Andrea Rosebrock 
Tammy Grimes, founder of Dogs Deserve Better, a non-profit organization that promotes removing dogs from their prison life of living outdoors on a chain and making them a part of the home and family, will face trial on June 4 in Blair County, PA. Grimes will be facing charges of theft and receiving stolen property.
The incident began in September of 2006 when Grimes received a call about a dog that had been lying on the ground, chained, unmoving for three days. The Humane Society had not responded to calls for help so Grimes took the matter into her own hands when she found the dog, dubbed “Doogie”, unable to stand, fur matted and blood covered. The owners were not home so she removed the dog and took it to a vet. The vet commented that it looked like the dog had been hit by a car, the 19 yr old German Shepherd/Lab mix was in such bad shape.
Grimes refused to return the dog to the authorities fearing that it would be placed back with its owners and instead placed it in foster care where it lived the remainder of its life out until March of this year.
The owners of Doogie, the Arnolds, are facing no criminal charges despite witness accounts, vet statements, photographs and videos of Doogie in distress.
Grimes’ actions have received nationwide attention; support from those who believe she did the right thing and castigation from those who believe she was wrong in taking the law into her own 
hands. This outcome of this case will be watched by many and may prove to be pivotal to animal right activists.
I have a great deal of respect for Tammy Grimes and for her organization, Dogs Deserve Better and I can’t say that I would not have done the same faced with the same situation. I also have great respect for the law although I don’t always agree with it, without it there would be anarchy. Bottom line, I support the decision that Ms. Grimes made. I think the fact that Doogie’s owners have faced no criminal charges for neglect and abuse, a travesty of justice. As I said, I don’t always agree with the law.
There are many things I haven’t mentioned which you can find in some of the story links below, especially the Tammy Grimes Bound Over for Theft Charges story from Best Friends Network- This is a fantastic article which updates this case from the original story on September 12 through September 22 with readers comments from Sept 2006 through April 2007. There are many outside links to other stories, pictures and videos.
The saving of a life, yes, even a dog’s life, is a priority and as long as no one else is hurt in the process, should come before the law. I believe very strongly in responsible animal rights. That said, I do agree that yes, she may have broken the ‘letter of the law’ and in this case the law has a point to prove, that you cannot blatantly disregard legalities.
I will applaud a “not guilty” in this case but if she is found guilty, she will be a martyr to the cause. Yes, Ms. Grimes may be facing jail time which cannot be looked at as pleasant, but to me, either way she will win! She will have brought her cause straight into the public’s face and increased the awareness of just one of the many cruelties and injustices our furred companions deal with.
If you would like to read more of the background and story here are a few links for you;
Woman Faces Jail Time for “Saving” Dog – May 3, 2007
Tammy Grimes Bound Over for Theft Charges – This is a fantastic article which updates this case from the original story on September 12 through September 22 with readers comments from Sept 2006 through April 2007. There are many outside link to other stories, pictures and videos.
Arrested Dog Rescuer Tammy Grimes Visits One Happy Dog! – Pictures, video and information on the case.
PetsitUSA.com Blog – Tammy Grimes of Dogs Deserve Better Arrested – Read their thoughts and the thoughts and opinions of their readers.
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[...] that Tammy Grimes, founder of the wonderful organization, Dogs Deserve Better, is facing trial. Her ‘crime?’ Saving the life of a dog after repeated calls to animal control went unheeded and the dog’s [...]