None Survived.

The heading says it all. A horrific abuse case in Salyersville KY, came to light Tuesday, April 14th. 46 dogs, of many different breeds, were found in a house, living 3-4 to a cage, in their own filth, or outside, in homemade wire cages. Some were running loose. All were riddled with disease and starving. Some of the breeds were Boxers, Pomeranians, Shih Tzu's and Chihuahua's.

A scene all too familiar. Puppy mill. This is what I call a backyard mill. The woman, get this, works for the state road in KY. One of the officers that went to the scene of this horrible tragedy, knew her. The people that went out on this call were absolutely shocked by what they found. There was a dead puppy on top of one of the crates!

The reason they were called to the house was because a neighbor said that a Rottweiler had died on the property and the other dogs were eating the carcass. Also, there were supposed to be children in the house, that was later proved not true. The owner didn't even live in the house, she live down the road. This is just another case of greed! The woman, Manda “Mandy” Fletcher, 51, of Magoffin County, is expected to be charged with 46 counts of cruelty to animals, as she should be!

This scene is played over and over, everyday, throughout the country. Countless dogs are subjected to endless breeding and whelping, until they are no longer viable breeders, and then they are killed, usually very inhumanely. They said they found one female Basset that was broken down from being bred over and over and over.

Every single one of the dogs was euthanized-EVERY ONE!!!!!! This is the product of the puppy mills. Sick and genetically defected animals. The owners of these mills should be placed in jail and pay restitution to the shelters that have to deal with the dogs that are saved from them.

Get Involved-You Can Be Anonymous!

What do you do when you see a dog that isn't being treated right? Do you call the authorities or animal control, or do you just shake your head and say, "poor dog?" Most people do the latter, and just go on about their day. Well, the other day, I didn't just go about my day. I have some people that live in my sub-division, and I know them well, that have a Basset Hound. This dog is really pretty and seemed to be a nice dog.

Well, sometime ago, the woman came to my church with her aunt. She told me that the Basset was pottying in the house. She said that he goes to the door, but doesn't alert them. Well, I am sorry, but he is alerting them by going to the door. They are just too lazy to go to the door and let him out. Well, I told her about this great thing called "Poochie Bells." They are bells on a designer ribbon that you hang on your door and the dog hits the bells to let you know when they have to go out. Well, that just went over like a lead balloon. She said he was hopeless and had to stay outside or in his crate most of the time. I just cringed.

Sorry, I regressed. Back to what I did. The other day, it was blistering cold and he was outside, lying on the cold ground, no blanket or house or anything. And, when I say nothing, I mean nothing. He didn't even have a bowl for food or water. I was on my way to work at Just Dogs! Gourmet, when I passed their house and saw him, curled up in a tight ball. I crossed the railroad tracks, stopped to wait on traffic to pull out on Rt. 2, when I said to myself, enough is enough. My husband had a blanket in the back seat of his truck, key word, "had." I pulled across Rt. 2 and turned around and came back across the tracks and turned on the street that paralleled the side of their house and stopped.

I got out, opened the door, pulled the blanket out, walked over and he ran away, of course, till he got to the end of his chain, and I talked to him, put the blanket down, and left. As I backed up and turned around, I looked and he was standing on it, sniffing it. Well, I went to work, and when I came back, the blanket was gone, and he was still outside, curled up, trying to stay warm. I am calling animal control tomorrow. I didn't want to go that route, but it seems the only way. It really surprises me out this couple. They have had dogs before, and didn't do this.

I don't want to make them mad, but I really don't care at this point. I was hoping they would take the hint and, if not bring him in, at least put out something for him to make a nest on. If more people would stop and do something, maybe the plight of the animals would lessen. But, our society is such that it is a world of "I don't want to get involved." Stand up, get involved. Remember, you don't have to give your name when you call animal control. I know they are slow to respond, but, if you call enough times, they will come out. Be persistent. I am, and it seems to work.

Shelties Rescued From Certain Death.

It is great to see the Herald Dispatch finally putting stories of animal abuse and neglect in their publications. It has been a long time coming. I was on the Editorial Board for one session and had brought that up. But, as I understood the reasoning, there were more pressing issues at the time that needed the attention of the paper.

The five Shetland Sheepdogs, (Shelties), that were rescued Tues. morning in Huntington, WV were living in deplorable conditions. And, a concerned citizen is the only reason they are not still living and dying in that mess. But, this is just one of a hundred, or possibly a thousand, cases that need the attention of our shelter. I am disappointed in the Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter, really. I have called and called on many occasions and get the same line. "We will send someone out, and thank you for caring about the animals."

And, about not pressing charges against the woman that owned the property, I understand. If charges were filed, the animals would have to be kept at the shelter as evidence and could not be placed into loving homes, or foster homes. I think they are doing the right thing.

Our Animal Control Is A Joke.

Sections of this post have been edited due to confusion on some readers part. Let me clarify.

Day in and day out, I watch a Sharpei dog, in a pen, in my neighbor's backyard. I listen to him bark as he watches the other two dogs this lady has, play in the yard. I will clarify this later about the 2 dogs. He is ignored, totally. The Cabell Cty. animal control has been called, and came out last spring. The reason they came is because another neighbor had gone over to cut the inside dog's toenails, a Basset Hound, and saw that the pads on his feet were completely gone. They had been burned off where the dog stood in its own urine for hours on end. The husband would take the dog (Basset Hound) out before he left for work at 5:30am and then again when he came home between 6-7 pm and it stayed in the cage for the rest of the time.

The officer came, cited them, and told them they had 2 weeks to get things taken care of, or the dog would be removed. They never came back. This is the reason that animals suffer and die at the hands of this type of person. Neglect and abuse, pure and simple. She now has another dog that looks like a cross between a Pomeranian and Chihuahua. It has the tendency to bite, too. I don't know where she got the dog, but I know why she has it. Because the neighbor that sold her the Basset Hound as a puppy, (the dog that was caged inside the house), has a MinPin that was a rescue dog from an abuse case in Lincoln Cty., WV back in '06. This woman just wants to keep up with the "Jones', so she got the little mix breed.

The dog in the pen has not been out in over 4 yrs. This is not an exaggeration, either. What is the use of calling animal control if they will not come out and do the job they are paid to do? And, the excuse they don't have enough officers is poppycock. The budget for them is $300,000.00 a yr. Ridiculous! Ah, he is barking again. Poor dog. I have called the pound myself, and get the same line. "We will send someone out, thank you for caring about the animals."

Evidently, someone has said something to them both. Because the Basset and the little mix get to come outside frequently now. But, it is just for show. They only come out when some of the neighbors are out. If no-one is out, the dogs don't get to come out. She makes a big show of sitting on her porch with the little dog on her lap, petting it. But, if no-one is paying attention, and the dog barks, she slaps it. I see this with my own eyes, and have had several heated discussions with her. It does absolutely no good. But not the Sharpei. It, by the way, was her daughters ex-boyfriends dog. But when they split 4 yrs. ago, he was put in the pen and virtually forgotten.

The neighbor that sold this woman the Basset was warned, but didn't want to make enemies, since they had just moved into our sub-division. Her nephew is actually the one that called Animal Control. I have talked to her about this lady, but she doesn't want to make waves. In other words, chicken. So, I hope I have cleared this post up a little. Thank you for reading my blog, everyone. I appreciate it and the comments.

Help Change The Abuse Laws In Your State!

Well, it seems that the cruelty will never end. The man in Proctorville that had the Golden Retriever tied to a tree with a chain plead no contest to animal cruelty and neglect. The chain had bit into the dogs neck so severely that it had to be surgically removed because the skin had grown over the chain.

This crime is only a misdemeanor. The laws have to be changed to make this type of cruelty a felony. The judge is holding off sentencing to see what the vet bill will be so the abuser will have to pay restitution. The poor dog is at least safe and recuperating at Animal Friends Vet Clinic in Teays Valley, WV.

Please contact your state Representatives and let them know that animal cruelty will not be tolerated in your state and that abusers should be charged with felony animal cruelty and felony animal neglect.

A Feel Good Story Out Of The Horrors Of War.

Chance wants to personally thank Maj. Dennis for caring!!

A dog named Nubs, whom was befriended by a kind Marine in Iraq named Major Brian Dennis, arrived at Lindbergh field in San Diego, CA., Monday 2/25/08. He is a German Shepherd/Border Collie Mix. Major Dennis is a native of San Diego. His friends, Eric and Chrissy Sjoberg, along with friends and support of some animal organizations, collected $3500.00 to get Nubs to the states. They were all on hand to greet Nubs when he touched down. He is estimated to be about 2 yrs. old, but his life has not been easy, as it is not easy on any dog in a war zone. He is so lucky to be alive. When he was younger, an Iraqi cut his ears off, because he thought it would make him tough and alert. Stupid!!

Abuse is world-wide. He was also stabbed with a screwdriver, and Major Dennis patched him up and slept with him through the cold Iraqi nights to keep him warm. But, when the unit received orders to move, Maj. Dennis had to leave him behind, or so he thought. Nubs traveled 2 days and 70 miles to catch up with the man that he knew had saved his life. Since it is against military rules to have an animal, Maj. Dennis wrote home and asked for help. His friends rallied and now Nubs is here. He now has a chance at life thanks to the kindness of a tough Marine. He will live with the Sjoberg's until Major Dennis comes home from the war.

Tammy Grimes Of Dogs Deserve Better To Do Community Service.

Today Grimes was sentenced to 300 hours community service for a 'people organization', because 'people are dogs too'. She was also ordered to pay for the cost of the trial. This was justified by the judge because she said that Grimes chose to go to trial over ARD, therefore she should have to pay for it. Isn't it every person's right to go to trial? Does that right come with a price tag? Interestingly enough, according to Grimes' attorneys, this is not only NOT OFTEN done, but RARELY done. The costs were around $1700. She was also ordered within 10 days to take everything Doogie related off any any site she 'has control or influence over'. They will be appealing most if not all of the sentencing asap.


The absolute worst part of it all was the way she was treated by both the DA and the judge. The saddest thing is that they actually seem to BELIEVE the horrible things they said about her. They seem to actually BELIEVE that the taking of Doogie was a publicity stunt by Grimes, so that she could be a 'hero'. That the Arnolds are 'victims' of her lies, and that 'the dog was just old'. The DA said he was shocked this was her first offense, because her disrespect for the law and it's officials is like his worst hardened criminals. He also said that everything on the DDB site is a lie, twisted by Grimes to make people believe her. He was seriously ticked off that the Arnolds received Valentines and a brochure attempting to educate them this Valentine's Day.


Yet, at trial he insisted DDB should try to educate them, so which is it? Do you want them educated or not? She is now again not to have any contact with 'the victims'. The judge said that Grimes was no Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King, Jr. That she has disgraced herself and her cause, as well as her supporters by her actions. That two wrongs don't make a right. (If she's admitting there were 'two wrongs', then why are the Arnolds still not being convicted of abuse?) They are saddened by the state of affairs in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Saddened by the people 'in control', and saddened by the beliefs they put out into the world. The pictures and video do not lie. If it were a he said/she said situation, they could understand how they would believe the Arnolds when they say the dog was just old. But with the abundance of evidence of neglect, there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for the behavior of both DA Richard Consiglio and Judge Elizabeth Doyle. Pictures and video DO NOT LIE.

The Lost Doberman.

This post is being done with much sadness and anger. Recently in the Herald Dispatch, a man named Richard Hill submitted a photo and information about a lost Doberman. This man professes to be an animal lover and rescuer of abused animals. He says that he has 50 acres that he lets his rescues roam loose on. Why in the world would you rescue these poor creatures and then let them run loose and take the chance of them getting hit by a car, taken and sold for research, or at the mercy of cruel children that think hurting an animal is fun. And yes, there are kids out there that do that! Also, dogs are taken to be used as training tools for people that fight dogs. Mr. Hill, you say that this is the first dog you have ever lost in your 50 yrs. of rescuing dogs. I am sorry, but your method has a lot to be desired. All you can hope is that the dog is being cared for. I am so disturbed by your methods. Personally, I think you should be charged with neglect. Shame on you.