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Dogs Deserve Better
E-News 02/26/08 |
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Dear Tammy,
 If ever there was a time to join Dogs Deserve Better it is now. As promised we are taking DDB to the next level and we want YOU to be part of it.
In this issue, help us to celebrate our Valentine Wrap-Up. 10,435 Valentines went out to chained/ penned dogs all across the U.S. and beyond.
You made cards and sent them to DDB Headquarters, turned in
addresses of chained/ penned dogs, sponsored mailings and we
exceeded our goal by 435.
Without EVERYONE doing his or her share, this would never
have been possible. We sent 3,203 more Valentines than last year! Valentine Successes are trickling in and we are expecting more to come.
Rescues, transports, adoptions, tethering limits and community education efforts are taking place all over the country.
Chain-off 2008 will soon be announced bigger and better than ever before.
We have 293 new student memberships! (Thank you Emily Marciniak and Monica Schreiber for your help).
Each time there is a setback at DDB, as with Tammy's sentencing there are twice as many extraordinary successes taking place.
Speaking of extraordinary, the DDB E-news will now feature an incredible DDB Rep each
month. We are so proud of our Reps, their hard work and
dedication and can hardly wait to begin sharing them with you.
With your support we have become a positive force in the
lives of 24/7 backyard dogs that won't stop until every dog can
look back and see "no more chains."
Our journey has only just begun. Please join us.
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Volunteer Feature
One's Woman's Search for Ozzie & Sallie in Wisconsin
For almost a year Carolyn Forsman has been hoping to find a dog named Ozzie that lives in Wisconsin, even though she lives in Maryland! Carolyn first read about Ozzie in last year's Valentine Campaign wrap up article.
From
Sallie, Wisconsin: "It is close to Valentine's Day, and could you send
one of these cards to Ozzie, a 10 plus year old dog of mixed breed? The
light has gone out of his eyes, and his bark is now nothing more than a
small sound..."
"A year later, Sallie's words still haunt
me," says Carolyn " I see in my mind an old dog sounding as
though he's giving up on his struggle to live. I imagine that all of
his life is spent outside, in every conceivable weather condition and
living all alone. I don't know the exact circumstances but it would
seem that Ozzie probably lives outside, maybe even 24/7 confined to a
chain or pen. I'd think that every dog that is continually kept
confined, whether outside or indoors, and with little interaction with
people, will eventually lose his spirit and end up looking and sounding
like poor Ozzie. "
Dogs Deserve Better could not find
Sallie's contact info so they've been helping Carolyn try to find her
by putting links on their website for Sallie to contact them.
Sallie's description of Ozzie has touched Carolyn very deeply, she
confides, "It's a small world and if he is still around, I believe he
can be helped if his care takers would accept it."
A
plea to Sallie, from Carolyn: "Sallie, I hope you're
reading. Thank you for caring about Ozzie and for contacting DDB; I
trust you did everything within your power to try to help him - Please
contact DDB so they can contact his care takers - they have some ideas
of how they could help Ozzie."
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DDB Urgent Action Alert
Pennsylvania and South Carolina consider STATEWIDE chaining limits
Chained dogs need us to be their voices as theirs go unheard. YOU CAN make a difference.
Put
an end to 24/7 Chaining in Pennsylvania and South
Carolina. Let PA and SC representatives know that YOU
support a tethering limit in these states. Ask them to Support HB
1065 (PA) and S 833 (SC). Handwritten letters have the most
impact, followed by a fax, a phone call, and a personally composed
e-mail. A letter followed by a phone call would be ideal. HB
1065 was voted out of committee, and now goes to the floor for
a vote! Contact your House Representative TODAY and ask him/her to
vote YES for HB 1065. Hunters
are contesting S 833 and amendments have been made to exclude
them, yet the bill will fail completely without constituency support. For more information, please visit:
Find Pennsylvania Representatives
Success in Georgia!
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DDB Shining Star
Marla Dakes, Ohio
After
surviving a brain aneurysm that could have killed her, Marla
was drawn to rescue after she was given a second chance at life
and realized that all living creatures deserved the same second chance
that she was given.
She
has been volunteering for Dogs Deserve Better for 3 years and has
been an Ohio Representative for 9 months. In that time
she has rescued more than 25 dogs!
When
not working she can be found rescuing, transporting and
rehabilitating the 9 rescue dogs at her home! She has had
countless people write in thanking her for her dedication and hard
work.
One
of Marla's first rescues was Baby - a sweet Akita mix with a chain
embedded into her neck. After spending several months in marla's
care, Baby was adopted by Bob and Linda Battigaglia.
Read Baby's story.
Thank you Marla for being a Dogs Deserve Better Extra-Ordinary Rep!
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2 Sharis, 2 Bully Cases, 2 Victories for Abused Dogs
Shari Riggs,
DDB Representative of Dayton, Ohio, recently rescued 7 chained PitBulls
and 8 puppies from a backyard breeder. We are so proud of Shari for all
of her hard work. Read more.
Shari Strader, DDB Representative in Greensboro, North Carolina showed this video to High Point police in January and was told it was not enough evidence to warrant a seizure.
Once again it took media attention before police began looking for the right man. Shari's only agenda was to protect these dogs.
Thank you Shari and Shari for jobs well done!
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Tammy Grimes Supporters Are More Motivated Than Ever!
As
you all know Blair County Pennsylvania's DA Consiglio and Judge Doyle
converged on Tammy berating her for her "criminal mind"
and comparing her saving the dying dog we know as Doogie to
"kidnapping a child."
Judge Doyle ordered Tammy to take down everything pertaining to Doogie from her website
and off of cafepress as well as to do community service and pay court costs.
What has Tammy's supporters' response been? To create banners and add to their websites, write songs, poetry, petitions and letters to the PA Governor Rendell and PA Senators.
Listed below are just a few resources in support of Tammy.
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 DDB's Making Plans for a New Rehabilitation and Training Center for Chained Dogs
In our efforts for these dogs, we are currently fostering and rehoming as many as 700-1000 dogs per year.
When working with dogs who've spent their lives outside, our
biggest task is to train them to live inside the home with the family.
To that end, we visualize a center that will house 16-24 dogs at a
time, in 2-3 separate living areas. Each dog will have access to inside
and outside areas, and they will be trained with the other dogs and
trainers each day.
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 Last Chance For Doogie Gear!
As part of her sentence, Judge Doyle ordered Tammy to take down
everything pertaining to Doogie from her website, including
all Doggie-related items being sold on cafepress.
Doogie deserved better than to live and die on the end of a
chain. Thanks to Tammy, he had months of loving care and vet treatment,
as every dog deserves. Rest in Peace, Doogie.
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Our movement is growing, expanding, making HUGE strides, thanks to your help. Please stick with us, we really CAN change the world for chained and penned dogs.
Sincerely,
Dawn Ashby, Rescue & Public Liaison dawn@dogsdeservebetter.org
1.877.636.1408 · http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org
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