Missouri couple faces “false report” charges after calling 911 about Great Dane
Rose and Randy Lakey were trying to save their Great Dane’s life when they called 911 on Easter Sunday.
Oreo, a 4-year-old, 140-pound harlequin, had collapsed.
“It was so fast and we were so upset, that all I could think of was to tell her we have to call for help,” Randy Lakey told Fox 2 in St. Louis.
When an ambulance arrived, a paramedic, upon seeing the patient, threw her arms into the air and said “It’s a dog, are you kidding me?” Rose said. “Then she turned and walked away. Then she started yelling out to the policeman, ‘it’s just a dog.’”
Another paramedic administered oxygen to the dog, and, along with police, helped the Lakeys get Oreo into the car.
It was too late, though, and Oreo died by the time they reached the emergency animal clinic.
The next day the Lakeys were charged by police with filing a false report. They’re due to appear in municipal court in O’Fallon next month. At worst, they face a fine.
Rose says she originally told the 911 operator she was calling about a dog, but that she might have referred to Oreo as her daughter at some point.
(Note to emergency officials: Many dog owners feel that way abour their pets, and even refer to them that way. Also, they don’t appreciate phrases like “just a dog.”)
Oreo was once featured in a front page photo in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (above), marching in a pet parade while wearing a pink tutu.
The Lakeys have two grown daughters, and say they thought of Oreo as their third. They didn’t purposefully mislead authorities, they said.
Said Randy Lakey, “You know, it was not intentional. We didn’t mislead anybody. We just needed help. There’s nothing false about that,” Randy said.
(Photo of Oreo by Gabe Hartwig / St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Posted by jwoestendiek April 26th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: 911, ambulance, animals, big dogs, call, dog, dogs, emergency, false report, filing a false report, great dane, health, help, just a dog, medical, missouri, ofallon, oreo, pets, pink, police, randy lakey, rose lakey, tutu, veterinary
Comments
Comment from Anne’n'Spencer
Time April 26, 2012 at 10:28 am
Nope, sorry. I love the Beagle, but I’m on the side of the authorities. And I can speak as someone who’s had a loved one on the receiving end of emergency services within the past year, who didn’t make it.
They might have taken the trouble to learn canine first aid. It’s not all that difficult to learn to do the “mouth to snout” and CPR. They basically work the way the human procedures do only lighter and faster. They might have had their vet’s phone number written down in some handy place. They might have had the consideration to call the non-emergency number to request help, which is often forthcoming from cops and sympathetic firefighters. They might have through twice about trying to fool with 911 operator about the victim’s species. Daughter? Really!
Paramedics and emergency services people are trained to take care of human beings. If people want paramedic services for their pets, they need to enact the appropriate legislation and fork over the taxes needed to fund staffers trained in veterinary services. They might have to be prepared for some push-back from non pet-owning taxpayers in their community.
I’m sorry Oreo died. But I think if her humans had been a bit more prepared, a bit more intelligent, and a bit less duplicitous, she might have survived.
Comment from Starla
Time April 26, 2012 at 11:56 am
To the Lakey Family… I am so very sorry for the loss of your beloved Oreo. I hope you get a judge who is more sympathetic than the EMT was. I understand they could not transport Oreo, but to dismiss her as “just a dog” to a family trying so desperately to save their beloved pet… I have no words to describe how awful that must have felt. RIP Oreo.
Comment from Tammy
Time April 26, 2012 at 3:55 pm
This story is such a contrast to this one I just read via Facebook: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/good-news/k-9-police-officer-saves-choking-dog-185315284.html
Comment from vida
Time April 26, 2012 at 5:34 pm
I don’t see why they are being fined, that’s just too harsh. I have tried to call the non emergency number here for animal related emergencies and always get referred back to the emergency number. Luckily it was more a wild animal deal and not a pet. My sympathy to the owners.
Comment from Motoko
Time April 27, 2012 at 3:02 pm
This is another case of poorly trained EMS and Police officials. Technically, this case is not about the sudden death of the animal but the psychological trauma suffered by the family as a result of Oreo’s death. The Chief Complaint is “Acute Psychological Distress.” It happens all the time and the focus should be on the immediate intervention psychological decompensation. The police on the scene acted appropriately by helping move Oreo to the car however, someone should have suggested enlisting a neighbor of calling a family member to be with the patients in this case. These people are clearly in distress and that is more than enough reason for EMS to be there. Last thing any Police Chief or EMS Medical Director wants is people thinking they will get in trouble for calling 911 when faced with a distressing situation. Extremely emotional distressed people are the most dangerous people on the planet. I think the EMS Medical Director and the Police Professional Standards division should review this case for training opportunities for future incidences.
Comment from Anita
Time May 17, 2012 at 9:53 am
My daughter called 911for our Saint when shehit her head and passed out. When I got home, the dispatcher, who gave my daughter an emergency vet #, was nice enough to call back to check on the situation. I apologized for bothering them, but the dispatcher said it was ok, that my daughter was very scared and she was glad to help.
Comment from carole
Time May 17, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Sometimes when your pet is in dire need of professional help you think 911…..the dispatcher should have rerouted the call to the proper dept. I DO NOT think these folks deserve the treatment they are getting from the authorities. And it NOT just a dog to the family who lost her! Some people have no compassion.
Comment from Joey
Time April 26, 2012 at 9:53 am
Everyone should learn canine CPR.