Coalition to UnChain Dogs

Dogs Deserve Better founder arrested in PA. for helping chained, dying dog

2006-09-14T15:23:00.000-04:00

Tammy Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, was arrested Monday, September 11, 2006, for helping a dying chained dog she dubbed Doogie in East Freedom, Pennsylvania. Grimes organization was called with frantic pleas for help by a neighbor and another concerned citizen who alerted them to his plight.

Kim Eicher, the neighbor, stated that Doogie had been unable to stand since Saturday, and she had gotten no response from the local humane society after calling all weekend. Grimes instructed her to call again, leaving a detailed message. When Ms. Eicher had gotten no response by noon, Grimes team went out to see if they could help Doogie.

Grimes, upon seeing Doogie from the road, initially felt he had already died, as he was lying with his back to the road and was not moving. 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 documented his condition with video and photos, and making the decision to put Doogie's welfare ahead of any fears of legal action, took him to a local veterinarian, getting him immediate and necessary care. She then took Doogie to her home, bathed him, gave him food and water, and made him comfortable. She was later arrested for her refusal to return Doogie to a certain and immediate death on the end of a chain. She is now facing misdemeanor theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass charges.

Grimes states, "I will always be proud of what I did for Doogie. As Oprah says, there is one thing I know for sure: helping Doogie was the only morally right thing to do. The video has been placed on You Tube, and has received over 13,000 views in two days. People are astounded and outraged that we live in a society where those who help suffering animals are arrested, and those who abuse them are not punished. I am calling for my immediate release from all charges, and for the Arnolds to instead be charged with abuse?based on video and photo evidence, the testimony of a neighbor and another citizen, and the testimony of the veterinarian. I am asking all concerned citizens to stand with me against this atrocity. Speak out, do not let the press and local authorities railroad me while the Arnolds get away with this abuse. Please visit the website at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/doogie.html. View the video. You will understand why I had to stand up for Doogie; he could not stand up for himself."

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.

About Dogs Deserve Better

Dogs Deserve Better works to bring dogs out of the backyard and into the home and family.
Website: http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org

Fido is free!

2006-09-08T11:29:00.000-04:00

From an email on the Duke Park listserv today:

Thanks to the 52 people who sent emails to our county commissioners supporting the INC/PAC 2 proposal to outlaw keeping dogs on chains all the time, Fido is now free! And other dogs suffering from indifferent caretakers have a chance to get the attention of our county commissioners.

The INC/PAC 2 proposal is at this point...only a proposal. Hopefully we've added some momentum to this effort.

As for Fido, the artist assures me that he will be getting a lot more exercise and tasty treats now, but Fido is also willing to re-enter the fray if other neighborhoods/organizations want his help in shining a light on a problem that affects the well-being of dogs, children and neighborhood quality of life.

Great N&O article today 9/6

2006-09-06T16:38:00.000-04:00

Samiha Khanna gets both issues right in her article today - unchaining dogs in our community as well as the significance of temporary guerrilla art in the Duke Park traffic circle.

Go read the whole thing.

The artist who hauled a concrete dog statue to the center of a traffic circle near downtown clearly wanted an art installation with both bark and bite.

The creator remains anonymous, but the display -- a gray dog statue with heavy chains choking its neck -- has inspired residents to ask county officials to prohibit the chaining of real-life dogs.

The campaign to "Free Fido" began Aug. 25, when the statue appeared in the center of the intersection of Glendale and Markham avenues, just north of downtown in the Duke Park neighborhood, said resident Frank Hyman. He says he is "close to" the artist.

That day, Hyman appealed to residents of Duke Park to write to Durham's county commissioners, saying that if 50 residents sent letters, Hyman could perhaps persuade the artist to lift the chains and free Fido of his sad, stationary life. Tuesday night, Hyman had 42 letters from Duke Park residents and Fido's outlook was hopeful.

Fido makes a friend

2006-09-03T01:24:00.000-04:00

Photo: Bill Pope

See the story below for more about Fido, and be sure to read the N&O and Herald-Sun over the next week, also.

Orville: A Dog Story

2006-08-31T17:14:00.000-04:00

I suggest that if you haven't already done so, read Haven Kimmel's picture book Orville: A Dog Story (see here).

Description: "This is the story of a big, ugly dog named Orville, who can see into people's hearts and semll their dreams. It's the story of what happened when Orville met a farmer and his wife and a girl with cotton-candy hair and the volunteer fire departement. It's a story about lonseomeness, about barking, about getting free from chains, and about love."

Haven lives in Durham. Perhaps someone could contact her to see if she's interested in participating in the effort to get dogs off chains.

Kim

Free Fido

2006-08-30T08:26:00.000-04:00

Fido currently resides in the traffic circle in the Duke Park neighborhood. He arrived almost a week ago. Fido's owner says he is calling attention to the effort to ban the practice of chaining dogs in Durham county.

Fido's chains will be cut when 50 Duke Park residents have called or emailed the County Commissioners urging them to support a ban on chaining dogs in Durham County. As of this morning, 12 residents have done so.

Almost 25% of the way there.

8/31 UPDATE: Nineteen contacts to the Commissioners, 31 more to go. Just under 40%.

9/1 UPDATE: Twenty eight contacts to the Commissioners, 22 more to go. We're at 56%. Does anyone know how to make one of those thermometer thingies?

9/3 UPDATE: 34 Duke Park residents have now contacted the Commissioners, urging a ban on the practice of chaining dogs in Durham County. Over 2/3 of the way to freeing Fido

9/5 UPDATE: Forty two messages sent to the County Commissioners. 8 more to go. Over 80% of the way there.

Hello, I am signed up :-)

2006-08-29T14:36:00.000-04:00

Hi, I'm signed up.Em

2006-08-29T08:14:00.000-04:00

Hi, I'm signed-up.Em

hello

2006-08-28T22:43:00.000-04:00

Hello Barry,

I have signed into this blog. This is my first blog. I think I have figured it out.

Ken