System Fail - 1
Greetings animal lovers…
Like many of you, I have always had a connection to animals. This past summer a series of events that touched my heart concerning animals inspired me to write the System Fail article.
Of course every writer wants to think they are the first to think of a topic to write about…
When I began to do research on the topic I found out how wrong that was.
Sadly I found NUMEROUS articles detailing over and over how the system had failed animals in so many ways…
I thought for a while I would break the article up into parts. …And continued research.
I first searched on http://www.Bing.com using search term “2010 cop shoots dog”
This was originally to be part/chapter 1
Results returned - 6,530,000 results
6,530,000 results ! I was flabbergasted, yes some of these are the same story on different media sources. But there are so many…people have no idea how bad things for animals can really be. To help raise awareness, I intend to profile several cases where an animals life is taken, abused or neglected.
In many instances charges are never pressed. In some instances its animal control or police who are the abusers. In some instances they have just become an inconvenience..
As always, I will include links to actual news or TV reports as proof that I am not just an opinionated animal rights activist.
So the article will be ongoing this will be System Fail – Chapter 1
In every society there are followers and leaders. If the leaders have no regard for animals lives the followers will not either. My belief is that animals are treated so badly because of the examples set by people in charge of things.
First I want to tell the 3 stories that sparked the need for me to tell these stories.
They all take place in Toledo Ohio where I currently reside.
The first story - Tyson
In June 2010, a dog named Tyson. Abducted and shot twice by a neighbor.
Tyson is an older German Sheppard/mutt mix, a family dog, friendly to all.
Tyson, very much considered a member of the family, grew up with a boy named Josh Luck. Josh, an adult now, lives in South Toledo on a quiet little street. Tyson would occasionally get out of his yard and wander the neighborhood, but never threatened anyone and no one seemed to mind.
What the Luck family didn’t know is, a neighbor named Eric Skowron had a grudge against Tyson. He claimed that Tyson was mean and picked on his dog. But instead of speaking to Tyson's owner or calling the dog warden. Eric cooks up a plan to make it look like Tyson is attacking his dog, therefore somehow enabling him to feel, he could justify shooting Tyson in defense of his dog.
It would later come out that he talked about killing Tyson for months at work.
Since Tyson wasn’t really coming over there to attack Eric's dog. Eric and his girlfriend go to Tyson's yard and try to entice him into a car. When that doesn’t work they come back with a leash and lead him out of his yard and down the street to Eric's house.
We can only speculate what happens in the next few minutes as Tyson is led off camera on a leash wagging his tail by Alisha King.
Tyson is seen later staggering into his yard and collapsing….
A neighbor’s surveillance camera captures perfect video of Skowron and King dog-napping Tyson and leading him on a leash, down the street to Skowrons house.
And then Tyson, after being shot, stagger back into his yard to collapse.
If the story stopped here it would be difficult to prove what happened to Tyson.
However, the story takes a strange twist here, which hopefully will be this cowardly duo’s downfall.
In the time span, that Tyson is absent from the neighbors surveillance video tape.
The cover up begins…
In a neighborhood such as this story takes place, gunfire does not go un-noticed. Skowron was probably sure one of his neighbors would report hearing it to the police.
So Skowron and King try to cover up what really happened with a bogus story.
THEY dial 911 and make a police report. Skowron tells police he shot a dog in his yard that was attacking his dog.
Channel 13 WTVG – Plays the 911 tape of Skowron reporting he shot a dog, and parts of the neighbors Surveillance camera video.
The police respond and note in their report that neither Skowron or his dog have a scratch on them. Nor does the dog look like he was in a fight.
The “alleged attacker dog” is no longer on scene so the report is just filed.
( No one knows about Tyson’s condition at this time)
I have this horrid picture in my mind of that poor excuse of a human being holding the leash while shooting Tyson and his half-wit girlfriend cheering him on. Thankfully Tyson proved to be smarter then both of them because he got loose and ran home.
I know its not very polite or professional to call people names, but I can not apologize… what kind of person plots for weeks to carry out a plan like this against an innocent creature like Tyson? Against any living entity ?
It would not be until hours later when Josh would find his childhood friend Tyson laying in the yard bleeding. Upon first impression it appeared Tyson might have been hit by a car. It was not until the emergency care veterinary hospital took x-rays did the Lucks learn Tyson had been shot. Tyson had been shot two times once through the eye once in the back. He is recovering at home after extensive care and having the eye that was shot removed.
I am not sure if the police were contacted first or the video was discovered first.
But the video from the neighbors surveillance camera clearly shows King leading Tyson away and Skowron following in a car.
The cowardly Duo were arrested and charges are filed.
Unfortunately Ohio Animal Cruelty Laws do not offer much protection to animals.
The entire situation has prompted the Lucks to work with Director of the Toledo Area Humane Society and other local organizations to change the laws in Ohio.
If you would like to Follow Tyson's Story he has his own Face book page with almost 10 thousand people following his progress. There you can read the entire story and visit the media links of the story coverage.
The page is called Tending for Tyson http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tending-for-Tyson/134069353289680
Also Look in the Toledo Blade for coverage on this story
http://toledoblade.com/article/20100717/NEWS02/7170377
Article published July 17, 2010
Animal lovers jeer at duo charged in dog shooting
As crowd calls for tougher laws, 2 plead not guilty
By JC REINDL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Dozens of animal lovers angry over the recent shooting of a dog confronted a South Toledo man and his girlfriend Friday outside Toledo Municipal Court.
Article published July 17, 2010
Animal lovers jeer at duo charged in dog shooting
As crowd calls for tougher laws, 2 plead not guilty
By JC REINDL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
Dozens of animal lovers angry over the recent shooting of a dog confronted a South Toledo man and his girlfriend Friday outside Toledo Municipal Court.
Update- The couple has been allowed a plea deal - pleading to no contest to misdemeanor charges of stealing and then shooting Tyson.
They were found guilty and return to court March 3, 2011
They were found guilty and return to court March 3, 2011
The Second Story – Sarge
 |
| Sarge -> his new home at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary |
In Early July 2010, in an East Toledo neighborhood, Lawrence Mick and his buddy Adam Collins take turns shooting Sarge who is confined to a cage in the back yard.
A neighbor behind Mick's residence watches horrified as the situation plays out. The dog is howling in pain and they keep shooting him. She opens a window and tells them to stop and she is calling the police, they threaten her to mind her own business or else.
The police arrive and Adam Collins runs away before they get there. Taking the gun with him.
Mick is arrested and Sarge is taken into custody by the Lucas county dog warden.
Mick claims Sarge is dangerous and he was afraid he would get out of his cage so he shot him 6 times …he also claims Sarge bit Melinda Perry.
But Mick loved his dog so he was allowed to keep him.
Which suggests to me that there is more to the bite story then they are telling.
Otherwise why would you keep him if he just flipped out and bit someone you loved FOR NO REASON.
That is my opinion because Sarge was owned by a family before landing with Mick. The family owned a store and Sarge stayed in the store while customers came in and out.
The family’s circumstances changed so they were forced to give Sarge back to the Breeder they got him from.
Which is how he ended up with Mick. It is not clear to me if Mick is a back yard breeder or Mick got Sarge from the breeder.
Sarge sat in another cage at the Lucas County Dog pound for 14 days with the 6 bullets in his body. It looked pretty grim for Sarge at this point, it was almost certain he would be put to sleep because of the bite report filed by Mick and Perry.
Animal Rights Activists spoke out for Sarge and Toledo Humane Society applied to the court for Sarges custody.
On July 23, 2010 Sarge was transferred to The Toledo Area Humane Society and began to work with a trainer there and had some of the bullets removed.
The Toledo Area Humane Society is a no Kill Shelter.
Sarge does get a happy ending….The Toledo Area Humane Society arranged for Sarge to be moved to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah when he can live out the rest of his days.
Sarge Also has his own Facebook Page Its called- "Justice for Sarge shot 6 times by his owner" with 4,781 members.
Join Sarges Page to view all the news links and for updates on this story.
As for his abusers. Sadly Ohio Laws will not dish out a punishment fitting the crime.
However Mick has a previous felony charge so he is not allowed to own or use a firearm.
So the firearms charge will get him more time then the actual charge for shooting Sarge.
While Mick is in jail, his girlfriend would later be arrested for intimidating a witness. The one who called the police on Mick and Collins while they were shooting Sarge.
Despite an eye witness and Mick's own girlfriend telling news crews “Sarge deserved to be shot he wasn’t settling down for nothing” Mick Pleaded not guilty blaming Collins for the shooting and the last I heard his lawyer had filed a motion to move his trial to another town because Mick couldn’t get a fair trial in Toledo.
Collins who was caught with the gun used in the shooting blamed Mick and pleaded out.
Also Check The Toledo Blade for coverage on this story
http://toledoblade.com/article/20100716/NEWS16/7160358
Article published July 16, 2010
People far and wide hope to adopt 'Sarge,' dog shot 6 times in cage
Biting report may prevent direct adoption
By JC REINDL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
From Sylvania to Alaska, dozens of dog lovers have expressed their support for an East Toledo German shepherd named Sarge who was shot six times in a cage last week and survived.
Article published July 16, 2010
People far and wide hope to adopt 'Sarge,' dog shot 6 times in cage
Biting report may prevent direct adoption
By JC REINDL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
From Sylvania to Alaska, dozens of dog lovers have expressed their support for an East Toledo German shepherd named Sarge who was shot six times in a cage last week and survived.
UPDATE ****Lawrence Mick - One of Sarges shooters was back in court this week - he spoke on his own behalf and blamed Collins solely for the shooting. 911 tapes were played in court of frantic neighbors describing the scene unfolding. 5 Neighbors also testified that Collins and Mick took turns shooting Sarge.
This testimony can also be used for the Animal Cruelty Charges.
Mick was found guilty on the gun charges part of his sentence is he has to volunteer at the Toledo Area Humane Society.. would you send a child molester to work in a daycare ?
I hope they watch him like a hawk...for the animals sake...
This testimony can also be used for the Animal Cruelty Charges.
Mick was found guilty on the gun charges part of his sentence is he has to volunteer at the Toledo Area Humane Society.. would you send a child molester to work in a daycare ?
I hope they watch him like a hawk...for the animals sake...
The Third story-
Toledo Police and Lucas County Dog warden respond to a call in a West Toledo Neighborhood about a pit bull running loose.
The dog was an escape artist… the owner had poured concrete on part of the yard along the fence already, in an attempt to keep the dog in the yard. He was friendly and children petted him on a regular basis during his little escapes.
This dog was reported because of peoples attitude about Pit Bulls. He was shot because that hyped up opinion created fear. And yes, the guy with the gun and the badge is very much afraid of a dog.
This dog was trying to get back into his own yard through the hole he dug under the fence.
At one point they blocked him from getting back into his yard. He was shot between his fence and the neighbors garage.
Click here to see the news coverage of this story
The wardens people who are supposed to KNOW about animals couldn’t catch this dog.
So they stood back while police cornered the dog, then one of the cops walked to his car got a shot gun out of the trunk and walked back and shot the dog. Peppering the neighbors garage in the process. The dog wardens office then took the dog to the pound, where later his owner was “convinced” to let them put the dog to sleep. There was no emergency medical treatment and this owner was bullied into putting his dog to sleep, partly in fear of what might happen to his other dog if he didn’t go along with authorities.
If this cop was in so much fear of his life because the dog was charging him, how did he have enough time to walk to his car and get a shotgun ? Why not use the pistol attached to his side ?
Toledo Ohio, Lucas County just forced the old the dog warden here to retire. Tom Skeldon profiled dogs that he hated. For 23 years he spouted un-true facts on a regular basis about dogs he deemed dangerous. Because he was a person in a position of authority, many people believed what he said with out checking facts them selves.
Skeldon has conditioned Lucas county to think all Pit Bulls and Rottweiler's are going to attack you and kill you. Which only adds to the abuse problems that already are way out of control.
When authorities believe the hype and don’t bother to educate themselves by checking real facts. This is one of the first ways the System Fails !
Tom Skeldons famous test to see if a dog is mean, is to squeeze the dogs genitals. He is quoted as saying,
"A dog that will allow you to do that is a dog that isn't going to bite some kid who happens to step on his toe"
Read all about Mr. Skeldon by clicking this link
My point about Skeldon is, part of the problem with the attitude people have about animals is because of people like this. When we allow people to be in a position to work with animals who obviously have so much hate for those animals, we fail those animals horribly.
It was these 3 stories that outraged me and urges me to tell all the stories now. It is my hope that if enough people learn about the cruelty that exists we will someday be able to stop it.
I have been outraged so many more times since then....
I have been outraged so many more times since then....
Chapter 2 will be coming out soon ..stay tuned….
~^..^~
No comments:
Post a Comment