Animal Cruelty Charges Dropped at the Site of Michael Vick's Former Bad Newz Kennels
/EINPresswire.com/ In the misdemeanor animal cruelty case against dog advocate Tamira Thayne, all charges have been dropped. Thayne is the Founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit dedicated to putting an end to dog chaining located on the former site of Vick's Bad Newz Kennels.
In the misdemeanor animal cruelty case against dog advocate Tamira Thayne, the District Attorney dropped charges brought by Surry County, VA, Animal Control Officer Tracy Terry. Thayne is the Founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit dedicated to putting an end to dog chaining. The Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs is located on the former site of Vick's Bad Newz Kennels.
Terry brought the charges based on allegations by a former Dogs Deserve Better employee who is under investigation for embezzlement.
Thayne was blindsided in August 2012 after returning from her honeymoon to a media frenzy which included helicopters flying over the Good Newz Rehab Center.
Terry seized a healthy black and white tuxedo pit bull named Jada. The dog was not listed on a search warrant and Terry refused to give reason for the seizure. Dogs Deserve Better, Inc. won the dog back in court ten days later.
Compelling testimony by Dr. Leslie Dragon, who has provided veterinarian care at D.D.B. as well as Mark Kumpf, one of the country's foremost animal control experts, confirmed that dogs at the facility were well-cared for and that Terry and Surry County animal control violated warrant procedures as well as standard operating procedures. Thayne had never seen Terry before the day of her arrest, the search warrant had never listed a dog for seizure and other items confiscated were listed incorrectly on the warrant. In a statement released at a press conference following the ruling, Dr. Dragon emphasized that she would have been morally obligated to report any animal abuse had she observed signs while visiting the facility on multiple occasions. She also stressed that, in her professional opinion, the charges were a complete fabrication.
Thayne, although relieved with the ruling, expressed anger that she was charged at all. "When I moved Dogs Deserve Better to Surry County, VA, I thought we would be welcomed by a county that had taken a hit to its reputation during the Vick case. We offered good publicity by turning the property into a rehabilitation center for chained and abused dogs. We arrived in 2011 with positive energy and hopeful intent. Conversely, it has been made extremely obvious that we are not wanted and opportunities to defame both this organization and me personally have been taken by some in power residing over Surry County.
"We have as much right to live in Surry County as Michael Vick. The only difference is that we haven’t committed any crimes. Currently, we have state approval and hold our heads high as we have created a safe environment for abused dogs built on a firm foundation of love and compassion. Any support, publicly and financially is greatly appreciated by all dog lovers in the community who are as appalled by the accusations as I am.
"I was unjustly arrested, and my organization and I have been bullied, harassed, and harmed both financially and emotionally. This type of purposeful abuse should not be allowed to continue."
About Dogs Deserve Better:
Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia. It is the 2010 First Place Winner of the American Dog Humanitarian Awards "Voice for Ending the Chaining of Dogs". In 2011, D.D.B. took over the former Vick Bad Newz Kennels and is transforming it to the Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs. The organization can be reached via its website at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org or by phone at 757-357-9292.
Media Contact:
Tamira Thayne
Dogs Deserve Better, Inc.
757-357-9292
http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org
Press Release courtesy of Online PR Media: http://bit.ly/YdlZz9
In the misdemeanor animal cruelty case against dog advocate Tamira Thayne, the District Attorney dropped charges brought by Surry County, VA, Animal Control Officer Tracy Terry. Thayne is the Founder and CEO of Dogs Deserve Better, a nonprofit dedicated to putting an end to dog chaining. The Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs is located on the former site of Vick's Bad Newz Kennels.
Terry brought the charges based on allegations by a former Dogs Deserve Better employee who is under investigation for embezzlement.
Thayne was blindsided in August 2012 after returning from her honeymoon to a media frenzy which included helicopters flying over the Good Newz Rehab Center.
Terry seized a healthy black and white tuxedo pit bull named Jada. The dog was not listed on a search warrant and Terry refused to give reason for the seizure. Dogs Deserve Better, Inc. won the dog back in court ten days later.
Compelling testimony by Dr. Leslie Dragon, who has provided veterinarian care at D.D.B. as well as Mark Kumpf, one of the country's foremost animal control experts, confirmed that dogs at the facility were well-cared for and that Terry and Surry County animal control violated warrant procedures as well as standard operating procedures. Thayne had never seen Terry before the day of her arrest, the search warrant had never listed a dog for seizure and other items confiscated were listed incorrectly on the warrant. In a statement released at a press conference following the ruling, Dr. Dragon emphasized that she would have been morally obligated to report any animal abuse had she observed signs while visiting the facility on multiple occasions. She also stressed that, in her professional opinion, the charges were a complete fabrication.
Thayne, although relieved with the ruling, expressed anger that she was charged at all. "When I moved Dogs Deserve Better to Surry County, VA, I thought we would be welcomed by a county that had taken a hit to its reputation during the Vick case. We offered good publicity by turning the property into a rehabilitation center for chained and abused dogs. We arrived in 2011 with positive energy and hopeful intent. Conversely, it has been made extremely obvious that we are not wanted and opportunities to defame both this organization and me personally have been taken by some in power residing over Surry County.
"We have as much right to live in Surry County as Michael Vick. The only difference is that we haven’t committed any crimes. Currently, we have state approval and hold our heads high as we have created a safe environment for abused dogs built on a firm foundation of love and compassion. Any support, publicly and financially is greatly appreciated by all dog lovers in the community who are as appalled by the accusations as I am.
"I was unjustly arrested, and my organization and I have been bullied, harassed, and harmed both financially and emotionally. This type of purposeful abuse should not be allowed to continue."
About Dogs Deserve Better:
Dogs Deserve Better is a 501c3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia. It is the 2010 First Place Winner of the American Dog Humanitarian Awards "Voice for Ending the Chaining of Dogs". In 2011, D.D.B. took over the former Vick Bad Newz Kennels and is transforming it to the Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs. The organization can be reached via its website at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org or by phone at 757-357-9292.
Media Contact:
Tamira Thayne
Dogs Deserve Better, Inc.
757-357-9292
http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org
Press Release courtesy of Online PR Media: http://bit.ly/YdlZz9
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