Andrea Rosebrock 
PLEASE SEE ANY UPDATES ON CONGO BELOW AND SIGN THE PETITION!
UPDATE 11/15 – Congo Released to the James – But the Fight is NOT Over – read the full story below!
I posted this story a couple of days ago and it has gotten alot of attention. Congo, the German shepherd who was protecting his owner, Elizabeth James when he felt she was being attacked has been judged vicious and ordered to be killed!
You can read the original post here and the full story here
I just got this email and the news is not good.
HEARTBREAKING!!! PLEASE READ BELOW AND FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW:
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 5:20 PM
Subject: URGENT!!!! Congo Lost in Court – PLS CALL NJ GOV CORZINE TO OVERRIDE !!
** PLEASE CROSSPOST & FORWARD **
CONGO THE GSD lost his court case today. Judge upheld the death sentence.
EVERYONE PLEASE WRITE & CALL
New Jersey Gov.Corzine
Urge him to OVERRIDE CONGO’s DEATH SENTENCEGov.’s office is taking a numerical tally on how many people call – please call him
Office of the Governor PO Box 001 Trenton, NJ 08625
(609) 292-6000
email by going to his site: http://www.nj.gov/governor/govmail.html
(Choose “Law & Public Safety” on Drop-down list and on the next page, choose “Pardons & Clemency”)NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS ESPECIALLY NEEDED!!!!!! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!
NY and PA residents also especially helpful… but EVERY CALL FROM ANYWHERE COUNTS!!
PLEASE EMAIL AND CALL… DO NOT LET CONGO DIE!!!
For those not familiar with Congo’s case:
- Two landscapers/gardeners, illegal immigrants, were working at the family’s house
- They arrived an hour early
- They were told by the husband to stay in their truck until he could get out of the shower and get some clothes on and put the dogs away
- The husband speaks Spanish and spoke to them in Spanish so there is no question they understand what they were told to do
- They directly disobeyed the husband and walked into the yard where the wife had just pulled into the driveway
- The two adult German Shepherds and their puppies came running
- The gardeners panicked
- ONE GARDENER GRABBED THE WIFE AND WRESTLED HER TO THE GROUND, USING HER AS A PROTECTIVE SHIELD
- Congo thought his owner was being attacked and went after the gardener
- The gardener used his rake to beat at the puppies and inflicted some injuries on them
- The gardener changed his story three times (interesting note on official bias: when the owner said the gardener changed his story five times, the dog warden said “No, he only changed his story 3 times.”)
Additional Contact Info if you’re having a hard time getting through
FAX~609-924-5902
Office of the Governor
South Jersey Office
856-614-3200
Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-292-6000
Governor’s aide
609-924-5902
PLEASE call. They really ARE monitoring calls. If you know of your local ordinances pertaining to bites on private property, or bites involving protection of property, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW!!!! When they were informed them of Florida law, they just said “UH OH” and that they didn’t know about that type of law. If an animal in Florida bites a person on private property, or in the course of protecting life or property, the owner is absolved of responsibility for the action since it was not a direct result of the owners irresponsibility.
CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS AND SEE IF YOURS ARE SIMILAR!!!!!!!!
If you have contacts with Animal Control Officers, or Law Enforcement K9 handlers, please have them call!!!!
Please, get the word out and do whatever you can!!
UPDATES on Congo
11/13/08 – Congo’s death sentence still stands (see news to note below). Gov. Corzine has not announce anything yet but more likely after his PBS interview this Thursday. Here are some more action updates for Congo in case anyone missed it.
ACTION UPDATES:
FOR THOSE IN THE US– KEEP CALLING TH E GOVERNOR. THEY’RE NOT ASKING QUESTIONS, JUST MAKING TALLY. PLEASE CALL THE GOV’S OFFICE:
(609) 292-6000 (office hours: 8am-6pm Eastern time)
Here’s what you can say: “Hi, I’m calling to ask the Governor to override Congo’s death sentence. He should NOT be killed.” The operator will then thank you and tell you that they’re just taking a tally and will count your support for Congo. If nothing happens today, keep calling tomorrow please.
* Please Sign the Petition to Save Congo!
* GOV. CORZINE’S Q&A RE CONGO ON PBS (please send comments):
LIVE !!! GOVERNOR CORZINE WILL HAVE A CALL-IN /EMAIL QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION THURSDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2007 8 PM PBS CHANNEL 13 NYC/NJ AREA PLEASE GO TO http://www.nj.com/mailforms/askcorzine/ TO ASK HIM TO INTERVENE ON BEHALF OF ALL NJ PROPERTY OWNERS TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS, TO SAFEGUARD THEIR HOMES & FAMILIES &TO SAVE CONGO’S LIFE FOR DOING JUST THAT FOR HIS OWNER & HIS FAMILY.
* The Gov.’s office is taking a numerical tally on ho w many people call – please call him at (609) 292-6000, email by going to his site: http://www.nj.gov/governor/govmail.html Choose “Law & Public Safety” on Drop-down list and on the next page, choose “Pardons & Clemency”
*Photos from 11/13 rally for Congo
UPDATE – 11/15/07
This came from one of our commenters – Thanks Mike!
As per Casey Bartholomew of the Casey and Rossi Show on NJ 101.5, Congo is going to be able to go home to his family, albeit only temporary. The poor thing was slowly dying from stress and depression, so at least that’s a step in the right direction. I hope it’s the start of many positive steps.
Please keep on calling and emailing and faxing! Keep the pressure on and let them know that we are all watching and waiting for the right thing to be done, for Congo to be home with his family… permanently!
From today’s, 11/15, Central Jersey News
Judge’s order will allow Congo to go home
A Superior Court judge signed a consent order to free Congo the German shepherd Thursday afternoon, meaning that the Princeton Township dog, which was declared vicious and condemned to death by a lower court judge on Tuesday for biting and scratching a landscaper, is expected to be released to his owners’ custody while his case continues to be appealed.
Congo has been held at the SAVE — A Friend to Homeless Animals shelter in the township.
The consent order includes several conditions, chief among them that Congo must wear a muzzle whenever he is outside his owners’ Stuart Road West house. Also, Congo is not allowed to leave the property of his owners, Guy and Elizabeth James, without prior approval of the township’s animal control officer.
Guy James said that he and his family are thrilled with the order.
We “are so ecstatic,” James said. “If you want something badly enough, you go get it. On Tuesday, we shed tears of sorrow and today we’re shedding tears of joy.”He thanked all his supporters who sent messages from around the world and said the fight to clear Congo’s name and have his death sentence reversed is not over.
The Jameses contend Congo should not have been deemed vicious and sentenced to die because he was clearly, but inadvertently, provoked by landscaper Giovanni Rivera in the June 5 incident on the James’s 10-acre fenced-in property.
Municipal Court Judge Russell Annich Jr. had ruled that Congo’s attack was unprovoked.
WOOHOOO!!!!!!! What fantastic news!!!! But remember, as Guy James said, the fight is NOT over!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON’T KILL THIS DOG!!!!! HE WAS JUST DOING WHAT COMES NATURALLY-PROTECTING. THIS FAMILY LOVES THIS DOG AND NEED TO KEEP THEIR FAMILY TOGETHER.I AM CALLING RIGHT NOW.
I have signed petitions, called the gov’s office. I also believe the dog was innocent and being PROTECTIVE vs AGGRESSIVE are 2 entirely seperate thinigs. I have been a professional dog trainer 36 years & a professional rescuer 30 years – I know a LOT about dogs , I have trained police k-9’s Schutzhund sport dogs, and civil personal protection dogs, as well as service dogs & I excel at behavior modification ( which come in handy when doing animal Rescue)
GSD’s are my breed of choice.
BUT even if this dog had been a beagle, He was DOING its job, to protect the pack & the alpha
( the woman that was assaulted on her own property) * and i agree the workers were TOLD not to enter – and did so anyway – I also think the workers should be charged with tresspassing as well as assult on that woman.
CONGO is a dog doing what he was bred to do – to behave as he is genetically designed to be.
someone above mentioned how long ago we humans domesticated dogs to do exactly what Congo did.
Personally I own 2 GSD’s a boxer and a
3 lb mutt- and ALL of them would do the same thing Congo would – including the 3 lb mutt!
I wouldn’t want a dog that would NOT protect me or die trying. I would also protect my dog.
My thoughts are with the family that own Congo – and I am really hoping someone in “authority” will see the light here .
IN closing my main concern is , what is NEW in the case ? is the dog still on “house arrest?”
and is his life STILL in jeopardy? when will we know what is this Hero’s fate will be?
Jennifer, as far as I know, yes, he is still under ‘house arrest’ and his fate is still up in the air at this point. There’s alot going on behind the scenes, most specifically some legislation in the works that may help him and other dogs who get into this same situation.
When something conclusive comes up, I’ll update things but for now there seems to be just a lot of debate and talk.
Deanna
Give Congo back to his family. He should not be under house arrest, arrest the ILLEGAL immigrant, and the person that hired him. Next why were they there before they should have been?
When they came why didn’t they go the the front door or call the owners from outside, many companies do just that because many people have dogs that will protect thier homes and owners. Congo should not die because of them.
My heart is breaking for Congo , the owners and this country .- a travisty of justice … Why is this loyal animal being sentenced for doing his job? The ignorant ILLIGALS should be charged not the dog, and they should be put in jail for assaulting the owner and the puppies. I will be praying about this so that the right thing will be done – free the dog and jail the immigrants -
In fact the dog should be rewarded !
Congo should not die. According to dog behaviorist Cesar Milan, dogs do not premeditate attacks. This dog attacked because someone deliberately invaded his territory after being told not to.
I own two German shepherds and they are as gentle as can be. We have 3 small boys, If an intruder entered our yard and grabbed one of my boys I would hope my dog would act as Congo did.
Annette Kushmaul
Enumclaw, WA
It doesn’t take an expert of any kind to know that this is not the poor dog’s fault, but the human’s (gardener). It’s almost always the human’s fault in cases like this. Animals take their cues from us. Congo did as he should have — as any person with half a brain would expect him to. The dog should be with his family. Furthermore, the gardener(s) should be charged with trespassing, cruelty to animals, and whatever else the officials can find in the book.
Leslie
MY HEART GOES OUT TO CONGO AND HIS/HER FAMILY-
THIS DOG SHOULD BE ALLOW TO LIVE- I HAVE NO UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT “THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE”
FEEL THE APPROPRIATE ACTION,FOR CONGO TO HAVE TAKEN- WHAT ELSE COULD CONGO HAVE DONE?
I have some of the most “dangerous” breeds of dogs according to the government. I have a doberman, a rottweiler, a pitt, and a german shepherd. They are all full blooded and very loving and very good with everyone untill they think that Myself or another family member is in trouble. If Congo was simply a mean aggressive dog, he would not have realeased the man he was attacking. Some guard dogs, depending on which level of training they have had will attack, some will just bark, it all depends on the training it has had. If he in fact was trained to do what he did, he should be given a medal. Dogs are rewarded all the time for saving a police officer in the line of duty. Even though the gardener was not a “real” threat, all Congo seen was his owner being grabbed by a stranger that wouldn’t let go. So what is the difference, the simple answer would be his owner is the difference. If his owner had been an on or off duty cop and the cop was being threatned and Congo took action, he would be rewarded for his bravery and reconoized as a fellow officer. I hope that my dogs will be willing to put their life on the line for me if the situation ever comes about.
Use the governor’s actions against him! He signed a law banning the death penalty in NJ… that should be extended to all members of the family – 2 legged AND four…
Hi … I sent the following to GOV Corzine’s e-mail box. I hope it helps.
Dear Sir,
I respectfully request favorable consideration for clemency in the case of Congo.
As a Combat Brigade Commander in Iraq, I had German Shepherds in my unit and they did precisely what Congo did.
My dogs protected us, as Congo protected the humans he loves.
Sincerely,
Austin B.C Schmidt
Colonel, Special Forces, US Army
this dog should be patrolling the mexican border where he is needed. he shoud not be put to sleep.he was protecting his family.the illegal immigrant needs to be deported.he wold not have gotten bitten if he did what he was told.if this happened in a state where people still have rights he most probably would have gotten shot for grabbing that man’s wife
isn’t the verdict somewhere in January? when you google Congo, you get pages of him but it’s hard to get updates on what’s happening now
And yes, when the death penalty was abolished last week I had to think of Congo and all 4 footers immediately.. how twisted and sick 
Please save the life of this German Shepherd. He only did what his natural instincts compelled him to do. He was protecting his owner. As far as I’m concerned, the owner told them not to come in. Isn’t that trespassing? Then they grab the poor woman and throw her to the ground. Isn’t that assault? Meanwhile, they are the ones collecting.
Please save Congo! He was only protecting his owner. It sounds like the illegal committed battery and assault… shouldn’t that stand for anything? Please update us on the status of this case.
ABSOLUTELY!! WHAT IS THE STATUS OF CONGO, THE GERMAN SHEPHERD?
Please save Congo! He was only protecting his owner and family! The illegals should not be collecting any money, since they were trespassing! It seems that the illegals saw an opportunity to make a bundle of money! We are owners of German Shepherds and they are very loving and loyal companions!!! Please save CONGO’s Life!!! Please update us on Congo’s status, The German Shepherd!!!!!
Please do not let Congo die. He deserves to be with his family that loves him and obvisously, Congo loves his family dearly. A family that would go this far deserves to keep their beloved pet. Please spare his life as you would if it were one of your childrens.
Congo deserves to live he was on his property. Justice doesn’t seem to exist anymore. Since when do we live in a society where the word “illegal” entitles you to rewards such as money from a lawsuit? Such a pity that we are so concerned with destroying a family and the life of a brave and protective dog.
We have not received any update via e-mail on Congo, the German Shepherd! We wrote on 1/16/08 and it is now 2/04/08! Please, let us know about “CONGO”! Thanks, Joan and Jerry
Joan and Jerry, I’ve not had any update or new information so pass along. When I do I will post it. As far as I know this are still as they were.
If anyone finds out anything new, please feel free to contact me or post it here!
Thank you,
Deanna
Hi I’m interested in updates on Congo.Has anyone heard anything yet?Is Congo still alive?I hope so because he DID NOT deserve to die for protecting his owner.
Theresa, as far as I know he’s still with his family as the case is in the legal system. If anyone knows anything more, please post and update.
Thanks,
Deanna
What is the latest on Congo’s fate? I have written before in support of freeing Congo of any charges againest him and returning him to his family. Have all of these same responses from all of these people gone unheard?
[...] Many of you know the story of Congo the German Shepherd from Patterson, NJ. [...]
For those of you waiting for updates and wanting to know what you can do, this is it!!
SAVE Congo! We Need to Act NOW!! Please leave comments on this newest post at the link and share it to get the word out and above all, get letters out ASAP!!!!!
Please read and act!! Help to get the word out as quickly as you can, our time is severely limited!
Deanna
Why don’t Congo’s owners sue the gardener for assaulting the wife? Sounds to me like he should be in Jail for assault and battery. FREE CONGO!! He should be getting a medal!
Free Congo!!!!!! He protected his owner. Isn’t that what we train them to do?!?!?!?!
It is clear that in there was a miscarriage of justice in the first trial. For the crime of protecting his family, Congo gets a sentence of death and he cannot defend himself in court. There was never any objective account of what happened and it seemed that the testimony of the victim took precedence over the owner’s account,and the reports by neighbors, groomers and friends who knew Congo and found him to be a friendly and gentle animal. Justice must be served by allowing Congo his freedom.
Save Congo!!! He was protecting his owner and on his own property! Set “CONGO” Free and prosecute the intruders!! Congo deserves the MEDAL of Honor and not a death sentence! The intruder needs to give back all the money, since he is in the wrong! “Save CONGO he is a HERO”!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe that this is a terrible misjustice and a case of a judges misuse of authority. This dog was doing what he thought right by protecting his owner and their property. This is one of the reasons why we get dogs. I believe that the gardener should be charged not Congo because he deliberately did not do what he was told. If in fact he grabbed the wife and threw her to the ground then he should be charged with assault because if he had not done that the dog probably wouldnt have reacted the way he did. Free Congo and free all of us pet owners whom teach our dogs to protect us.
I am so angry about this, what is this judge thinking? Yes lets award the real criminal and punish the hero. These men deliberately disobeyed a direct order from the owner and tackled the other owner (a woman) and he gets awarded money and the real hero is to die?? This judge needs to be disbarred and charged with a huge misuse of justice. The fact that noone has gone after the judge is a serious misjustice. I would put my life on the line for my dog, a nine year old pitbull, and I tell you she would do the same for me and let any judge try to kill her for doing what she was taught to do I would make sure they didnt pass anymore rulings for the rest of their life. I taught my dog to protect me and that is what she should do!!! Arrest the ILLEGAL immagrants and free Congo. This is why they all flock to our country instead of staying in their own because their is no justice for us americans, only the illegals.
If Congo belonged to the judge who ordered the put down of the dog, he would do everything he could to keep his dog from beinng put down by any one who is over such things. Congo was defending one of his owners from harm and because of that he (Congo) was to blame for protecting. The system is not right here. Congo should not be the one that is suffering because he was trained as a puppy to defend those he is to protect. Save, free Congo.
“I believe that the gardener should be charged not Congo because he deliberately did not do what he was told. ”
Lady – you need to get yourself a Mexican maid and charge her every time she does not obey you. Or use your beloved pitbull on her.
And no – you are wrong – not all of us are so paranoid that we “get dogs to protect us”.
BTW – I have a dog that is fairly protective but also smart enough to not attack anybody. She is lab mix – I would NEVER have a pitbull – those things are ticking bombs.
Real guilty person is the idiot owner – he knew that his dog was capable of attacking a person yet he left them in the yard unsupervised. As I said – my dog is not aggressive altho she barks a lot when she sees a dog she does not know – I let her off the leash ALL the time but I NEVER let her out of sight. That is basic responsibility of any dog owner.
FREE CONGO n FREE HIS FAMILY. He was protecting his human family n his animal family. They all have suffered enough. I will plead with you to give him and both of his families a pardon. An animal is a big I mean a big part of a family. I grew up with german sheppards n they were the best family member as if they had human blood. I am 55yrs. old n to this day I miss them. Please I beg you to let Congo n his family stay together n live happily ever after. Thank-you..
Mr.Governor, Please reprieve “CONGO” the german shepard!When I was younger our german shepard BoBo stayed off a intruder that approched our home where my single Mother raised three kids.Three days later the same guy raped and robbed a woman two blocks over! If it wasn’t for our dog Bobo, it could have been my Mother. Dog are instinctive and respond to preceived threats and aggresion, give the dog a break.
Thank You, James
Please do not put Congo down. He was only doing what his instincts told him to do… protect his family. Don’t kill him for doing the right thing !
I can not believe this is still going on! Congo should get a purple heart out of this. The lanscaper should be sued for everything they have for employing illegals. Why isn’t our government local or otherwise prosecuting THEM for this??? I am a GSD breeder and what he did is exactly what ANY dog should do! In fact if I had a dog that did not react in that situation there would be something wrong with it. The injuries he received were minor compared to what police dogs have done to “take a suspect down”. But why are they not subject to the same scrutiny???Hmmmmm. I have trained my dogs in obedience and protection an for therapy and you better believe they would defend me! MAny years ago one of my GSD’d did bite someone who tried to break in. We found blood on the window sill. Our local police commended our dog for stopping the intruder! My how times have changed!!!! Please SAVE CONGO!!!!!
How any judge could order that Congo be put to death is beyond me. We have had dogs in our family all my life, not just for their companionship, but for our protection. That is why people get dogs. Ask any police department and if you have a problem with people breaking into your home – they will tell you to get a dog. If that judge puts this dog to death, he will have to face his creator in the end. Shame on the judge!
I think they should put Congo into what I would refer to as ‘protective custody’. The dog just disappeared one day……
I would commend my dog if they bit someone who had phsycial hold on me. He’s doing his job; protecting the owner. My husband had a police dog who was trained to protect him. Every time we’d rough play in the house, Brix would immediately let me know that he was watching me. A few times, he’d put his mouth on my arm or leg and say ‘easy does it….’. I knew what this dog was capable of……
@Kathleen -
Thank you all for your work on behalf of Guy James. It was because of your efforts that his dog, Congo, was able to live to maul again. (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/german_shepherd_congo_involved.html)
Isn’t it sad that no matter what the circumstance, you’ll always have one individual that has the time on his hands to say something idiotic during a sad situation? Those that stood by Congo, initially, stood by him for a perfectly valid reason. There always has to be one ‘I told you so’ … get a life.
All of us who supported the case of freeing Congo months ago did it for the right reasons. The evidence suggested that the dog reacted in self-defense and was not a danger to society in any way, shape or form. What occurred was tragic; however,there are no really bad dogs–just humans who make erroneous judgements!
You’ll also notice that the family … including the victim, in the latter attack tried to keep everything hid, but God forbid the media and Animal Control not be right on top of it ready to pounce. They didn’t have a chance, and realized it. What a shame.
@Kathleen -
http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/07/07/the_princeton_packet/your_views/doc486903208f24e969377971.txt
If you have not “kept up” with the Congo situation, please take a look at this. After Congo was released a couple months ago he and his offspring attacked Mr James Mother in Law on Mr. James own property. The family denied this. The mother in law needed hospitilization. Till the end she tried to say the wounds were not the reulst of bites and refuesed the police the ability to photograph the wounds. A court order was issued to photgraph the wounds, which then clearly demonstrated these were indeed the result of massive biting by several of the dogs. Mr. James then quickly took the dogs to the vert and had them euthanized. He admits as part of the reason-he did not want to give the authorities the satisfaction of doing so.
I was a Congo and James family supporter, please look at and read the link above, many feel similarly now to the way I feel now.