PETITION!! Help Get Justice for Hannah!
Hannah, a four year old German Shepherd was formerly owned by a Tattnall County, GA, K-9 Handler and from a very young age was used as a breeding machine, confined until her muscles atrophied, starved and neglected. When she was deemed no longer useful, she was surrendered to Animal Control facility in Reidsville, Georgia (about 75 miles southwest of Savannah - in Tattnall County) with orders to euthanize her.
At the time of her surrender, Hannah, known at the time as Haunna, was in horrific condition. She had been starved, was severely emaciated and weighted only 41 lbs. Her pads were so wounded that she walked on her haunches and her fur was rubbed off in many places due to confinement. She was also pregnant and gave birth to three stillborn puppies while at the animal control facility.
On February 7, 2007, she was rescued by the Southern Cross German Shepherd Rescue.
Hannah was taken to a vet and on the way she began to bleed, mostly from giving birth combined with her extremely poor physical condition. Following is a statement from the vet;
Today, I examined Haunna (now Hannah), an approximately four year old GSD. During the examination, it was noted Haunna is severely underweight. On a typical scoring scale, with 3/5 being a normal, healthy weight, Haunna is a low 1/5. This type of body condition is typically only noted in dogs suffering from long-term cancers or long term starvation. No signs of neoplasia (cancer) were noted in Haunna. Haunna had hair loss on her caudal thighs consistent with long term kenneling, skin disease, or both. If you have any questions, or other information I can provide, please don’t hesitate to call.
Sincerely,
Will Baldwin, DVM
Cornelia Veterinay Hospital
Cornelia, Ga. 706 778-6605
When Hannah gained enough strength she was spayed. Her uterus was removed it was full of cystic nodules. She also had 2 very small tumors removed from her mammary glands. She also tested a very strong heartworm positive and must undergo treatment as soon as she is strong enough.
Hannah’s case had to be turned over to the GBI - Georgia Bureau of Investigation, because the person that owned her was associated with the law enforcement in Tattnall county as a K-9 Handler.
Southern Cross and Hannah’s new owner are trying desperately to get justice for Hannah but it’s beginning to look like they are trying to either sweep it under the carpet and hope it will go away or cover it up. They’ve also heard that her previous owner has acquired another dog to replace Hannah as his new ‘breeding machine.’
This case is being investigated by the GBI Region 5 Office in Statesboro, Georgia, Atlantic Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office in Tattnall County. The District Attorney is Tom Durden. They will not release the name of the abuser, the K-9 handler with Tattnall County. No charges have been brought.
The DA will now not take or return calls regarding this case. Hannah’s new owner has tried to take this case to the media since law enforcement seems unwilling to do anything. She contacted WOTC and initially they were interested in the story, until DA Tom Durden told them that the only reason that Hannah was so emaciated was because she has cancer. Hannah does not have cancer.
Why is the law enforcement authorities so unwilling to bring charges against the abuser? It is because he’s also a member of law enforcement? Are they trying to cover this up?
Hannah was neglected, abused then tossed away like worthless trash when her owner no longer deemed her useful, I.e.. able to breed so as to continue to fill his pockets. She still has a long road to recovery and is undergoing treatment for heatworm, a serious and life threatening condition.
Hannah deserves justice!! She’s a living, breathing, feeling creature who deserved love and care, not to be thrown away like trash! And just what kind of life is her ‘replacement’ going to have?
Please help us get justice for Hannah!!
What can you do?
Contact
District Attorney Tom Durden
Email - daajc@yahoo.com
945 E.G. Miles Pkwy
Hinesville GA 31313
(912) 876-4151
(912) 876-7991
Contact
WTOC - website
Contact page
Call and email - Tell them Hannah’s story, email it to them, ask them to investigate and find out why nothing is being done?
Read more about Hannah at Hannah’s New Life - a blog written by Hannah’s new owner from Hannah’s perspective and you can read some of the initial background on Hannah HERE. Hannah's Dogster.com page:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/757736 Just look at her now!
Please help to get Hannah’s story out! Use the email link below and send this out to everyone you know, sent it to the media, to law enforcement, post it on your websites, blogs and anywhere people will see it and help to fight against this injustice!! Don’t let this happen to another ‘Hannah’!
UPDATE - 4/23
An attempt was made to post this story to the Tattnall Journal to get some additional coverage and bring it to the public’s attention. This is the response:
From: Allison Cobb
Date: Wed, Apr 23, 2008 at 4:13 PM
To: The Juninator
Well, I can’t post it online since the incident is
still under investigation and hasn’t been finalized
yet. We know the K-9 handler personally and as usual,
the information out there isn’t the whole story.
We’ll run it in the paper when the investigation is
complete.
What I would like to know is, what is the rest of the story? No one seems to want to come forward with it not that I believe there is any way that anyone could possibly come up with a valid reason that a dog could wound up in Hannah’s condition aside from extreme neglect and abuse.
It also seems that the identity of the abuser isn’t a secret to everyone, just those trying to get justice done!
On a more upbeat note, the dog’s owner did get a response from WTOC that they will at least look into it.
I am forwarding this on to our Bureau Chief Dal Cannady who covers Tattnall County. Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully, we can do something to help.
Dawn G. Baker
News Anchor
11 The News Place
Savannah, GA 31405
Direct Line (912) 238-8450
Main Number (912) 234-1111
Please sign the Petition for Hannah. The wording on the Petition is drawn directly from this story.
PETITION!! Help Get Justice for Hannah!
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