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Free Gunny!

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Animal Control took my dog into custody and has deemed him a “dangerous animal”. Now in order to get him back I was given a 3 page order of demands I have to comply with. Until I can prove I am in compliance I cannot bring Gunny home. These include ▪️ purchasing a large crate that he has to be kept in whenever anyone is visiting my home. ▪️all my outdoor fences have to be 6 foot fences ▪️all gates have to have automatic closures ▪️all gates must have pad locks ▪️a six foot leash with a specific collar and harness ▪️a muzzle that he has to wear anytime he is outdoors. ▪️a yearly license fee of $100 for the rest of his life ▪️retain a liability insurance policy with a minimum payout of $300,000 ▪️Forced $185 microchip and neutered at my expense ▪️no longer permitted to take him on family camping trip or vacations. ▪️must install a secondary barrier on all 5 outside doors in my home. ▪️place warnings in all the windows warning of a dangerous animal. ▪️ he is no longer allowed around minors. ▪️he has to attend mandatory behavioral classes that I have to find and pay for and show proof of graduation within 6 months. This is just some of the requirements I now have to fund on top of paying fines and the daily fees that animal control is charges. The longer it takes the longer he’s there and the more I’m charged. I’ve been essentially completely out of work since March due to Covid19. I suffer from severe anxiety and panic attacks. Gunny was my main companion during this quarantine and I am a mess without him. Please help me bring him home ASAP! Below is the story of how he ended up in animal control and I believe it is not right and am trying to appeal but everything costs fees. I am hoping to hire an attorney to help fight this and stop animal control from abusing their power leaving people with unreasonable expenses. Any unused funds will be donated! To help other animals and I would like to help Kinder Farm install appropriate fencing so this doesn’t happen to another dog or even child. Keep the animals who visit the farm just as safe as the animals living there. ❤️ On Sunday May 3rd around 3pm, I was walking my dogs around the hidden pond through the woods as I do at least 2-3 times a week.  I avoid the paved trails because of social distancing and I have bad anxiety when interacting with strangers.  I have a leash that’s made for 2 dogs and have never had an issue walking my dogs together.  The part of the leash attached to Gunny somehow broke and he got lose.  He wasn’t running, but when I went to grab his leash and reattach it, I sank in the mud causing me to lose my shoe.  We were near a clearing right by the area of the farm with the cows.  Close by was a couple with their dog there so as soon as Gunny saw them, he ran towards them very excited and friendly.  Gunny has always been friendly around other dogs and always wants to interact with them.  I am still in the mud and then caught in a sticker bush while attempting to get my shoe free.  My other dog, Padme was still with me.  I yelled to the couple that Gunny was mine and that he was friendly.  I asked if they could grab him since I was stuck in the mud.  The couples’ dog growled at Gunny and he turned around and crawled under the fence leading into the cow/goat enclosure.   Gunny started running with the cows and goats in this large area. At this point I’m standing with Padme watching from the fence. I cannot get into the pasture because of the fence.  I called my mom on the phone for help she sent a family friend to help me. Meanwhile I ran along the fence and yelled for Gunny and he came to me, but there was wire along the fence and I couldn’t get to him to get him out.  He looked back and forth as though trying to access how to get to me.  I ran towards the barn for help. Gunny ran in the same direction he then slid under an interior fence that led to the next smaller enclosure with several other goats.   Gunny darted back and forth trying to figure out how to get out, but he had blocked himself in and was surrounded by the goats.  The goats began charging at him. Some employees of the farm were in the area so I yelled to them that my dog was stuck in the enclosure. A few of the goats began to ram Gunny hard and in reaction he once nipped at a larger goat.  The larger goats were jumping and tripping over little baby goats that were scrambling out of the way.  I caught a glimpse of panic in Gunny’s face and he saw me beyond the fence and then ran off trying to get away from the goats.  Gunny was trying to come towards when me he slipped under another fence into a different enclosure.  At this point, I was standing just outside  of where he was.     There was a solo goat in that enclosure and Gunny started running when he saw the goat.  Gunny did not interact with this goat and they went in separate directions.  At this point 2 employees jumped in and were chasing Gunny.  There was a female teenager and an old man who was waving a large 5 foot pole at him.  I was attempting to tie up Padme so I could get into the area.    Then this other farm worker woman came over and was screaming at me to get my dog under control.  I didn’t know what I was supposed to do.  I didn’t know how to get him out.  I asked her how can I get into the enclosure and retrieve my dog.  I said I have my other dog and the gates are locked.  She was extremely rude and she screamed at me to jump the fence.  I asked her to hold Padme.  The woman immediately gave the Padme leash to complete strangers.  I jumped the fence and I yelled for Gunny, he stopped and looked in my direction which is when the female teenager grabbed him.  I got Gunny and the farm workers walked me to 3 different gates before they could find one they could get open.  All the gates were rusted shut.  As we were walking,  the female teenager was asking if Gunny was ok, she spoke to the rude woman (who was her mom) that Gunny was rammed several times by the goats.  We checked gunny and there was no sign of blood nor injury.  She asked her mom to get him some water where her mother replied with “don’t touch that dog!”   Then everyone, including me went around checking the condition of all the goats.  They brought a black baby goat over to look and I observed a small cut on its leg.  They cleaned it off with an alcohol swab and set the goat down and it ran off.  I apologized for Gunny  getting free and I explained it was a faulty leash. I also told them I wasn’t sure what to do once he got in because of the metal fence,  the running cows and no access to the gates.  They completely ignored me and were talking amongst themselves so I stepped aside to attempt to maintain social distancing guidelines.  I gave the rude woman my name and number and she called it right then.  I showed her I received the call.    They then asked me to wait for the ranger and I said ok. The ranger came and everyone harassed me for my ID which I didn’t have but they kept insisting I was lying. Even after the rude woman confirmed I gave her the correct phone number.  They then asked my friend who had now met me there to help for his ID.  He allowed the ranger to take a photo of his ID.  They continued to harass me like I was lying, asking me if I really owned Gunny, if he had rabies shots,  etc.   I gave them my name phone number and vet info.  I called my vet on speaker phone and unfortunately the office was closed.  After speaking with the ranger, she said they wanted to call the owner of the goat.  I said ok and then waited for the owner of the goat to arrive.  I stood off to the side as a crowd was growing and none of the employees had on PPE gear which was triggering my anxiety.  I quietly waited for the owner.  The owner came and looked over the goat and called her vet. I asked if there was anything she needed and she gave me her phone number as well.  She told me they were waiting to hear back from the vet and she may want the goat to get antibiotics.  I said ok and you have my information.  I stated that I would send her all of my records on Gunny as soon as I get home.   I waited a little longer since the vet hadn’t called and the people were no longer talking to me and my dogs were very thirsty and tired.  I asked twice if they had all they needed and if I was good to go. The ranger said yes and asked me to email the information to her as well and I gave me her email.  Once I believed all the information was exchanged, I walked to my car and left.  I loaded up the dogs and told my friend and stated that I would drive him to his car which was parked on the other side of the park.  I drove through the neighborhood to the light on Jumpers hole road down to the park entrance and re-entered the park.     As I was pulling up to my friends car,  the rude woman called my phone and was on the Bluetooth in my vehicle so my friend overheard the conversation.  She was yelling that I needed to come back and I said why, what’s wrong.  She said we need your rabies information and I said I know I am going to email it the Ranger.  She was questioning me about the authenticity of the information I gave her and I said you just called me and I answered you have my phone number, I’m not lying or hiding anything.     The woman then started screaming, stating you owe us an apology (which I had done previously).  I was just very upset and taken back by this.  I had just spent the past 30 minutes exchanging information, attempting to explain the situation and expressing my apology.  The rude woman hung up on me.  My friend got out of the car.  I then called my mother through Bluetooth and I was crying telling her what was happening and how they were treating me and that I didn’t know what to do.      As I was driving out of the park, I passed the ranger driving into the park and before I knew it she was behind me with lights and sirens.   I pulled over to the right and when I did she got to the left so I assumed she was passing me and I kept driving.  Suddenly the Ranger sped up and made a hard right in front of my vehicle.  I slammed on my brakes sending my dogs flying off the seats and yelping.  I blew on my horn and was crying upset and confused.  I rolled down my window and realized it was the same Ranger I had been speaking with,  The same ranger who told me 10 minutes prior it was OK to leave,   She had my personal information and we had agreed to email each other.     I was beyond confused and upset by her unsafe actions at this point.  I rolled down my window and asked why she was doing this.  She demanded for my ID which I reiteratedI that I didn’t have.  I did not bring my wallet or anything with me because I just came to walk the dogs and only live 2 minutes away.  I was crying and confused.  My mom was on the call still hearing all of these as she repeatedly insisted I give her ID.  I searched through my vehicle, looking for anything to give her.  I said I have my registration that’s all.  She said I need to take photos of you license plate so I said okay, whatever you need.  I said we just spoke so I don’t understand what this is about.  She just replied “for future reference if I’m behind you with lights and sirens, you stop”   She got back in her vehicle and sped off.  I drove home and immediately send the paperwork to her email and as well as a message of apology to the owner and proof of Gunny’s shot information and rabies vaccination.  Thereafter, ‪on Monday morning‬ I called the vet and tell him what happened and that Gunny got rammed and kicked by the goats and was throwing up so I was worried something was wrong.  They told me to monitor him.  I heard nothing back from the owner of the goat nor the park Ranger all Sunday and all of Monday.  I assumed everything was ok and no further treatments were needed.  Then, ‪Monday evening‬ I received notice from animal control that Gunny was going to be detained for a “savage attack on a goat”.  After contacting animal control on Tuesday, that was the first time I received completely different information regarding the situation and the injuries sustained.  I was given no choice but to surrender my dog, my only companion during this quarantine, my only comfort to my extreme state of anxiety my family member, who’s now in the care of strangers.  Gunny has never bitten anyone, has never been cited as being dangerous or being a menace.  It is completely unfair that he is being retained, he does not have rabies and he is my support dog.  I want him home ASAP.
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Donations 

  • Jessica Everett
    • $25
    • 4 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $25
    • 5 yrs
  • Sharon ONeill
    • $25
    • 5 yrs
  • Penny Yoder
    • $50
    • 5 yrs
  • Molly Tribble
    • $50
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer

Nicole McDowell
Organizer
Severna Park, MD

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