FLATIRON KENNEL CLUB March 2008 Newsletter ...

Many of us received this recent e-mail:

Subject: Illegal entry & taking of dogs!

One of our own is in need of YOUR help as the dog community of Colorado. PLEASE take the time to read below and find out what happened to Bob Attleson’s dogs last Friday when he was at the show. If this is allowed to happen to one, it will happen to more of us. It is my understanding that the City BROKE INTO BOB’S HOME and took the dogs out through windows! If you can pass this on to anyone else in the community that I've left off this mailing, or you know other dog people who can stand up for this wrong, it would be greatly appreciated.
Carole Williams Rainbow Creek Field Spaniels

...

What Carole was referring to by asking the FKC members to read below ... was the request by the All Breed Rescue Network [ABRN], Bonnie Guzman, for a show of support on February 22, 2008, the Court Hearing, which has long past. There were 50 or more people that showed up to support Bob and the courtroom was packed. A Press Release by the City of Littleton's Kelli Nardi went out immediately "Attleson Pleads Guilty." Yes indeed he did. He plead guilty so he could get his dogs returned to him. They were being held as ransom for his guilty plea. Who amongst you would not have done the same thing?

Again, we want to reach out with thanks to all those that have recognized the injustice of this forcible break-in and the illegal seizure of Bob's show dogs.

To those few in the 'fancy' that are working behind the scenes to undermine the good Bob has done in RESCUE, we know who you are. We know what you have done and are doing and we can only pity your ignorance.

United Kennel Club/Hunting Retriever Magazine

Cindy Cooke's article under Dog Owner's Rights:

http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/Articles/LegislativeUpdate04162008

United Kennel Club: This Means War, by CIndy Cooke

It's been an interesting and positive experience to learn how many of the Fancy in setters and other purebred breeds believe that what has happened to Bob Attleson could happen to any of us.

We need to keep fighting for our passion in dogs and our constitutional rights.

The Makers of our Constitution

"The makers of our Constitution undertook to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit of happiness. They recognized the significance of man's spiritual nature, of his feelings and of his intellect. They knew that only a part of the pain, pleasure and satisfactions of life are to be found in material things. They sought to protect Americans in their beliefs, their thoughts, their emotions and their sensations. They conferred, as against the government, the right to be let alone - the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men. To protect that right, every unjustifiable intrusion by the government upon the privacy of the individual, whatever the means employed, must be deemed a violation of the Fourth Amendment. And the use, as evidence in a criminal proceeding, of facts ascertained by such intrusion must be deemed a violation of the Fifth........Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government's purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding. "

--Justice Louis Brandeis OLMSTEAD v. U.S., 277 U.S. 438 (1928)

I Doubt Anyone in Littleton Can Offer Help

They'd be over the LIMIT ...

This came down from our Canadian Friends

One of our volunteers is down at Jefferson County Animal Control [Missouri] right now and the shelter is a mess. They are full because of all the flooding. They have all their large dogs in outdoor kennels and there is no shelter from the rain for them. These dogs are standing because there is water covering the concrete and they can't even lay down. They are cold and shivering and soaking wet. To top it off their kennels are filthy.

I know a lot of you may not be able to foster, however if everyone passes this along to everyone they know we can surely get some volunteers to foster. PAWS for Consideration pays for any vet bills required for the animals, their shots, spay or neuter and microchip. Any dogs that we pull from shelters we have to hold for a minimum of 10 days. During that time you can take them to get all their vet needs taken care of and then they are ready for adoption. They will go up on Petfinder.com as quickly as you can get pictures e-mailed in to us and after the 10 days they can go to Petsmart events and stuff for even more exposure. I know it is a huge favor to ask people to foster, however the rewards of saving a dog and seeing it go to a wonderful forever home is even greater. All fosters, must be able to keep the dogs indoors and provide adequate exercise based on the size, age, etc. I would recommend that you have a kennel to keep them in while they sleep or while you are at work.

Some of the dogs are fabulous, some of them have been strays and may have accidents while you're gone. If you or anyone you know are interested and could possibly help, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. I can e-mail you the foster application and set up a home check for myself or someone else to do a quick home visit so we can save these dogs. Our website is http://www.pawsforconsideration.com/ Please take the time to check us out. I really appreciate it.

Angela Stringer Astringer4706@yahoo.com

While it was not rescues that were taken but instead Bob's show dogs illegally seized, I'm sure everyone in Colorado that can help the shelter in Missouri, will help. I know Bob would be first on the list to volunteer.

It's sad when Littleton city officials tie your hands when you are trying to be a good person and help others when help is needed. It's even sadder when they try to malign your character and continue on their crusade to destroy your constitutional rights.

Message from Bob:

Recently, photos taken by the City of Littleton back in March 2006 are making it into the public (setter) limelight. The sender of these photos is a Sabrina Clinesmith and I do not know this woman or how she was able to gain access to photos from the court files. Her first email went out to the Irish fancy and now to some in the English fancy. From the comments of those who have seen the photos, they apparently are of storage and clutter. Some are of dogs in crates that were placed there by me, ordered by the city inspectors.

1) The photos are poor quality black and whites. This implies that they are from the city's files. I have colored digitals following each inspection as record of conditions and digitals of the dogs at the time of each inspection.

2) My attorneys reviewed photos in the court file prior to pursuing my case and saw no problems there. The photos pertain to inside and outside storage and probably my poor "housekeeping," but not to the issue of the number of dogs as was their only reason for unannounced inspections. These are two separate issues: the number of dogs, and the condition of my property as it pertains to city codes and ordinances. The house was built in 1950 and should be grand-fathered in.

3) There are no signed formal complaints from other than city zoning in my court file. There are no references within my court file of any complaints by anyone, neighbor or otherwise, formal or anonymous. The last city noted complaint was an anonymous phone call alleging neglect and abuse of rescues that was made in 2000 and was found to be false and unfounded by both the city and state.

4) The city has been inspecting my premises since 9/6/06, with unannounced "raids," up to and including 2/15/08. All inspections have included at least two individuals from community development, one animal control officer, and one to four uniform police. The only charges ever brought are limit violations, alleged operating a kennel, and violations of the International Property Maintenance Code and other city ordinances pertaining to outdoor storage, rubbish, and a shower enclosure.

5) My house and/or conditions of the dogs have been inspected at my request by two veterinarians, an inspector from the All Breed Rescue Network in Colorado, and by a State of Colorado Animal Cruelty Investigator with 25 plus years experience in that position. All inspections passed with housing and care conditions and health meeting and/or exceeding all state requirements, including those requirements for multiple dog conditions for rescue and/or kennels.

6) When looking at the photos, do any of the photos show feces or urine puddles?

7) No charges of neglect, abuse, cruelty, etc., have ever been brought against me by Littleton or any other agency except for the allegations contained in the seizure warrants of 2/15/08 and that I expect was their reason to justify their illegal break in. Mr. Alan C. Katz, prosecutor, has also written a letter with untrue facts and his personal opinion and accusations.

(8) Mention is made in the Clinesmith email sent with the photos about a 12 year history between me and the city. I have no idea where that comment comes from.

The facts remain, the City of Littleton did illegally break in and seize my show dogs. They are now trying to so some damage control?