Tails in the News
By Lauren Lewis
Animal courtAccording to Indy-area groups Casa Del Toro Bully Breed Rescue & Education and the Indy Pit Crew, resident attendance is crucial when it comes to the court hearings that concern dog fighting. “It is vitally important that concerned citizens make an effort to show the court system that these cases are important and that we are watching,” says Laura Gonzo of Indy Pit Crew. That’s why the two organizations have created a new online calendar to track the public hearings of dog-fighting cases in Marion County. The calendar includes court dates, information, and even directions to the courtrooms. Some upcoming cases include the Leonard Germany jury trial on Aug. 30, and the Elmos Jewell suppression hearing on Sept. 25 and jury trial on Oct. 11. To view the calendar, visit www.CasadelToro.org/CourtCalendar.html. If you’re looking for pointers on appropriate courtroom behavior, check out Indiana-PAW’s guidelines at www.Indiana-Paw.com/pitbull.htm (scroll down to the “Court Cases” section).
Resident Statues
The Humane Society of Indianapolis recently unveiled two copper-colored statues, a dog and a cat, that will be on permanent display at the entrance of its facility at 7929 Michigan Rd. The sculptures are made up of 800 stainless-steel “pet” tags that can be purchased for a donation of $100. Donor names will be inscribed on each individual tag as a memorial for a pet, celebration of a special occasion, etc. and can be placed on either statue. Call (317) 872-5650, Ext. 125 to buy a tag or visit www.IndyHumane.org to download an order form.
Resident honored with service award
The Indianapolis Veterinary Emergency Center (IVEC) recently honored Coleen Ellis, founder and president of Pet Angel Memorial Center in Carmel, with its 2006 PETS Award. The PETS or “Professional Excellence Through Service” Award is presented each year to individuals or organizations that demonstrate outstanding community service, dedication, love, and commitment to companion animals. Ellis was honored for her work on behalf of guardians dealing with the loss of a pet. In particular, Ellis was responsible for last summer’s Service of Honor tribute to the Marion County Sheriff Department’s K9 officer who died in the line of duty. The event drew in a crowd that included K9 personnel from throughout the state. Ellis was presented with the PETS Award at IVEC’s eighth annual Original Pet Carnival in July.
Dangerous dog ordinance
The Indianapolis City-County Council is in the process of modifying a proposal for a tougher dangerous-dog ordinance that was presented by Councilwoman Sherron Franklin last month. Specifics of the measure are still being ironed out with insight from citizens before presenting it to the council for a vote. The ordinance would call for increased restrictions for dogs that have been deemed dangerous and harsher fines for violators of the ordinance. Franklin has said she does not favor any breed-specific language in the bill. The councilwoman introduced a similar proposal last year, but it was dropped. She reintroduced the legislation in the wake of the May Pit Bull attack of 2-year-old Amaya Hess.
To contact the council, call (317) 327-4242 or visit www.IndyGov.org/eGov/Council/home.
Dogs Deserve Better
Eleven participants from across the nation began competing on July 1 in Chain Off 2006, a grueling but realistic contest in which they attempted to live chained to doghouses in Mundys Corner, Pennsylvania, for 13 days. The event was organized by Dogs Deserve Better (DDB), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Tipton, Pennsylvania, that strives to educate people about what life is like for chained canines.
Though contestants were provided with unlimited water, they faced other numerous restrictions and challenges. Their meager provisions included a sheet of plastic, a sleeping bag, sunscreen, insect repellent, and access to food and a journal twice a day. Many participants found their doghouses cramped, and a few weren’t even able to completely fit inside. But competitors braved the elements, a no-talking rule, general boredom, and several elimination games in the hopes of winning a new Chevy Aveo. DDB founder Tammy Grimes is confident that, despite their rugged and often uncomfortable experiences, those involved in Chain Off 2006 helped raise awareness about the stark existence of chained dogs.
“Our ultimate goal was to grab the public’s attention in a way that made them really get what life is like for these animals,” Grimes says. To help support DDB, musician Cheryl Hill and actor Adrian Zmed attended the July 1 kickoff. Other proponents of DDB who weren’t competing in Mundys Corner held their own Chain Off events. Monica Kinley-Kuhn and Sam Hogenaur of HELP the Animals no-kill shelter in Richmond, Indiana, remained chained to doghouses for 24 hours starting July 3.
On July 13, 18-year-old Pinckneyville, Illinois, resident Aija Nicole Gillman was named winner of Chain Off 2006. As for next year, Grimes hopes the contest will be even bigger and take place in a more prominent city. She is also optimistic that it will touch just as many—if not more—lives.
For participant Don Lee McKendree of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the Chain Off resulted in a major change in his attitude as a pet guardian. While McKendree formerly chained his dog Niki, the competition allowed him to realize the daily struggles and tremendous sadness that an animal in such circumstances experiences.
“Don was by far the most affected of all the contestants,” Grimes says. “When he returned home, he immediately removed Niki from her chains. He admitted that taking part in the Chain Off was one of the hardest things he ever did—a very intense and powerful demonstration of what life is truly like for a chained pet.”
For more information on DDB’s Chain Off 2006, visit www.DogsDeserveBetter.com.
