A friend received the below e-mail and sent it to us. Because we received it and because it refers to this blog in general terms, albeit incorrectly, we have decided to publish it unredacted (except for the e-mail lines and the name of the original sender). But we have also decided to publish it because we wish to make it abundantly clear, if we have not already done so, that this blog is not about how good the people involved in this incident are, or their dogs for that matter, or to have people think that we do not have sympathy for the little dog that was bitten, which of course we do. But there is nothing any of us can do about that now. Those facts are behind us now. Our focus is purely on the process aspects of this case because any adverse decisions against Sidney, on procedure or the merits, other than what might have been decided had this case been handled by the usual means (but for political pressure on DoH), will surely affect all dogs in the District of Columbia, for better of for worse, no matter on which side of the case your sympathies fall. We have also decided to publish it without further comment regardless of any inaccuracies, omissions, difference of opinions, or mischaracterizations. The "story" to which the message refers, by the way, is The Washington Post story that appeared on July 27th about the hearing the day before, the transcript for which is available to everyone (see main posting for purchase information). And, again, we wish to point out that we have absolutely no connection to any of the parties (or dogs) in the case and never saw any of them until the hearing on July 26th. We have interposed ourselves into this matter solely as DC residents concerned about the welfare of all animals. One final comment. Although we received about three --- what we would charactize as --- negative comments, just as it it would serve usful purpose to publish them, we have also chosen to not publish any opined links to Sidney's sad plight to the well-known case now in courts regarding abuse to pit bulls and other large breeds. However eggrregious the acts in that latter case might have been, the defendants are entitled to their day in court, and they are getting it. We do not need to stir up sympathies by posting photos of abused dogs. It is absue of process in the future that we are more concerend about, and to make sure that that does not happen.
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It's important to mention that Duane is DOCTOR Duane. Emergency room Pediatric Anesthesiologist Doctor Duane. He has spent his career helping children who have been through horrors that boggle the mind. For that altruism he has been repaid by first watching his 10-pound dog being crushed in the jaws of a 50-pound Pit Bull terrier, then by this careless article that subtly takes the side of the attacker and its duplicitous owners, even going as far as publishing the url created to save the beast and providing a public forum for their PR campaign.
Never once is the victim mentioned... nor is the close to $30,000 that I'm told Duane has spent to keep his dog alive. When Duane is finally quoted it is not about himself or his dog or some tacky plea for money, but his concern for other animals and children even recognizing the sadness the family will feel, but stating that it is for the protection of us all. It speaks volumes about the type of person he is and the fact that he does not deserve something like this.
When I was a child my Dad taught me that a dog only has one job in the world‹ NOT TO BITE. When they do they face the consequences. My own Welsh Terrier was the victim of a brutal mauling by a bull dog who's family fled Pennsylvania rather than face the consequence for that dog's biting of a child. 27 stitches on a 22-pound dog. TWICE! We had to listen to their little boy crying "Don't kill my dog!" but we made sure that what happened would NEVER happen again to anything else EVER again. It's the responsible thing to do. The dog faced the consequences of what he did.
It's time Sidney did as well.
If you disagree I invite you to remember playing childhood games where the counting of seconds is an element. Now imagine your child, or your dog, or your hand in the jaws of a violent animal with no intentions of letting go.
One alligator.
Two alligator.
Three alligator.
Four alligator.
Five alligator.
Six alligator.
Seven alligator.
Eight alligator.
Nine alligator.
Ten alligator.
Now please say a prayer for Molly and post a response to the article... and pass this on!
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Todd
