The purpose of this web site is simple; I wish to inform people that not all pet rescuers are always what they seem to be or what they say they are. Below, you will find authenticatable emails between me and a transporter who refused to turn over a dog she was entrusted to deliver to our Lhasa organization. These emails belong to me and permission must be granted by me to anyone who wishes to copy them.
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From: Lhasa Apsos By Chance
To: Linda Murray
Subject: Re: Gracie Transport
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 10:31:45 -0700 (PDT)
Things must be really different down here. This is the first time I've voted in Lamar County in many years and was the first time I've ever voted on the Republican side. Many of our local candidates, especially those I knew and wanted to vote for, were running as Republicans. Most of the Democratic locals were running unopposed. It felt strange as opposed to the past.
I'm doing some reference checks on this Yorkie rescuer. I do not know her, but that's not unusual since I've only been back here and doing rescue from this location for about a year. Unfortunately, I've discovered since I've been here that some of these local "rescuers" aren't really doing rescue at all in spite of what it may seem on the rescue groups. As in all walks of life, greed is sometimes one's primary motivator, and even in rescue, there are those who have figured out how to make a profit out of these unfortunate animals. There's much bad stuff going on in south Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and it may be that the center of it is in Hattiesburg. That's why I've become very careful as to the people I help. Unless this little Yorkie is going to a responsible rescuer who will care for him and place him in an screened home, there's no need to make his life worse than it already is. I was asked by a Yorkie rescuer in another state several weeks ago if I knew this lady and I told her I didn't. I've contacted her this morning to see if she found out anything. If Jo's reputable, I'm all for helping get the Yorkie to her....especially since I'm making the trip anyway.
If you'll tell me the best time for you on Friday, I'll work my other meetings around it. I'd love to get back to Hattiesburg by 5:00 on Friday afternoon to stop by my vet's to have him look at the puppy I'm picking up. He has clients wanting to adopt and if it's a healthy puppy, I may can place him as quick as we've neutered him. But if I can't get back in time, that's okay too....I'll just go Saturday morning.
Don't worry too much about Gracie and her tail. I'm used to having to clean them up and either demat or clip them. The owners had told us she didn't get along with all dogs, hadn't mentioned cats, and didn't mention a limp at all. She may well have luxating patellas, which is common in the breed. The cat thing is funny - I have a Lhasa here now who was pulled from a kill shelter in New Orleans by an all breed rescuer. She quickly called me for help - said that her three cats were losing all their hair from the stress created by this dog. I don't have cats so I can't test the dogs - now thanks to you, I'll know not to place her in a home with cats.
Give me a time and I'll start coordinating. I'll let you know as soon as I know something about this Yorkie person and have contacted her.
Thanks,
Linda
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From: Linda Murray
To: Linda Chance
Subject: Re: Gracie Transport
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 15:01:51 -0500
Linda, Just thought I would let you know that I had a friend come over this afternoon and literally fell in love with Gracie. I hope you don't mind, I gave Gracie to her. She lives by herself and has no small kids coming in and out. So I will not be coming down that way this weekend. Saved us both a lot of riding. I did enjoy her while she was here.
Linda Murray
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From: Linda Chance
To: Linda Murray
Subject: Re: Gracie Transport
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 15:03:20 -0700 (PDT)
Linda,
I do mind. Gracie belongs to Lhasa Apso Southern Rescue. She was surrendered by her owners to my rescue group. You were merely acting as an agent on our behalf. You have no legal right to "give" Gracie to anyone. If your friend would like to be considered as an applicant to adopt her, we'd love to have her submit an application. In the meantime, we'll have her evaluated as to her medical condition and her temperament as we do all of our dogs.
I'm not sure how long you have been involved with rescue, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you don't know how things are done. Transporting for a rescue group does not give you title to a dog. Please undo what you have done immediately. If driving down is a problem for you, I'll be happy to come all the way to Marks to pick up this dog. I appreciate all of your help, but I must insist that this dog be released to us immediately.
Linda Chance
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From: Linda Murray
To: Linda Chance
Subject: Re: Gracie Transport
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 19:11:34 -0500
Linda, I forgot to tell you that I have a check for a $25.00 donation from Gracie's former parents. If you tell me your address, I will be glad to mail it to you. Linda
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From: Linda Chance
To: Linda Murray
Subject: Gracie
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 18:55:18 -0700 (PDT)
Linda,
Please read my message in response to your message saying you had "given" Gracie away. You cannot give away something you do not own. Your action is not only unethical as a rescuer, but it is a crime called theft, and I believe, based on the value of a purebred Lhasa, is a felony. Please respond to me immediately and let me know time and place to meet you in Marks on Friday. That should give you plenty of time to get Gracie back from your friend. If you will make this right before it gets out of hand, I'm willing to accept that you just didn't understand that what you were doing was wrong and I'll have no hard feelings. Please do not force me to go to law enforcement to recover my property.
Linda Chance
Director, Lhasa Apso Southern Rescue
Purvis, MS & Knoxville, TN
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From: Linda Murray
To: Linda Chance
Subject: Re: Gracie
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 21:50:59 -0500
I don't know, but my friend is asking what is the dogs price???
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From: Linda Chance
To: Linda Murray
Subject: Re: Gracie
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 19:59:41 -0700 (PDT)
You seem to be missing the point, Linda. The dog was not for sale and did not belong to you to either sell or give away. The dog belongs to my rescue group for whom you were merely doing a transport and temporarily fostering....and for that we thank you. We have a set procedure for adoptions and a volunteer experienced with this breed who handles the adoptions. We want our dog where she was meant to go in the first place. Then, if your friend wants to adopt her, she's welcome to go through the same procedures that everyone else does.
Linda Murray
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From: Linda Murray
To: Linda Chance
Subject:
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 22:09:55 -0500
Linda, I picked the dog up Sunday. I thought the idea was to find a good stable home for this dog and this is exactly what I did. The whole point is to find her a home where she will be loved and well taken care of. Actually she is not your property. There is no contract. I would think you would be very pleased that I did find her a good home and that is the whole point of rescue. Sorry that you don't run your "rescue" as a respectable organization. It was my greatest pleasure to offer the people a great pup. I know they do love her and she will never be deserted again. This is the total reason that I do rescue to find fitting homes and I thought that that was what you did too. Or do you do it for a profit???
Also, you have no time, energy, time or anything tied up in the dog, but I do.
I do have a vested interest in the dog and that was to find her a good home.
I will however send you the check made out to the "rescue" if that is indeed what your are operating there. Please send me your address so I can mail you the check, otherwise I will advise the former owner of the dog that you are not interested in it. And no, she is not owned by you or your "rescue". If you feel you need to pursue this do what you feel you must. But I do believe that "Rescue" is "Rescue" and that is what has been done here. JOB WELL DONE.
I think you have lost the whole purpose of rescue. Finding a good forever home is the objective.
I am also forwarding this to whomever gvinsant@XXXXXXXX.com is.
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From: Linda Chance
To: Linda Murray
Subject: Re:
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 2003 20:22:03 -0700 (PDT)
Linda,
Actually I don't have to have that surrender form to prove that my rescue group owns this dog. A number of other rescuers were involved in this project and know that this dog was being sent to me. Contracts do not have to be written either. I have emails going to and from you and me that prove you and I have a contract for you to transport this dog to me. Your opinions as to whether my group is respectable or not or how we run it is irrelevant. If you would like to add fraud to the list of charges you're adding up, feel free to continue on in this vein. I'm asking you one more time - please tell me the time and place that you will meet me on Friday in Marks to return this dog.
Linda Chance
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Letter from previous owner to Linda Murray after the previous owner's husband had spoken to Murray on the telephone:
From: Jennifer
To: Linda Murray
Subject:
07 Aug 2003 20:15:09 -0700 (PDT)
Hi, this is Jennifer, the woman whom you picked up Gracie from on Sunday in Memphis. I just arrived home and found out a problem has occurred. I want to make it very clear to you again, Gracie goes to Linda Chance with Lhaso Rescue, and her alone. She now belongs to Linda Chance. You can not keep her. Nor can you keep the check written to Lhaso Rescue, I expect that check to arrive in Linda Chance's hands along with Gracie, and all of Gracies possessions, her bed, her food, her treats, her razor, her leashes and her collars. If this is not clear enough, please call me at my home and I will find some way to make it even more clear to you that Gracie is not yours to do with as you please. I expect Gracie, the check, and her belongs to arrive in Linda Chance's arms Friday at 1000am exactly the same way we presented her to you.
Jennifer
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From: "Linda Murray"
To: ,
,
,
Linda Chance,
Subject: Fw: GRACIE
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 19:17:54 -0500
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
After reading all the emails, I have decided you may pick up Gracie
Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Cracker Barrel in Batesville. We are going
out of town and that will be on our way. I only want you all to know that I
have tried to act on Gracie's best interest.
I was contacted by several people in Forest County and was informed that
this rescue and those involved were in fact "collectors" that sold dogs. I
was further told that Linda Chance had been ordered by the Humane Shelter to
"clean up her act" after finding dogs in cages, in a barn etc.
This is very upsetting to me and I can assure you that this was taken into
consideration in my decision to find Gracie a good, secure home. I cannot
stand the idea of her being in that situation. And I hope that the facts
that I was told were not true.
I have Gracie back at my home. We will see you Friday morning at 10
a.m. sharp.
This letter will be sent to each person you have been keeping informed
about this situation.
It was never my intent to do anything other than assist in the Rescue, which
is supposed to find a good home for the animals involved. I have gladly
used my time, energy, and money to transport animals in need. Possibly we
maybe working with different agenda's. I know that mine is pure.
Linda Murray
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From: Linda Murray
To: Linda Murray
Subject: GRACIE
Date: Thu, 7 Aug 2003 17:52:36 -0700 (PDT)
Linda Murray,
Thank you for your response. I will be at the Cracker Barrel in Batesville at 10:00 am tomorrow (Friday) morning to pick up Gracie. Please send me the description of the vehicle you will be in order to make this as quick as possible.
As to allegations made by members of the Forrest County Humane Society, I suggest in the future that you do more reference checking before taking such a drastic step as you have taken regarding Gracie. Had you checked you would have found out that the Forrest County Humane Society has no jurisdiction in Lamar County where I live and that they can't order anyone in this county to do anything without authorization by the sheriff, who is the only legal animal control officer here. Please feel free to check with him regarding these allegations, which I understand he referred to several months ago at a county board of supervisors meeting as being nothing but a witch hunt. His name is Marvin Breazeale and the phone number of the sheriff department is (601) 794-8610. For additional information, please feel free to contact our vet who has personally inspected this property at our request, viewed all of our dogs, both personal and rescue, as well as the conditions in which they are kept, and is our primary rescue vet. His name is Dr. David Royals and his clinic number is (601) 268-8880. Please speak personally to him as he is the only veterinarian at All Animal Clinic who has actually been on this property. It will be of no benefit to speak to the other veterinarians as all they can do is look at the medical records. Should the opinions of these professionals not be enough, I'll be happy to give you the contact info for several of our volunteers who have personally visited our home and kennel. There are laws against libel, slander and defamation of character just as there are against theft.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. I will be at the appointed place at the time you specify to meet you in the morning.
Linda Chance
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Gracie, the Lhasa Apso, is now safe in the hands of the rescue group managed by me, Linda Chance of Lhasa Apso Southern Rescue. For more information about Gracie, please visit the Lhasa link below.
Links Of Interest
Lhasa Apso Southern Rescue Speaks
Dogladybarks Speaks
Shugah, The Hound, Speaks
Kate Sullivan Speaks
Susan Flewelling Speaks
