Justice For An Animal Rescuer

We need your help to stop a miscarriage of Justice!  The Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Frederick County, Virginia is attempting to prosecute Alla McGeary (a well-known and well-respected 60 year old animal rescue volunteer) for trying to save a young Doberman Pinscher named Stella, and to potentially charge Alla under a FELONY charge. It's a shame animal cruelty cases are not pursued as vigorously. We need your support and your voice now. 


In the spring of 2006, Stella, a young stray female Doberman Pinscher with a front leg deformity (known as lobster claw) was placed by DAR&E (Doberman Assistance, Rescue & Education) with a veterinarian to foster. This placement proved to be totally unsuitable for her.  AFTER 9 months in this foster home, DAR&E finally removed her from the negligent situation and placed her with Alla McGeary.  Within days of removing Stella from this negligent foster home, the same Board of Directors of DAR&E reversed their decision and decided to allow this same foster home to ADOPT Stella.  Alla McGeary, who was Stella's foster parent, refused the adoption based on the months-long demonstrated sub-par care, coupled with the negative Home Visit report and numerous other documented statements made by those involved in the 9 months that Stella was at this foster home.

Alla stood up for Stella as was her right as the Foster Parent.  For this, she has been arrested; her house, car and outbuildings have been searched and her civil rights have been, and continue to be, violated.

DAR&E (who by their own numerous admissions may not even be the owner of the dog) obtained an Arrest Warrant by making a sworn statement to a magistrate that they did own the dog in question.

DAR&E has also been negligent with the care of other dogs placed with them by shelters.

DAR&E has protected and made excuses when one of their own was charged with animal cruelty and neglect.

This story is long and we strongly encourage you to go to 
http://www.mypromisetostella.com/  to read a more in-depth account of what has been taking place. 


There are many reasons to sign this petition.  You can sign because you want to support Alla McGeary in her fight.  You can sign because you love animals.  You can sign because you support civil rights and the fair application of those rights.  You can sign because you abhor the justice system being hijacked.  You can sign because taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund a personal vendetta. 


               Please support us in our fight for JUSTICE.

                              Sign this petition today.

Stella when she first came into DAR&E, Spring 2006Stella, 9 months later when she was removed from the foster vet.









Stella when she first                              Stella, 9 months later  
      came into DAR&E                                    when she was 
          Spring 2006                                     removed from the 
                                                                         foster vet

Dear Mr. Williamson,

We the undersigned ask that you review the attached Petition, and please reconsider the course of action that you are taking against Alla McGeary.  The signers represent a broad base of supporters, and include present and past members of DAR&E, adopters of DAR&E dogs, officers and employees of shelters and humane societies, members of law enforcement, attorneys, rescue personnel, transporters, breeders, members of the American Kennel Club and members of the Doberman Pinscher Club of America, along with the general public.

You know by now that Alla McGeary is a well-known and well-respected person within the dog and rescue community.  She has given of herself time and time again on behalf of those who can't speak for themselves.  On the other hand, the organization DAR&E, under the leadership of their president Athy Conigliaro, and with Dr. Kim Danoff, has shown a disregard for the welfare of the dogs placed in their care.  Stella, a spayed stray dog with a birth defect, is just one example.

Subsequent to placing Stella with Dr. Danoff, and then removing Stella from Dr. Danoff for the substandard care, DAR&E allowed Dr. Danoff to foster another dog until it became thin, weak and incapacitated.  That dog was transferred to another foster where it has gained weight and improved.  You are attempting to prosecute Alla McGeary for not returning Stella to be placed back into that same negligent situation.  This makes no sense. 

You have aligned yourself with DAR&E, a group that has literally trespassed on private property and stolen a dog belonging to the property owner.  THAT dog had not been abused.  There are more instances of DAR&E taking (or receiving) dogs without the owner's permission and re-homing them.  And there is proof to back up these statements.

Your recent campaign for the office of the Commonwealth's Attorney championed you as someone who "is the representative of all the citizens of Frederick County in the criminal justice system".  You stated your understanding of the "awesome responsibility...for determining if there is sufficient evidence to accuse someone of committing a crime and, if so, then to prosecute that person on behalf of the citizens".

Mr. Williamson, Alla McGeary IS a citizen of Frederick County.  However, Athy Conigliaro is a citizen of Maryland, and Kim Danoff is a citizen of Fairfax County.  How does prosecuting Alla fall under the guise of being on "behalf" of the citizens of Frederick County?  How does this serve Frederick County in any way?  The only thing that Frederick County citizens stand to gain from prosecuting Alla McGeary is the expense.  Along with the embarrassment that your office has nothing better to do than pursue a petty issue on behalf of people who should be pursuing this in Civil Court (if at all).

This case is nothing more than a personal vendetta on behalf of Athy Conigliaro and Dr. Danoff.  They continue to damage their own reputations because of their actions, and you and your office are being dragged down with them.  We hope that you will reconsider and allow this debacle to play out elsewhere.

Sincerely,
The Petition Signers

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