Update on Jack (age 7) in Utica jail
I would advise the following resultant to my investigations of the situation with Jack. The underlying facts are not much in dispute. Jack's family apparently lives in the town of Ilion, a suburb of Utica, New York. A relative, possibly grandparents, live in another suburb, the Village of New Holland. New Holland is a tiny place, and has a part-time "judge", James Van Slyke, age at least 84.
Jack the doggie was either sleeping or eating and a toddler either stepped or fell on him, so Jack was startled and nipped (first time in 7 years). There was a cut and 4 stitches; so far, nothing unusual. As everybody who has ever had a dog knows, a dog that takes his first nip after 7 years is not a "vicious, dangerous" dog! Town administrators took the matter before part-time judge Van Slyke, and he decided after less than 5 minutes of hearing: "Death!".
Predictably, there is an uproar. Jack was moved to the Stevens-Swan Humane Society shelter, which is under a civil contract with the Village of New Hartford to board pick-up dogs. The bill for that is running up at $40/day, for two months now (big big burden on the family). A lawyer in NYC is handling the family's matter "pro bono" and the case is on Appeal, to the Utica County Court.
There are some wrinkles: technically, since the Stevens-Swan Society building is in Utica itself, not the village of New Holland, Jack is no longer physically within the jurisdiction of the Village or the village courts, so it is dubious that the Village authorities retain any control over Jack, except through the "civil contract" aspect of their contract with the Society. Meanwhile, the protests (very loud) to the Society have led the Directors to the conclusion that Jack is now quite politically radioactive, and the Directors have told me that the whole idea of carrying out the Kill Order of Van Slyke is pretty much a non-starter. The Society is dependent on charitable contributions and that is assuredly going to dry up if they do the Kill.
If the Society were simply to unilaterally send Jack home to Ilion, there is not much that anybody is going to do. Yes, the Village of New Holland in theory could sue for damages as a breach of contract, but since they have declared Jack to be without any value (they want to kill him, remember), what are the money damages? And, as a practical matter, yes the Village could cancel the contract, but then who is going to go board the dogs for them? At this point, precisely nobody. So it is a no-risk strategy. I have to convince the Directors of the wisdom of doing this.
I have been having discussions with the real power-brokers up in Utica, the people who have the ability to make it happen, and my guess is that Jack is going to be sprung from Jail, because Utica has enough economic problems and cannot survive a boycott from angry dog lovers -or, for that matter, busloads of angry placard-waving demonstrators. My movement of a manufacturing plant to Utica is now "on hold" pending the outcome of this case - and I have made that clear.
The Internet is Jack's most powerful ally. What you folks here all need to do is start sending e-mails (and letters) to the Utica Chamber of Commerce, and the Utica Visitors Bureau, and the Rotary Club, and the Town Manager of New Holland, telling these people that enough is enough, Jack is not a dangerous dog, and he has to go back to his family "Now"! When enough heat is applied, you get results.
I will be travelling to Utica to hold meetings with both town managers and other industrialists and business leaders in an effort to spring Jack out of that jail; anyone who would like an update is invited to send me a "private message" through this board. Incidentally my dogs are all Keeshonds, plus a vast number of cats! And, don't forget the outside bunnies that call me Dad (I keep a part of the yard wild, as their personal bunny patch). Love to all.
Not a dangerous or vicious dog, just old and startled, accidents happen...
