Updates
Click
here to sign an online petition to Arizona's Attorney General
April 27, 2008
We are sorry to announce that Dugan crossed the Rainbow Bridge on February 28, 2008. Joanne was never given information about his health nor was she informed that he was euthanized by AZGRC, until 4 days after the fact. She was not even permitted to say goodbye. Joanne is still making every effort to get Jake back.
December 2, 2007
Today marks the one year anniversary of my dear sweet dogs Dugan and Jake going
to the Arizona Golden Retriever Connection and I live daily with the painful memories
of what my dogs and I have been through.
It’s nearly impossible for me to put into words the awful nightmare I have lived
over the past year without having my Dugan and Jake here at home with me. I have
also been reliving the loss of my baby at 5 ½ months into my pregnancy, which occurred
in mid-August of 2006.
I asked AZGRC President Candy Ziemer for the return of my dogs almost immediately
(on December 5, 2006) after 72 hours of gut-wrenching, guilt-filled torment knowing
I had made a big mistake because of my PTSD. I begged intake volunteer Sue Jordan
and Candy in countless phone calls that week to return Dugan and Jake to me. They
refused.
How can they say “it’s in the dogs’ best interest” to not come back to me? I raised
Dugan and Jake since they were puppies and my veterinarians have documented their
good health, regular medical care, and my responsible pet ownership capabilities
(not to mention my two cats ages 16 and 9 who I adopted as rescue kittens). I was
even an active volunteer member of AZGRC for a few years, attended events, and helped
with fundraising projects.
I am filled with pain every day and have been suffering mentally and physically.
It is beyond my comprehension as to why the AZGRC board members are doing this.
How they can do this to another human being and hurt my two loving, faithful dogs
for no good reason. How can women do this to another woman especially when they
know about my pregnancy loss. Candy is even trained as a nurse.
Countless friends and strangers have reached out to me from around the world and
I would like to thank everyone who has helped me and continues to try to help Dugan
and Jake and me. My dogs need to come home. This continues to be my urgent plea
to you and everyone who believes in doing what is the right thing.
My lawyer and I continue to work to get the truth through to the judge. I hope and
pray for someone(s) out there who can step to the front and help by stopping this
insanity. Please help me get my dogs home where they belong.
Thank you.
Peace be with you and your family this holiday season.
Joanne, Dugan & Jake
October 27, 2007
Joanne asked pet owners, who were taking their own pets to the 14th Annual Blessing
of the Animals and Pet Adoptathon at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale,
to include Dugan and Jake in their blessing request. It is held in remembrance of
St. Francis of Assisi, who is the Roman Catholic patron saint of animals and founder
of the Franciscan order.
Joanne attended the blessings on Saturday with photographs of her golden boys Dugan
& Jake. A similar photo of the dogs is attached for the public to download. She
appreciates the continued outpouring of support from Arizona’s pet-loving community
and hopes Dugan and Jake are continually blessed …so that they can come home to
her soon. The event continues Sunday.
We have uploaded a a PDF of Dugan & Jake that you can download and print out.
Click this link to get the PDF.
August 21, 2007
UPDATES- August 21, 2007 Preliminary indication: Court rules in Joanne, Dugan &
Jake's favor on release of phone records at hearing on Monday, August 20. Candy
and Terry Ziemer's cell phone records will now be forthcoming directly from the
service provider to Dugan & Jake's legal team.
In front of the courthouse, Dugan & Jake’s supporters collected over 100 signatures
from the public on a petition to Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard . The petition
is asking for 2 things: (1) Immediate return of Dugan and Jake to Joanne, and (2)
Begin an investigation into the practices and policies of Arizona Golden Retriever
Connection (AZGRC), an all-volunteer Arizona non-profit 501 C 3 organization.
An identical online petition is currently being signed by supporters across AZ,
the USA, and around the World.
Click here to go to the petition.
TV Reporter Allie Rasmus of Fox 10 News, filed a report on its 5:00 pm broadcast
on Monday, which can be viewed on the station's website by
clicking on this link.
The Fox 10 News broadcasts at both 6 pm and 10 pm also ran the story of Joanne,
Dugan & Jake’s legal battle with the Arizona Golden Retriever Connection.
According to the Fox 10 report, AZGRC's three attorneys who were in the courtroom
declined to comment on the case, and the group didn't return calls to the news station
asking for its side of the story.
August 16, 2007
A chronological timeline of Joanne, Dugan and Jake's nightmare year is now posted
on this website. Please visit the Timeline page to view
this timeline.
August 14, 2007
Monday August 20th 1:30 pm, Court Room 303
The Old Court House
125 W. Washington, Phoenix AZ
Court hearing on phone records with AZGRC's president Candy Ziemer AZGRC/Candy is
refusing to release her phone records to the plaintiff. This is vital information
needed to prove Joanne, Dugan & Jake’s case.
August 3, 2007
Court documents filed to date in the Superior Court of the State of Arizona in and
for the County of Maricopa can now be viewed on this website.
Please visit the Court Files page where you are able
to view an overview of the case history along with case minute entries. As a convenience,
pdf files of the court records have been made available. All files provided are
public documents.
May 2, 2007
Joanne has heard nothing from any of the 11 individuals who comprise the
'Board' of the Arizona Golden Retriever Connection or from its legal counsel.
Dugan and Jake are still prisoners inside their foster home near 23rd Avenue & Greenway
with Sheila Anderson, the woman who has had physical custody of them since December
2nd. Joanne went to the home with the Channel 3 TV news crew on April 23rd as the
reporter attempted to learn why Sheila hadn't returned the dogs to Joanne.
When Dugan and Jake heard and saw Joanne walking up the sidewalk to the front door,
they were barking, whining and trying to use their combined weight of 175 pounds
to break down the security screen doors to get free to her.
Captured by 3TV's photojournalist, Sheila (the foster) shut the front doors in their
faces saying "I'm sorry, you can't come in". It was the first time Joanne has seen
her beloved senior Golden Retrievers since her nightmare of an ordeal with this
dog rescue organization began in early December.
Joanne has greatly appreciated all of the public's support, encouragement, and financial
donations to the dogs' legal fund. The messages that accompany these heartfelt donations,
even those as small as $5 from limited budgets, convey support from individuals
who make up pet owners in our community as well as those across this vast country.
Please continue your letters, emails, phone calls, and donations. Any way in which
you can assist in spreading this unjust and outrageous situation throughout the
state and country will definitely help Dugan, Jake and Joanne be reunited.
April 24, 2007
KPHO-TV 5 ran a story about Joanne and her dogs during tonight's 10 pm newscast,
here is a link to the news
cast. And, azcentral.com posted an update to its earlier story.
Click here to view the story.
April 23, 2007
Joanne's story was featured on Channel 3 news this evening.
Click here to watch the video.
April 23, 2007
A thank you from Joanne:
I would like to express my sincere heart-felt gratitude to everyone who has spoken
up on this website and on azcentral.com in support of me and Dugan and Jake. I greatly
appreciate your offers to help, your actions taken, contacting those you feel have
wronged us, your prayers, financial contributions, and speaking up and defending
me from completely outrageous, despicable and unwarranted comments.
I have made serious, constant and daily efforts to get my dogs back home for almost
five months now. The last thing I ever wanted to do was put my private medical situation
and personal life in the media but everything else has failed so far and I will
do whatever I need to do to bring home Dugan and Jake.
I hope the power of the people can right this wrong quickly! Thank you once again
for all your time and efforts for us!
Sincerely,
Joanne (and Dugan & Jake)
April 19, 2007
azcentral.com posted the initial news story about Chandler woman battles Valley
dog rescue for dogs.
Click here to view the original piece.
