATEDLY reported to every single city official I could think of. State code violations. Criminal and illegal animal abuse and neglect. And we were supposed to "save animals" or give them "care and try to find loving homes"?! Just to name a few:
1)Underdosing euthanasia drugs so that animals DON'T die quickly and humanely. 2)Placing animals into bags and freezers while still alive. 3)Physical abuse on animals (many animals are simply scared from being lost or turned in by the owner. Some already come from horrible abuse and are fearful and aggressive rightfully so. A growl doesm't allow a worker to kick the dog or violently shove it into a cage) 4)Deprivation of food, water, clean housing conditions 5)Lack of medical care/humane euthanasia. Animals allowed to deteriorate and die in their cages. I could go on for pages and pages.
I was ignored by management,human resources, Internal Affairs, the Chief of Police, the City Manager, even the mayor! I called the State Vet, who did immediately respond several times, confirmed my reports and ordered the city to clean up its act. Even that hardly worked. I finally started taking more extensive documentation and horrific photographs, continuing to report to the State Vet but ALSO PETA and the media, releasing EVERYTHING.
I was suspended without pay, attacked with false and hurtful accusations, harassed, mistreated, suspeded again, before subsequently being forced out of the building into a job I didn't even qualify for (because they knew they couldn't fire me). My grievances for the lost pay was completely ignored, as were the formal complaints of harassment and mistreatment by the manager. My new job was an office assistant, with not even any "office work" to do!! The position wasn't open, the city violated Civil Service Commission Rules. Just more abuse of power. The manager who suspended me MADE UP STUFF about me. Talk about abuse of power. All I do is play on the computer all day (like now) because there is no work for me to do. But I guess everything happens for a reason. Things are, according to volunteers so much better at the shelter, "It's like Heaven" Yeah, the city had to be so publicly embarassed before they finally made the changes. And I'm getting paid to google all day on the computer. EVEN I was apparently unaware of HOW MUCH animal cruelty is ignored and brushed off! I cannot tell you, this story of Ms. Grimms touched my heart, and without a DOUBT, I would have done the same damn thing. I am so THANKFUL BEYOND WORDS that she saved Doogie. I share her tears, heartache,anger, and understanding. I am also THANKFUL to the Lord for giving Ms. Grimm the opportuntiy to get Doogie before being stopped by some pathetic excuse of a human being. And as for the bastards that convicted her, Doogie was CLEARLY abandoned. From what I recall as a police officer, the actual definition/code description of "abandonment" states something to the effect of "giving up ownership, discarding with no intent to furhter own, etc." Sounds like Doogie was "abandoned" not just severly mistreated. The bastards who convicted Ms. Grimm: Would you dare convict her if she had done the same thing had the victim been a dying child INSTEAD of Doogie? The fact that Doogie was a dog instead of a person SHOULD NOT CHANGE THE WAY A CRIME IS VIEWED OR TREATED. IT IS STILL THE SAME CRIME. THE VICTIM IS STILL AN INNOCENT LIFE. I wouldn't be surprised that if someone DID investigate further, you would have perhaps found neglected/abused children in the house as well. Again, I can't tell you HOW MANY TIMES I have come across this as a police officer. You can also ask any Child Protective Services agent, who go to a home to confiscate abused/neglected children and end up also calling Animal Control to confiscate abused or neglected animals!
The definition of "probable cause" is "when any PRUDENT person (it does not say a police officer, animal control officer, judge, magistrate, or attorney) believes a crime has, is being, or is about to be commited based on strong evidence and circumstances (something to that effect) And if a police officer or animal control officer had the "probable cause" to believe Doogie suffered animal cruelty and his life was in grave danger, yet chose NOT to act on that probable cause (which is in their duty to do so), Ms. Grimm had not only the RIGHT to help, but had Doogie been a child instead of a dog, had Ms. Grimm (or anybody else) NOT acted, perhaps she would have been convicted of something else, like failing to report child abuse/neglect. Again, the pathetic people who treat this case as if Doogie were NOT a living, breathing lifeform: then you might as well think it's ok for your child to be treated the same way Arnolds treated Doogie. And the HELL Ms. Grimm had to go through for SAVING A LIFE is just as abusive as what the Arnolds did to Doogie. Our Justice System is run by people who obviously have no understanding, respect for life and "justice" Murder is defined as "the killing of another" or the "taking of one life by another" Animals, not just people are "murdered" Negligent acts that occur with wanton disregard for another's life often leads to convictions of manslaughter. Intentionaly depriving a child of food, water, shelter, adequate care is severe child abuse/neglect. But doing the same to an animal is OK?!! The ten commandments state "Thou shall not kill" If the court system has the nerve to place people under oath, under the hand of God, they better know what his 10 Commandments are too. "Thou shall not kill" is just that. Thou shall not kill. Thou shall not kill. Not "thou shall not kill a human being." Everybody needs to take it to heart. Killing an animal, torturing an animal, it's NOT ok. God knows you are breaking his commandments. Yes, one of the commandments also states, "Thou shall not steal." Ms. Grimm did NOT steal Doogie. She saved him. Those who treated both her and Doogie so badly: YOU broke the "thou shall not steal" commandment. You stole both Ms. Grimm's and Doogie's dignity. You stole their rights away. The only thing Ms. Grimm and Doogie stole were our hearts -- the very few of us who are trying to make a difference and stand up for them.
I attempted to take out animal cruelty charges on the manager, and even the magistrate had the nerve to say there was no probable cause. I'm sorry, but the definition of animal cruelty DOES include: failure to provide medical attention, allowing disease to progress from lack of medical attention, failure to provide adequate food, water, shelter, exercise...EVERY photograph and HUNDREDS of pages of extensive documentation CLEARLY show animal cruelty. This magistrate, too, is chicken to stand up for what is right. Why is she protecting the city? The police officer that supposedly "investigated" (there's really not much HE investigated. All he had to do was CONFIRM what I HAD ALREADY INVESTIGATED) blew it off like it was nothing, because the Chief of Police "hated him and always forced him to handle animal control issues." He never once followed up with me, called me, told me anything. I had to call the Chief Magistrate several times, too, the last I heard saying I could appeal her decision, yet she still has yet to give me the info on how or who her boss is.
So, now I am attempting to get through to the Commonwealth Attorney, and also have not received any response. I will try again today; perhaps the holidays set everybody off track. But all the other people who ignored me: As Doogie's foster mom promised him: God will make the Arnolds pay for what they did to him, as well as all the people who thought that Doogie's suffering was ok, JUST AS God will make all those people responsible for the animal cruelty at my shelter, and all those people who thought it was ok, God will also make them pay. At this point, that is the only thing that can comfort me.