Texas Italian Greyhound Breeder found not guilty of animal cruelty

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• Publié par: gillienoel0904
• Publié le: 22 octobre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 4
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Texas Italian Greyhound Breeder
Texas Italian Greyhound Breeder found not guilty of animal cruelty
by Patrick Johnston, Wichita Falls TX, August 22, 2016
Texas Italian Greyhound breeder, Lee Allen Miller (53) was acquitted of animal cruelty after his dogs were seized by Iowa Park
police. 
According to witness accounts from two unbiased veterinarians "the animals were in excellent or respectable condition."  
Animal control officers countered, "it would be impracticable for one man to take care of 22 dogs. 
According to American Kennel Club records 18 of the 22 dogs were show champions. One of the seized dogs was a two time
Best in Show winner, with over 200 best of breed wins in his career. Another dog had competed in a show the weekend before
being seized.According to court accounts one of the dogs an AKC Champion Rhodesian Ridgeback was 13 and the charges were produced
when Wichita County animal control officers decided (without a veterinary determination) the dog had arthritis. Veterinarians
countered that lack of mobility is common in aging dogs. "For a large breed 13 years is great. Many large breeds died long
before thirteen. This dog was a champion show dog and well taken care of for his entire life."
Also a champion Boston Terrier, age 11 was the focus of the prosecution. The indictment stated that the dog had "an untreated
corneal abrasion" on her eye. But in court veterinarian records revealed that the abrasion had happened when the dog was a
puppy. Veterinarians testified that what prosecutors were looking at was scare tissue from over a decade ago. There was a
groan from the jury box as at least one jury member expressed his discontent at the sloppy police work. The pregnant champion Italian Greyhound, which the animal control officer listed as 11 years old was proven to be only seven
with ID chip technology. Both veterinarians testified the dog had the "graying gene" which turns a dog's hair gray at an early
age. Iowa Park animal control officer, Melissa Britt, testified she had never heard of this gene and maintained that any breeding
(regardless of championship or age) of dog would be cruelty.  Melissa Britt pointed out that if people wanted a dog they could
aways adopt a dog from her for $285. 
Airline reciepts and health certificated introduced show that Mr. Miller shipped puppies to dog show enthusiats in 16 diffent
coutnries. Mr. Miller's attorney introduced over 189 health certificates obtained over a 30 year period. 
Prosecutors introduced a report that another Italian Greyhound had gum disease and could possibly experience from tooth loss
in the near future. 
Police and animal control officers maintained that the situation were not hale and hearty and that dog fecal material littered the
back yard. Home security cameras however show only three dog piles in the 8,000 sq feet yard. Police photos show one dog
pile inside a back bathrooom of the house. 
Veterinarian, Kenny Lambert, said, "You can't really charge someone with animal cruelty just because police find a pregnant
bitch. Primarily, any animal control officer probably doesn't know the history and really in this case doesn't know much about
dogs in general. The bitch in question was chipped as a puppy and registered with the AKC. She was seven years old at the
time she was seized. In this case, it was just wicked. She is one of the best bitches I've ever assessed." 
Wichita County police entered Miller's home October 22, 2015 when they claim they saw 4 dogs in the backyard. Mr. Miller's
home security system camera showed only 3 dogs in the backyard, which is legally permissible. There was a rather heated
debate about if violation of a city dog regulation was enough reason to search a home, but police entered the home anyway.
The time of the search was also in contention - 2 am.  
Attorney David Boss said, "In the end, we didn't challenge the validity of the search because we really wanted the evidence in
court. The true criminal in this case were the police and prosecutor who think they can do anything they want just because a
man breeds dogs. To be truthful, I suspect the dogs were seized to be sold to a puppy mill. The dogs AKC registration papers
were ceized be the police but were lost. How convinient."
Mr. Miller testified, "Corrupt government officials, controlled by the profession rescue shelters, have driven dog breeders
underground." He explained, "You know you live in a country on the path to totalitarianism when it's nearly impossible to buy a
pure breed dog. Every dog breed I know has quit rather than face this harassment. The brave few that continue have their dogs
well hidden."
Retired History professor in the Dallas Community College system, Miller added, "This has happened before; after the Russian,
Chinese and Cuban revolutions Borzoi, Pekingese and Havanese were nearly made extinct. Here in the United States
nowadays, the communist revolution is measured and incremental. It will take them another 20 years at this speed to eliminate
the pure breed dogs. The dogs were in perfect condition. The government just wanted them for their friends."
Of the four charges none seemed to have merit with Judge Greg King, who dismissed the charges before sending the case of
the jury. "I just can't take anymore. This is a travesty. It is enlightening but horrifying at the same time."
When ordered to the return of the confiscated show dogs, the prosecution said they would try but many of the dogs would be
untraceable. Reluctantly the prosecutor claimed that they were already spayed and neutered. The prosecutor was not able to
prove the dogs were spayed or neutered. 
Speculation is rampant in Wichita County that the dogs were not adopted out as evidence was brought forward at the trial that at
least one of the dogs had a litter of puppies registered with the AKC eight months after she was seized. 
Wichita County American Civil Liberties Union representative, Wayne House, issued a statement, "Something is rotten in
Denmark. This was nothing but legalized theft. A breeder's work, 30 years of genetic selection, tens of thousands of miles
traveling to dog shows to prove the superiority of his bloodline, gone, destroyed by a corrupt police department." 
One Iowa Park resident, who wishied to remain unidentified, "Knowing the Iowa Park police department like I do, I think all these
dogs are in a puppy mill somewhere. Just like other property has mysteriously turned up in the hands of these cops. I don't want
them to start harrassing me but they are just a tiny bit... a uniform... above the criminals they claim to be protecting us from. And
they have something like 18 police cars, what is up with that? There are only 5,000 residents." 
Liberatarian Party county chairman in Wichita County, Elizabeth McDonnell, said "In Iowa Park, the 4th Amendment meansnothing to these tyrants. It's like they have to go to school these police, but they missed search an seizer day at school. the
government siezes more property without charges than thieves steal. Most times this property is never returned."
Dog lover and professional animal rescue worker for the Humane Society of North Texas, Diane Blain, said, "With all these dogs
in our shelters there isn't any reason to breed. No one wants these inbreed show dogs anyway. Reasonable people prefer to
rescue these dogs. People end up feeling guilty when they buy from a breeder. You just can't do whatever you want. Thank
God, we have plenty of laws to stop breeding."
Ford Corporation had been considering building a factory for light trucks in Iowa Park. As word of this and other illegal police
seizures circulated on social media, the city was marked off the list of potential building sites. Iowa Park Better Business Bureau
president, Mark Lomax, said, “I thought government was supposed to enhance the tax base but these politicians are perfectly
happy harassing people and running down the real-estate values.” 
Economics professor, Yoshikazu Fukasawa, testified "In a free market system you have the right to supply goods. It's in part
what makes the American economy vigorous and prosperous, people satisfying the demands (wants and needs) of the people.
When the government wrecks the supply, like with dog breeders and coal miners, over time we reduce our high standard of
living." He added, "basically it's economic tyranny." 
American Kennel Club representative, Bruce Petersen, said, “It's a sad day in America when you have to hide the very best elite
dogs from an over-zealous government. We need some elections here in this part of Texas quickly. For the productive parts of
society, it’s like living in Cuba or North Korea. Of course for the unproductive, North Texas is a marxist utopia.” Again one of the
jury member gasp at the testimony. The judge admonished the pannel to remain quiet and ubias until the conclusion of
testimony. 
The judge admonished the prosecutors, "The prosecutors unfortunately enjoy statutory immunity and can't be sued, but in this
case I wish that wasn't the law. The City of Iowa Park however can be sued and I expect they will be hearing from Mr. Miller's
attorneys"
Outside the courtroom, Mayor Ray S