Archive for March, 2009

The pre-trial hearing scheduled for Jason Williams tomorrow in Allegan District Court has been cancelled.   The purpose of the hearing was to determine if there was sufficient evidence to bind him over for trail in Circuit Court on felony animal cruelty charges.

After a pre-trial meeting between Jason Williams attorney and the Allegan Country Prosecutor last Thursday, apparently both parties agreed to waive the right to the pre-trial hearing and proceed directly to arraignment in Circuit Court on felony charges.

The arraignment is scheduled for April 3, though there will be no actual court proceedings, it is just a paper shuffle.  After arraignment a pre-trial date will be scheduled for Jason Williams.

Please check our blog for updates on the proceedings.

The wheel is turning slowly, but it is turning.

Jason Allen Williams is one step closer to trial for the abuse of our beloved Chance.   At 9:30am on March 31st a pre-trail hearing has been set with Judge William Baillargeon to determine if there is enough evidence to try Mr. Williams on Felony Animal Abuse, or simple Misdemeanor Animal Cruelty.

Chance

If Judge Baillargeon determines that the evidence supports Felony Animal Abuse, the case will be sent to the Circuit Court for trial.  If the evidence does not support the more serious felony charge, the case will remain in Allegan County District court and tried as misdemeanor animal cruelty.

Wishbone Pet Rescue believes that justice will be served only if the suspect is charged with a felony and its corresponding penalty of a possible jail sentence of four years, and/or a $5000 fine, and up to 500 hours of community service. The judge will decide how the case will proceed – and under what charges — at the preliminary examination.

To demonstrate community support, Wishbone would like to see concerned citizens and animal lovers attend the March 31st preliminary examination at the Allegan County 57th District Court located on 113 Chestnut Street in Allegan, MI.  Williams is scheduled to face the judge at 9:30am, although due to docket scheduling, he may appear slightly earlier or later. For more information, contact Wishbone Pet Rescue, or call the District Court Criminal Assignment Clerk at 269-673-0400.

A pre-trial meeting between the prosecutor and Mr. Williams attorney is schedule for Thursday morning.  Please visit this blog for an update on the proceedings and final details of the March 31st pre-trial hearing.

Buddy came into our lives on January 31, 2009 as a foster dog with medical issues and a very sad history.  His introduction into our “pack” of Aybear (a 6 year old cockapoo) and Henry (rescued little something or other that looks like a Ewok) went fairly well.

Buddy needed this time to recuperate after his heartworm treatment.  The first couple of weeks, he was very sedentary, sleeping, eating and only going outside to take care of business.  We do have a very large deck with a gate and he enjoyed spending time outside.  His treatment was successful and his transformation has been amazing.

We originally agreed to foster him during this time and hoped he would find a family that would welcome a loving, gentle senior citizen, but as time went on he decided that he wanted to stay.  I think the turning point was when our daughter came home and found him sleeping very comfortably in our bed!  As he is pretty deaf, he didn’t hear her come in and was quite startled when he woke up and saw her standing there!  He was starting to settle in.

Since that time, we have found him to love walks and car rides.  If you open the car door and he is anywhere in sight, he will be in, waiting for a ride.  We’ve also found that he loves playing with balls – especially Aybears’ favorite.  Aybear has never had anyone (human or canine) treat him with such disrespect!  After all, he IS king you know – except in Buddy’s eyes!

Now, at the end of the day when we come home, he greets us with a wagging tail and loving heart (once he sees us of course).  How could we ever think of giving him up?  He has been through enough in his 10 years and if we could give him a happy ending, it’s the least we could do for such a sweet old guy.

Karen – thanks for bringing him into our lives!!!

Love and best wishes to all!

Jan, Tom, Meredith, Aybear (actually spelled Hebert), Henry and now Buddy!

Sometimes one story’s end is the beginning of another.

Last August, Quincy, a young male German Shepherd from the county animal shelter, came into our lives.  As sometimes is the case, he was a mess.  Fleas, intestinal parasites, kennel cough, and the coup de gras.. heart worm.  Despite his ailments, he was a joyful boy, loving all that came in contact with him.

Our young rescue had little money at the time.  Kennel and veterinary care for young Quincy mounted quickly.  Just bringing him to health to prepare for his heartworm treatments consumed over $500 within a matter of weeks.  His medical costs were met out of the pockets of our members… we were glad to do it and accepted no reimbursement for it.

As we prepared for Quincy’s heartworm treatment, a young couple from Illinois spotted him on Petfinder.  They happened to be vacationing in a near by town and made a quick detour to meet him.  I believe it was truly love at first site.  They returned to Illinois with Quincy on their minds and as we worked through their adoption application, we all quickly came to the conclusion it was a great match.   Quincy’s heartworm treatment, and it’s uncertain outcome, was still pending.  Never the less, the couple made the eight hour round trip back the following week to pickup Quincy and take him to his new home.  I knew it was a perfect fit when I watch Quincy bound down the hallway as they arrived and practically leap into their arms.

In the following weeks they successfully treated Quincy’s heart, and just last month we learned he received a clean bill of health during his follow up vet visit.  .. we were all elated.

But.. this is not where the story ends…

Several months ago we were contacted again by the animal shelter.  They had a 10 year old German Shepherd, Buddy, belonging to a fellow doing time in the county jail.  Though he clearly loved his companion, he could not care for him and had no family to help, so he relinquished Buddy to the shelter.  Rather than put him down, they asked if we might help find him a permanent, stable, home and we agreed.

In a story reminiscent of Quincy, Buddy too was a mess.  His frequent exposure to the outdoors and lack of preventative medications, left him with both intestinal parasites and heartworm.  For a dog of advanced age such as Buddy, heartworm treatment is a serious affair.

We brought Buddy into our rescue and began the long process of bringing him to health and preparing him for his heartworm treatment.   I won’t go into details about heartworm and the required treatment, but you can read about it < here > .  A critical aspect of the treatment is after care.  Activity must be restricted for a period of at least four weeks.  This meant that we could not begin Buddys treatment until we found a stable foster home, perferably with a family open to the possibility of adopting him permanently.

Our little rescue once again faced mounting medical costs and the urgent need for a forever home, or at minimum a loving foster environment for Buddy.

Well my friends… I believe angels watch over these kids.

Within a week of each other two wonderful events came together.   A wonderful family stepped forward and offered to foster Buddy while he recupperated from his heartworm treatment, and then Quincy’s mom and dad,  elated with the their boys clean bill of health, donated a substantial gift to pay for the treatment of our boy Buddy.

And just like that, Buddy’s life turned from a question mark, to a happy ending.  I can report to you that as of this week not only is Buddy four weeks out from his treatment and doing great, his foster family has decided to make him a permanent family member.  ….we are elated.

Most of you probably know the rescue business, and most of you know there is as much heartache as joy in the work we do.   But it is stories like this that make you believe we are all cut from the same cloth.  One hand helps another, and one by one, we make a difference.

… and that my friends is what I call “paying it forward”.