Don't Let the Courts Take Stitch from His Family!
- by: Stitch's Family
- recipient: Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard, Congresswoman 34th District
On July 12th, 2012, an antiquated law- the "Lost Property Statute" may cause us to lose our dog Stitch to a former "alleged" owner who left him abandoned on a highway.
Here is our story: Three years ago, we adopted a sweet little French Bulldog named Stitch. The woman who owned him told us his sad story. Her teenage daughter had been given the dog as a gift, but the girl was wild and out of control, partying, disappearing for weeks at a time with her adult boyfriend.
Stitch had been locked in the teens room for days without sunshine or exercise, having to relieve himself on the carpet. The daughter had taken him to a wild party where he had become so distressed that he jumped through a pane glass window to escape. And eventually, Stitch ended up abandoned in the middle of a highway 10 hours away in Nevada City. With a cigarette burn on his neck.
We wanted to give Stitch a stable, happy home. We adopted him, microchipped and licensed him and got his necessary shots. And then we fell completely in love with him.
Soon after, the teenage daughters adult boyfriend began calling our home, harassing us, telling us the dog was his and to return Stitch to him. He even filed a police report against us for theft. After much drama – too much to recount here, the boyfriend sued us last year for more than $25,000, accusing us of theft and intentional infliction of emotional distress on HIM.
Although this man has no legal documentation or paperwork of any kind linking him to Stitch, and we have all the legal paperwork and proof, we still had to defend ourselves in court. For the past two and a half years we have been fighting this with our attorney, specialist in animal rights, Jill Ryther. It has drained our finances, and maxed out our credit.
Then on JUNE 2, 2011 THE UNTHINKABLE...WE LOST THE TRIAL. THE JUDGE RULED BASED ON LOST PROPERTY STATUTE, equating Stitch to a bicycle. It doesn't matter if an owner neglects or abandons an animal. It states that no matter how the owner treated the "property", it has to be returned to the original owner. OUR STITCH IS NOT A BICYCLE!
We appealed and are fighting to overturn the PROPERTY STATUTE LAW. We can not bear to lose Stitch, who is a beloved member of our family, and my little boys best friend. In these peoples care, we are terrified what could become of him. PLEASE HELP! Sign our petition and share with your friends!
July 12th is our last chance at justice.
For more on our story, see our website: http://savestitch.webs.com
THANK YOU!
Troy and Hollye Dexter
To the Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allar
On July 12th, 2012, a very important decision will be made in the Los Angeles Appeals Court in your district– a decision which will either deem our family pets as having a right to care and protection, or render them nothing more than property that can be neglected and abused.
Last year, the Chatsworth Superior court ordered the Dexter family to hand their legally adopted dog Stitch over to Soleil Brown, a person who claimed to have formerly owned him, but never provided any proof. When the Dexters adopted Stitch years ago, he had been found abandoned in the middle of a highway, with a cigarette burn on his neck. The Dexters appealed the judge's order.
The Honorable Judge Pfahler had ruled based on California Civil Code 2080 - a centuries-old "Lost Property Statute" which originally applied to cattle, or any "property" that could be sold at live auction. The lost property statute does not take into account the wellbeing or treatment of an animal, in fact, it does not matter if the animal has been abused. This law DOES NOT apply to man's best friend. All over the world, books, movies and songs have been written about the pets we've loved. How can a judge rule that Stitch is no more valuable than a bicycle?
This case is getting national and international attention through media, the blogosphere and has gone viral through You Tube, Facebook and Twitter. Media outlets such as the Examiner, the O.C Register, and Patch have run stories on it which have also gone viral. Pet owners everywhere are united in standing strong against this law. This is an issue that matters deeply to us.
On June 7th, the Dexters have their appeals hearing - a chance to save Stitch and other pets by overturning this antiquated law. If they don't win this appeal, they will lose custody of Stitch to a man who a) never provided any evidence, vet bills, licensing, or paperwork showing ownership of Stitch, and b) admitted in court to losing Stitch five times, and didn't go looking for him when he ran off because he "figured he'd turn up”.
Can you help pet owners everywhere by turning your attention to this matter?
Here is the information regarding the case:
Appellate Case No. BV029455
[Superior Court Case No. 10A06053]
Brown V. Dexter
Appelate Division of Superior Court, Los Angeles
Stanley Mosk Courthouse – 111 N. Hill St., Rm 607, Los Angeles CA 90012
Judges:
THE HONORABLE GREGORY KEOSIAN AND THE HONORABLE PATTI JO MCKAY
Thank you very much for your time and consideration,
Troy and Hollye Dexter
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