Supporters to picket chained-dog trial
This should be interesting. For me the issue isn't just about whether you have the right to tether a dog, but whether someone can come onto your property and take your dog if they don't like how you care for him. That's a big NO for me. (Notice I said "care" for your dog. I'm not talking about abuse or neglect. And those definitions seem to be changing constantly these days.)
Supporters to picket chained-dog trial
By KATHY MELLOTT
The Tribune-Democrat
HOLLIDAYSBURG — Supporters of an animal advocate charged with taking a
chained dog from the yard of a private home have received a three-day
permit to picket at the Blair County Courthouse during her trial.
An undetermined number of people is expected to be on hand Wednesday,
the first day of the trial for Tammy Sneath Grimes, whose story has
gained national attention.
Grimes, 43, of Bellwood, is charged with theft and receiving stolen
property for a September 2006 incident. Police contend she stole a
19-year-old German shepherd-black Labrador mix from Steve and Lori
Arnold of East Freedom.
The dog – named “Jake” by the owners and later renamed “Doogie” by
others – was chained to a doghouse in the Arnolds’ yard. Grimes said
at the time that he appeared to be dead.
Grimes, founder of “Dogs Deserve Better,” an organization opposed to
tying or chaining dogs, turned the dog over to an animal rescuer, but
he died six months later of what was said to be natural causes.
The Arnolds, who wanted the dog back, said they were planning to have
Jake put to sleep because of his worsening arthritic condition.
Trespass and criminal mischief charges, part of the original filing
against Grimes by the Freedom Township Police Department, were dropped
last year at the district judge level.
The jury’s potential exposure to the supporters, who will march with
signs in front of the courthouse in Hollidaysburg, is unclear. But
animal activist Terri Nelson-Bunge of State College said marchers are
coming from as far as Gettysburg.
“We don’t have any idea of how many there will be, but in the past we
had 65,” she said. “We’re expecting a lot.”
With a jury in place, Blair County Judge Elizabeth Doyle ordered all
involved in the case, including Grimes and Blair County District
Attorney Richard Consiglio, not to discuss the case.
Both are abiding by the gag order, but Grimes said last week she will
have plenty to say after the verdict.
On a Dogs Deserve Better Web site, Grimes earlier this year admitted
she took the dog. “I will gladly go to jail for Doogie, and I would do
so a thousand times over,” she said. “I am not scared or intimidated.”
In previous court documents, Consiglio said the case is one of stolen
property and has nothing to do with canine rights.
Monica Schreiber, a spokeswoman for Grimes, said animal rights are
becoming a greater issue not only in Pennsylvania, where the
Legislature is considering updating the laws, but elsewhere.
“This case is probably a forerunner of similar cases to come,”
Schreiber said from her California home. “Even if you agree dogs are
property, they are not property as with a chair or a car.”
Schreiber and other animal-welfare advocates say the Grimes case may
not be a slam dunk conviction.
“I think the DA is probably concerned,” she said. “I think there are
probably going to be people on the jury who view it outside a strict
interpretation of the law.”
Grimes, the mother of two children, works full time for the
organization she founded more than five years ago. She founded the
group because seeing a dog on a chain “ate away at me,” she said last
week.
Timeline
July 7, 2006: Tammy Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, sponsors a
“chain-off” in Mundys Corner with 11 people chained to doghouses as
part of a two-week competition to win a car.
Sept. 11, 2006: Grimes allegedly takes “Jake,” a 19-year-old mixed
breed dog, from yard in East Freedom, Blair County, where he was
chained.
Sept. 11, 2006: Freedom Township police charge Grimes with trespass,
receiving stolen property, theft and criminal mischief.
Sept. 19, 2006: District judge orders Grimes to trial on theft and
receiving stolen property. Other charges are dropped.
Sept. 21, 2006: 75 supporters rally outside the Blair County
Courthouse in Grimes’ defense.
March 1: Jake dies at a foster home.
April 17: More than three dozen attend a second rally.
Nov. 6: Judge rules dogs are property and can be
stolen.
Nov. 19: Jury selected.
Wednesday: Grimes’ trial to begin.
