Save our dog

Save our dog Cody 

Denise Davenport started this petition to Local Police and 2 others

My daughters dog was seized, by local police , after an incident , inches away from property line. Cody was barking at a man coming out of store & parked right at end of our walkway. The man, I believe , to get distance between himself & Cody, pushed the carton of eggs at his face . Cody jumped up on the man & down quickly . Then he was brought back into the house . When we came out of house to check on the man , we were greeted by paramedic , who asked if Cody was up to date on his shots. He was/is up to date & told paramedic & also that I would provide a copy of Cody's records . The Paramedic , who was very nice, told me that he trains dogs, he gets it & he doesn't think he's a bad dog . But Cody did break the skin ( when he jumped ) & he had to report it . Agreed . Never being through this before , I left to drop my daughter off at a friends & go to work . While dropping my daughter , I got a call from local police to return & immediately provide them with his vet records to prove he was up to date on shots & I did . Law states victim should be notified within 24 hours. They then told me I would have to take him to be quarantined for 10 days because they did not feel I could do that at home . Knowing I'm a single mother , they told me it would cost about $500 & did I want to sign the dog over to them . I told them no , Cody is not a bad dog & he is my 10 year old daughters dog & she has already lost enough . Her father had just got off probation for pleading guilty to animal cruelty & neglect in the death of our other dog, Storm . The local police knew this , as they were the ones to arrest him . But , somehow since the time of his arrest, he's now buddies with local PD . So then the police told me they would charge me with menacing & I wouldn't get Cody back until a judge told me I could have him back . Again they asked me to sign him over . Again, I replied no ! They then told me they were waiting on directions to where we would be bringing the dog to quarantine . Just about 4 hours later , they asked if I knew how to get to the local spca because that is where we were going ! It is also where they bring every other lost or injured dog they handle . So it's still not clear why it took 4 hours to get directions, other than to delay my going to work . They followed me to spca where we met the lady who did Cody's intake. She looked surprised when she stated that he was up to date on his shots & confused as to why he was there . She told me they would take good care of him & have him checked by the vet at the end of quarantine & it would be about $275. A little more than half of what police told me when they were trying to get me to sign him over . I told her that he wasn't going to do good because he's never been away from us & he's never been in a crate . Heartbroken for Cody I left for work & arrived at 2 pm .
The next day , while at work , my ex texted me " wishing me good luck on finding a new job " appearing overly satisfied with what had transpired the day before . He was not at all concerned with how this hurts our daughter or my income , seeing he doesn't pay the child support he's been ordered to pay or provide any financial (emotional , physical , spiritual ) assistance for any of his kids. Obviously he had already been informed of what happened & how long I was delayed, losing hours of income at work . These, being the same officers, that have threatened to arrest me for trespassing ( for picking my daughter up at her dads) disorderly conduct (on a supposed complaint that was called in to police -that never happened), for communicating with ex's gf, even thru my child & have called me on the phone & called me a liar ( said I didn't have custody of my daughter, I did ) accused me of playing games with my daughters father regarding our child , told me I was a bad mother & changed a police report from what they originally told me happened during an encounter with my ex to favoring him in the report . And after having judge re-sign the parenting plan that was still in full force & effect , bringing the police a copy , printing out what residential responsibility means & what decision making means , they called me up stating "yeah that's just not the way we're going to interpret the parenting plan " . No matter what I said , or explained , or what legal terms I defined for them, they just were not going to interpret it that way. Essentially they were telling me they were not going to follow judges order or the law. As a result my child was released from school , to her father , against the parenting plan , the very next day . When I called the school , no one knew where my child was or that she had been released from school as she was never signed out . I replied to my ex that I was filing a lawsuit against town , pd , & school . And about 3 hours later the following occurred :
On my way home from work the following day I broke down & wasn't home at my usual time . Eventually I got in touch with a friend who came to help me. As I was leaving gas station in town to pick up my daughter & proceed home, I made eye contact with chief of police , who was pulling in! I no sooner pulled out of gas station & looked in my rear view mirror & he was approaching behind me with the blue lights on . I quickly called my friend who had helped me with vehicle & told her to get down here , he was pulling me over ! She pulled up , parked across the street & watched . Before the chief even reached my drivers side door , 2 other police cars pulled up with their lights on . I had already given the Chief my license & registration when another officer came up to my drivers door . That's when he informed me he had a warrant for me & I was under arrest . He told the officer to call a tow truck & tow my vehicle . My gf was right there & could have taken my vehicle seeing this was maybe a little over a mile from my home , it didn't need to be impounded . They placed me under arrest & refused to let me call daughters friends parents who I was on my was to meet to pick up my 10 year old daughter . I was taken to police station & fingerprinted, etc. And although I was arrested on a "vicious dog warrant ", not one of them asked me what happened with Cody or about the incident . They hadn't asked the day of the incident during those 4 hours they had me detained either. It became clear that it wasn't about the dog as much as it was to damage my character & discredit me, as other charges were added. When I was bailed out , I was not given any information on dog charges or a court appearance regarding Cody .
Fast forward 9 days later (which seemed like forever ) & quarantine has ended . Kathy , the same woman who was there when I brought Cody in, called me to arrange to pick him up on Sunday. I had been without a vehicle pretty much since the police had my car towed because now surprisingly the front end was out of alignment, so my gf brought me to get him . My daughter had already left that morning to go with her dad a few days But before she left , we discussed not telling anyone that Cody was home . Even though the police didn't give me any paperwork on the dog charges, I believed they still thought that I was not going to have Cody returned to me until a judge said he could come home . I knew they were going to be angered that I had him back at home . I lived with shades drawn , windows closed & tried to take him out mostly early in the morning or at night when it was dark . In the meantime I had spoke to other police officers , two who had left the same local department, about how they would have handled this situation . They all told me pretty much the same thing . If it was their case, they would have sent papers to the county attorney who in turn would have sent me a court date in the mail, if it involved a serious injury or death of an animal . If it involved a death of a human or a serious attack & injury , then maybe a warrant would be issued . Under the law , the first vicious dog offense is a $100 fine , the second is a $400 fine . If you get two of those fines in a 12 month period & it happens a third time , in that 12 month period , the third case must be disposed of in a court of law. Or in a case of a serious attack , the county attorney can file & request to have the case brought before a judge to be disposed of .
I brought Cody home from quarantine on Sunday, August 4th, 2019. Jenna was still visiting her dad & didn't even get to see him. On Tuesday , August 6th , while I was in the shower at around 3:45pm , I heard Cody barking downstairs . Not a lot , just about 3 or 4 times but I know he only barks when someone is outside or at the door . When I got out of the shower , I looked out the window & saw local police car parked outside . I thought it was odd seeing they normally call me to harass me . Not knowing what they wanted & not being dressed yet , I didn't get downstairs until after they left . I continued to get ready & went downstairs to collect my things . I gave Cody water & food , closed windows, pulled one shade up on the window he looks out - the same exact thing I do everyday when I go out or leave for work . I said bye to my bubba (Cody) told him I'd be back & my gf & I grabbed our bags as he was headed toward the couch - again , the same thing he does everyday . We left about 4:30 pm . At 7:43 pm just as National Night Out was ending at the local police station , I got a call from police officer , telling me they're outside my house with my dog. I asked how my dog got out of my house . He has never got out before & he's left here everyday while I work . They responded that they didn't know , they didn't let him out . (Hhhmmm) They asked if I was coming for him . I told them yes . I told my gf we had to go , they had my dog . On the way , we discussed the fact that we had an earlier discussion about me not wanting them to know Cody was home because I knew they would come back for him . When we arrived , Cody was sitting in my yard , hot & stressed , with 2 police officers standing watching him about 30 feet away . I ran over to Cody & he followed me in the house. My girlfriend asked the officers if he had attached them ? Growled at them ? They responded no but he barked at them . She explained of course he did , he's a dog , that is how they communicate . But my "vicious " dog did not attack or try to attack or bother them & they were in my yard . As I was taking Cody inside , I saw the screen from the window (which was shut when I left , but not locked) torn & the window was open . I went back outside after making sure Cody was ok & giving him water . A friend called who heard my name on police scanner . I was in my front yard talking to him , walking in circles. Local officer told me to come over to where they were standing . And although I was not under arrest , I complied , just as I have with everything they've asked me . 3 police officers were all just standing around not saying too much until the officer Who arrested me the previous week , asked me how & when I got my dog back . I told him I got Cody back when the quarantine was over . He also asked me if I was home earlier ( when they were at my door) I told him I had been in & out all day . They know I normally get home from work at 5:30 so it is still unclear why they would come to my house at 3:30 in the afternoon. I believe they were not sure if I was home or not bc car was broken down in driveway . I also believe , they came back for Cosy , thinking I was not home . I asked what we were waiting for & he told me he was waiting for a fourth officer to come back & tell us if dog was going to be seized . I told him I think we already know the answer to that . He asked me if I would take dog to police department & they would follow , I said yes. Then they asked my GF if she would take the dog , & she asked why ? They said the dog couldn't stay home ! (????) then they asked if we would take the dog back to spca & they would follow , again I said yes. At this time the other officer had returned & handed me two summons , one from the original incident charging me with vicious , neusence, or menace dog & the second for dog at large . Both dated August 6th, 2019. On our way to bring dog back my friend (with the scanner) called & asked me who was driving me . I told him my GF Nikki . He told me officer was behind us running her license plate . He already knew who she was because he had just pulled her over & questioned her as to where we were coming from , a few nights before when she was leaving my house after dropping me off Saturday August 3rd. They also pulled her boyfriend over leaving my house with his friends the weekend before on their way to the races & questioned them as to what they were doing at my house. We arrived at spca & it was closed but Officer has his own key & unlocked the door to let us in . That is how they drop off strays or lost dogs after hours. I realized that all officers must have their own key which made me wonder why we had to wait 4 hours to bring him the first time. (I know the answer). Since his return to SPCA I have received calls stating Cody's behavior has declined since he's been back & no trainer will touch him, do I want to surrender my dog ? Again -No. For two days , someone I thought I could trust , who worked on case when ex killed Storm, hounded me to give up my dog & told me to come get a puppy . When I asked what would happen if I did give up Cody , I was told "Oh, we'll have him trained & adopt him out " ! Um , what? Didn't you just tell me his behavior is so bad , no trainer would touch him . Now would be a good time to mention that I paid a lot of money for Cody . He's a beautiful dog who was loved so much by his breeder & family , they cried when I bought him & took him home . And I'm only stating that because I think that may be their motivation. The money means nothing to me . I'd spend it again tomorrow to get him home. It's been the 3 of us for a while . We've traveled up & down the east coast , staying in hotels with Cody & the only thing he did was make us feel safe, as well as getting his picture taken with most people we encountered on our trips . And not once did we have any problems or did he bite or attack anyone .
I believe the spca wants him for themselves or to breed him , if they haven't already . I was so upset, I asked if the next phone call I got was going to tell me they had an incident with Cody & they killed him . Unfortunately I couldn't control my emotions when I got off the phone & my daughter saw me crying . But fortunately , she's a smart little girl who loves her dog . She ran upstairs & came back down about 5 minutes later . I felt her hand on my shoulder & she said "Momma, coco ( nickname for Cody ) is ok ! " I said "what do you mean ?" She told me that when she went upstairs she called the SPCA herself & spoke to Meghan , who worked out front with the dogs. Meghan told her Cody is fine , he's eating , he's sleeping & he's getting out a lot more now that he's not in quarantine . In fact, he's doing much better than when he was last there. The next day my gf called & spoke to Kathy , who had been on vacation. Kathy said she was sad to see him back as she has worked with him the most & does not think hes vicious . She does believe he needs training , I agree. And she was told he broke through a window to get out of the house. She said Cody is getting out more with the staff & he's doing ok. And that she would give an honest assessment . She said as far as releasing him , her hands are tied , as local police are paying them to keep Cody there, which is so stressful & unhealthy . Especially for a dog who is so loved, wanted , & cared for . He & my daughter both suffer from seperation anxiety & they help each other . Kathy had already given me an application to get Cody neutered through a program with the Department of Agriculture. I hadn't even got a chance to fill it out or set it up before they came back for him . In the meantime, the prosecutor filed for forfeiture of Cody & a motion for him to be held until the resolution of this case. They're trying to make it financially impossible , knowing I'm a single mother , who gets no child support & who has worked 6-7 days a week to keep a roof over my daughters head, for me to get Cody back .
In in the meantime , I have contracted trainers who are willing to have Cody released to them , be board & trained with them , certified & then released back to us, his family, where he belongs & is loved. I have also spoken to some other state officials, who do not agree with what is happening, as it is not good for Cody , it's not good for my daughter , it's costing the tax payers money , & it's unnecessary . I was also informed that I have the right to have my own assessment done & do not have to go along with spca's Assessment , which they did not tell me . And although I think & studies have shown , that environment is the worst place to do an honest assessment of any dog , due to the high levels of stress, I am having my own assessment done . I know & love my dog & I don't ever want to see him hurt again , nor do I want to see him hurt anyone . He thought he had to protect me & then himself when something was shoved in his face. That does not make him a bad dog . It's my fault for not defining his job & limitations better , not his. And neither Cody or my daughter should have to suffer for it . I'm truly sorry for the man who got bit, provoked or not . And I will do anything I can to make it right ! But seizing a little girls dog , who is our protector, a huge part of our family & who owns a bigger part of our hearts is not the answer . And the thought that Cody thinks we abandoned him is just about unbearable .
So please sign this petition & please share it privately with everyone & anyone you can & ask them to sign it . But PLEASE DO NOT share it publicly . It's is quite obvious to those who have witnessed this that it is a personal vendetta against me & my daughter & my dog are paying the price. I don't want to give them a heads up on anything I try to save my boy !
I know this was long & probably all over the place but please help me save Cody . He's a good boy .
Thank you