Melp Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 In January last year, immediatly after the death of Ellie Lawrensen, the police raided several properties. One of those was a warehouse and a house belonging to one man in which a total of 22 dogs were found and seized. A very small number of those dogs [5] were returned to him as greyhound/lurcher types and a staffie, the rest were held at a secret location pending the prosecution of the owner for breeding fighting dogs. The dogs in the warehouse were found tethered to barrels and some were wearing shock collars, some of the adult dogs had scars, and treadmills and other equipment were found along with paraphanalia that is generally owned by those interested in dog fighting. The man claimed ownership of all bar a bitch and one litter of the dogs who he claimed he was looking after for someone else. As that someone else didn't materialise, those dogs were destroyed. He was to be prosecuted for the remaining 12. Not long after this, the holding kennels were inspected by the police and RSPCA after a complaint was made about the conditions there. The dogs were removed and the kennel owner charged [his case was in the papers fairly recently, you may remember it, several dogs were half starved. He was in Saddleworth] All dogs were moved to another kennels. Tabby at this point was approx 6 weeks old. The case of the owner eventually came to court and he was found guilty, convicted and received a ban on keeping animals. By this time Tabby and the other 6 pups were old enough to be identified and were found to be not of the type, however as the owner had been banned [and rightly so] they could not be returned to him. The RSPCA said they would step in and rehome the dogs but as the owner was appealing his sentence they had to stay in kennels a while longer. The owner lost his appeal thank God and the dogs, no longer puppies, were free to go, however the RSPCA then said they were no longer able to help. The police obviously couldn't keep paying costs for dogs they shouldn't even have so I was contacted last week and asked if DNB would take ownership of them. Quite clearly we're not a rescue and had we not been following the original case we wouldn't have even known about the dogs but how do you say no? We knew we only had a few days before the destruction orders were signed and tried as many places as we could. Unfortunately, for various reasons, we weren't able to find places to take the others and were faced with losing Tabby as well until Maggi offered a space. You've seen the threads re the transport and how frantic it all was. Tabby has never lived in a home, she's never seen the tv, hoover, stairs etc and she will need special assessment before she can go as a house dog. The kennel owner has done so much with her already as far as socialising her with people and other dogs but he's done all he was able to do. The initial agreement was that I would pay boarding costs from the day the police asked me to take the dogs until the time they were moved and I'd also pay for transport from police kennels to Rick. The police have now covered those costs themselves. Tabby was possibly bred to fight. Thankfully she'll never have to suffer that horrific fate nor will she suffer the same fate as the other dogs taken from that appalling place. Those dogs, with the exception of the 5 who went back are all dead now. 16 dogs all gone . I hate to think whats happened to the 5 he got back hopefully they were taken from him again when he lost his appeal. DNB wouldn't exist if not for the Refuge, Tabby would no longer exist for the exact same reason. Thankyou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redditchlady Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Bless you too Mel. You all work so hard for these dogs. What a happy ending. I looked at her face on the earlier thread and she was smiling. Kazz xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kats n greys Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Don't really have any words to express my feelings. To everybody involved in anyway with rescuing/helping these lovely dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenyx Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 Mel you are a star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted June 28, 2008 Report Share Posted June 28, 2008 So so sad, what stands out for me is the RSPCA changing their minds , as far as I know this is an organization which is the 2nd most wealthy in Britain, why then was it left to a hard pressed and over worked band of wonderful caring people ( DNB) to save the last of a litter of puppies, born in the wrong place at the wrong time. Well,onward and up-wards Tabby, good luck beautiful girl, your a credit to your breed and Mel........what can I say........your bluddy fab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yantan Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 Don't really have any words to express my feelings. To everybody involved in anyway with rescuing/helping these lovely dogs. Ditto from me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaos Posted June 29, 2008 Report Share Posted June 29, 2008 (edited) I could rant about the lowlife who caused the situation in the first place but (hopefully), it's history now? I'm sure the majority on here would have similar feelings anyway. Just want to add my feelings of gratitude and respect for everyone involved with this case in particular, and DNB in general. You are all stars ! Good luck Tabby, you're in good and safe hands now and have a bright future to look forward to. What a very special smile you have Edited June 29, 2008 by Kaos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel n Hardy Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Melp you are an absolute angel, as well as everyone else at DNB Well done to all for getting the lovely Tabby to safety, she is simply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yena Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 Tabby you deserve a better life than you've had. I hope you find your forever home soon and than you will always be loved and cherised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACKYSIAN Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 I'm with you kats n greys...can't find the words to express what I feel. Thank you everyone at DNB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggi Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 A few new photos of Tabby taken today. She met Basil again, he arrived the day before her. She also met Gizzy and ex Mill dog who visits lots. She does seem to like to boys! She had a little wag when Gus the black lab passed her on the lane. She was not very impressed by a passing van & also a push bike but then a plane flew over quite low & didnt seem to bother her. She is now almost solid which makes those morning snogs a lot more plesant! She is happily eating dried food. A gem on her lead, loves the camera as you can see, think she was a super model in a previous life. At many times she seems like a normal young dog & then you remember the awful start she had. She still enjoys running around her kennel with her bed in her mouth, will try to get a video of her in bulldozer mode! Behaviourist is coming out to see her this afternoon. Meeting Basil Meeting Giz Smiling again Tummy tickles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisonsophieb Posted June 30, 2008 Report Share Posted June 30, 2008 OMG that grin, she is gorgeous. I spoke to Melf Thursday morning to offer any help I could there was lots of ums, ahs and buts, now I know why. Mel knows me too well, if she’d have spent an hour with me the excuses would have rolled off my tongue as to why she should stay. But would 11 dogs really be to many ???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted July 2, 2008 Report Share Posted July 2, 2008 A lovely happy ending for Tabby, well done Melp and everyone else involved in getting her to safety It's heartbreaking to think of those that lost their lives because of the actions of one I really hope the dogs he was given back have now been removed from his "care". Surely they would be, given he's banned from keeping animals. Good luck Tabby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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