Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

Veterinarian says Jake was abused

By Mark Leberfinger, mleberfinger@altoonamirror.com



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A veterinarian didn’t hesitate when asked a question about a dog he treated Monday.

Based on his experience and to a reasonable degree of veterinary certainty, was Jake neglected or abused?

“Oh, yes. Yes. Definitely yes,” Dr. Nour Hassane of the Veterinary Hospital of Altoona said Friday. “It was like somebody doesn’t care about this dog or was very busy and didn’t keep up with the dog.”

The dog, called Jake by its owners and Doogie by the founder of a dog protection organization, is at the center of a criminal case.

The dog’s owners have not been charged with a crime. Steve and Lori Arnold deny abusing or neglecting Jake. They say the 19-year-old German shepherd/black labrador mix suffered from arthritis and was given aspirin periodically for pain.

The only charges have been filed against Dogs Deserve Better founder Tammy Sneath Grimes. She is charged with stealing the dog. She has refused to give the dog back, police said.

Grimes says she took the dog to keep it from dying. It had laid on the ground for three days before Grimes came to Freedom Township at a neighbor’s request.

Jake was dehydrated, malnourished and weak, Hassane said. The dog’s spine and hips had deformities.

“You can see the skin but you can’t feel the muscles. He couldn’t stand on his four feet. I tried to help him stand on his back legs, but he would fall back down,” Hassane said.

Freedom Township police have no evidence that the dog was abused; they haven’t been able to see the dog, Police Chief John Reilly said.

“We probably could do something but it would be very hard to prove because I don’t have the dog. I can’t even get the medical records. We are basically at a standstill,” Reilly said.

Neglect or abuse is at the heart of Pennsylvania’s cruelty to animals law. It is a summary offense punishable by a fine no more than $750, up to 90 days in jail or both.

Neglect is failure to provide necessary vet care, shelter, water or food, said Humane Officer Tina Walter of the Humane Society of Lackawanna County.

“In a neglect case, we usually have to give a warning unless the dog is in imminent danger. It’s very difficult to fight in these cases unless we have a warning,” Walter said.

In Jake’s case, police and the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society say they had no abuse complaints about the dog before Monday’s incident.

A neighbor says she called the society twice — Saturday and Monday — without results. A society spokesman said a complaint was received over the weekend but couldn’t be substantiated because of a lack of a specific address.

Issuing warnings or citations isn’t the normal first step in dog cases; educating the owner is.

“People may not know or understand what they need to do. Common sense is not so common. I had a woman whose dog was outside in 90-degree heat without shelter or water; she didn’t think it was wrong,” Humane Officer Joanne Smith of the Elk County Humane Society said.

Pennsylvania’s Dog Law does not cover abuse or neglect issues. The law’s focus is on licensing, rabies vaccinations and kennels, state Agriculture Department spokesman Chris Ryder said.

“It’s a local issue, a police or SPCA/humane society matter,” Ryder said.

State dog wardens work with police or humane officers on neglect or abuse issues.

“But we don’t have the authority to cite,” Ryder said.

Mirror Staff Writer Mark Leberfinger is at 946-7462.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

and;


Dog-napper 'willing to go to jail'

Activist takes animal to vet, refuses to tell its whereabouts

By Pete Bosak

pbosak@...

TIPTON -- A Tyrone woman and founder of "Dogs Deserve Better" vows she will go to jail before she gives up Doogie, the dog she is accused of stealing from an East Freedom family.

Tammy Grimes insists the mixed breed dog was being treated cruelly, chained up outdoors while suffering from medical problems brought on by neglect.

So she dog-napped the canine she called Doogie and won't reveal his whereabouts. Grimes said she will not give the dog back, even if ordered to do so by a judge at a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

"I can't do that," Grimes said. "I'm willing to go to jail."

The dog's owners, Steve and Lori Arnold, deny abusing Jake, according to The Associated Press. They said Jake has arthritis and they want him back. They planned to euthanize the dog, they said.

The Centre Daily Times was unable to reach the Arnolds for comment Friday.

Grimes is charged with theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and criminal trespass. She was released on $50,000 recognizance bail following her arrest Monday.

"I'm having a hard time sleeping. It's stressful," Grimes said. "But I feel I did the right thing, and I'd do it all over again."

Kim Eicher, a neighbor to the dog's owners, called Tipton-based Dogs Deserve Better repeatedly after complaining to local humane officers about the dog's condition and receiving no response, according to Grimes. Eicher could not be reached for comment.

So Grimes went to investigate. She said she first viewed the dog from the roadside and thought he was dead. She found Doogie was alive but unable to stand, his legs "flailing about in the mud and his own feces."

Grimes took the dog and ushered him to a local veterinarian. "It was really bad," said Altoona veterinarian Dr. Nour Hassane. "He was in very bad condition. He was miserable, likely suffering."

The dog was emaciated, dehydrated and suffered from pain due to problems brought about by age, the veterinarian said.

Grimes said rather than allow the dog to suffer "a certain and immediate death on the end of a chain," she refused to give him back. So East Freedom police arrested her and charged her with theft and related counts.

Her preliminary hearing on the charges is set for 1 p.m. before District Judge Craig Ormsby in Roaring Spring. Before her court appearance, a support rally will be held at 11 a.m. at the Blair County Courthouse.

Grimes said Utah-based Best Friends is offering to take Doogie into their animal sanctuary, an offer Grimes hopes will settle the dispute. "I always will be proud of what I did for Doogie," Grimes said.

The East Freedom Township police chief was unavailable for comment Friday.

Dogs Deserve Better won first place in 2003 as the ASPCA Pet Protector of the year and has 150 representatives in 38 states.

Pete Bosak can be reached at 235-3928.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

sorry tosay it was her falt she could have helped her drink and eat and wait for owner, she went at it all wrong.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

I know she needs some words of encouragement. It was sad and sick to leave a dog lay outside for three days in that condition. You can tell the dog was not loved because if he had been they would have done SOMETHING about it. To all the people who think she done wrong shame on you. she's a human with a heart and compassion give her some support. We are running out of people in this world like her. You people who are telling her she did wrong are a prime example of that.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

very sad did anyone see the videos?

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

What are you supposed to do, you either let the dog lie, or you put it down. I would of put it down before it got to that position, but not everyone will. The former owner was giving it asprin for pain, and it had a house,food, and water....the only thing she didnt do for the animal was put it out of its misery when it started to suffer. Stealing an animal from its home of 19 years if not helping either, when that dog dies (and it will) I want charges pressed on her for animal cruelty. It needs to be with its owner, or at least with its owners at the vet while being put to sleep.

I dont think people realize how old a 19 year old large-breed dog really is. Its an eternity if our dogs live to be 14, 15....and they are incredibly healthy/happy animals which are significantly smaller. The larger the breed, the shorter the lifespan. The fact this dog made it 19 years is a miracle in itself, if it just fell down for the first time 3 days previous to its theft, that would be truely astounding.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

Now I cant watch videos on this pc....However there was not enough information to merit or justifie that women blantently stealing that dog. Remeber I havent seen pics of this animal....Story already seems to be exagerated away from the facts.

My heart does not blead for this women,not because she broke the law......mind ya,its the way she handled that situation. I for one would not welcome her in my place of buisness or home.

BTW, there has been no information or proof provided that dog lay for 3 days....if that dog did, it wouldnt have likely left the vets office. There are holes in this story.

Ya'll better be carefull of what you cry about,the standard of animal care is changing ....you wouldnt want your selfs to be considered cruel or neglectful to your own animals as they may not meet the standard guidlines of someone else.

Think about it....

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

I dont think Ive seen or known of a lrg breed living that long.....Ever! If this is an accurate account of the age of this animal.....then somthing has to be said for the care otherwise they just dont live that long.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

No doubt. I knew of a GSD mix who made it to 11 and that was beyond belief. The dog could no longer walk, its skull had literally collapsed on the sides inward, and it was blind, and damn near totally deaf. The dog was put down, it was suffering way too much. This dog was never on a chain, it had run of the whole backyard, never abused, and was a loved family member.....and it could only make it to 11 or so. My old Schiperke (about 15 lb. dogs for those not familiar with the breed) didnt even make it to 15, I believe he was maybe 12-13 before we had to put him down because of physical and mental deteoration.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

My GSD was 13 years old, when I put him to sleep this year. And I wasn't feeding him the best quality diet either as I didn't know then what I know now about dog foods.
And I know he suffered from pain, which I tried to treat, especially in the last few months...he also got to lay in the sun and get petted. It is a tough decision. When we decided to put him to sleep, we still had to wait three days for the vet's convenience.
He was able to walk around some til the last couple of months. Then we had to help him. But I knew he wouldn't improve. He still enjoyed life though, getting petted and being kept in the house with us so he could see and smell us and we could give him attention.
I don't think the owner's were right to keep the dog outside if, in fact, he could not get up. but I don't know all the facts, just the story from the media which leaves out more than it tells.
i don't think any of the parties involved...the HSUS, the founder of "Dogs Deserve Better" or the owners look good in this thing. They all did wrong.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

This is true. Everybody is guilty in this thing, my biggest problem with the founder of DDB however, was that she STOLE the dogs, got arrested, bonded out, and now is asking for "donations" from her minions so they can pay for the crimes she comitted.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

Just because she SAYS it was three days doesnt make it so. IMO it looks like the dog may have had a stroke. which with the way it was acting would have been within the past hour or less. I hope she goes to jail for stealing.

 

Re: Vet Says "Jake" WAS Abused

I have a 15 year old APBT Mix that is still getting around pretty good. My friend's mom had a pug/ chihuahua mix that live to be 21 and that is not an exagerated age. she got the dog when my friend was a baby and they grew up together the dog died when she was 21. We were all amazed he lived so long.