Bad Newz at Good Newz: Dogs Deserve Better founder charged with cruelty
The founder of the dog rescue organization that moved its headquarters into Michael Vick’s old house was charged Monday with animal cruelty, the Daily Press in Hampton Roads reported.
Surry County deputies served a search warrant at Dogs Deserve Better’s Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs.
According to court records, they were looking for Tasers and mace allegedly used on the rescued dogs.
Authorities said the search and investigation were prompted by allegations from former staff and volunteers working at the center on Moonlight Drive — the same house where Philadelphia Eagles quarterback lived when he bankrolled a dog-fighting operation.
Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne was charged with one count of misdemeanor animal cruelty and one count of inadequate care of animals, also a misdemeanor, according to Surry County Chief Animal Control Officer Tracy Terry.
She’s scheduled to appear Sept. 25 in Surry General District Court.
According to the search warrant, deputies were searching for all paperwork connected to dogs that have been housed on the property since the facility opened in June 2011, including veterinary records and receipts.
The search warrant alleged that “animals are being maced and tased on regular basis” and dogs are being cratedfor long periods, up to 19 hours a day. According to the warrant, injured and sick dogs are not getting proper veterinary care.
Terry declined to discuss what, if anything, was found in the search.
Authorities removed one dog from the kennel, but Terry refused to say why.
Terry said she began investigating July 20 after receiving mailed complaints, including pictures, from current and former employees and volunteers.
(Photo: Adrin Snider / Daily Press)
Posted by jwoestendiek August 28th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
Tags: animal cruelty, animals, bad newz, chained, charged, complaints, dog, dogs, dogs deserve better, employees, former, good newz, investigation, mace, michael vick, mistreated, moonlight road, organization, penned, pets, rehab center, rescue, search, surry county, tamira thayne, tasers, virginia, volunteers, warrant
Comments
Comment from SANDY DOLLARD
Time August 29, 2012 at 9:10 am
This makes me soooo mad. I believed in those people – I donated to their group so they could buy the property. I thought it was the single greatest thing that could happen to that house and to honor the dogs that suffered there before. Now it’s just another dog tragedy and another abuser on the long list of abusers.
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time August 29, 2012 at 9:25 am
Very disturbing news.., if true.
Comment from Debra
Time August 29, 2012 at 10:52 am
I will not judge this until it is proven…but if it is in fact true, then I will be so incredibly disappointed and angry. There seems to have been threats made against Tamira upon establishing her rescue in MV’s former grounds….so I don’t know what the truth is. I know that I’m incredibly tired as is everyone of hearing about abuse, hearing about rescuers gone bad…I truly truly hope this is not true.
Comment from Judith Pannebaker
Time August 29, 2012 at 11:56 am
What is going on in the rescue world? first Spindletop and now this? It seems to be veteran animal rescuers would know better than to get in over their heads – unless their motives, i.e., those regarding fundraising, were more obscure.
Comment from BaltimoreGal (Ann) (@BaltimoreGal)
Time August 29, 2012 at 2:21 pm
This is really disturbing but let’s wait and be sure before we write her off. Vick was a horrible abuser there for many years and the surrounding community had no interest in what was going on there. Interesting they care now.
Comment from vida
Time August 29, 2012 at 5:10 pm
I wouldn’t leap to conclusions, I too have donated to this group and so far have seen no evidence that dogs were harmed. I will wait for something other than allegations.
Comment from Rose
Time August 29, 2012 at 5:11 pm
I have been a membr of Dogs Deserve Better since its beginning. Nothing about these charges sounds in character for the founder of the organization. Those of us who are in touch with Dogs Deserve Better, by way of regularly reading their newsletters, know that some of the neighbors, who never objected to Michael Vick fighting dogs at that site, have objected greatly to Dogs Deserve Better having a training facility there. Some of the people living in that area keep hunting dogs in small pens, something that Dogs Deserve Better greatly disapproves. Thus Dogs Deserve Better has not been welcomed into the neighborhood with open arms. Get the picture? Something about these complaints and these charges sounds mighty funny to me.
Comment from Hillary Strilko
Time August 29, 2012 at 6:07 pm
John– As a Iongtime Baltimore fan, I beg you not just to rerun these allegations without digging under the surface for the truth. I have volunteered twice at DDB staying overnight in the house. Jada , the pit bull seized was actually my sleep buddy one night soon after her arrival.. I can assure you these dogs were shown nothing but love.
Comment from Rebecca
Time August 30, 2012 at 3:00 pm
As a supporter of DDB from its beginning, I am aware of several people/groups who would do anything to cause trouble for Tami/DDB, including past disgruntled employees/reps, those who didn’t want DDB moving to the property, and, most importantly, people/groups who rush to judgment without knowing the facts. Uninformed people have raised questions about the purchase of the property, financial issues, treatment of the dogs, foster contracts (i.e., Joel), Tami’s conviction for “stealing” a dog, (Google “Doogie” and have your eyes opened), etc., and NONE of the accusations amounted to anything. Do your research, people. Tami’s doors at DDB in VA are open to the public, so before you judge and spread rumors, take a trip there yourself and volunteer. There is something incredibly fishy about this complaint, and I, for one, can’t wait to hear who is behind it. Tami and DDB still have my full support and respect.
Comment from Julie
Time August 31, 2012 at 7:03 pm
This is tragic. They clearly don’t know what they’re doing.
Comment from Karen
Time November 16, 2012 at 1:39 pm
I too am a big supporter of Tami Thayne and DDB!! I just volunteered at the property in Smithfield 2 weeks ago and I can tell you with all conviction that the rescued animals are getting excellent care, lots of outdoor and indoor exercise, and lots of love and attention from the staff who work there. PLEASE do not dismiss DDB because, in the end, you will see it was a false claim filed by disgruntled ex-employees who should be ashamed of themselves for trying to bring down someone who is helping the animals as DDB does!!!!!! I stayed there for 3 days, saw what goes on daily, and was greatly impressed by what I saw. And someone else who posted was right -a few people living right on the same road who kennel their hunting dogs behind their house covered by trees with no sunlight, etc. – very, very SAD. DDB, after 10 years in existence, deserves to be heard on these charges BEFORE you condemn them – PLEASE GIVE THEM A CHANCE…And yes, the dog that was confiscated was given back and she is a beautifuly Pit Bull who was the happiest, wiggliest little girl with a big Pit Bull smile…
GIVE THEM A CHANCE – THEY NEED TAMI and DDB………………
Comment from Barbara
Time January 18, 2013 at 4:12 pm
It is long overdue that these individuals legally answer for the lies and verbal attacks made in defense of a woman who has remained quiet behind the scenes of all this ugliness. Legal advice to “not comment” does not excuse two years of allowing the owners and supporters of this group free reign to sling mud, harass and mock. We know Thayne is aware of this group as she has posted to it.
Not to mention that as CEO of a non-profit, Thayne has a legal obligation to respond to the questions and/or criticisms of financial mismanagement and the questionable ethical practices of DDB. And when I say respond, I mean in some way other than just the *deletion* of any comments that raise questions and the *quieting* of any news deemed unfavorable to DDB through silence and intimidation. Or, the ridiculous suggestion to “come on down to Virginia” to see their books.
Did Tamira Thayne ever think of just apologizing for her bad decisions, such as the large amount of donations wasted on the Vick house, the dogs that should have been helped but weren’t, the vindictive action taken against Dr. Fiala, and correct them? Was launching two years of attacks a better choice?
The truth is this was all begun by the inappropriate response by Tamira Thayne to Dr. Fiala’s questions regarding DDB’s financial policies. Dr. Fiala, or any other DDB supporter, had the right to ask such questions! Too bad that Tamira Thayne didn’t like it. Since those questions came at the same time that Thayne was trying to get the Vick house, she employed her usual tactics of intimidation to squelch them. However, Dr. Fiala was not one to be bullied or silenced, and these tactics didn’t work.
The response of most ethical non-profits would be to simply answer the questions. But instead, retribution was taken in the form of taking Joel from Dr. Fiala. If DDB had any questions regarding Joel’s adoption, a simple phone call could have handled it. But no, take the dog with no warning, and begin the mudslinging, publicly post personal information and begin spinning the facts. First, against Dr. Fiala, and then against anyone that supported Dr. Fiala. And continue for two years. It’s as simple as that.
The CEO of DDB should be ashamed of causing this fiasco. It seems that she will take the non-profit down with her if she is found guilty of the abuse charges. She has continued encouraging the mudslinging against those employees and volunteers that left DDB, some directly due to the way it is being run. Nothing about how DDB is run has changed, no lessons were learned.
The supporters of DDB have trusted that the money they give and have given,which is not easily earned these days, is going to support DDB’s mission, which was to educate and rehabilitate. How many months did DDB remain quiet that the center was performing no function? That most of the heartfelt stories were just cross posts?
Perhaps the authorities can stop this harassment. It is a disgrace that it has continued so long, and it has been condoned by this CEO. Just my calm opinion.
Comment from Barbara
Time January 18, 2013 at 6:02 pm
DDB has 3 board members, one of which is the CEO. It is our opinion that DDB’s board should have stepped in a long time ago and prevented many of these situations. After all, it is not too difficult to imagine the consequences and resulting bad publicity when a dog rehabilitation center is caught with large quantities of pepper spray and stun guns. And we are not even talking about being charged with cruelty as a result of their use.
The board has the power to remove the CEO from her executive position with a vote of no confidence.
Will the board act if the CEO is convicted of cruelty and/or neglect?
The founder has NO liability insurance for the Board of Directors, so if DDB tanks, their personal assets can be taken for any monies owed by the organization as well as any civil lawsuit payouts. Because of her past legal issues, she was considered high risk and no one would insure her. This was something that I worked on for months. She didn’t seem to understand the need for such insurance.
Comment from Joe
Time January 18, 2013 at 6:05 pm
The CEO’s court case for misdemeanor cruelty and neglect is scheduled now for March 5, 2013. It is a no-win situation and it is horrendous that the director of a national animal advocacy organization placed herself and DDB in this position.
- A guilty verdict could spell the end for DDB. The CEO would be prevented from serving on DDB’s board and could even be barred from owning or possessing dogs.The state would revisit its approval of DDB’s operations and would request that the CEO step down from daily operations.
-The CEO knows this and they are still gambling on a not guilty outcome. She is using DDB resources to defend against this case and putting the entire organization at risk instead of mitigating those risks. At the least, operational responsibility should have been temporarily handed to someone else in the organization.
- A not guilty verdict could result in a worse outcome. Stun guns and pepper spray could be used with impunity. The CEO would be validated and emboldened to continue the very behavior and actions that led to this very situation in the first place. Nothing would change.
The mark of a bad leader is their inability to recognize their own weaknesses and their inability to change. In this case, the CEO has blamed this entire mess on “disgruntled employees”. So many past and present DDB associates have spoken out against this CEO and still, there is not the least effort to address any of the criticisms that have been raised.
This is why DDB is doomed under the current leadership.
Comment from KP
Time August 28, 2012 at 6:47 pm
I’m absolutely outraged that this could have occurred! Those poor dogs went from one horrible situation to another and no one thought to inspect, follow up or check in on the dogs???? Unbelievable and just disgusting!