Woman possibly to be arrested for saving a dog: Help Tammy and Doogie!!

[LilacDragon]

There are two sides to this story, you know. And I am not talking about the owners.

Tammy refuses to let law enforcement see the dog and from the information that I have gotten elsewhere (which I have found to be VERY reliable in the past) she refuses to release any information about the vet that attended the dog. Maybe if she offered more evidence to the dog's condition she wouldn't be in such a pickle.

Don't get me wrong - I have removed dogs from yards while the owners were away to - but it is STEALING in the eyes of the law and you have to be ready and willing to except the consequences of your actions.

But.....this sure is getting her organization plenty of "air time" and I am sure donations.

[Cataholic]

I tend to lean towards liliacdragon's comment. If she had been arrested, it is kind of doubtful she would have been 'locked up'. More likely, arrested, and either posted bond, released OR, or, arraigned the following day. Then, she gets to go before a Judge and explain the situation. IF, IF it is a serious as she said, then, it seems the charges would be dismissed. Something doesn't sound quite right here.

[flip195]

I tend to lean towards liliacdragon's comment. If she had been arrested, it is kind of doubtful she would have been 'locked up'. More likely, arrested, and either posted bond, released OR, or, arraigned the following day. Then, she gets to go before a Judge and explain the situation. IF, IF it is a serious as she said, then, it seems the charges would be dismissed. Something doesn't sound quite right here.

Both the humane Society and the AC and police were contacted several times over the weekend, this is a matter of record... none of them responded which is why on Monday Tammy Grimes did what she did.
http://www.animal-law.org/statutes/penn.htm
Quote:
(c) CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.--A PERSON COMMITS A SUMMARY OFFENSE IF HE WANTONLY OR CRUELLY ILLTREATS, OVERLOADS, BEATS, OTHERWISE ABUSES ANY ANIMAL, OR NEGLECTS ANY ANIMAL AS TO WHICH HE HAS A DUTY OF CARE, WHETHER BELONGING TO HIMSELF OR OTHERWISE, OR ABANDONS ANY ANIMAL, OR DEPRIVES ANY ANIMAL OF NECESSARY SUSTENANCE, DRINK, SHELTER OR VETERINARY CARE, OR ACCESS TO CLEAN AND SANITARY SHELTER WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ANIMAL AGAINST INCLEMENT WEATHER AND PRESERVE THE ANIMAL'S BODY HEAT AND KEEP IT DRY. THIS SUBSECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ACTIVITY UNDERTAKEN IN NORMAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATION.

Quote:
(i) POWER TO INITIATE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.--AN AGENT OF ANY SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, SHALL HAVE THE SAME POWERS TO INITIATE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS PROVIDED FOR POLICE OFFICERS BY THE PENNSYLVANIA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. AN AGENT OF ANY SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH, SHALL HAVE STANDING TO REQUEST ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO ENJOIN ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION.

Quote:
(l) SEARCH WARRANTS.--WHERE A VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS ALLEGED, ANY ISSUING AUTHORITY MAY, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE, ISSUE TO ANY POLICE OFFICER OR ANY AGENT OF ANY SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS DULY INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH A SEARCH WARRANT AUTHORIZING THE SEARCH OF ANY BUILDING OR ANY ENCLOSURE IN WHICH ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION IS OCCURRING OR HAS OCCURRED, AND AUTHORIZING THE SEIZURE OF EVIDENCE OF THE VIOLATION INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ANIMALS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF THE VIOLATION. WHERE AN ANIMAL THUS SEIZED IS FOUND TO BE NEGLECTED OR STARVING, THE POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE SUCH CARE AS IS REASONABLY NECESSARY, AND WHERE ANY ANIMAL THUS SEIZED IS FOUND TO BE DISABLED, INJURED OR DISEASED BEYOND REASONABLE HOPE OF RECOVERY, THE POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE FOR THE HUMANE DESTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL. THE COST OF THE KEEPING, CARE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL SHALL BE PAID BY THE OWNER THEREOF AND CLAIMS FOR THE COSTS SHALL CONSTITUTE A LIEN UPON THE ANIMAL. IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER PENALTY PROVIDED BY LAW, THE AUTHORITY IMPOSING SENTENCE UPON A CONVICTION FOR ANY VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY REQUIRE THAT THE OWNER PAY THE COST OF THE KEEPING, CARE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE ANIMAL. NO SEARCH WARRANT SHALL BE ISSUED BASED UPON AN ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION WHICH AUTHORIZES ANY POLICE OFFICER OR AGENT OR OTHER PERSON TO ENTER UPON OR SEARCH PREMISES WHERE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH WORK IS BEING CONDUCTED BY, OR UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF, GRADUATES OF DULY ACCREDITED SCIENTIFIC SCHOOLS OR WHERE BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS ARE BEING PRODUCED FOR THE CARE OR PREVENTION OF DISEASE.

PA's code of cruelty. I would like to point out this:
Quote:
AN AGENT OF ANY SOCIETY OR ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Being a member of a 501c association for the prevention of cruelty, even if its not a HS should be enough as this is the way it is worded in their code.
Those paragraphs indicate that the "agent" can start criminal proceeding and/or acquire a search warrant through legal channels. In other words, do the legal beagle stuff BEFORE trespassing and seizing.
The only thing tammy actually did wrong was she did not get a warrent... as time was of the essence here I believe it would have negligent to act any other way.

OK from a legal standpoint
Regarding the abuse

There is the owners admission in the first article in the mirror. Admitting the knew the dog was sick.
"Lori Arnold said her family had planned to euthanize the dog.
“But do you know how hard that is to do?” she said."

There are pictures
video's
witness'es
and the report of a quailified vet, not to mention NUMEROUS calls to the authorities, which went ignored.

I have seen ppl jailed with far less evidence.

I agree maybe Tammy did not do everything right, but time was of the essence here, the authorities had ignored the reports for long enough.

[Lady's Human]

There is normally a legal way to accomplish your goals. Once you step outside the law, you are responsible for the results of your actions. Maybe instead of trespassing she could have asked a sherrif to meet her there?

[flip195]

There is normally a legal way to accomplish your goals. Once you step outside the law, you are responsible for the results of your actions. Maybe instead of trespassing she could have asked a sherrif to meet her there?

The AC, The police, the Humane Society IGNORED the calls, the calls are a matter of record, when the law fails to be upheld by the people charged with upholding it there is a HUGE problem, Hicksville ... sorry Freedom PA is not exempt from the laws of the state.

The fact that the owners/abusers have not been charged speaks volumes.

[LilacDragon]

Whether or not they were contacted is irrelevant. What is relevant is that she removed the dog from the owner's property without the owner's permission. In 50 States in the Good Ole' US of A - that is called STEALING.

Now, I don't know about your police department - but where I live the police arrest people who steal. Then you go before a judge and things progress from there.

I stand by my original post. If Ms. Grimes had been forthcoming about information from the vet - then maybe the judge would have let her go home without posting bail. BUT, she is getting way more publicity this way.

I am all for animal rights and I don't think that animals should be chained up and neglected. BUT - I am not alright in using an animal for personal gain ie: for publicity purposes.

[Lady's Human]

Okay, AC, the local yokels and the humane society ignored the calls. There's the Sheriff, the state police, where were the calls to them? Escalate the issue until you get a response.

[flip195]

Okay, AC, the local yokels and the humane society ignored the calls. There's the Sheriff, the state police, where were the calls to them? Escalate the issue until you get a response.

Just how many calls do you make while the dog is in pain and dying?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN9t1rv4pj4

[Lady's Human]

how long does it take to call the sheriff, give them the address, and ask them to meet you out there? If they say no, call the state police and do the same. Phone calls don't take much time.

[flip195]

Whether or not they were contacted is irrelevant. What is relevant is that she removed the dog from the owner's property without the owner's permission. In 50 States in the Good Ole' US of A - that is called STEALING.

Now, I don't know about your police department - but where I live the police arrest people who steal. Then you go before a judge and things progress from there.

I stand by my original post. If Ms. Grimes had been forthcoming about information from the vet - then maybe the judge would have let her go home without posting bail. BUT, she is getting way more publicity this way.

I am all for animal rights and I don't think that animals should be chained up and neglected. BUT - I am not alright in using an animal for personal gain ie: for publicity purposes.

She offered the Video's, the pictures, the vet report, the witness statements to the police, they did not even want to look at them, they wanted her to return the dog to the abusers so he could die cold and alone on the wet ground on the end of a chain.
If we are going to talk about upholding the law lets talk of why the abusers have not been charged.

[LilacDragon]

According to the information I have, she has not offered any of those things to police or had not when this story first broke.

Hey - I am not the enemy, I am just saying - when you break the law, no matter why you do it, you need to be prepared to pay the consequences.

[flip195]

According to the information I have, she has not offered any of those things to police or had not when this story first broke.

Hey - I am not the enemy, I am just saying - when you break the law, no matter why you do it, you need to be prepared to pay the consequences.

Quote:
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.