By Elaine Furst For The Dog Files
The only existence she has ever known is complete and utter misery. And the condition that animal rescuers found her in has left them shaken to the core.
Alice, as the dog in the box has come to be known, has spent all her days–a full six years of them–living in what can only be called a deplorable prison. Her home, a 5’x 8’ box, constructed of wooden boards and tin. Her food, an inadequate diet of white bread, “honey buns” and occasionally, scraps, was dropped from above, as was her water. The floor of her “home” was caked with years of feces and urine.
Kara Blackburn, Alice’s savior and the concerned animal lover that initially discovered her horrific living conditions, contacted rescuers at the end of January. When the rescuers located the elderly owner of the home in Toombs County, Georgia, they were told that the dog was kept in this box because she was one of “those mean kind of dogs”…in other words, a Pit Bull and that the dog belonged to his son-in law who rarely came to visit. The worse news of all was that Alice had been living in that box since she was a puppy.
The Sheriff and the director of the Southern Comfort Animal Rescue joined forces and were determined to levy charges against the owners. Things came to a halt however, when the Judge/Chief Magistrate of the county decided to throw out the charges.
As for Alice, she now lives in a chain-link kennel with an igloo but she is still just feet away from the box she used to live in, she is still isolated, has no proper bedding and she still eats her food off the ground.
This is now where YOU come in. Southern Comfort Animal Rescue (SoCo) has created a petition here on behalf of Alice which seeks to have her owners charged with animal cruelty and to also have her removed from their “care”.
Concerned individuals are also encouraged to write to the Magistrate Court of Toombs County, Chief Magistrate John Matheson, 147 Jerry Ave., Lyons, GA 30435, or phone 912-526-8984. Fax 912-526-8985. Sheriff Alvie Lee Kight, Jr. at 912-526-6778.
You can also email the County Manager, Doug Eaves, here.
Facebook users can visit SoCo’s fan page at this SoCo Rescue Facebook
So what’s the difference between a 5 by 8 box and a chain linked kennel? Frickin’ hypocrites!!!
I believe they mean that the owner still has her and instead of the box they put her in a chained link fence. Clearly these people don’t love her, why not adopt her out!?!
I don’t think it is the box that is the big issue here! Its the fact that no one is feeding her properly, she obviously gets no exercise and crap why am I even trying to explain this to you!
I don’t think it is the box that is the big issue here! Its the fact that no one is feeding her properly, she obviously gets no exercise and crap why am I even trying to explain this to you!
Killi…I don’t know why I’m replying to you either, but since you don’t think it’s a big issue, why don’t you trade places with the her…it would be nice to see you there instead of Alice…no big deal to me 🙂
you know what…just nevermind! I don’t know why I’m trying to explain anything here either…
BUT IF SHES BEEN IN THERE FOR SIX!!!!!!! YEARS THAN IT MAKES IT A HUGE ISSUE. i DONT SEE WHY NO ONE HAS TAKEN HER OUT OF THERE YET !!!! NO BODY REALLY CARES OR SOMETHING WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY NOW!!!!
Has anyone offered a purchase/contract agreement with the owners? I will purchase the dog with a signed contract that states that they will give up the dog and never own or have a dog on their property or in their position again. I am sure they would jump at a fast buck. Let me know. These kind of people will sell their souls for a buck. I do it all the time with horses in California. It is one fast way to get the animal to safety. Don’t wait for the courts. You see what they care about. (NOTHING)
Vikki,
I would love for someone to adopt Alice. Please contact the local authorities as soon as you can. Thanks!
i’ll help out if need me I don’t know where u are but I am in AL not that far from GA line.
Just a reminder, this is the United States of America, not the Confederate States of America. Our flag is The Stars & Stripes, not the Stars & Barrs….Aside from that, thanks for your comcern about that poor dog….
It is the USA and the “Stars and Barrs” [sic] is a part of our history. She can fly a gay flag, church flag, state flag, school flag, any flag she wants. That had nothing to do with this story.
They did offer money to them and they refused. She is too much of a money making breeder dog to them with NO NAME. So, she has been named Alice by SoCo.
vikki ,you are a wonderful soul and I hope to god you can save alice ,it brought me to tears to hear this story and I would not only wish to see alice in the loving environment she deserves ,but I would also like to see the owners jailed ,good luck vikki ,and thank you for caring.
vikki ,you are a wonderful soul and I hope to god you can save alice ,it brought me to tears to hear this story and I would not only wish to see alice in the loving environment she deserves ,but I would also like to see the owners jailed ,good luck vikki ,and thank you for caring.
Good for you! I hope they take your offer! I’m in texas and all I can do is sign the petition at this point, which I have done! Please let us know if you were able to get her! I hope & pray you can! The owner should live inthat “box” full of crap & pee and no food for 6 yrs and see how they like it! Best of luck, please keep us posted!
oh yeah, and I’ll help in what ever way I can! donations etc! just let me know
I iwsh it were that easy. They offered purchase, assistence, and voluntary relinquishment. None were accepted. They are most likey breeding her for fighting puppies and making a ton of money. Also, nine times out of ten, the owner will merely replace her with another dog to do the same thing. If the owner is charged with cruelty it will help prevent her from owning other animals.
Thank God for people like you…angels 🙂
Absolutely heartbreaking 🙁 The level of cruelty in some people is hard to fathom.
I could not even read the whole story, I felt terrible..
Who could do this????
Please “like” the facebook page for SoCo Rescue…they are trying to help Alice and need all the support they can get!!
I did not find the page!:(
Sent email to Doug Eaves already and am printing out my letters to mail and fax. Sharing this story on my FB page and with my local shelter to try and get the word out. I hope this girl gets the help and love she deserves.
During the last political campaign in 2010 our organization & friends of ours worked with a lot of great Conservative candidates. And some of them including the new Gov got elected. I will be calling in some favors tomorrow.
I wonder if enough people offered up enough money if they would release her. I mean, if all of the petition signers even offered up $1 each, they might take it.
I seen less cruelity in other cases that the animals were taking away….why not alice???..Does the shelter not think she better off in there, instead of those people??..I think she better off roaming the streets than that place..
Absolutely disgusting and inhuman. My heart litteraly just broke.
Where is “PETA” when you need them?
ill tell you what they need to do is take the dog out of the conditions she is in and make her ower live like that an maybe he might wake up to the fact thatdogs need good food ,tender loving care a good human mom and daddy to take care of them . im in a wheel chair and my boyfriend has a fullbrace on his leg and we have a 6 month old pitbull thats like having three 2yr olds in the house and we also have to small dogs to and would not part withany. they need to get her out of thewre , illsign your paper and my daughter is a pitbull lover she has 6 of them .im sure she will sign to Sandra J Hamilton Honesdale pa
heartbreaking. haunting. get this dog out of there now!!! steal her. get her out of there now!!!
With reference to the article that clearly lays out the story on Alice’s horrific
upbringing, I firmly believe serious action should be taken against the owners.
Stone hearted beings they are indeed! Six years inside a box, having to eat off the floor,
drink of the floor – probably muddy and caked with urine and faeces. How cool would
that be if the owners were made to reside in the very area?
Probably they believe Alice to be simply a creature who can not protest, like human beings
do. What on earth did they define “Mean” as? Did Alice get ferocious? Why not? Why the
h*&% keep a dog if they can not provide a home, the requisite care to begin with?
I beg your pardon for the profanity used in this e-mail, but the story is terribly
aggravating. Please, something needs to be done to get Alice out of that box. She will take
a long time to recover already.
Ananya Saha
PLEASE take a minute to call or write to the “judge” that decided that Alice is just fine and has not suffered from animal cruelty!!! Magistrate Court of Toombs County, Chief Magistrate John Matheson, 147 Jerry Ave., Lyons, GA 30435, or phone 912-526-8984. Fax 912-526-8985.
Let him know you’re just as sick and upset about this as the rest of us are! Alice needs you to speak up for her!
Wow, that beautiful girl should not of had to spend even a minute in conditions like that. How could the Magistrate just throw something like that out of court… like 6 years in a box! Come on! What is wrong with people!?! To a previous comment: Vikki Brink – That is a good idea to offer the owner of the dog some cash (They certainly don’t care about her, quick cash wouldn’t be turned down) and have them sign something saying they can no longer own an animal on their property, or hopefully ever again. You are completely right, that is the fastest way to get the animal out of a bad situation, instead of leaving it up to the courts, who clearly don’t care the same way as some people do that actually have a heart… I will be writing to the Chief Magistrate, this baby girl needs all the help she can get. I hope everyone can take a minute to write a quick letter. If there is any other news or updates that would be greatly appreciated.
Why doesn’t someone just steal the dog, what is the old lady going to do??? look for it???
Seriously, there are people that just take poor animals like that…kind of like a midnight rescue team noone knows about…and Willywonka I agree with you…what are they gonna do about it…put up flyers, or better yet call the police? They’d probably give the rescuers a high five…wish I lived closer, Alice would be out of that box pronto, for sure…
people like that don’t deserve to have a beautiful dog. if they think the conditions are considered humane than let them live in it for a week and have the same diet as the poor dog. these people make me sick and should never again be able to have and animal.
I think one of the over looked fact is why the owner calls her “Little Momma” ….she had pups more than once in that hell hole box. Why sell her when she can make money ???
I meant to say “give away” not sell