I was told by the humane officer the shepherd was "my" dog now since I had custody of her, and told to make an appointment to drop the dog off, though the dog was severely emaciated, (She weighed only 51 pounds at the veterinarian's office later that afternoon) and was in immediate need of help. The humane officer would not come outside to even look at the dog without a tremendous amount of pleading, and when he did he said "Oh, I've seen worse, this dog could live a couple more days" and again was told to make an appointment. I couldn't believe my ears.

Stearns told me he would only put the dog down rather than to try to get the dog healthy. There was more too, comments made by Stearns I personally felt were inappropriate, and some other things he said over the phone regarding the State Police, because I had also called them regarding the shepherds that first day, and the Trooper had made a comment about Stearns and his "always pushing his job off on us". Specifically Stearns told me he would stop going out on calls that involved an animal in an auto accident if the State Police called the CCHS for assistance, and would "...see how they liked that". I told Stearns that ultimately the animals would suffer, and it was a shame that there was animosity between these two agencies. Little did I know then what I know now....

Stearns told me I was absolutely not to go back to rescue the second shepherd, and in a few days they would go over there and look at the dog, reminding me that he "could" have me arrested, but "wouldn't" at this time.

The idea of Stearns just putting the dog down rather than trying to get it healthy was appalling to both of us, so we left, and my brother-in-law and I brought the dog to his parent's house. That afternoon I took her to a veterinarian, got a medical evaluation, all her shots and updated vaccinations she was able to have in her poor health, a heartworm test, roundworm medicines, and the veterinarian put her on vitamins to help restore her health.

I stayed up till about 3 am that night and wrote emails, and sent them to every rescue group across Pennsylvania I could find on the internet, to try to get help for the one dog I now had that CCHS refused to take. My in-laws did not want a dog at their home, and had given me just a couple of days to find a place for her. I have two large dogs of my own, and could not bring her inside as they would have fought with her, and her health was not good.

People from all over the state and one rescue group in Arizona were offering to help with her. People were writing to me and telling me their stories about their experiences with CCHS.

Hog Heaven Rescue Farm, Inc. contacted me, and brought over a bale of hay, an igloo for the dog, a bag of dog food, and a huge hug, which I desperately needed at the time. I was also told that the humane officer had threatened to fine me for not having a house available for the dog that first night. IMAGINE!! I was trying to rescue this dog, and had not only been threatened by Stearns, but had also been threatened by the humane officer via a third party.

The 2nd dog was still there with the abuser, and still needed help.

In fact days and days had gone by and the CCHS had not helped the second shepherd. The man's son had gone to the store and told the owner that they were waiting for me to get the second dog, so a rescue group came from Northern PA, talked to the family, and got legal custody (a signed paper) of the second Shepherd.

While contacting people about the Shepherds, there was also another ongoing incident of a horse I was told about that people had been calling for 3 months to try to get help for. I attempted to get help by contacting a local TV station and told them what I knew, and included a photo of the horse and shepherd. While emailing the news station, I repeated a "common rumor" that someone had told me about Stearns. I did not know the rumor to be untrue, and I have never repeated it since. I believed it to be truth at the time I said it, and did so purely in an attempt to get help for the animals. However, shortly after I sent the email to the TV news station, Stearns called my home and told me he would sue me. He told me the information was false, and so I have not repeated it.

While discussing this with someone I know, I was made aware of yet another situation that had been reported a year prior to my incident, and was told that nothing was done about it and the dogs were still being abused. This person had gone to the shelter in person and reported the 5 dogs who had been living at a residence with absolutely no shelter.

I took my camera and went to the address, was invited on the land, by the owner of the property (though he said the dogs were not "his") when I knocked on the door. I told him the dogs needed shelter, and he again said they were not "his" dogs, and that he wanted nothing to do with them. I convinced him to allow me to feed the dogs. He brought me two half-gallon jugs of water so I could also give them water. As I walked around and fed and watered the dogs, I took photos.

I then phoned the CCHS, told them I had been to the property of an incident that had been reported to them a year prior, and told them I had photos of these dogs, and I said to them I would take the photos to the Tribune if they were not helped. Keep in mind I had been made aware that these dogs had not been helped for more than a year already, and because of their (CCHS) reaction and treatment of me at the shelter, and all the stories I had been told, I was alarmed that there was a serious problem.

Then a third party who was involved and talking to both CCHS and myself, had told me the CCHS had gone to the house and made the owners get houses for the dogs.

Some time went by, and I had driven by the property a few times to check on the dogs. I went again to the property, only now one of the dogs was severely emaciated (skin over bones) so I took photos again. I then went to the shelter to report the incident. This was only the third time I was ever on the shelter property; once when I had done some art work for them a few years ago, and I dropped off the art, a second time to bring the shepherd to them, which was refused, and now to report this skin-over-bones dog.) I was in the parking lot, in my car, when the humane officer pulled up beside me in his truck. I told him I had been to the house, the one dog was skin-over-bones skinny, and he said "That was not part of the original complaint. The original complaint was that the dogs did not have houses." I then said "Well you have to feed them and give them water too! I have photos, (name), and I will take them to the Tribune". I showed him my camera to let him know I was serious. He said "Do not threaten me". I said. "My telling you I have photos and will take them to the Tribune is not a threat, it's a promise." That was the full extent and the end of the conversation.

He rolled up his truck window, I rolled up my car window and left the parking lot. I then came directly home to talk to the third party who was aware of all of these incidents, and to ask him what to do about the problem. I emailed him my photos. Then I began cooking dinner for my husband.

A few minutes later I got a phone call from one of the reporters of the Tribune, (who's name I will omit) who wanted to know why I was "harassing the CCHS". I was blown away by that. I asked the reporter how reporting an incident of animal abuse to the CCHS was harassment? I agreed to do an interview with the reporter after my husband got home, so he could witness the conversation on the other line in our house. When my husband came home I then talked to the reporter about my experiences with the shepherd, the horse, and the house-less dogs. I also asked the reporter why CCHS had gone to the Tribune to complain about me rather than to go help the dogs? The reporter also stated that he knew about the incident with the dogs, and because of me the dogs now had houses. I am heartsick that the dogs are still there, but I can do nothing to help them now.

A few days later I was served a paper from CCHS's attorney banning me from the property, and also stating I had "verbally abused" the "Officer", which as I stated before, anyone who knows me knows I do not "verbally abuse" anyone.

The paper also mentions the incident of the email to the news media, and asks for an apology, and so as not to spread the "rumor" any further I have not made this paper public until now. The names have been covered with a white block graphic as well as the "rumor" covered.

I have been banned from the CCHS for reporting an incident of animal abuse. There is no misunderstanding. I am not allowed on the property, and told I will be deemed a trespasser. I have also been told I can not phone them or report any other incidents to them unless in writing, and I must know the abuser's name, location, and "nature or extent of abuse", and address it directly to Stearns, and upon their investigation, should it be determined that the complaint is "false", (in other words, if I tell them I see a "starving" dog and they go there and determine the dog is just thin, not "starving") they will report me to the District Attorney for prosecution. Mind you, I have only reported two incidents of abuse to them. One with the shepherds, and one with the house-less dogs. I have never submitted a false claim.

I have seen incidents since, and have had to report them to the Meadville police department, and I also reported one to the Meadville Tribune, and sent photos as well. In retaliation, the CCHS has said that I have altered my photos, and has tried to discredit me by the letter from their attorney.

The story continues. I have since realized the depth of the trouble within the CCHS. H. Leroy Stearns is also a Meadville city councilman, reportedly also the "Deputy Mayor" of Meadville, with aspirations to become a Crawford County Commissioner, (He told me that himself) and is currently the manager of a failing amusement park in Conneaut Lake Pennsylvania, called "Conneaut Lake Park" which was featuring a tiger exhibit as part of the park's proposed "entertainment plan". The park is reportedly more than 2.7 million dollars in debt.

Consequently, these animals were caged for more than a year in an old warehouse within the park, with no habitat, no access to the outdoors, while waiting for a sponsor to finance the proposed act. The legal owner of the animals is Carl Beck. Although Stearns acted as the park's manager or custodian, (it is unclear which title he actually was given as the local newspaper reported both titles in various articles) he also acted as the "humane officer'" ensuring the health and well being of the animals, though they were kept from public view for the entire year. He also denied any involvement with the tigers, though again, he was the park manager.

As the director of a "Humane Society" there is a serious conflict of interest as the Humane Society of the United States does not approve of the use of wild animals for entertainment.

An animal right's group, Voices for Animals, came up from Pittsburgh and lead a weekly protest against the park for keeping wild animals in captivity. Signatures were gathered, and fliers were handed out, and postcards were mailed to park officials and the judge who appointed Stearns as the park's manager/custodian. I personally participated in the protest every weekend. According to Voices for Animals, the tigers and panthers were being held in small cages, (I did not see these myself) without access to natural sunlight or a habitat suitable for their species. The end result is that most likely due to the controversy, no sponsor was found, and Beck's animals were removed from the park and are residing in a barn near Waterford, South of Erie, PA.

More reports of lack of response have been coming in. Just recently three dogs were abandoned in a horse trailer on the property of a woman. When she discovered the dogs, starving and neglected to the point of one of the dog's death, she called the CCHS for help. She was threatened with arrest, (sound familiar?) told the dogs were now hers because she fed them after having discovered their condition, and the CCHS would not respond to the call. Days later the woman did find help through Hog Heaven Rescue Farm, Inc., the live dogs were rescued and are being nursed back to health, and the State Police charged and prosecuted the abuser. She was found guilty February 2, 2006 of animal abuse in Disrict Justice Zilhaver's court in Saegertown PA.

I have photos, statements from others, letters I have written and responses from those I have sought help from, and there are countless newspaper articles available to support my statements. I can not post or reproduce the newspaper articles without infringing on copyright laws but they are usually available by microfilm in archives at the
Crawford County Historical Society.

Princess did live "a couple more days" and in fact was nursed back to health by a man who owns a rescue down by Pittsburgh. Here are recent photos of her with her new family. She got a second chance, and her new family loves her. We keep in touch. I was fortunate enough to spend an afternoon with her last October, and she appears to be happy and well bonded with her new family.

I will be posting more information as I prepare it for the web.

Meanwhile I invite everyone to go to the Meadville Tribune and read the entire Blogs titled: "Pet Issues" and "Politics in Crawford County" for ongoing and updated informaton, as long as the Tribune allows. They have censored and pulled posts, and continually monitor each topic for their own legal or personal issues. For example, the blog titled "Politics in Crawford County" was originally titled "Deputy Mayor of Meadville, H. Leroy Stearns", but the Tribune changed it. We did not receive an explaination from the Tribune.