FL Service Dog to be Executed-Your Help Needed Now!

06-22-2007, 03:46 PM

This is so ridiculous that I found myself calling the Governor today to Pardon the dog!

For the Property Tax debacle, I haven't called him but for this dog, Zeus, I did. Such a bad ruling. This judge had options and she CHOSE to have the dog put down when he was in his own house perceiving that he was protecting his family. Even the Verizon guy didn't want the dog to die-he barely broke the skin. Tomorrow there is going to be a Sit-in at Animal Services. The whole community is on the dog's side-everybody except the judge!

Read this and listen to the video. Please send an email or call the governor-This is just plain wrong and a bad decision on this Judge's part.

For a video and the latest update: WWSB ABC 7 - Sarasota, Florida

The Gov's Email is on the website-It doesn't matter where you live-Please email, phone or fax....

Here's more!
Zeus: Sarasota Dog Case

Sarasota in Defense of Animals (SDA) has received hundreds of e-mails and telephone calls after we shared the sad story of the injustice rendered to a German Shepherd dog, named Zeus, and the dogs care-giver, Mr. Gilbert Otero, a veteran suffering with 70% disabilities from post traumatic stress disorder. Judge Phyllis Gallen ruled that Zeus must be put to death because of an incident where Zeus was charged under Florida Statutes 767.13 with seriously injuring a Verizon telephone repairman at the Oteros home in March 2007. We shared the story with all the news media and the story about Zeus was aired on Tampa Bay News Channel 10 which showed the minor injuries to the victim that did not require any stitches and also showed film of Zeus wi

According to Mrs. Ana Otero, Lt Kasper, Director of Sarasota Co. Animal Services, has agreed to allow Ana to visit Zeus before they kill him. As of this moment, Ana has not received any information as to when they plan to put Zeus to death.

The Sheriffs Animal Services has refused to admit that they made a mistake and did not follow the proper procedure and that Florida Statute 767.12 should have been used regarding the classification of a dog as dangerous as has been correctly done in the case of 44 other dogs in Sarasota County. Instead Zeus was confiscated and charged under FS 767.13.

When this case came before Judge Gallen, after objection by the Sarasota County Attorney, she declined to hear all the evidence including the testimony of our canine behaviorlists, the film of Zeus taken during evaluation, and to hear any arguments referring to the other dangerous dog law FS 767.12.

Another factor that the authorities refuse to consider is that Zeus was in fact a therapy dog to a U. S. Army veteran with 70% disabilities, Mr. Otero, and by law a therapy dog cannot be destroyed.

Despite all of the pleas to Sheriff Balkwill to spare Zeuss life and to admit that a mistake was made and that Zeus should have been prosecuted under FS 767.12 instead of FS 767.13 and pleas to Judge Gallen to consider FS 767.12, the order still stands to kill Zeus. At this point, our only hope is to contact Governor Charlie Crist and ask him to PARDON Zeus.
Please contact Gov. Crist no matter who you are or where you live and urge him to intercede before it is too late.
Phone: 850-488-7146
Fax: 850-487-0801
Mailing Address:
Office of the Governor
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
7 For individuals with hearing loss or speech disability:
1-850-922-7795 (TTY)
OR
711 (Florida Telecommunication Relay)

06-24-2007, 05:31 AM

Does any Dog owner know for absolutely SURE there Dog will not bite?
For this reason Zues should have been contained while a stranger was in the home, this is (human Error) and Zues will pay the ultimate price for such error.
I watched the video and frankly am appauled by the mention of rehabbing Zues, the owners should be rehabbed.
Even after retraining an animal there still is no Certainty that the animal will never bite again.
The judge should have fined the owners heavily, ordered them to pay all medical expense, and or wage loss from such injuries, then order the owners to take (pet ownership responsability) classes.
The Horizon employee should have said when knowing there was an animal loose in the home "could you please contain your pet while I am in the home".
I am sorry if I am a little short and harsh concerning this issue but this is not a ZUES issue, this is a HUMAN issue, but as always the animal will pay the price for such human error.
Soooooo lets kill the animal...after all there life has very little meaning....this is the answer.....how pathetic....

06-29-2007, 08:36 PM

I soo agree with you, Arty! I'm also sure that none of the human parties (including the Animal Control officer who sited the wrong part of the Statute) involved would act in the same way again.

It looks as though Zeus may be getting a reprieve. There will be another hearing on July 6 and ALL the evidence and expert witnesses will be heard, at that time. I'll let y'all know what happens next!

06-29-2007, 08:58 PM

I tend to agree with Arty, Our society has taken responsibility and shifted blame toward the dog's in many of these cases. Its not the dogs fault, its there instinct. I don't personally own large dogs and never have, so I'm not an expert and have no real first hand knowledge of there disposition. But I do believe in taking responsibility for your actions. Something society doesn't do in general. There have been numerous stories like this in Oregon over the past few years, and it sickens me. The one that comes to mind that happened locally has me the most perplexed. If I remember correct, A little boy climbed the neighbors fence and was attacked by the neighbors dog. (Keep in mind the dog was in it own fenced in yard) The little boy was severely bitten, but how was this the dogs fault. He was trespassing and on private property. I remember one of the news stories showed the mother in tears saying something to the effect the owners of the dog were negligent. Hello It was you not watching you kid climb a fence into someones back yard that is negligence. But sadly enough the dog was put down to human error. This type of story really has me upset sorry to ramble.

06-29-2007, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginich

It looks as though Zeus may be getting a reprieve. There will be another hearing on July 6 and ALL the evidence and expert witnesses will be heard, at that time. I'll let y'all know what happens next!

I sure hope it works out for Zeus!