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Facts

For the Record

Joanne Williams

Former dues-paying member of the AZGRC
Active volunteer in fundraising and events including calendar sales, garage sale, swim fests, and Gotcha-Day celebrations.
Responsible pet owner
Raised Dugan and Jake since puppies
Known as a pampering and active dog mom
Never abused or neglected her dogs
Owns two cats (ages 16 and 9) adopted as kittens from rescue organizations
Excellent veterinary medical references
Ten-year homeowner and resident of Chandler, AZ
Professional independent court reporter with reputation for competency during her 16-year career
Suffered a devastating personal tragedy and trauma with the unexpected loss of her baby
Suffered resulting depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Made a big mistake in judgment during this time of stress and extreme depression
Her mistake was surrendering Dugan and Jake to AZGRC
Her gut instinct knew it was a mistake and she asked for their return within 72 hours
She is a normal human being who was and continues to suffer from an abnormal event – the Trisomy 18 pregnancy loss and now this insane battle with AZGRC to get her dogs home.

WHY won’t AZGRC return Dugan and Jake to Joanne?

Arizona Golden Retriever Connection

Dugan and Jake are considered AZGRC’s “property” per Arizona law since Joanne sobbingly signed surrender forms on December 2, 2006 while suffering PTSD.
The leaders claim that returning the dogs “would set a precedent”.
The leaders claim it is “in the best interest of the dogs” to not return them to Ms. Williams.
Sixty-five percent (65%) of American households have pets today that are considered as a part of these families and NOT as their property.
Arizona laws (and other states) do not accurately reflect the current family roles played by companion animals in society today.
AZGRC recognizes the importance of the human-animal bond and promotes its Pet Therapy program at http://www.azgrc.org/therapydogs.htm.
AZGRC has already set a precedent and returned numerous dogs to their owners. Three of these examples that revolve around the interpretation of contract law include:

Jake – in 2003 involving a woman who was pregnant and stressed. The same surrender form was used that Joanne signed. Jake was returned by AZGRC leaders who at that time included current treasurer Onzie Williams who fostered Jake as well as Roberta Lites who Sue Jordan credits with teaching her about rescue. Jake’s owners later thanked AZGRC for rectifying their terrible mistake.
Comet – a previously rescued golden that had been placed in 2001with a family that was found in the fall of 2004 wandering a neighborhood without any ID tags …clearly a violation of the AZGRC adoption contract. After the dog was taken into the AZGRC system, the owners came forward to claim Comet as their dog. Candy and Onzie returned him, now micro-chipped and updated on vaccinations, but without being any repercussions for adoption contract violations or reimbursement for expenses which included a microchip, county license, and vaccinations.
Berta/Tica – in August of 2006 when a stray that AZGRC adopted from Maricopa County Animal Care & Control was later identified by a family returning from an out-of-town vacation as one of two spooked by a summer monsoon. Sadly, their other dog was euthanized. According to its newsletter, AZGRC was happy to return Tica to her family because it was “her original family.”

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC) reports euthanizing 60,000 companion animals each year in Maricopa County due to lack of homes.
AZGRC is a “New Hope Program” partner with MCACC, designed to save animals from euthanasia.
Dugan and Jake are needlessly taking the space and a foster’s home where two other dogs could be saved, meaning two other dogs are needlessly being euthanized.
Rescue organizations are envisioned to assist companion animals who are abused, neglected, unwanted, and/or homeless. Dugan and Jake do not meet any of these criteria.
AZGRC’s website states it adheres to a rigorous process of screening applicants including “prior veterinarian history, home visits, and so on.”
AZGRC’s decision-making is subjective NOT objective, prejudicial, and often, in violation of an individual’s human rights as exemplified by the judgmental treatment of Joanne Williams in requesting the return of her dogs Dugan and Jake.
AZGRC is spending an exorbitant amount of money on these dogs (Dugan and Jake) that do not need to be rescued.
AZGRC is wasting Maricopa County Court’s time and taxpayers’ money on this civil case.
AZGRC and its attorneys are stalling this case. Discovery and depositions were initially requested in June yet have not happened since motion after frivolous motion is being filed by AZGRC.
AZGRC volunteers’ statements in court are not truthful as noted in the transcript (p.66) from the March 16, 2007 replevin hearing:

Mr. Kelly attorney for AZGRC questions Sue Jordan-“You serve as a member of the board?” Sue’s answer-“Yes, I do.”
Sue Jordan, who stated in court under oath that she is on the AZGRC board, is not a board member. Sue left the AZGRC board as of 12/31/04. She had agreed to serve ONLY three months of the 2004-2005 fiscal year prior at the time of her nomination to the proposed slate of officers during the summer of 2004.

AZGRC’s Sue Jordan who picked up Dugan and Jake from Joanne Williams’ home on 12/2/06, said later that week in a recorded phone conversation with Joanne that she would never give up a dog.

“I've had dogs for years and years and I've gone through stressful situations and I have, have never in my life would, I, would I let my dogs go unless it was sick. So it's very, very hard for me to understand that you did it”
She returned Maggie, a 2004 rescue from the county animal shelter, after having her about six months. She even mentioned her former adopted golden mix in an article she wrote in the “Happy Tails” section of the November 2006 issue of the AZGRC newsletter but never acknowledged that she was the original home that didn’t work out. (see excerpt of article below)

HAPPY TAILS by Sue Jordan

My absolute favorite part of putting together our newsletter is the opportunity to share “happy tails” of Goldens who have found loving new homes.

Maggie & Logan
Maggie’s journey to her forever home began in May 2004. She was rescued from the West Side shelter, a very frightened, thin little girl, who spent the first three days with her foster family (Donna & Berek), hiding behind a palm tree. It was soon obvious she had never spent anytime inside a house and probably had lived her young life in the streets. She was afraid of just about everything, except other dogs. Even in play, Maggie was ever watchful, always on the alert for possible danger.

Fast forward to December 2004. Maggie’s first attempt at a forever home came to an end because of conflicts with the family’s first dog. Once again, Donna & Berek opened their hearts and home, determined to find the key to Maggie’s deep-rooted insecurities. In February 2005, Maggie was ready to make another step toward a forever home. Enter Kathleen and David. With infinite patience, love, and kindness, they, along with Donna & Berek, slowly brought Maggie out of the shadows of her previous life. Today, two and half years later, Maggie is the beloved and permanent companion to Kathleen and David.

President Candy Ziemer should remember little Maggie since she did the rescue intake from the West Side Maricopa County shelter in April of 2004.
AZGRC’s members and donors have not been informed about the Dugan & Jake story nor about the legal battle its leaders are waging in court.