Letter to the editor: Family's dogs on death row

By: Frieda Willis | Marion
Published: December 01, 2008

The McDowell Animal Control Officers are going to kill five dogs on Wednesday. (One of the dogs has puppies).
These dogs belong to Barbara Leonard, who is a single parent with a disabled son. The dogs are very small; weighing 15 to 20 pounds. Back in the summer, several officers (actually, it was so many officers that you would have thought they were after a serial killer or worse) came to Barbara's house and informed her that the dogs were dangerous and she had to contain them and have proof of their vaccinations. She had all of them vaccinated and now has a fence installed. She lives just outside the city limits.
A week before Thanksgiving, she let her dogs out to run at 9:30 p.m. thinking it would be safe at that time of night. Later, while she was at work, animal control officers came to her house and told her son that the dogs had harassed someone and that Ms. Leonard had 72 hours to bring her dogs in or face criminal charges. She was told she must sign a paper turning the dogs over to them or face criminal charges.
I believe the word "felony" was mentioned. She felt she had no choice but to sign the papers. The dogs are now at the pound awaiting their death.
Friends of Barbara's have called everyone they can think of to prevent the killing of these dogs. The people in charge of the pound continue to say these dogs are vicious and dangerous and will not consider any alternative to murdering them. I don't understand why the animal control people are so determined to kill these dogs.
I have two dogs from the same litter as these dogs. They are very small, do a lot of yapping, but dangerous and vicious, no way! These dogs are loved and wanted. I am appealing to all animal lovers to help save these dogs. They will be dead on Wednesday unless we can do something. But, what can we do? Who can help? If anyone has any idea on how to save these dogs please do something by Wednesday. Thank you for any help or aid you can give these

Letter to the editor: Family's dogs on death row

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