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Dogs Deserve Better Success Tidbits from Our Mailbag
These are short tales of successes (ie., the neighbor took his dog inside for the winter...) that update us on everybody's progress in freeing dogs from their chains or pens. Yes, we have plenty of failures, but it's the successes that keep us going. Happy Reading! July 15, 2008 Hi, My friends and I had a garage sale recently. We were looking up charities online and saw your website. We all LOVE animals and LOVE your charity. Enclosed is a check for $50 from the money that we raised. My dad took the cash and changed it iinto a check. We hope that our money saves lives. Aubrey, Christina, Nicole, From Berkely PA. June 29, 2008 I just wanted to let you know that I came across your website today while looking for answers on how to train our puppy. His name is Maximus, and he's 4 months old. I'll confess I've had a hard time getting used to him. I'm 30 years old and this is the first puppy I've ever had and I'm a bit lost on how to take care of him. He lives in our house, but I do have him on a chain in the yard while I'm busy (I have two small children). Your stories on your site have really opened my eyes to how important it is to make him a part of our every day lives, and how much he needs our love and attention. He's been somewhat naughty, but just today, I have made a commitment to spend more time with him, include him on everything I do, and have noticed a huge difference! He just wants to be loved, and I wanted to thank you for your testimonials, making me see how important it is to make Maximus a part of our family! Thank You!! ~Have a Wonderful Day~ Becky June 26, 2008 Dear Dogs Deserve Better Team, Here is a link to an article posted after the first reading: http://blogs.georgetown.org/blog/2008/06/26/council-votes-to-ban-dog-chaining/ May 27, 2008
I went on petfinder and found your organization. I was going to take in Lucy, a pit bull but as time went on, I didn't think she would fit in with my dog since my dog is skittish of bigger dogs. Shari and Marla were GREAT with giving me information and helping me make a good decision on a dog. Marla told me to keep looking and that they could find a dog that fit me… and sure enough they did! I looked on the site again the day I decided Lucy wasn't as great of a fit for me… and I found the cutest puppies on there from Precious, the boxer who had several puppies while getting over having parvo. I asked Shari that day if I could come see the puppies and I saw the work she does! It's amazing how she put her life into those dogs and I was extremely humbled by it all. She then brought out this little puff ball puppy and my heart was sold. :) She is almost 7 weeks old now, a female boxer/husky mix. My dog Klieo took too her and has taken on the mother role. They play together, run around the yard all the time, Klieo keeps her close too me and helps keep an eye on her… She is just perfect! I'm extremely happy to say that all the dogs I saw with Shari as well as my puppy were extremely taken care of and she does an amazing job. She helped me find the newest part of my family, her name is Kali. I've attached a couple pictures of her. We have spoiled her just as much as my dog. We bought her a soft pink collar because I believe a nice collar represents being a part of a home, we took her to PetSmart and let her pick out a bunch of toys, found the best puppy food to fit her needs, and are taking her to the vet this weekend to get her dewormed and her first shots. I am extremely pleased with this organization and I have every intent on donating money and more of my time to help in any way possible. This has been the most enjoyable and pleasant experience and having Kali made losing that money like it was nothing. As I told Marla and Shari, if I can be of any other assistance, please let me know! I am more than happy to help spread the word and I want to thank anyone who is part of this organization again… As I told told them before, anyone who does this type of work… they are heroes! Happy with her "baby girls," Sarah, Klieo, and Kali May 26 , 2008 Hi, I just wanted to give you a little update! Rusty is absolutely the most wonderful dog ever! Every minute we fall in love with him more and more! We took him to petsmart to buy him all his things, and he was very nervous. He kept trying to stand in between my legs when we would stop to look at something! But he helped us pick out all his new toys and his new bed! When we took him back out to the car he jumped right in! We couldn't believe it. Well, my parents completely fell in love with him when we took him there. He hid out in my sisters closet for a little while, but then he came around and was taking turns laying next to Matt and I, putting his head on our laps, and nudging us for attention. He even got a few peanut butter crackers which he LOVED. We just brought him home about an hour an a half ago. As soon as we let him off his leash in the backyard he was running around like crazy! Matt went out and was running with him, he just seemed so happy! He came in the house and explored everywhere, then I started unwrapping all his toys and giving them to him. He took them one by one and made a pile at the foot of our bed, then layed on it! He's so sweet, and loving, we just can't even believe that he's ours! Thanks so much for letting us bring him into our home, he's the perfect addition to our family. We feel like we hit the jackpot with this puppy! We couldn't be happier! I'll send you more updates in the morning and some pictures!Talk to you soon, Katie Note: Rusty is a formerly chained dog rescued by DDB rep Marla Dakes. April 25 , 2008 Hey, Tom Wargo from Atlanta. Our organization is SOS Club and our program is Daffy's Pet Soup Kitchen, www.daffyspetsoupkitchen.com . We do pet food drives, work with local co-ops, soon to be with Meals on Wheels helping with pet food and supplies. We are part of Feeding Pets of the Homeless and are working on helping add a pet shelter to a soon to be homeless shelter in our area.
Tom you are the best - helping me and my family build a fence so that my dog does not have to be chained up all the time. You have helped us out a lot and we thank you very much! and I bet that my dog is gonna be very happy to get off of the chain! and as you can see in the picture above he is on the chain. [and tearing up the yard] thanks tom, - tiffany Any way, the dog runs free now in its yard and sleeps inside most nights. I have been keeping up with what you are doing and being from Pennsylvania originally, I know you have your hands full. If more comes up, will keep you posted if interested in our work as well. We have a booth at a festival for our organization next weekend and we will have your info as well if you would like. Please let me know. Thank you, Tom Wargo, Founder of SOS Club & Daffy's Pet Soup Kitchen April 15 , 2008 Tammy, He weighs 8 lbs. and is HW negative. We dewormed him and he received a DHLPP and a rabies vaccine. She said other than needing to gain about 4 lbs., he is in relatively good shape. Best of luck for a fun tour and safe return home! Marguerite Mebane Editor's note: PJ was one of the dogs encountered in North Carolina during the Dognamic Duo tour. Click here to read PJ's story and to see his "before" pictures. February 20, 2008 Tammy, I haven't the words to express my admiration for you and your group. My dog, Buddy, is a 2 year old husky/lab that I adopted last year from a Minnesota rescue group, RAGOM. I am a 52 yr old man and Buddy is my first dog. He was seized by a county in Iowa for neglect ( chained outside for the first 10 months of his life). I stumbled upon your website a few weeks ago and have been following your situation daily. You just may be one of the last of Americas heroes. For sure you are mine. You have a BIG day this Fri 2/22 and I want you to know I will be praying for you and all the dogs that still remain chained. Good luck... Jonathan February 1, 2008 Hi Tammy, I wanted to tell you how wonderful you are for starting DDB and for all the hard work all of you there do every day on this mission to free dogs living in horrible circumstances. Since learning about this plight that we all need to get involved in and since I have been a volunteer at my local Humane Society for the past 8 years I have on a smaller scale tried to get the word out here, helped free some penned and chained dogs and have even got it written into our adoption agreement that if we find out a dog adopted from our shelter is being penned or chained over 10 hours a day ( I wanted to make it less than 10 hours! ) that we can come on to their property and take the dog back. As a shelter we are trying to approach owners when we find out a dog is living penned or chained and help however we can to get them off chains and out of pens if the owners will let us. Just recently we rescued one living in a rabbit hutch! Every time I see another state or county ban the continuous chaining of a dog it gives me hope that one day it will be against the law everywhere to treat dogs this way. You and everyone at DDB have made this a possibility!! I am still in shock that you were actually convicted for rescuing Doogie, what kind of world do we live in when doing the right thing for a living, breathing animal is against the law? I am so glad he knew what it was like to be loved before he died, you are an angel for rescuing him. I have purchased your posters, calendars, flyers, door hangers and just recently the big magnet I put on my truck. I have had lots of people ask me about it and your cause for penned and chained dogs. I have a neighbor right next door to me that pens up his Weimaraners 24/7 with very little contact daily. He breeds them and even the pups are born outdoors in the dog house in the winter. I have tried on several occasions to speak with him but he won't stop the way he makes them live. I begged him to put a heat light in the dog house and after slamming the door in my face he did put a light up for them. The female is not yet 4 years old and has had 5 litters of pups, one litter all died. This is what I live by every day and it is heartbreaking. He is an older man that is very set in his ways and has always kept his dogs outside. Weimaraners don't have much hair either to keep them warm, right now the male is separated from the female as she recently had pups and I bought a heat pad for his dog house which I plug in on my side of the fence. My prayer each day is that he will spay and neuter them and bring them indoors. I keep hoping maybe he will come to me one day and ask me to take them and find homes for them, he only wants them for the money he makes on the pups. In fact the story on your february calendar about Lucky gives me hope that maybe one day my neighbor will do the same. Anyway, thank you again for all you do, keep up the good work! -- Melanie Long Beach, Wa. January 23, 2008 Dear People at Dogs Deserve Better, Hereby I'd like to (belatedly but) warmly thank you for the beautiful calender you sent me after I made a holiday contribution for Riley. Thank you too for the accompanying note with photo, I am extremely pleased to know that Riley has been adopted, as his was indeed a particularly heartwrenching story (in a long line of sad ones). I hope he will now fully experience the attention and kindness so long lacking in his life. I'd also like to use this occasion to express my profound admiration for Tammy Grimes and all the volunteers working with her. You are an inspiration and an example to me and I am proud to be a member of Dogs Deserve Better. I am following the 'Doogie case' with great interest, it seems incredible and very cruel that Ms. Grimes was convicted for saving a dying dog. I hope you'll keep us promptly posted on any new developments (including any appeal possibilities?). With many thanks and kind regards, -- Iris, The Netherlands. January 23, 2008 Thank you for including me in your emails. If your interested I will tell you a little about myself. I am fifteen years old, a sophmore in Right now I only have one dog and that is a Doberman named Thor. I do
however have two rats (Sunny and Shiner), two mice (Patches and
Whitey), a turtle (Angel), and chickens. And yes, they all have
individual names. They are Salty Girl, Pepper Jack, Big Momma, Sassy, January 15, 2008 Dear Tammy, I just wanted to say THANK you THANK you THANK you for the work you are doing! http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/ is fantastic!! My boyfriend lives in rural Missouri where animal welfare is non-existent and I was exposed to the chained dogs about two years ago when I first visited him. I am from Boston, MA where animals are a part of one’s family and are treated as such. You might wonder how to very different people got together. We actually met doing animal rescue after Hurricane Katrina. I was there as a rogue volunteer, one of the crazy dog people, and he was there with the Humane Society of Missouri. He is an amazing individual and since knowing him I have become 100 times more involved in animal welfare issues then I ever have. As a cruelty investigator, the stories that he told were appalling and revolting. Dog fighting, puppy mills, hoarding, neglect, abuse, torture… you name it; he saw it! He is truly my hero! It has almost made me lose all my faith in human-kind and our evolvement as a species. How could people be so cruel? We are so technologically advanced, we have the ability to reason, make cognitive decisions, but we have the potential to still be so barbaric in our treatment of each other and all living creatures, like cave people! Anyway, we have been together for over two years and I have a very difficult time going to visit him in South East Missouri. He lives on a beautiful ranch that is really a sanctuary of unwanted, abused and neglected animals in which he rescued while an investigator at the HSMO. I tend to isolate myself when visiting him because I can’t drive on those country roads and see countless dogs chained to trees. Before going to Missouri, I had never really been exposed to this issue as, in “liberal” East Coast Massachusetts; people don’t really tether their animals. I quickly realized that not everyone in the country treated their animals as we do from where I come. It is really disturbing. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen a skinny dog tethered to a tree and have wanted to stop the car, knock on the doors of these barbarians and shout; “WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! Do you think that this dog enjoys being tied to a tree 24/7. How would you like to be tied to a tree you moron!” It makes me so angry, my blood boils. So over the past two+ years, I have become so much more emotionally involved in this issue, although I have never really been sure how to help, as the problem isn’t really as rampant here as it is where my boyfriend lives. I am only there every month or so. I have decided to write an article for the local county paper where he lives. I figured if it makes one person change their mind in regards to tethering their dog, then I have made a slight difference. In doing some on-line research on statistics/information on chained dogs, I came across your WONDERFUL organization. Thank you for creating a place where people can learn about this very suttle animal neglect/abuse/torture. I have begun to write the article and have to be very careful how I write it, as the demographic to whom I am writing is from a compeletly different mindset. Animals are property, not pets. They are to live outdoors, not inside at the foot of someone’s bed…. So I have to use a very objective perspective and perhaps throw a little something about Christanity in there as it is in the “Bible-belt” which might be a bit hard, as I am spiritual, not really religious. I am really excited to write this article and hope to share it with you when I am done or perhaps may ask you to read it before I submit it. Again, thank you for what you do and I would like to volunteer in anyway I can. I look forward to hearing back from you. -- Best, Cynthia December 27, 2007
December 29, 2007 Hi Tammy, I just wanted to thank you for all you do for chained dogs and also I wanted to let you know, that three chained guard dogs that I was trying to help for a long time are finally in a foster home. The owner was neglecting and starving the dogs and it took a lot of time and persistence to the authorities but the dogs were finally taken from him and are safe now. Happy Holidays. --Jennifer December 21, 2007 Just wanted to write a little note to let you know that after driving around Milford, PA for 3 weeks with the car magnet, I (finally) had 2 "snoops" checking it out. First, at the bank I saw a woman getting out of her car with a pen and pad writing down the info. When she saw me approaching my car she took off. My next stop, Walmart. I came out and there was a woman waiting for me. She wanted to know what DDB was all about. I was so excited that I called a friend on Long Island who volunteers at a kill shelter. The first thing she said is "where can I get that car magnet?". We had to hang up quickly because she wanted to order 2 of them - one for her car and one for her husband's car. She called me back all excited and can't wait for her car magnets to arrive. Marjorie December 20, 2007 Dear Tammy: I am so sorry. But, maybe this was meant to be. Your
arrest (and my curiosity) brought me to your website. If it had
simply been "Woman rescues dog", I might have skipped the whole
thing. I came to be nosy and stayed to learn. At present, I have
10
rescued animals living with me, and I work full time and some I am seriously thinking about volunteering with DDB. I believe in you and nothing will change that. Hold your head up because Doogie knew what it was to be warm and secure and fed before he died. You gave him the only happiness he ever had. He will be waiting for you and his foster mom at the Rainbow Bridge. I am proud to know people like you. God bless you. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. Maybe this sounds corny, but you are my hero. Because of you I am trying to adopt a beautiful shepherd mix who lives near me. He is penned in the back yard and he has the saddest eyes. Anyway, keep up the fight. Don't let uncaring, heartless people hurt you. Thanks, Louise, NC. December 20, 2007 Tammy, I am so heartbroken to hear this news - I do not know what is wrong with the justice system. I am thinking of you and praying for you - you did the right thing and if other people in the world had as much courage as you to stand up for the voiceless - the world would be a better place. This week, I have turned someone in to animal control for inhumane chaining and no shelter - and they are in the process of removing the dog -- I saw the notices posted yesterday, so I will follow that situation and hope life gets better for that dog - in honor of you. Best wishes - and heartfelt condolences on this tragic ruling. Kim December 20, 2007 Tammy and Dawn, I just wanted to pass along all the compliments I got on the calendar. I sit on the Board of the Spay Neuter Assistance Program and I gave a calendar to each board member. Everyone read the calendar from beginning to end (it even delayed our board meeting because people could not stop reading the stories) and said what a great organization DDB is. Some people did not realize all the work DDB does. However, after looking at the calendar recognized all the hard and great work you guys do. The calendar is a great education tool. One thing our Board prides itself on is putting animals first and everyone thought DDB espouses the same committment. Have a wonderful holiday season! November 29, 2007 Tammy -- November 29, 2007 Dear Ms. Grimes, I wanted to forward you a letter that I had submitted for the Altoona Mirror. I was at jury selection this past Monday for your "absurd" case. I want to tell you that of course the majority of the area's communities agree with what you did and I commend you for standing for something you believe in and not backing down to anyone. Your strength is a trait hard to find today amongst people being tired of being "beaten down" by others for their beliefs and you will not allow it - I think that is great. Good for YOU! When there are other protests for your innocence and cause please put my email on your list so I can be aware of things going on and if I can possibly be there as another one to STAND I will. 11-21-07 Letter to Editor; I was called to Jury Selection this past week; never being there before I did not know what to expect. Upon arriving I heard from other jurors that we were being selected for criminal cases - I thought as far as our news in Blair County I would be asked to sit on a jury that dealt with area drug dealers, pedophiles, etc. I thought am I up for this?.... as I sat in the courtroom I saw what I thought was a lawyer and his assistant take their seats. As the judge said her opening remarks I realized this "criminal case" was involving Tammy Grimes from Dogs Deserve Better - and I realized that isn't his assistant that is the woman whom saved that poor dog. Wait a minute; this is a criminal case - theft, receiving stolen property. What??? - I COULD NOT BELIEVE that OUR District Attorney's office was using our tax dollars to plead a case to convict this woman for trying to help a poor dying dog that was plainly being neglected. The District Attorneys office CAN NOT be so bored that they would think to use OUR tax money for a case like this when we are bombarded with drug dealers moving into our hometowns, shootings occurring in the neighborhoods in which we grew up, and pedophiles stalking our children online and in our hometowns "safe" playgrounds? We are paying for the District Attorneys office to file a criminal case against this woman and her beliefs. I was called to the juror's box but I did disclose to the judge that I believed in this woman's beliefs and I was excused. As there are murderers, pedophiles, drug dealers, and "real" robberies of our banks in the area we sit in this court room this morning for at least 3 hours being asked questions and wasting tax money while a jury is selected to sit in judgment of this woman's beliefs in which I certainly think the majority of us agree that she did what was right. What is wrong with our justice system that this case would be actually brought in front of a judge? I certainly think our tax money would be best spent on "putting away" the huge amount drug dealers, murderers, and local pedophiles. Not Tammy Grimes and her action that helped a dog - that did in fact deserve better! November 29, 2007 Tammy, Hi, my name is Kim and I have 3 AKC Irish Setters, and I'm ashamed to say they were all chained in my back yard, but I read about all you do for dogs and all the wonderful things you do and I felt bad about my dogs being chained up, so I worked some overtime to pay for the lumber to build fencing and I had a cookout and had some great guys help put it up, and my dogs are so much happier and it's all cause of you. Thanks, I'm sorry to hear about your ex taking you to court, I know you must be a great mom to care about dogs like you do. I'll pray for you. You sound like a very great person and I'm sure that shows in your life. Good luck and thanks for caring. November 28, 2007 Dogs Really DO Deserve Better October 24, 2007
The address was only 100 yards away from my home so I decided to walk there. I went from my street through some woods and ended up in the back yard of the property. There was Gypsy in a chain link fence on a 20 ft chain. Inside the back yard there was a 15x15 fence with another dog in it. It looked older but healthy. Gypsy on the other hand was missing hair and had bits of paint stuck to her fur. She begged for me to love her but I did not want to enter the property yet. I left her fresh food and water from over the fence and walked home. I contacted our President Kim Felder and let her know what I had seen. She then let me know that the lady who owned the house had moved and her daughter was the one who had brought the dogs there. The older dog was Dakota and belonged to the daughter but Gypsy was picked up as a stray. A few days later I went over with another volunteer and gave Gypsy some shots. I decided to walk her home with me for a bath. I managed to get most of the paint off and she was so happy to be with someone. She did however have issues with my other foster dogs so I decided to bring her back to the house. As I chained her back up I felt like I was sentencing her to death. I walked home feeling bad but I knew I could not just take her. The next day I went to check on her and she had managed to jump over the back of the fence and was stuck with barely enough chain. It scared me and made me mad all at the same time. She could have died because I brought her back and even though I had not put her there in the first place I felt responsible. I got in contact with the owners daughter Wendy and told her I would do anything to help. She told me she had found the Catahoula in the town where she lived with profanity spray painted on her. So she took her where she would be safe. She was trying to do something good but she needed help. I decided I would take the dog and so she was named Gypsy. She is a sweet girl but has issues from being chained up alone. She is now under the care of the Humane Society and is listed on Petfinders with Lucky Puppy Rescue. She has been seen by a Vet for her skin and is on her way to recovery. Tiffany October 24, 2007 Dearest Tammy, As we head into another cold and snowy Upper Peninsula (Michigan)
winter, it is with sadness that I report our yard is not yet fenced. I
have committed to making it my first priority next Spring when the
snow melts - even if I have to do it myself. My husband has been
working on updating our indoor heating system, installing railings on
our stairs, and building a laundry room in our house.
If you'd like to donate via regular USPS mail, you may print out this form in .pdf format, and send to P.O. Box 23, Tipton, PA 16684
Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 nonprofit education/legislation/rescue organization. |
We
are posting success tidbits from our mailbag that will be of interest to our readers.
We also just built a fence for a dog that has been chained up. The home owner didn't want to chain it but couldn't afford a fence and has a sick, blind dog inside that she was afraid would get hurt. 
Attached is a photo of PJ being held by Anita, my shelter manager, just after a bath and clip the day after you rescued him. As I did not want to frighten him too much, I only scissor cut him .... but, doesn't he look cute? He was covered with fleas, but we took care of that! As we were able to track down his breeder through his microchip, which was never registered by an owner, we found out that he is 6 years old. We were so glad to get a good medical report on him from our vet today.
