My Daughter's Therapy/Service Dog Was Seized Because She's a Pit Bull: Help Us Get Her Back!
- by: Amanda Simmons
- recipient: City Council, Jacksonville, Arkansas; Gary Fletcher, Mayor
City officials in Jacksonville, Arkansas took my daughter's therapy/service dog, a pit bull named Edith, because of the city's breed-specific legislation (BSL). Please sign this petition to demand the city return Edith to my daughter and repeal its draconian BSL!
I am a single mother of 3, and I simply can't afford to pack up my family and move us to a town where pit bulls are allowed.
When my family moved to Jacksonville last year, I had no idea the town had BSL. A neighbor reported that we had a pit bull, and despite the fact that Edith is my daughter's therapy/service dog, city officials stormed my house without a warrant, seized her, and took her to the shelter.
It wasn't long before Edith, who was being housed on a cold, concrete floor without her human, became violently ill, vomiting and excreting yellow diarrhea. The shelter returned her to us.
Just 8 months later, Animal Control took Edith again, from the backyard of a friend's vacant rent house where the dog was staying while pest control was treating the inside and outside of my home. Since then, I've been trapped in a legal battle to get her back.
We haven't have seen Edith since she disappeared from the shelter 3 months ago. On November 3rd, the rescue organization that was supposed to foster Edith until our trial called and tried to change ownership on Edith's microchip.
Edith is well-behaved and has never hurt anyone. She walks perfectly off a leash, and my daughter has the best time dressing her up - they're like sisters! I have all of the paperwork that certifies Edith is permitted to come with us to the airport, school or the doctor's, yet she can't live in our town because of BSL. It's a total infringement on our individual rights.
Our next court date it Jan. 11. Please sign this petition to demand the city return Edith to my daughter and repeal its draconian BSL!
Please follow Edith's FB page for updates: facebook.com/saveedith
I am a single mother of 3, and I simply can't afford to pack up my family and move us to a town where pit bulls are allowed.
When my family moved to Jacksonville last year, I had no idea the town had BSL. A neighbor reported that we had a pit bull, and despite the fact that Edith is my daughter's therapy/service dog, city officials stormed my house without a warrant, seized her, and took her to the shelter.
It wasn't long before Edith, who was being housed on a cold, concrete floor without her human, became violently ill, vomiting and excreting yellow diarrhea. The shelter returned her to us.
Just 8 months later, Animal Control took Edith again, from the backyard of a friend's vacant rent house where the dog was staying while pest control was treating the inside and outside of my home. Since then, I've been trapped in a legal battle to get her back.
We haven't have seen Edith since she disappeared from the shelter 3 months ago. On November 3rd, the rescue organization that was supposed to foster Edith until our trial called and tried to change ownership on Edith's microchip.
Edith is well-behaved and has never hurt anyone. She walks perfectly off a leash, and my daughter has the best time dressing her up - they're like sisters! I have all of the paperwork that certifies Edith is permitted to come with us to the airport, school or the doctor's, yet she can't live in our town because of BSL. It's a total infringement on our individual rights.
Our next court date it Jan. 11. Please sign this petition to demand the city return Edith to my daughter and repeal its draconian BSL!
Please follow Edith's FB page for updates: facebook.com/saveedith
The city of Jacksonville seized Amanda's young daughter's therapy/service dog because of the city's draconian breed-specific legislation banning pit bulls. Amanda is a single mother of 3 and simply can't afford to pack up her family and move to a town where pit bulls are allowed.
Edith is well-behaved and has never hurt anyone. She walks perfectly off a leash, and her daughter has the best time dressing her up - they're like sisters! Amanda has all of the paperwork that certifies Edith is permitted to come with them to the airport, school or the doctor's, yet she can't live in Jacksonville because of BSL. It's a total infringement on individual rights.
They way city officials have treated Amanda's family and dog is abhorrent. The first time city officials stormed her house without a warrant and seized Edith, the dog became very sick in the shelter. She was being housed on a cold, concrete floor and became violently ill, vomiting and excreting yellow diarrhea.
There is absolutely no reason Edith shouldn't be allowed to live with a family that loves and cares for her. There is zero research suggesting pit bulls are more dangerous than other dogs.
Please return Edith to Amanda's family and revisit and repeal Jacksonville's draconian breed-specific legislation. Thank you.
Edith is well-behaved and has never hurt anyone. She walks perfectly off a leash, and her daughter has the best time dressing her up - they're like sisters! Amanda has all of the paperwork that certifies Edith is permitted to come with them to the airport, school or the doctor's, yet she can't live in Jacksonville because of BSL. It's a total infringement on individual rights.
They way city officials have treated Amanda's family and dog is abhorrent. The first time city officials stormed her house without a warrant and seized Edith, the dog became very sick in the shelter. She was being housed on a cold, concrete floor and became violently ill, vomiting and excreting yellow diarrhea.
There is absolutely no reason Edith shouldn't be allowed to live with a family that loves and cares for her. There is zero research suggesting pit bulls are more dangerous than other dogs.
Please return Edith to Amanda's family and revisit and repeal Jacksonville's draconian breed-specific legislation. Thank you.
Update #28 years ago
Our next court date is May 9! The judge will return Edith to us if we can move to a town without BSL before trial, but we're struggling to find an affordable place. Please keep sharing the petition so that we can win our trial and have Edith stay with us without us having to move! You can also help by donating to us on PayPal using the email saveedithfrombsl@gmail.com. Thank you!
Update #18 years ago
Thank you all for your support! We're so close to 100,000 signatures! Please consider donating to our legal fundraiser: http://bit.ly/1YhP2Xp and sharing the petition on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1QqMemz. Thank you!
See more petitions:
You have JavaScript disabled. Without it, our site might not function properly.
By signing, you accept Care2's Terms of Service.
You can unsub at any time here.
Having problems signing this? Let us know.