Andrea Rosebrock 
Ann Wylene Lam, the 64 year old Savannah woman who had been charged with theft and criminal trespass back in October for using bolt cutters to cut a chain tethering a sick and neglected dog on her neighbor’s property just got the best Holiday present from the Chatham County Courts. The charges were dropped.
Instead, she was only cited for disorderly conduct which is a city ordinance violation. Fines and court fees were suspended. In addition, Lam’s attorney, Doug Andrews, donated Lam’s legal fees to the local animal shelter.
Excellent news! Here is one court of law that decided not to punish an individual who decided to rescue a sick animal from a neglectful owner. I’m not advocating criminal actions or theft, but if Animal Control Officers, the ASPCA, or other animal protection organizations that have the power to do something – and they do NOT – it falls on the caring and outraged citizens to take action. Many do and many are punished. Yes theft is a crime, but it is more of a crime to see an animal suffer from starvation, neglect, and abuse. Ann Lam knew taking the dog was a crime, but it was the right thing to do. And the courts pretty much agreed with that.
Except John Crosby, the dog’s owner. According to him, he is the real victim. What he said in an interview he gave on 
camera:
“I’m the victim. I mean come on, I called the cops – I mean I was the one that was stole from. I mean I’m sorry that she’s an elder lady, it doesn’t – I mean when I get 64, can I go take things?”
He says he was forced to keep the dog outside when he moved to Savannah because his landlord wouldn’t allow it inside, and claims he was unaware of the local law against tethering. He also said he could not afford to take the dog to a vet.
His dog was diagnosed with mange, a bacterial infection, two types of worms, as well as sores on its leg and hindquarter. The dog was deemed too sick to be adopted and euthanized by animal control.
Excuse me? And he is the real victim? The real victim here was his dog, not his smiling and arrogant self.
John Crosby was charged with neglect, lack of shots/tags and tethering. He was ordered to pay fines for those offenses. So much for our *victim*.
Congratulations Ann! You are our kind of lady! And you must have one hell of a set of bolt cutters judging from the size of the chain that was used on that poor dog.
I am happy to hear that Ann got off so easy and that her attorney donated the fees, but so sorry to hear about that poor little fur baby that had to be put down. This guy even looks like a moron. May he rot in hell.
Sorry Moe but saying that guy looks like a moron is degrading the true morons. There are no words in the english language to describe him.
It’s good to see someone has a little sense and dropped the unwarranted charges against a preson who did what others should have done, legally. Animal control, bull. ASPCA, bigger bull. Complaints made and nothing is done only because the powers that be, in charge of doing that, were too darn lazy and ignorant to do it. I only wish there were more like this woman and maybe the powers that be would start doing their jobs.
That’s wonderful news. I too don’t agree with thieving, but very concern with animal welfare. I just don’t understand how when evidence is present, AC can still turn their back. Case in point, the dead horses in Clermont County.
Right on Moe…may he first suffer greatly and then rot in Hell. Thanks to all of us who took the time to fax, email and call to help Ann (so sorry we were too late for the fur baby). “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
– Margaret Mead One of my favorite quotes.
Let’s do our best to make 2010 a better year!!!
u’re a “victim” boo hoo!!! first, John Crosby, u’re a twit n u should b charged with neglect (among others!!!) u should NOT have any more animals…….for the rest of u’r life.
Ann…u’re awesome. i pray that i woulda had the cojones 2 do the same thing. i think i would.
doesn’t it just blow u’r mind when u read stories like this? the person who is trying 2 help is the ‘criminal’? n the TRUE CRIMINAL is the “victim”? yeah, right!!!! this is right up there with the story of Tammi n Doogie.
second……i’d like 2 wish ALL a very happy New Year. it’s 21 degrees here but the sun is SHINING!!! sunshind SO makes the COLD easier 2 handle, doesn’t it?
bless u all, dear friends…. my dogs (n cats) r all having some duck for breakfast…..ttfn.
Wonderful news! Thanks for the update. So sorry it was too late for the poor pup. RIP little one.
John sounds like he’s a narcissistic and irresponsible “pet owner” who should have been charged with animal cruelty. May he never own another animal again until he learns to grow up and be responsible! Hey John, you can only be a victim for so long and then you become a volunteer! I hope you get into some serious therapy, but that would require that you get out of denial and admit that you have some serious problems!
I am so happy that this gallant lady did not suffer any penalties, and the courts finally saw what was happening. As for this twit Mr. Crosby, victim my ass. You dumbass, you made that poor furbaby suffer, from your hands of neglect. I wish I could tether that sob outside with no shelter for the rest of his life, with a chain larger than the one he had around this poor baby. I am so sorry the furbaby did not make it; but it will never suffer again waiting for Ms. Lamm, who he will greet at Rainbow Bridge. She was probably the only person who gave a hoot about the pup.
I do have to agree, that when the AC and the police do not respond to complaints of neglect, they should be held accountable for their actions. If I had made numerous complaints about the treatment of a dog to the AC/police, and nothing was done, I too, would have gone and taken the dog – right to the vet, to document what injuries/neglect the baby suffered from.
John Crosby is obviously a poorly educated moron! Nice tattoos Loser!
I noticed that, no money for vet care but he has the money for tattoos.
Thanks for the update D, and great news about Ann Lam, and what a wonderful gfit on her attorney’s part. I think a big thanks goes to Doug Andrews too, not only for his great defense job but also his generosity and advocacy for animals. As for what Ms Lam did, guess I am on the other side here, as in cases like this, I am all for theft and trespass. But then, just because man’s law calls it that, it is not, it is decency, humaneness and answering to a higher law. The Lam case, no matter how well it turned out, is just another example of how the laws need to be changed.
As for Animal Control, what a shame, and where is their fine? They ignore an animal in need and then when that need turns to injury and sickness, instead of saving, they kill. Last time I checked, mange, worms and sores on legs were treatable conditions, not grounds for killing an animal. There should be some finger pointing and accountability for this agency also.
As for Mr Crosby, a couple of months, or years, chained to a tree, with the same chain, and no food or water, might be a good start. Not only is he an uneducated slimeball, he seems to forget that while he is moaning that he is the “one that was stole from” by the “elder lady”, he in fact is the one who stole. He stole the comfort, the safety, the care, the love and the life from one who deserved all of this. Victim? He has no idea what a true victim is.
Bud, thanks for pointing out the tatoos, I had missed those, but only adds to my final comment. Last time I checked the cost of a gold necklace AND tatoos would have well covered any basic vet fees. Too bad he could not also have been charged with “manslaughter”, but I guess in this case it would be called “dogslaughter”.
D, anytime you need them, just let me know, I have the boltcutters!
I thought about how much dog food he could have bought for the price of his tattoos and gold chain then I looked back at his “mug shot” and realized that he didn’t look like he missed any meals. He should have shared his food with his dog and supply water at all times. Then the vet would have only been needed for treatment of worms. He just didn’t give a damn! He’s probably a psychopath with no conscience.
I hope the attorney didn’t donate his fees to the same animal shelter that wouldn’t respond to Ann Lam’s calls for action! That money should have been enough to pay for the fees to save the poor dog. What is with that? Justice still hasn’t been served.
Another good point Monica, he does look pretty well fed…too bad he did not feed his brain and his heart..What an idiot… “I am the victim” … Bad to say on my part, but I would really like to “make him the victim”. I hope his fines and court costs were sky high.
Hear that “thump” comin’ from southern Georgia?
That’s the sound of that judge whackin’ ol’ John upside the head with a cluebat.
Let’s have a round of applause for Ann, Doug, and the judge!
There is a special place in heaven for those who take care to do the right thing for animals. This so-called dog owner is an IDIOT, who lost nothing but the inconvenience he saw as taking care of his dog.
Dogs Deserve Better is a group of people who care about those dogs who are tied up like lawn ornaments, or penned outside without shelter. Please join us in the fight. The founder suffered this same situation by rescuing a dying dog, though she didn’t get off the charges, but the idiot owners did!
You go Grandma!
After being rescued they killed the dog because it had mange, worms and a coupleof sores? Good God…what is more cruel than killing a dog for those minor problems. As the operator of a no-kill animal sanctuary I say shame on them…what could have been a good story is instead a terribly sad one.
I agree with that whole heartedly Maureen. What they really mean is, “did not want to be bothered!” Just as they did not want to be bothered by going out and doing anything to help save this poor dog. They should indeed be held cuplable and fined, or the lot of them fired.
Peggy, You Are Right.The whole sorry, poor excuse for humane beings have no buisness with the job and everyone of them should be FIRED for derilection of duty, if nothing else, as they can’t be fired for heartlessness and not caring. Mores the shame. For jobs that deal with animals, that should be exceptable legal reason to fire on.
Hey Excal, I do so agree, ACO, shelter people, cops, anyone who works with animals should be held as accountable as those who work with children. But we can sure see by past cases, as well as the MAS mess, that accountability when it comes to animals is not even considered. Do what ever they darn well please, and make excuses afterward. What, to my mind, is even sadder, is the vast number of people who buy into the excuses and assume that all who work with animals are GOOD GUYS and KNOW BEST….to steal a quote from Dickens …. “Ban Humbug”.
Well I think that most everone on this site knows better, something else that we need to get changed. The laws concerning shelter, etc., workers.Theycould call it ” The Law Of Accountability”
OH BOY Excal love that idea and what a great law that would be….we could apply it to all politicians too. Way to Go!!
Its sad to even think of, but if this little thing had worms for too long, they probly had this litte furbaby eat up inside. That is ….loss of words here. RIP baby at least people can’t hurt you anymore.
Ann Wylene Lam thank you for your kind selfless act.I stand up,take off my hat, and salute you.
Thanks for helping that dog. At least it is not suffering anymore. I hope that owner is not allowed to own another animal.