SAVE HEIDI'S LIFE

#173: Enough said - Heidi needs to go 

 from: accurate source

 PROPAGANDA is an insideous and dangerous mechanism. It costs lives.  The press was supposed to inform so as to protect the people from, especially, the government. Too often it is the mouthpiece of government, even little local government and the 'fourth column' becomes the fifth estate.  It does this knowing government is so involved in everything; that without mouthing for it there is not much else deemed 'news' and these outlets, small and large will perish. Among the tide of the outgoing was NEWSWEEK, in 2013.  It's more than lies, it's that so much of what it says is not so.  Such is the current malfeasance of the 'Faily Feral' (Daily Herald) articles of 10.28, 10.29, Lee Filas, and recent posts here stating Heidi's owners are incapable of pet ownership and were turned away by one of Heidi's evaluators.  

All this is nonsence. There are no 'victims' as no one has a mark nor real trauma. There are no 'damages'. The couple has always owned two to four dogs for the thirty years they've been together. Heidi is the only one of them with an issue of some nipping in her early life. Heidi then did have extra and specialized training, see below.

 As a pup and young dog, Heidi is of the skittish type and did nip, rarely, when she felt cornered. Then she would cower, retreating, frightened.  This was on her property only and important when reading the state and local codes, one of the many failures by the village executive and lawyer. No 'biting', Heidi does not attack. There are two (2) village people, not 'at least nine' nipped.  Not good but there is no 'damage'.  

The county behavior specialist, the one qualified to evaluate - to include 'dangerous' or even 'vicious' was never contacted by the village executive, board or lawyer. That label was slapped on by a village officer - who never saw the dog!  

The family had a behavior specialist evaluate Heidi.  She went further and had Heidi evaluated in situ for a month by a second specialist who also worked with Heidi extensively. 

Both their reports, labeled Heidi a loving, loyal dog, further confirming Heidi as skittish, sometimes frightened, but with their help, Heidi has nipped no one in 2.1/2 years.  No, the family was not turned away; both specialists reports are in the record.  

Another executive in the matter, the judge in Waukegan, stated at the end of 30 months, he "most reluctantly grant a stay while the appellate court dockets the case", i.e. reluctantly follow the law.  Activism? Comforting. 

Misinformation. Disinformation.  For what is left of brevity, following are corrections to a few of the thrown around fallacies.

Heidi was thought to have bitten a youth. Not reported was this 'nip incident' followed the sudden tackling from behind driving Heidi to ground by an unsupervised soaking black youth who spun off her snout and ran off laughing back toward the water from where he came. He was never again seen by the family. 

Heidi has not had the pleasure of being within 800 miles of West Palm Beach, nor has she ever bitten, nipped, whatever anyone anytime in Florida.  This errant mal-data is from the mistake-laden logue at animal control, a largely verbal sort of record that - surprise! - is not fact-checked. 

Police are not qualified to label dogs as this or that, mean, dangerous, vicious: a science accorded to the behavior specialist from Animal Control per the state and local codes referred above. 

The dog has been kenneled for 2.1/2 years out of the village - in seven kennels! Six were called by the village officer, claming some authority, non-existant by the court, resulting in Heidi's expulsion from each! The lawyer called the seventh; he was, in short, advised to 'take a hike.' Heidi is very fit and was run by one or more of the parents and three boys almost every day. The kennel fees are HUGE.  

This same judge stated belief that the family colludes with a Mr Bathrick of North Barrington to 'circumvent the court.'  This true dog-lover and dog-rescuer is trying with everything he has to save Heidi. He is easily reachable and anyone can ask him what he has to say about 'collusion.' On that question, your conversation will be brief.  He and his attorney, seeking humane enviroment for Heidi have also appealled to ask that Heidi be allowed to reside in a more humane and decent place than where present now, cooped-up in the un-friendly confines of Lake County Animal Control. Pray for their success.  

Heidi is most especially owned by the family's middle son who along with his family rescued Heidi and her puppy brother, Hero, from a shelter on his tenth birthday. Heidi is his Birthday dog.