"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that really matter"
~Martin Luther King
Alice has lived in this box for 6 years. Never having been out of this box, living in 6 years of her own filth. No sunlight except what manages to creep through the slats in the boards and the chicken wire. No human contact emotionally or physically... EVER. Her screams were heard by a passerby who thought it was a squealing pig. She is desperate to be saved...
This is the story of a beautiful six year old, chocolate brown Pitbull named Alice in Toombs County, GA.
Yes, we are talking about the south, the deep south where them "good ol' boys" have their own idea of what the law is and how it should be upheld. Where the judges and police officers (and I use that term loosely) change the laws at will to suit their needs. Most of the time, they just plain seem to "forget" what the laws are because they are just too damn lazy to do anything about the problem.
Most southern states seem to fly under the radar to the rest of the country... until something so unimaginable happens that suddenly now the whole world knows about it. Such was the case a year ago when a sweet docile dog at the Forrest City , AR animal control was mauled to death when it was left unattended for 12 hours with several other dogs in a kennel on Memorial Weekend. It was a blood bath. The news of this reached 21 other countries and supporters from around the world stepped up to help create change in the small southern town of Forrest City. Well, now it seems it's time that Toombs County, Georgia be put on the map for its unspeakable negligence for animal rights. Enter... Alice.
Alice was discovered on Saturday January 29th, 2011 when a passerby heard what she thought was a pig squealing. Upon closer inspection what she discovered was a beautiful chocolate brown female Pitbull, living, or rather just existing, in what can only be described as a box. The box was approximately 5 X 8 X 4, made of old weathered boards and chicken wire. Alice had lived in this box for 6 years. Living in her own filth. Never was there any human contact emotionally or physically. She had been deprived of ALL her natural senses. She was only fed bread and an occasional "honey bun" that were thrown to her from the top of the box through the chicken wire and onto the floor that was caked with 6 years of feces and urine, from there she had to eat and sleep everyday of her miserable existence. Her water bucket looked more like a bucket filled with raw sewage than water. It had a wire handle on it like paint buckets do. To the wire handle, a rope was tied and fed through the chicken wire in the roof of her box so, if the bucket ever fell over they could pull on the rope to upright the bucket with out ever having to set foot in her filthy box or to give Alice any attention what so ever. Alice was just a breeding machine to them, the "owners", and nothing more. You see, dog fighting in the south is very common (recall Michael Vick) and not unheard of to just breed Pitbulls to sell or to fight them themselves. It was very apparent that Alice has had several litters. She has never been vetted or vaccinated or medically treated for any of the common diseases in the south such as heart worm or round worms. THIS is Alice's existence. I say "existence" for that is what it is. She has no life, just purely... existing.
Scott Bennett, the Director of Southern Comfort Animal Rescue Inc, located the owner of Alice and told Scott the reason she was in the box and had been her ENTIRE life was because, "She was one of them mean kind of dogs" ie:Pitbull. She had been in this miserable existence since she was a puppy, deprived of every conceivable natural sense as if she were not self aware of her own suffering. CLEARLY she is self aware and KNOWS her suffering as was proof when the passerby herd Alice squealing like a pig in her loneliness, hunger and misery.
What has followed was a series of frustrating events. Scott revisited the property with a sheriff who was horrified by what he saw but, his superior was not. Nor did the animal care and control care much for Alices condition and Scott was in fact told that the AC officer also fed his own dogs scrap food thrown onto the ground. When Scott presented his findings to the Judge/Chief Magistrate, he was advised that he would "throw out" any charges of animal cruelty. Apparently, Judge Matheson also claims that there are "no laws that require a rabies vaccination in the state of Ga". Really? Thats news to me. When concerned citizens called sheriff Alvie Lee Kight, Jr to express their concerns about Alice the response was, "stuff's gettin blowed up". That sounds like the real educated intelligence that the south is famous for. Does it LOOK like Alices conditions were exaggerated in anyway? Hmmm...??? What appears "to be blowed up" to you Mr Kight?
Since Scott's visit to the "owners" of Alice who were told that her living conditions must improve or charges will be brought against them for animal abuse, she was moved to a chain link enclosure with an Igloo. Though this is an improvement, it is not enough. She still has no bedding, no food bowls, no medical care or vetting and she is still very very isolated and alone.
Here is adorable sweet happy Alice when Scott took a brief VIDEO
As you can see, she is so happy to have any kind of human attention she dances in her pen hoping to have companionship.
Southern Comfort Animal Rescue (SoCo) has created a PETITION on behalf of Alice. Not only do they want to see her owners charged with animal cruelty for the atrocious way that they treated the dog for six agonizing years, but they want the dog to be removed from their "care".
Ultimately, they want the dog to be released to their rescue - to be properly vetted and cared for. SoCo is hoping that everyone reading this article will sign the petition, send letters to county officials, and share this story with others.
Though Alice is "just one dog", speaking up on her behalf can help to change the mindset of this entire area. If Alice's situation can be remedied - it will be more than a win for her. It will be a win on behalf of animal welfare in Georgia.
The following information is to be utilized to help Alice and other dogs like her.
Concerned individuals are 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.
Contact Sheriff Alvie Lee Kight, Jr. at 912-526-6778.
SoCo has indicated that Mr. Eaves is an animal lover himself - letters to Mr. Eaves should express the general public's desire for a change of animal welfare law in this area.
You may find SoCo's Facebook fan page
HERE . There you will also be able to find all the most current and up to date info on Alice as it becomes available.
A form letter will be provided by SoCo for concerned individuals that want to reach out to officials. If you are able to access Facebook, please visit the SoCo profile to view and copy the form letter located in the NOTES tab.
I hope that everyone will share this story. Alice has suffered long enough. What she has endured is unimaginable. No living creature should ever be treated in this manner.
A special THANK YOU to Scott Bennett the Director of SoCo who is passionately leading the fight to save the life of Alice and the future welfare of all dogs in Toombs County, GA. Thank you Scott and to everyone helping you both in Georgia and around the world through Facebook.
"A nation can be judged by the way they treat their animals"
~Ghandi
God bless you sweet dear, Alice. The world is watching you now. We love you sweet baby girl.
xoxox...
L & L
