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Rally set for today to protest return of abused dog to its owner
Official says rally's purpose is to emphasize seriousness of animal cruelty.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
OXFORD — OXFORD — A rally to raise awareness of animal cruelty is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. today outside Butler County Area I Court on West High Street in Oxford.
The protest rally was planned after a local judge allowed a dog to be returned to its neglectful owner, said Leland Gordon, executive director of Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton.
Emergency surgery removed a chain embedded into the neck of a dog whose rescuers named China — which contains the letters for chain. The dog was returned to her owner who was convicted of cruelty, which has prompted calls for change locally and nationally, according to the Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton.The dog — named China by shelter workers — was found as a stray March 28 with a chain embedded an inch in her neck. But Gordon said today's rally is "bigger than China."
"This is more about how animal cruelty has been overlooked, and you don't return abused animals to people no matter what," he said.
China's owner, Otis Clark Jr. of Somerville, was convicted of animal cruelty, but awarded custody of his dog on the condition he take it to the vet, read a book on dog care and pay more than $1,500 to the shelter.
Clark surprised shelter workers by showing up Aug. 2 with a court order from Judge Rob Lyons to obtain the dog.
Lyons' decision has angered people locally and nationwide.
"I'm just appalled by the decision this Judge Lyons issued for China," said Vanessa, a Cincinnati woman. "It just breaks my heart."
Vanessa adopted Hope, who, like China, was found with a nylon cable embedded an inch into her neck.
The 1-year-old Labrador's former owner, Lauren Spencer of Trenton, was convicted of animal cruelty Aug. 3. She gave up custody of the dog immediately, and after a month of recovery, Hope was adopted May 11.
"The dog was unbelievably neglected, and I think if she had not been rescued she would have been dead because she would have died of an infection," said Vanessa, who asked not to be fully identified by The Journal for the safety of the dog.
Vanessa said Hope also has scars on her back paws, and her tail is crooked from breaks in three places.
"She has issues. She's so worried about where her next meal is going to come from that she jumps on the kitchen counter."
Today Hope — now named Emmy — spends days playing with Vanessa's other dog, Olivia.
"She's calmed down considerably — she was so frantic when we got her," she said. "She's just a little lovebug. She is part of the family."
