Rescuer found guilty of theft after saving dog

Great.  It's about time Tammy got what she deserved!  Now for some real jail time.

I can't decide how I feel about this.  On one hand the dog was obviously being abused in several ways, and should have been removed from the home.  On the other, she did commit a crime by going onto their property and stealing their dog.  There are proper channels to go through to save a dog, and she did not follow them.  If the neighbor called the Humane Society several times and no-one responded and that is the only attempt made at saving the dog through 'proper' channels, then that wasn't enough.

She should have called animal control, then the police if nothing was happening. I'm 90% sure that if the legal channels were pursued, the dog would have had the same happy outcome.  He might have had to wait a few days, but he would have had a good life or been put out of his misery.

I do believe she should spend some time in jail--if nothing else at least as a message to other rescuers who feel it is ok to take a dog they feel is in danger or being abused.

DO NOT TAKE A DOG THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU, JUST AS YOU DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING ELSE THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU.

There was an error in the subject line. The proper word is "Thief", not "rescuer".

You may also substitute "Burglar" and/or "Trespasser."

Wow - I have to say I'm a bit surprised at the responses.  I understand not wanting every do-gooder out there to take matters into their own hands, but it appears the dog couldn't get up, the neighbor said it hadn't been able to get up for 3 days, it seemed like it needed help.  I don't know if I could have left the dog.  Obviously she should have called the animal services in the area, but the neighbor already said she had called for 3 days with no response.

Can someone please elaborate on what should have been done or why the responses here are so much against this woman?  There must be more to the story that I am not seeing.

I would have done the same thing as Tammy!!!!!!!!! Especially when Animal Control wouldn't get involved. That poor animal had been down for 3 days............absolutely unacceptable!!!! It's not an issue of whether it's your "property" or not.  It's a suffering being that needs help. Period.

DogTime

 The dog's owners were never charged with cruelty.

 

It doesn't surprise me that AC never called back or responded here in PA.

I just don't understand how the owner's weren't charged with animal cruelty and neglect. How could you be so heartless and cruel to leave a dog tied to a chain in the backyard his whole life. Why have a dog? I just don't get it. 

It's not an issue of whether it's your "property" or not. It's a suffering being that needs help. Period.

Because after she gave it help by taking it to the vet, she gave the dog to a foster home and refused to tell the police where it was. That's theft.

It's a terrible situation, because we can all see the dog is suffering. I would have a very tough time not doing the same thing myself. But laws regarding these sorts of things MUST be followed! If it is ok to steal and refuse to return (ingoring proper legal process and hindering investigation) a suffering dog from a neighbor, then by the same logic (circumstances not as obvious, but the principle of the whole things would stand ) we would have people stealing other people's children out from under their nose if they even suspected child abuse. There is a right way and a wrong way to go about getting justice. Take pictures, march them down to Animal Control, give them to a vet, get the logistics started. Get the vet down to the house. Don't ust up and take the dog, because you know darn well that once you do that, you've become the 'bad guy' and the dog will undoubtedly be returned.

Though I wouldn't advocate taking someone's dog, as we really need to follow the legal system, in order to even begin to think of the possibility of prosecuting people. Though, sometimes, I think it takes people like Tammy Grimes to wake up others on how the legal system just doesn't work the way it should, when it comes to animals. We had a neighbor's dog that got hung up in a tree, by his chain that he was hooked to, on a 80 something degree day. He died shortly after the owner cut him down. I happened to see it just shortly after the owner discovered him and was getting something to cut the tangled chain with. Not sure if he died from the heat or the hanging or just a combination of the two....a very horrible death either way.  Well, I had called about this dog, previous to this happening, and nothing had been done. Often, also part of the problem is that the laws are so vague that there really is nothing that can be done.