Animal Obituaries

From ANIMAL PEOPLE, April 2007:
Duke, reportedly 19, also called Jake, and called “Doogie”
by Dogs Deserve Better founder Tammy Grimes, died on March 1, 2007
at the home of a foster caretaker. Grimes on September 11, 2006
took Duke, who was seriously debilitated according to veterinary
reports, from the yard of Steve and Lori Arnold, of East Freedom,
Pennsylvania, after the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society failed
to return calls about his condition. Unknown to the callers, a
humane officer had been assigned to investigate the case. Grimes,
who is also a part-time assistant web site developer for ANIMAL
PEOPLE, was charged with theft, receiving stolen property, criminal
mischief, and criminal trespass. The case, which made national
headlines, has yet to be tried. “Video of Doogie’s condition at the
time of his rescue has been viewed over 43,000 times on You Tube,”
Grimes said.

Niko, “a formerly penned dog fostered by Dogs Deserve Better
representative Lynne Gillis, was poisoned” at Gillis’ home in
Calvert County, Maryland, on February 16, 2007, Dogs Deserve
Better founder Tammy Grimes e-mailed. Gillis has helped to push a
bill by Maryland state senator Norman Stone against overnight dog
chaining. The bill on March 23, 2007 won preliminary state senate
approval, after clearing the state senate in 2006 only to be blocked
in the state house of representatives.

Max, a Labrador retriever who starred with four others at
the Royal London Circus in Johor Baru, Malaysia, was found dead
from a head injury on March 6, 2007, apparently inflicted by a
hit-and-run driver. Circus staff had searched for him for 40 hours,
and had enlisted extensive media help, after he bolted from the
circus grounds during a 20-minute firework display held to celebrate
the Chap Goh Meh holiday at nearby Danga Bay.

Coach, a wild turkey hen who took up residence at
the Flint Bowmen Archery Club in Atlas Township, Michigan, and
spent hours watching and “talking” to members as they practiced, was
shot by a nuisance wildlife trapper on February 28, 2007. The
trapper had been called by police to capture Coach, who was
reportedly causing a traffic hazard, and had once tried to board a
school bus. Archery Club member Andrew Spangler told Elizabeth Shaw
of the Flint Journal that Coach on one occasion chased off a member
who tried to enter a locked gate.