COAL IS 1 OF 2 BLACK LABS I RECEIVED FROM ANOTHER RESCUE REQUESTING HELP OF HOUSING THESE DOGS. I WAS TOLD IF I COULD GET THEM REHOMED DO SO, IF I NEEDED THEM TO COME AND GET THEM THEY WOULD IN 4 WEEKS. THIS IS BECAUSE I DO NOT DO DOGS. I OFFERED TO HELP BECAUSE LABS ARE OUR DOG OF CHOICE AS A FAMILY, WE WERE JUST TRYING TO HELP. I REQUESTED THEM TO COME AND GET THE DOGS, BECAUSE THE YOUNG ONE WAS WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME TO HANDLE. THEY NEVER RETURNED FOR THE DOGS. I EVENTUALLY GOT ANOTHER NO KILL RESCUE TO TAKE THE YOUNG ONE AND SINCE I COULD NOT FIND ANYONE FOR COAL WE DECIDED TO JUST TAKE ON HIS NEEDS AND GET HIM ADOPTED. HE WAS EASY TO HANDLE AND NEVER GAVE US ANY PROBLEMS.
WHEN COAL AND ROVER ARRIVED, COAL WAS VERY THIN, HIS HIP BONES WERE SHOWING, YOU COULD FEEL HIS SPINE AND RIBS. ROVER HOWEVER WAS AVERAGE WEIGHT TO OVERWEIGHT.
This is Rover the day after we got him. 7/9/2011
This is Rover the day after at the new rescue 10/16/2011
Now some history about Coal and the raid. Coal was outside in a kennel when the authority arrived. Coal and my pup Bindie who both were in the house were outside so I could clean the house. Since our fence was not installed yet, Bindie was on the front porch in her training crate and Coal was in one of the kennels in the back yard. Bruce LaHue called in and spoke to someone (I will post who) and told him that he could see Coal's spine and ribs from a distance (I will post the actual page), that he was wet, shivering and in distress. The person told him do whatever he needed to do, so he felt the need to take both him and the overweight lab-Brownie. Coal was not in distress, he was not wet and he was not shivering. It was a bright sunny day, it was about 48 degrees outside (high that day), my bedroom windows were open, LaHue and Gilley did not even have on jackets, just long sleeves uniform shirts.
Now something you MUST keep in mind, not one charge was for Coal. Why is that if he was seized based on an exigent warrant? And the first of 2 animals seized without an actual warrant. Coal was seized on 11/17/11 never weighed, but had a body condition score by Dr. Lovejoy on 11/21/11 of a 5. 5 is the BEST score your pet can have. So how did this dog, that LaHue said "can see is spine and ribs from a distance" gain that much weight to go from emaciated to optimum in a matter of 4 days?
In April 2012, I was told by the animals attorney that Coal had taken a turn for the worse and I had 3 options....take him back, pay them to euthanize him or pay them $1000 for exploratory surgery. I was like, what the heck??? This dog was fine in my care now dying in his care? I decided I would take Coal back. They fought me on that. So I refused to do the other 2 until my vet advised it. They had real issue with me having him seen by my vet to the point we had to go see the judge. The judge ordered it, if I wanted Coal to see my vet, then Coal would see my vet, but I would pay the vet bill. Coal was taken to my vet who then referred him to a specialist. While at the specialist, LaHue and I were being asked questions about Coal by the vet tech. I told the tech Coal was thinner than he was in my care. LaHue said AND I QUOTE "he was of average weight when I got him". And I do have this on recording as proof. I had Parker record the visit in case I had a question, I could refer back to the recording, just by chance, LaHue said that Coal was not emaciated but in fact "of average weight".
The photo below is the photo take of Coal before he was seized. Coal had gained a considerable amount of weight in my care from when I received him.
Now something you MUST keep in mind, not one charge was for Coal. Why is that if he was seized based on an exigent warrant? And the first of 2 animals seized without an actual warrant. Coal was seized on 11/17/11 never weighed, but had a body condition score by Dr. Lovejoy on 11/21/11 of a 5. 5 is the BEST score your pet can have. So how did this dog, that LaHue said "can see is spine and ribs from a distance" gain that much weight to go from emaciated to optimum in a matter of 4 days?
In April 2012, I was told by the animals attorney that Coal had taken a turn for the worse and I had 3 options....take him back, pay them to euthanize him or pay them $1000 for exploratory surgery. I was like, what the heck??? This dog was fine in my care now dying in his care? I decided I would take Coal back. They fought me on that. So I refused to do the other 2 until my vet advised it. They had real issue with me having him seen by my vet to the point we had to go see the judge. The judge ordered it, if I wanted Coal to see my vet, then Coal would see my vet, but I would pay the vet bill. Coal was taken to my vet who then referred him to a specialist. While at the specialist, LaHue and I were being asked questions about Coal by the vet tech. I told the tech Coal was thinner than he was in my care. LaHue said AND I QUOTE "he was of average weight when I got him". And I do have this on recording as proof. I had Parker record the visit in case I had a question, I could refer back to the recording, just by chance, LaHue said that Coal was not emaciated but in fact "of average weight".
The photo below is the photo take of Coal before he was seized. Coal had gained a considerable amount of weight in my care from when I received him.