Happily Ever After

Sugar and Cinnamon: Off the Chain and Free at Last!!

By Tamira C Thayne
Founder of Dogs Deserve Better
Photos by Redheaded Ninja (www.redheadedninja.com)

After spending a sleepless night in Pennsylvania's 2010 cold snap, I pushed my boyfriend out of bed with a simple, "I have to do something." I knew dogs were dying on chains in the 11-degree wind chill, and I couldn't be warm and cozy while they suffered; I had to help. We loaded straw, food, and water into his SUV and took it to the streets.

Outside a home in small-town, PA, I spotted a white dog huddled in a dog ­house with an open front, providing no relief from the 50-mile-per-hour winds. She would be lucky to survive the night. No one answered the door when I knocked, so we gave her and the boxer chained opposite her some straw, bones, food, and water.

Three days later I returned hoping to speak to the caretaker, but again got no response. As I fed the dogs some treats and kind words, a woman ran outside screaming that she was calling the police, and told me to leave the property. I left immediately, reported the underweight dogs to the lo ­cal humane officer, and knew I had done all I could; but it wasn't enough.

Two days later a state policeman called to inform me I was being charged with defiant trespass. I explained to him that I'd only been told to leave the property once, therefore a charge of defiant tres ­pass couldn't apply. He said it was my word against hers, and I could take it to the magistrate.

In court, I lost the case at the magis ­terial level despite video and witness testimony supporting the truth. We decided to appeal because the case was strong, and a hard-hitting attor ­ney stepped forward to represent me pro-bono.

We went in for round two.

This time it was almost too easy"”trial day came and the caretakers never showed up at court. Without a witness, the judge and DA had no choice but to let the case go, and I felt justice had fi ­nally been served. Justice for me that is, but I knew the dogs I'd come to think of as Sugar and Cinnamon were still chained and there was nothing I could do about it.

Then, five months later the impos ­sible happened, a true miracle"”the dogs' caretakers called and wanted to release them   to Dogs Deserve Better! They wanted their two dogs to have a better life! They readily signed the re ­lease papers agreeing not to chain any more dogs while Sugar and Cinnamon paced excitedly on their leashes before jumping into my van. They didn't know where they were headed, but I can tell you they never looked back!

I watched them run and play in my fenced yard, finally free. I determined that just as they weren't looking back, neither would I. If they could forgive the people who chained them, so could I forgive the very same people who falsely accused me.

Dogs DO make us better people.

For more information or to make a donation:
www.dogsdeservebetter.org