Local Veteran Needs your help!

And WHO is spreading the word for him?  A local attorney. Doing this work pro bono.  There are still good people out there, we are hoping YOU are one of them.

PLEASE help this man WHO helped protect YOUR freedom.

Dear Friends,
I posted the email below on the Animal Law Section list serve. I would like for as many people as possible to know about this. I would appreciate it if you could post this to any list serves you belong to. I have a request for assistance at the end of the email. Thanks.


I just tried a dangerous dog case for two days in Ft. Worth Municipal Court and lost. My client is a young Iraq war veteran who was permanently disabled by a roadside bomb. (He walks with a cane, has little control of his bowels, is incontinent, wears a catheter, and suffers from PTSD). His psychiatrist recommended that he get a dog as therapy, which he did. The dog is his baby—or “my little girl” as he calls her. She lives totally indoors, sleeps with him on his bed, is registered, current on all vaccinations, etc. She allegedly bit a neighbor on the finger. (We vigorously disputed that it was his dog who bit the person, hence the two-day trial with 10 witnesses).

On cross-examination when my client was shown photos of his dog that had been recently taken at the animal shelter he just stared at them and tears began streaming down his face. He was devastated to see that his once healthy dog has probably lost 20 lbs during 3weeks in captivity and appears to be starving. He looked at me from the stand and sobbed, “Mr. Turner, why did they do this to Mimi”? He was so choked up he could hardly answer any more questions. The judge declared Mimi a dangerous dog and ordered that she be euthanized unless my client complies with all of the dangerous dog requirements within 15 days. This was effectively a death sentence. My pitiful client lives on $779/mo. disability checks in a home for disabled vets and there is no way he can ever pay the $500 registration fee, $500 boarding fees (as of today), purchase $100,000 of liability insurance, put up an enclosure with 6 ft. fences, pay for spay, etc. Therefore, his beloved Mimi will be killed in two weeks.

I can’t appeal this ruling because of Loban v. City of Grapevine which held that, although the law provides for an appeal, there is no court in Tarrant County that has jurisdiction to hear the appeal. When the judgment was pronounced at 6:30 p.m. last night my plan was to file suit on Monday against Fort Worth and get a TRO to stay the execution by challenging the ordinance and state statute on the ground that they violate the equal protection clause because of Loban (citizens in some counties may appeal while citizens in others may not). However, I have been researching the law since 5:30 this morning and found several Texas and U.S. Supreme Court cases which have held that disparate treatment under the law based on geography does not violate equal protection. Territorial uniformity is not required.

As a side note, the trial was on Veteran’s Day and my client proudly wore his uniform as he has on every Veteran’s Day since he was discharged because, as he says, “I am proud that I fought for my country.” I am trying to figure out a way for someone to buy Mimi and comply with the dangerous dog requirements. (I have the maximum number of dogs allowed under the FW ordinance or I would do it). If we can do this Steven has an uncle in Arkansas who will take her from the new owner.

Randy Turner
1800 N. Norwood Dr., Suite 100
Hurst, Texas 76109
817-282-3868
 http://www.randyturner.com/

Go here to help.  And here to see the story on 33news.

UPDATE:  Thanks to all WHO saved Mimi!  Read the update here.

More from the Midcities

While this isn't what we typically cover, it is one of the reasons we got involved in the first place, to help. The intersection is on Rufe Snow in North Richland Hills.

The Spirit of the Season

This is why we love our contributors. Each in their own way, are trying to make a difference in the world we live in.

If you are able, please support this great cause out in the Midcities.

I know there's a lot of media hype these days concerning the financial struggles in America but a dedicated group of volunteers in Richland Hills are working overtime to help area children overcome at least one of these struggles.

In keeping with the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Respect" mission of the Keep Richland Hills Beautiful Committee a Prom Dress Giveaway was developed in 2009 for girls with the Birdville School District who wanted to attend their prom but were struggling to afford that perfect dress. For the 2009-2010 school year this team of dedicated volunteers will again offer the young women whom attend one of the Birdville ISD high schools the opportunity to attend a "FREE" shopping day on Saturday, April 24, 2010. Students will be given the opportunity to choose from hundreds of appropriate dresses at absolutely no cost to them or their families.

This program is still accepting donations of gently used formal dresses and accessories suitable for teenage girls until April 17, 2010. All sizes, especially plus sizes, are needed.

If you have any questions, have donations or want to volunteer or simply want to thank these dedicated citizens for their hard work please contact Janie Wood at 817-284-7811 or 817-412-0727, Judy Allen at 817-299-1830 or by e-mail at jallen@richlandhills.com, Cherry Farrar by e-mail at clfarrar@att.net.