It makes me angry! 300 for a good deed? the dog Owners should be responsible because Doogie was about to die! I don't live in PA and i'm glad i don't! I live in California. I noticed another thing in the video of doogie. You know the one on Dogs deserve better? There's a white dog above tammy and doogie who isn't chained. Is that another one of the arnolds dogs? I accidently said dead instead of deed sorry!

It makes me angry! 300 for a good dead? the dog Owners should be responsible because Doogie was about to die! I don't live in PA and i'm glad i don't! I live in California. I noticed another thing in the video of doogie. You know the one on Dogs deserve better? There's a white dog above tammy and doogie who isn't chained. Is that another one of the arnolds dogs?

They are probably making her pay that money so they can stop by the local 7-11 and pick up their beer and lottery tickets.

Tammy should think about moving to Atlanta or any other 'socialized' city besides that hell hole she currently lives. I wouldn't send my worst enemy to that county to live.

Since the infamous 'Judge" has said Tammy must do her community service for a people org...... how about her offering to do her 300 hours at the judge's home educating her on animal cruelty.

Although it probably wouldn't do any good, it would make for a great ending to this horrific saga. Tammy could certainly teach Ms elizabeth something about the laws in this country.

Blair Co makes me want to puke.

Tammy broke new ground by standing up to the idiots that "rule" her backward county. I live in Georgia and up until now I always thought that only the South bred good old boys. But this case has proved that this Pa county has its' on "good old boy" robed and sitting on the judicial bench.
And the DA? lol what a freakin' joke he is.

I sincerely hope the voters of this county are paying attention.

Tammy handled herself with class and dignity in spite of the behavior of the so called 'court' and other "authoritive" officials. Keep your head held high, Tammy, my friend - you have absolutely nothing to be but proud of yourself, and for giving Doogie the happiest five months of his entire life.

If I were the Arnolds, I'd be too ashamed to show my face for a good while. This couple sounds like some of the inbreds we have living in Georgia. We call those kinds of people 'trailer trash'. That seems to sum it up quite nicely.

Smiles and high 5's to you, Tammy !
Lisa in Atlanta

Punishing Tammy for saving a life is wrong. Making her pay for her trial is wrong. Did Mike Vick pay for his trial? This dog was not stolen from a loving, caring family. This dog was rescued from a life of hell. How can this state convict Tammy and then release a woman who shot her dog to death? Where is the logic and fairness in the legal system in this state? I'm disgusted by what has happened and how so many people don't think anything wrong was done by the Arnold's. Why can't people see what is really going on here. A dog is a living breathing being with feelings and needs. Animals are completely dependent on their owners for everything. The problem is there are way tooo many bad owners. You can see cruelty everywhere. Children die daily by the hands of their loved ones, and animals are treated no different. They are tortured and killed by those they trust to keep them safe and why? Because there are way tooo many sick people in this world. Sick people come in all varieties, some of them are even members of the justice world. Tammy's sentence is proof of that. Way to go Pennsylvania, home of the city of brotherly love......oh...except for dogs and people who protect them.

For those who say (and seem to believe what they say), that this dog was SO loved by the Arnolds, and that the only reason it didn't get up is because it was sleeping, or just didn't want to get up for Tammy, you really must educate yourselves on this case. If this dog was being treated by a vet via the Arnold's, then tell me why any self-respecting vet would EVER allow a dogs nails to grow so long that they were curled UNDER his pads? NO dog could walk with nails like that and THAT is only one of the pieces of proof that this dog was suffering at the hands of the Arnold's. Feces embedded in it's hair, a filthy, empty food bowl and an equally filthy water pail with water so rancid, rats wouldn't drink it. This is so inhumane. Ask yourselves a question. Would you treat your wife, husband, partner, mother, father or children in this manor? If you wouldn't, then why would you subject an animal to such a horrific existence? Treat all life the way YOU would want to be treated. It is not a question of status, race, or socio-economics. It is not a rich/poor issue. It is, however, an issue of ethics. If you cannot properly care for an animal, you should not have one until you are able. We, as a society need to show more compassion for all living things.

Ever occur to you why some of us can be this much concerned with animals suffering? Because government is not. Why not? Animals don't vote. ~Paul Harvey

Animals give me more pleasure through the viewfinder of a camera than they ever did in the crosshairs of a gunsight. And after I've finished "shooting," my unharmed victims are still around for others to enjoy. I have developed a deep respect for animals. I consider them fellow living creatures with certain rights that should not be violated any more than those of humans. ~Jimmy Stewart

The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot. ~Mark Twain, What Is Man, 1906

The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men. ~Alice Walker

Animals can communicate quite well. And they do. And generally speaking, they are ignored. ~Alice Walker

Heaven is by favor; if it were by merit your dog would go in and you would stay out. Of all the creatures ever made [man] is the most detestable. Of the entire brood, he is the only one... that possesses malice. He is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~Mark Twain

The human spirit is not dead. It lives on in secret.... It has come to believe that compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind. ~Albert Schweitzer, Novel Peace Prize address, "The Problem of Peace in the World Today"

We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace. ~Albert Schweitzer, The Philosophy of Civilization

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
"To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being."
Mahatma Gandhi, statesman and philosopher

"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages."
Thomas Edison, inventor

I am a rescue person. Founded my own rescue group. I totally support Tammy and what she did for this dog. I have rescued sick and dieing abused dogs from horrible people. Sadly I have choose to not take it any further than JUST rescueing the dogs. Sadly one of these people whom turned over 8 dogs at once, went out and started buying and breeding and abusing again. I WISH I would of turned her in, to the news, police, SPCA anyone who would listen. People are SICK and we do what we HAVE to do for the sake of these POOR animals. They CANNOT speak for themselves or untie themselves or feed themselves or take themselves to the vet. There are many laws out there that are Ridiculous!! Prosecuting this case is STUPID! I'd be ashamed to be from that state or town/city. I would,will and have done what needs to be done to rescue a dog or cat from misery and a slow death. It makes me sick to know that there are so many people out there that would just walk on by and let this happen to ANY animal. Here in my part of california it is CRIMINAL TO CHAIN A DOG FOR MORE THAN 3 HOURS AT A TIME. I have and will continue to do all I can to stop animal abuse!! I support you Tammy and I would of done the same thing. If more people would do their part to help then there would be less of a need for us. That is not gong to happen becuase so many dummies just have NO idea what is really going on and what it takes to do what we do and what we give up!! I would go to jail for a life of any animal that is being abused!! I would glady share a cell with you!!

Jennifer Jones
California

It is sad to see that certain party(s?) have chosen to further attack Tammy Grimes on this site. Under the veil of ANONYMOUS , afraid to come out of hiding as spineless vermin are wont to do, they discredit only themselves and by proxy Judge Doyle, DA Consiglio, and the travesty that was this judicial decision.
We can only wonder if the last name of this person(s?) may be
ARNOLD

Those with a soul are sadly shaking their heads to think that the world has so many who think like YOU...whoever you are.

You surely have crawled out of a very dark place, perhaps in your mind or perhaps from HELL ITSELF.

Please, do the rest of the world a favor and go back to where you came from.

Most Sincerely,

Doc Wheeler

The time has come to see if Ms. Grimes convictions are real or just a lot of double talk. Ms. Grimes remains defiant of the law she was found guilty of violating and has stated (above) that she prefers jail rather than comply with the Judge’s orders.

Her exact words from the letter she posted above were “I am morally and ethically unable and unwilling to pay any fine that goes to pay the salaries of those who use power wrongly; those who punish citizens for helping animals and allow animal abusers to go free will not receive monetary support from me.”

Ms. Grimes, now is the time to stand up for what you believe. Will you defy the Judge’s orders, stand by your principles, and go to jail, as you say you will? Or will you do as you have been told, accept your conviction and admit that your moral outrage in this case is clearly not all you say it is.

While I could agree with your intent to help a dog in distress, I most adamantly disagree with your tactics in this case. However, I could at least respect you for upholding your convictions, if that is indeed what you do.
All of us wait with bated breath to learn if you believe what you preach or if you are just another hypocrite out for publicity.

Dear Friends of Tammy,

Please feel free to use this letter , perhaps with some minor changes so that it is your own words, to contact the Senators/Reps listed with addresses at the bottom of the letter.

February 23, 2008

[Representative or Senator ______________]
[Address]
_________________________________

Re: The February 22, 2008 Theft Conviction of Tammy Grimes, Blair County, Pennsylvania

Dear __________________:

I am writing to you today regarding the conviction of Tammy Grimes by Judge Elizabeth Doyle for theft of a dying animal from the property of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold.

Tammy Grimes is the head of the organization, “Dogs Deserve Better”, a national organization whose sole purpose for existence is to help animals who have been condemned to a horrible life exposed to the elements on chains by their uncaring owners. In this particular case, Ms. Grimes, having been made aware of a dog who lay chained and dying on the ground, unattended to, without food or water for an extended period of time--his negligent owners nowhere to be found--contacted the necessary authorities, advised them of the situation and were told by them to take the dog and, if she was willing to, get proper veterinary care for him. She did just that, and by doing so, saved the dog’s life.

Both videographic and photographic hard evidence were taken as the situation unfolded. During Ms. Grimes’ trial, and at the behest of District Attorney Richard Consiglio (who was widely criticized for wasting taxpayers’ money in bringing charges in this matter), Judge Doyle refused admittance of this evidence to the jury. In addition, throughout the trial, Ms. Grimes was personally attacked and her valiant efforts were belittled by DA Consiglio and Judge Doyle. At her sentencing on February 22, Judge Doyle went so far as to say that Tammy was not Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King, Jr., and that she was a disgrace to her cause and her supporters. The Judge also said two wrongs do not make a right, yet the Arnolds were never charged for animal cruelty. One has to ask “Why?” DA Consiglio chimed in, saying the heroic rescue of Doogie (the name given to the dog by Ms. Grimes) was a “publicity stunt” and that the Arnolds were victims of her “lies“. He went on to say that Ms. Grimes showed disrespect for the law when in reality, Consiglio showed an ongoing disrespect for the law in his refusal to enforce existing animal cruelty laws by bringing charges against the Arnolds.

In addition to sentencing Ms. Grimes to 300 hours of community service and one year of probation, the 300 hours of community service she said, must be performed at organizations that benefit humans as “humans are dogs too” (Judge Doyle’s words). The Judge also ordered Ms. Grimes to remove all Doogie-related information from her organization’s website and “all other sites and forms of media over which she has control”, thereby violating her rights under the First Amendment. Ms. Grimes’ attorney has said he will appeal this blatant miscarriage of justice.

In addition to this, Judge Doyle also denied media access to the trial and in an almost unheard of step, also ordered that Ms. Grimes pay $1,700--the cost for her own trial! This sends a strong message to America that despite what is guaranteed in the Constitution, we do not have a right to a fair trial.

Mr. ______________, we are asking, nay IMPLORING, you to contact Governor Ed Rendell and request a full pardon for Tammy Grimes. Along with Doogie, it is Ms. Grimes who has been made a victim by the misuse of the judicial system by Judge Doyle and DA Consiglio.

In addition, we would ask you to take all necessary steps in demanding the resignations of Judge Doyle and DA Consiglio. They have more than proven themselves to be an embarrassment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We can assure you that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Americans who care about animals are watching, and that we are doing what we can to bring national exposure to this travesty.

As Americans and animal lovers, and in the interest of justice, we would appreciate your consideration and action on this matter.

Sincerely yours,

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Senator Bob Casey
United States Senate
383 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Arlen Specter
United States Senate
711 Hart Building
Washington, DC 20510

Honorable Jerry Stern
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
324 Allegheny Street
Holidaysburg, PA 16648

Honorable Mike Fleck
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
159A East Wing
P.O. Box 202081
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2081

Representative Bill Shuster
204 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515

Honorable Richard A. Geist
Gables Office Building, Suite 104
1331 12th Avenue
Altoona, PA 16601

If Tammy had called child welfare trying to get help for an abused child and no one came how would she be judged?
If she then took a dying child for needed medical help would she be a kidnapper?

In Virgina 4 children were found dead in their apt a few months ago. Teachers and neighbors had called the authorities for help on 5 different occasions. But no one came.
The children were then killed by their mother and lay rotting for 4 months before the smell was investigated.

The powers that be had every chance to save these children.

If only Tammy had lived next door to this family.

We all look to laws and the authorities to help in these situations. When thay don't should we just say "oh well" and look the other way? Tammy did what she had to do. I agree with what she did. The authorities are wrong but they will NEVER admit it. They are angry because their incompetence was brought to light. So Tammy must be made an example of what happens to you when you embarrass the police.

If a concerned citizen can make a citizens arrest why is it they can not save a life.

Laws need to change. The fact that Tammy is being asked to pay the court costs for this absurd prosecution is crazy.
Tammy should sue the "owners" of this dog for emotinal distress. Because of their negligence her life will never be the same.
Thank you Tammy for caring and acting to save this poor dog.

WAY TO GO JUDGE!!!!!!!! The only thing better would have been to send Tammy Grimes to jail for her theft. Tammy caused the dealth of that dog via heartbreak when she stole him from his home!

Let's see if your support of first amendment rights leaves this comment on line. BTW, thanks for the links to the reps, we'll use them to write and support the judge.

I DEMAND THE DA AND JUDGE BE REMOVED FROM THEIR POSTS, AND THAT THE TRUE ABUSERS, THE 'OWNERS' OF THIS DOG, OR PROPERTY, AS THE DA AND JUDGE HAVE STATED (BY THE WAY, A LIFE IS NOT FREAKIN PROPERTY), HAVE CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST THEM. YOU HAVE CARRIED OUT A GROSS AND NEGLIGENT MISREPRESENTATION OF LAW AND DESERVE TO BE PROSECUTED IMMEDIATELY, AS YOU...THE DA, JUDGE AND 'PROPERTY OWNERS' WHO WERE THE ACTUAL CRIMINALS, ARE GUILTY AS HELL. ANYONE who allows another life to suffer, needs to be locked away. That kind of pathology is not something that can or ever will be rehabilitated, and we all know (well documented through history) that a person who abuses, tortures and/or kills an animal (and those who support such acts), are more likely to do the same to humans.

So, I guess we live in a country where criminals prevail...and those ignorant abusers and killers can do what they want without facing the consequences for their crimes. No wonder most countries view americans as idiots!! Next time you see another life suffering at the hands of CRIMINALS, you may want to think twice about helping....even if it is a child, because you could be next. The good samaritan law does not apply.

As a fellow dog rescue person, I believe that what Tammy did was not for "publicity" (that's what the "chain-outs" that she's sponsored for five years now are for.) Tammy is a caring human being who fell victim to our "system" of "justice" which, if not altered will lead to the downfall of our society just as it has for other great cultures in the past who chose to side with complacency. I urge Pennsylvania's political officials to do whatever is possible to convince Governor Rendell to issue a full pardon for Tammy AND to change our laws to protect all sentient life from abuse as Tammy conscientiously attempted to do.

I would like to know why there are so many people out there that feel it's ok to walk away from the site of an animal dying. It's not ok if it's a human being, especially a baby or a child. A baby can't speak and tell you it's being abused. It can't get up and walk away especially if it's chained to something. How is an animal any different? The laws have to change and if the only way to get change is to break the law I'd do it too. And to the person that wrote "who cares, she broke the law" I'd feel very sorry for your soul; if you had one.

I weep at the level of commitment Tammy is displaying by refusing to pay this fine and I applaud her for it; instead of taking the easy way out, she chooses to stand up to the injustice that continues in this case. She is brave and she is strong and she is my hero and will be for all us in the rescue community!
I am honored to share this planet with this courageous woman. The District Attorney, Richard Consiglio and Judge Doyle should be ashamed in this case. WHY HAVE THE ABUSERS NOT BEEN PROSECUTED?? WHY WERE THEY NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CRIMES OF ANIMAL CRUELTY!!??
Tammy Grimes quotes Martin Luther King and the quote is profoundly appropriate.
I will quote Elie Wiesel:
THERE MAY BE TIMES WHEN WE ARE POWERLESS TO PREVENT INJUSTICE, BUT THERE MUST NEVER BE A TIME WHEN WE FAIL TO PROTEST.

Jennifer Pryor
www.Pryorsplanet.com

I would like to say that what Tammy Grimes did as to being the right thing....was nothing short of heroic....I am also appalled that police and animal rights chose to look the other way when they observed this animal being mistreated, abused and neglected....
In my oppinion Tammy saw a wrong and did what she had to do to make it right. Last I knew animal cruelty was against the law and in most states ..punishment for such behaviour is punishable....I guess Pennsylvania doesnt think that it has to follow laws...maybe they have thier own..and can change at will...I believe that all charges should be dropped against Tammy Grimes and charges be placed on the owners who chose to neglect and mistreat this animal who has ever right to live a happy and healthy life free of mistreatment and abuse......
The Judge should be ashamed of herself as should the police and animal control officers who chose to look the other way when abuse and neglect are clearly shown....
These people should be judged the same way.
In my oppinion the only just and right thing to do is pardon Tammy Grimes and charge the owners with abuse, neglect and mistreatment of this animal ...and any others that cross her desk ..to not turn her head when injustice and abuse show thier ugly face....
The ones who should be jailed and charged is the owners who have left this animal to die in the mud in his own feces...how cruel is that.....Im absolutely appalled and disgusted by such injustice!!!
Sincerely
Beth E David