Friends of “Jack”, a Loyal and Aging Salisbury Police Dog
♦ Thank you to all the many, many thousands of kind and caring people from across the United States and internationally who will not sit by and let “Jack” the Salisbury Police dog suffer continued inhumane treatment at the hands of Chief Rory Collins and his inner circle at the department. Most saw though the publicity measures that Collins and his inner circle played out on a TV station.
We believe Jack is still alive, but his actual health and whereabouts are unknown.
On Monday when animal rights activists, concerned citizens, humane society people, and PETA began calling City Hall and the Police Department, Chief Collins had Jack moved from his pen for the first time in over two weeks. The Chief said “Jack was being moved for his own protection”. For the next 10 to 12 hours the stories about Jacks health, whereabouts, and future kept changing no matter if you spoke with the Chief or one of his inner circle. If you had the misfortune of speaking to Captain Wilsey, like several callers did, you had a taste of the low level of professionalism now being exhibited by some among the Salisbury Police. Mayor Paul Woodson was appraised about the rude treatment afforded many inquiring about Jack’s safety, well-being, and rightful return to his friend and handler.
Out-of-sight, out-of-mind doesn’t work for any of us. In any police department an aging service dog would be turned over to his handler and that would be that.
Several animal lovers over the last two days offered to buy the Jack outright and give him to Officer Fox. No go. Apparently the Chief carries a grudge against those who choose to leave the police department for better jobs elsewhere.
Does anyone buy Chief Rory Collins publicity cover-up. Jack was not removed from that secured dog compound for his own “protection”. Where is Jack being hidden now?
Here are questions veteran police are asking themselves:
–Has anyone sought the advice of a professional handler on the potential chances for success for Jack bonding to another handler at his age?
–Have we advised this handler of Jack’s being retained in solitary for over 2 weeks now and what effect this will have on him?
–What effect will the lapse in training have on Jack? Belgians are an extremely active breed–what impact will his time in solitary have on him?
–What financial sense does it make to invest the incredible number of man hours required to get a Jack to accept a new handler? Would it make sense to invest a year in training when Jack will then be 9 years old as opposed to starting with a new canine who will have years of service left? Has anyone asked a professional trainer (and please, name him so verification can be made) if they would recommend assigning Jack to a new handler instead?
–Chief Collins stated Jack was moved “for his protection” Is he concerned about the possibility of animal rights people planning to assassinate Jack? Crowds of people taking photographs of Jack and his condition. What “danger” does Chief Collins foresee? Collins states it’s for Jack’s “protection”, yet he showed no concern about Jack’s imprisonment or unhealthy living conditions until the public started bombarding the department and city hall. Can we assume Collins found a location more secure than a fenced cement lot – with roof – surrounded by a fenced parking facility – with video surveillance from and with armed, uniformed officers constantly entering and leaving? Where is this better protection? A reinforced concrete bunker 1000 feet down?
Or, perhaps, “Jack’s protection” was that Jack was moved for Chief Collin’s protection? Perhaps Jack is being fed donuts and cookies as quickly as possible to regain weight before displaying him in public? Perhaps Chief Collins would be willing to take representatives from PETA or the Humane Society (or both) to see Jack?
Salisbury municipal officials and institutions created to prevent inhumane animal treatment should be contacted at once.
PETA: http://www.peta.org/about-peta/contact-peta/report-cruelty/
Humane Society: 704-636-5700
John Sofley, Salisbury, NC Interim City Manager: 704-638-5309
Mayor Paul Woodson: 704-638-5231704-638-5231 at City Hall; 704-633-5411 at Vogue Cleaner’s
About police dogs and their retirement: http://www.nationalpolicedogfoundation.org/faq/faq.html#What_happens_if_the_handler_gets_out_of_the_program_before_the_dog_is_ready_to_retire__
Learn more about the special needs and care of Belgian Malinois K-9s: http://bayareadogtrainer.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/note-to-the-american-public-belgian-malinois-look-dont-touch/
Please call the above numbers night and day until Jack’s injustice is undone and Jack is reunited with his handler. Do not accept the Chief euthanizing the dog or making the dog disappear.
Tell others about Jack’s plight. Let the whole world know this inhumane treatment of a loyal service dog must end immediately.
Our animal companions and service dogs deserve better.
The initial Letter-to-the-Editor from the Friends of Jack:
FREE JACK!
