Thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. I thought about you
yesterday, and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often
speak your name. All I have are memories and a picture in a frame. Your
memory is a keepsake, with which I'll never part. God has you in His
keeping, I have you in my heart.♥ RIP COCO ♥
These last few weeks have been pretty slow. Seems a lot of the corners we turn we are met with a dead end. We have had conversations with many people who hear our situation and want to offer their support and we are continually appreciative, but we are getting a little discouraged because it seems that the people that we really need to impact with our efforts are just numb to it, they don't budge, and they certainly don't ever admit fault. Sometimes I wonder if these people even have a heart or a soul. I have been reading so many stories lately about cops killing innocent animals and getting away with it, people abusing animals in ways that I can't even describe, and my heart just breaks and it makes me miss Coco that much more. He was killed so quickly, and we were not prepared for anything like that to happen. Saying goodbye is something it seems that we have to do everyday, and goodbye just doesn't get easier. We feel like something so precious was ripped away from us, and it just isn't right. We don't understand why people can't just step up to the plate and admit fault. Not that admitting they were wrong will bring Coco back, but it would sure make things a little easier to bear. There is not a day that goes by that we do not think of Coco or remember something he did or remember something about him. He is a memory that we are not willing to ever give up.
The other day a stray dog was loose in the neighborhood and it had an aggressive side. We have children and there are many other children in the area. After speaking to animal control and hearing it would be at least 45minutes until they were able to get there, I called the sheriffs office, just out of curiosity to see what they would say or do. I was told that they don't have the tools to take care of a loose dog. I told the lady on the phone to hold on, wait a second for her to please explain to me what made things different the night those neighbors called on my dog and the police responded and killed my dog? I was hung up on. So, if they don't have the tools to respond to an animal at large, what is the point of them even coming out, or what was their intent when they showed up to my house that night? This quickly made me so angry as I thought about how their so called policy must be one of those things they use one day and throw away the next. I just wonder where we go from here. We want justice, but I just keep wondering what other emotional costs are we going to pay before we get it?
Coco: Family member, companion, and amazing friend! He will be forever missed but not forgotten!
February 07- January 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Support amazes me!
I am constantly on a daily basis being shown how many people out there both in our town and all around the state and the world really care about this whole situation and really care about how they can help us get our word out there. We have two different petition sites as well as this blog and we are doing well on each of them. The first petition site which is on here has over 600 signatures and the second petition which is on Change.org has almost 300 signatures. All of those signatures together are from all over the world. This battle that we are waging on animal cruelty, BSL, and animal injustice is hitting many people in a mighty way. It is something that affects all of us who love and adore animals.
Wearing our Justice for Coco shirts to different places and while passing out fliers, it amazes me how many people stop us and want to know what exactly happened to Coco, what is BSL, and what are we trying to do. I have spoke with people on the phone who the minute I say Coco, know just who I am and what I am trying to do. We have met so many different people that have shared many different views with us. Some of those views come with strong opinions and many of them have helped us explore avenues that we didn't even know about. An overwhelming majority is pro-Coco, but every once in awhile we will get a strong anti-Coco. While walking in the Edison Parade I had one person look at me and tell me that my dog deserved to die. It hit me like a ton of bricks and I had to fight the urge to fire back with negative words of my own. I just turned and continued passing fliers out to people. If I would have responded it would have just given people a bitter taste in their mouth of me. We have to be bigger and better than that, it is not easy, but we try to just let those negative comments roll off our back because everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and they are able to voice them. Those are just the opinions that we don't quite agree with! (LOL!) It is often overwhelming to hear so many people wanting to know exactly what is Justice for Coco. While walking down the road before passing out fliers we heard some many people reading our shirts and questioning out loud what it was all about. Each member of our family, as well as some friends have Justice for Coco shirts so people are definitely seeing a united front when it comes to our family. It gives us such a sense of pride to know that in wearing our shirts, it is really making a difference. I know that there are so many times I have seen people reading a shirt in public and I look down at the shirt and think that what it says is so meaningless. In wearing these Justice for Coco shirts, I know the meaning behind it, and it makes it that much better!
I sometimes wish I could just get everyone together in one place and be able to tell my story so that everyone was on the same page. That is a big reason for this blog so that we have a place, a sounding board, to do just that. We just need your help in making sure supporters like you know just how to get onto our page, know how to become followers, and who will help spread the word.
Last night while out, we were stopped by a couple who spoke with my husband about our story and by the time the conversation was over the female handed my husband $10.00 and said she wanted to be the first donation to the Coco fund. This was overwhelming to us because we never imagined that such a gesture would come into play. We spoke with the couple about our gratitude and I explained that we never wanted people to look at us and think we were doing the things that we do for money or anything like that, and she looked at me and said, "It take money"! I kind of laughed, but she is so right. Everything that we are trying to do is money related and sometimes I get a little discouraged and wonder how we will ever be able to manage everything, and for some reason little things like this donation just seem to put it all into perspective and I am reminded that with faith all things are possible! As a child my parents taught us children to always stand up for something no matter what it was, and we were told that if we truly believed in something then to not let it drop. It is the principle behind it that makes it worth the fight. As an adult I am reminded of the country song that says: you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. Well we are standing for something and this Justice for Coco is something that we feel strongly about, and we will continue to stand, continue to wear shirts in his memory, and will continue to ask for your ongoing support. If we don't take a stand and speak up for our animal, who will?
I just like to be able to check in with everyone and let you know my thoughts, update you on our progress, and also to let you know we are still out there going strong. We know this fight will not end over night, and we know that we have to be in it for the long haul.
If any one has any questions, concerns, or comments, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on here or through our email at cygor64@gmail.com.
Again thank you all so much for your ongoing support. Please don't forget while you are visiting our blog to click on the FOLLOW tab and become a member of our blog. This allows you to post comments, view all updates, and even have email notifications when new posts and comments are added.
Wearing our Justice for Coco shirts to different places and while passing out fliers, it amazes me how many people stop us and want to know what exactly happened to Coco, what is BSL, and what are we trying to do. I have spoke with people on the phone who the minute I say Coco, know just who I am and what I am trying to do. We have met so many different people that have shared many different views with us. Some of those views come with strong opinions and many of them have helped us explore avenues that we didn't even know about. An overwhelming majority is pro-Coco, but every once in awhile we will get a strong anti-Coco. While walking in the Edison Parade I had one person look at me and tell me that my dog deserved to die. It hit me like a ton of bricks and I had to fight the urge to fire back with negative words of my own. I just turned and continued passing fliers out to people. If I would have responded it would have just given people a bitter taste in their mouth of me. We have to be bigger and better than that, it is not easy, but we try to just let those negative comments roll off our back because everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and they are able to voice them. Those are just the opinions that we don't quite agree with! (LOL!) It is often overwhelming to hear so many people wanting to know exactly what is Justice for Coco. While walking down the road before passing out fliers we heard some many people reading our shirts and questioning out loud what it was all about. Each member of our family, as well as some friends have Justice for Coco shirts so people are definitely seeing a united front when it comes to our family. It gives us such a sense of pride to know that in wearing our shirts, it is really making a difference. I know that there are so many times I have seen people reading a shirt in public and I look down at the shirt and think that what it says is so meaningless. In wearing these Justice for Coco shirts, I know the meaning behind it, and it makes it that much better!
I sometimes wish I could just get everyone together in one place and be able to tell my story so that everyone was on the same page. That is a big reason for this blog so that we have a place, a sounding board, to do just that. We just need your help in making sure supporters like you know just how to get onto our page, know how to become followers, and who will help spread the word.
Last night while out, we were stopped by a couple who spoke with my husband about our story and by the time the conversation was over the female handed my husband $10.00 and said she wanted to be the first donation to the Coco fund. This was overwhelming to us because we never imagined that such a gesture would come into play. We spoke with the couple about our gratitude and I explained that we never wanted people to look at us and think we were doing the things that we do for money or anything like that, and she looked at me and said, "It take money"! I kind of laughed, but she is so right. Everything that we are trying to do is money related and sometimes I get a little discouraged and wonder how we will ever be able to manage everything, and for some reason little things like this donation just seem to put it all into perspective and I am reminded that with faith all things are possible! As a child my parents taught us children to always stand up for something no matter what it was, and we were told that if we truly believed in something then to not let it drop. It is the principle behind it that makes it worth the fight. As an adult I am reminded of the country song that says: you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. Well we are standing for something and this Justice for Coco is something that we feel strongly about, and we will continue to stand, continue to wear shirts in his memory, and will continue to ask for your ongoing support. If we don't take a stand and speak up for our animal, who will?
I just like to be able to check in with everyone and let you know my thoughts, update you on our progress, and also to let you know we are still out there going strong. We know this fight will not end over night, and we know that we have to be in it for the long haul.
If any one has any questions, concerns, or comments, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on here or through our email at cygor64@gmail.com.
Again thank you all so much for your ongoing support. Please don't forget while you are visiting our blog to click on the FOLLOW tab and become a member of our blog. This allows you to post comments, view all updates, and even have email notifications when new posts and comments are added.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
YOU DO THE MATH: FIGHT BSL!
What is BSL?
Any law, ordinance or policy that affects only a specific breed or breeds. Breeds affected are usually Pit Bulls, American Bulldogs, Boxers, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and sometimes German Shepherds.
Most often these laws are proposed and passed after a city/county/state receives reports of several attacks by a specific breed of dog. BSL has been found many times over to be an ineffective proposal.
What makes BSL ineffective?
Dog attacks are usually the fault of an irresponsible owner, not a specific breed, therefore, banning an entire breed will solve nothing. The irresponsible owners will just most likely move on to another breed, and continue making bad choices regarding their dogs. BSL targets the breed, instead of the owner, where the responsibility belongs.There is a vicious circle surrounding Pit Bulls: a “tough guy” decides he wants a “tough” dog for his reputation. So, he gets a Pit Bull. When the dog passes the “fun” puppy stage, he is most likely tied out on a chain and left to spend his days with little or no attention from humans, or he is abused. When the dog does receive some attention, it’s from the “tough” guy’s “tough” friends, and they bully the dog, or play roughly and mean with him. The dog quickly becomes restless, starved for attention, and frustrated. One day, he breaks loose and runs free, charging a human, or another animal…not to bite them, but to be loved. Because he’s never been able to run free, he is so excited that his running and playing are mistaken for rampaging and acting vicious. All he’s ever known is abuse, and if a friendly human hand reaches out, he may very well bite, but it’s because he doesn’t know any better, not because he was born or bred that way. This is a prime example of an irresponsible owner. However, we see that the owner isn’t the one punished; it’s the dog and his entire breed’s reputation.
Other reasons BSL isn’t effective:
It’s very costly. It’s costly to the responsible owners because they are forced to pay for insurance policies, ridiculously tall fences to be built, etc. BSL is also costly to the place enforcing it. There will be kenneling costs and court costs to deal with.It’s unfair to responsible owners. It restricts your right as a responsible dog owner to own certain breeds. If the law states that you can own the dog, but there are restrictions (muzzling, short leashes, high fences), you are still punished. When you take your dog in public, you are frowned upon and sometimes harassed by others for owning what they believe to be a “vicious” breed.
Dogs can only be identified by appearance, and Pit Bulls are especially difficult for the average person to identify. There are far too many people that are not qualified to determine breeds of dogs and therefore Pit Bulls have become scapegoats. Any dog that bites or attacks often gets called a Pit Bull, but many of these are actually not Pit Bulls at all, or are mixes with another dominant breed. Because of this, many dogs will be wrongly identified, and countless lives taken.
BSL is actually unconstitutional!
Other Important Facts You Might Want to Know:
*There is no proof that a Pit Bull is any more dangerous than any other breed.
*Pit Bulls actually score higher on temperament tests than most other breeds. American Pit Bull Terriers as a breed have passed the American Temperament Test at an 84.1 percentage rate, and American Staffordshire Terriers have passed with an 83.9 percentage rate. This is above the scores of Golden Retrievers, who have a passing percentage rate of 83.8; and Collies with a passing rate of 79.2 percent. Please visit http://www.atts.org/ for more information on temperament testing.
*In one day, a Pit Bull attacked a child, as did a Labrador Retriever. Hundreds of reporters covered the Pit Bull attack, while only a few covered the other. They are portrayed only negatively in the media, rarely will they show a positive Pit Bull hero story, because the media believes positive doesn’t sell.
*Pit Bulls are some of the most effective dogs used in law enforcement. Please visit www.lawdogsusa.org for more information on how Pit Bulls are used in law enforcement, and why they are preferred.
*The Center for Disease Control conducted a study on fatal dog bites over a twenty year period between the years 1979 and 1998. Although the breeds of dogs involved were noted in this study, the CDC does not conclude that specific breeds are more likely to bite or fatally attack. Therefore, these findings should not be used for breed-specific policy making decisions relating to this topic. 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year and of that number, approximately 12 fatalities are the result (about 0.0002% of the total number of people bitten). Because there is no accurate method to determine the population of any particular breed, there is no conclusive way to measure which breeds are more likely to bite or kill. If it can not be determined that a breed is more likely to bite or kill than any other, a breed ban is obviously not the answer.
Source: http://www.bamabully.org/bsl.html
Any law, ordinance or policy that affects only a specific breed or breeds. Breeds affected are usually Pit Bulls, American Bulldogs, Boxers, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and sometimes German Shepherds.
Most often these laws are proposed and passed after a city/county/state receives reports of several attacks by a specific breed of dog. BSL has been found many times over to be an ineffective proposal.
What makes BSL ineffective?
Dog attacks are usually the fault of an irresponsible owner, not a specific breed, therefore, banning an entire breed will solve nothing. The irresponsible owners will just most likely move on to another breed, and continue making bad choices regarding their dogs. BSL targets the breed, instead of the owner, where the responsibility belongs.There is a vicious circle surrounding Pit Bulls: a “tough guy” decides he wants a “tough” dog for his reputation. So, he gets a Pit Bull. When the dog passes the “fun” puppy stage, he is most likely tied out on a chain and left to spend his days with little or no attention from humans, or he is abused. When the dog does receive some attention, it’s from the “tough” guy’s “tough” friends, and they bully the dog, or play roughly and mean with him. The dog quickly becomes restless, starved for attention, and frustrated. One day, he breaks loose and runs free, charging a human, or another animal…not to bite them, but to be loved. Because he’s never been able to run free, he is so excited that his running and playing are mistaken for rampaging and acting vicious. All he’s ever known is abuse, and if a friendly human hand reaches out, he may very well bite, but it’s because he doesn’t know any better, not because he was born or bred that way. This is a prime example of an irresponsible owner. However, we see that the owner isn’t the one punished; it’s the dog and his entire breed’s reputation.
Other reasons BSL isn’t effective:
It’s very costly. It’s costly to the responsible owners because they are forced to pay for insurance policies, ridiculously tall fences to be built, etc. BSL is also costly to the place enforcing it. There will be kenneling costs and court costs to deal with.It’s unfair to responsible owners. It restricts your right as a responsible dog owner to own certain breeds. If the law states that you can own the dog, but there are restrictions (muzzling, short leashes, high fences), you are still punished. When you take your dog in public, you are frowned upon and sometimes harassed by others for owning what they believe to be a “vicious” breed.
Dogs can only be identified by appearance, and Pit Bulls are especially difficult for the average person to identify. There are far too many people that are not qualified to determine breeds of dogs and therefore Pit Bulls have become scapegoats. Any dog that bites or attacks often gets called a Pit Bull, but many of these are actually not Pit Bulls at all, or are mixes with another dominant breed. Because of this, many dogs will be wrongly identified, and countless lives taken.
BSL is actually unconstitutional!
Other Important Facts You Might Want to Know:
*There is no proof that a Pit Bull is any more dangerous than any other breed.
*Pit Bulls actually score higher on temperament tests than most other breeds. American Pit Bull Terriers as a breed have passed the American Temperament Test at an 84.1 percentage rate, and American Staffordshire Terriers have passed with an 83.9 percentage rate. This is above the scores of Golden Retrievers, who have a passing percentage rate of 83.8; and Collies with a passing rate of 79.2 percent. Please visit http://www.atts.org/ for more information on temperament testing.
*In one day, a Pit Bull attacked a child, as did a Labrador Retriever. Hundreds of reporters covered the Pit Bull attack, while only a few covered the other. They are portrayed only negatively in the media, rarely will they show a positive Pit Bull hero story, because the media believes positive doesn’t sell.
*Pit Bulls are some of the most effective dogs used in law enforcement. Please visit www.lawdogsusa.org for more information on how Pit Bulls are used in law enforcement, and why they are preferred.
*The Center for Disease Control conducted a study on fatal dog bites over a twenty year period between the years 1979 and 1998. Although the breeds of dogs involved were noted in this study, the CDC does not conclude that specific breeds are more likely to bite or fatally attack. Therefore, these findings should not be used for breed-specific policy making decisions relating to this topic. 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year and of that number, approximately 12 fatalities are the result (about 0.0002% of the total number of people bitten). Because there is no accurate method to determine the population of any particular breed, there is no conclusive way to measure which breeds are more likely to bite or kill. If it can not be determined that a breed is more likely to bite or kill than any other, a breed ban is obviously not the answer.
Source: http://www.bamabully.org/bsl.html
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Edison Festival of Lights
Wow, what a night! We passed out over 500 fliers to people while they were watching the parade. We met tons of supporters, were able to show off our Justice for Coco shirts, and just had an all around good time while fighting for our cause. The people we met and who got fliers from us were receptive to our cause and asked many questions. We were able to really explain details about BSL(breed specific legislature) and animal cruelty to many who took our fliers. We are hoping that many of those people that have our fliers going our blog and continue to also pass on the word for Coco's Justice.
In wearing our shirts that we made for ourselves, our children, and other family members it is such a great thing to walk into a store and be asked to explain what our shirt stands for. I truly believe that Coco is looking down on us and smiling because it finally feels like we are getting somewhere.
Thank you everyone that has supported us and who will continue to support us. We will keep you posted with any and all new leads.
In wearing our shirts that we made for ourselves, our children, and other family members it is such a great thing to walk into a store and be asked to explain what our shirt stands for. I truly believe that Coco is looking down on us and smiling because it finally feels like we are getting somewhere.
Thank you everyone that has supported us and who will continue to support us. We will keep you posted with any and all new leads.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
A little light in our fight...
We were recently contacted by a woman on Facebook that was very helpful in giving us some guidance about who we can contact regarding this situation that we have been dealing with. We were told to contact the ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND and the HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES. She gave us a phone number as well as an address. We can not explain how helpful this was, nor can we express enough gratitude for the support.
I am doing some research now, and have put in a call and am waiting to hear back from them. If anyone else has any suggestions on who to contact all suggestions are greatly appreciated and welcomed.
We are hoping to be walking in the Edison Festival of Lights evening parade in order to pass out fliers with the blog address on it, and a little about what we are fighting for. We are trying this week to see all of the stipulations for doing this. If you would like to help us with that, please email us and let us know. So, if you see us and you are a supporter, please be sure to wave and give off a great shout for the JUSTICE OF COCO!
I am doing some research now, and have put in a call and am waiting to hear back from them. If anyone else has any suggestions on who to contact all suggestions are greatly appreciated and welcomed.
We are hoping to be walking in the Edison Festival of Lights evening parade in order to pass out fliers with the blog address on it, and a little about what we are fighting for. We are trying this week to see all of the stipulations for doing this. If you would like to help us with that, please email us and let us know. So, if you see us and you are a supporter, please be sure to wave and give off a great shout for the JUSTICE OF COCO!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Just checking in..
We know things have been quiet lately on here, but we just want you to know that we are still fighting hard for Coco and working towards his justice. Things have been a little quiet on this end, but we are working behind the scenes to get all of our ducks in a row so that we can come out with guns blazing!(no pun intended!) We are still getting a great amount of support and that means so much to us. We know that Coco is looking down and smiling, knowing that so many people are flooding out support for him.
Our ultimate goal is to keep voicing our concerns for how Coco was killed and make people accountable for their actions. Right now it seems that everyone is covering for someone and no one wants to step up to the plate and take some blame. We are not going to back off of this. We know that we can not bring Coco back, but we sure can keep his memory alive and we can do everything in our power to make sure that something like this does not happen to another dog. We are also working on coming up with a type of rally where we can get supporters and pit bull lovers together in one location to talk about ways to help show that pit bulls are not the problem, and that it is the bad owners that have made so many people view them unfairly. At this rally we will make sure that our voices are heard! We are trying to make sure we have everything in order for this event, and when all the details are nailed down we will post a date and a location.
It is so crazy how so many people just sit around and bash pit bulls and talk about how bad of a dog/breed they are, but sitting in a courtroom the other day we heard how a standard poodle attacked a child! Isn't that crazy? So it isn't just pit bulls that have off days, it can be any breed of dog. We love the breed of pit bulls and we are setting a goal to eventually open a rescue specially designed for pit bulls who need to be re-homed due to circumstances beyond their control. Dogs are just like humans they just want someone to show them care and someone who will give them that unconditional love! We are doing our part, we just need more people that have the same thoughts and the same love for the breed to stand up and continue this fight with us.
Our ultimate goal is to keep voicing our concerns for how Coco was killed and make people accountable for their actions. Right now it seems that everyone is covering for someone and no one wants to step up to the plate and take some blame. We are not going to back off of this. We know that we can not bring Coco back, but we sure can keep his memory alive and we can do everything in our power to make sure that something like this does not happen to another dog. We are also working on coming up with a type of rally where we can get supporters and pit bull lovers together in one location to talk about ways to help show that pit bulls are not the problem, and that it is the bad owners that have made so many people view them unfairly. At this rally we will make sure that our voices are heard! We are trying to make sure we have everything in order for this event, and when all the details are nailed down we will post a date and a location.
It is so crazy how so many people just sit around and bash pit bulls and talk about how bad of a dog/breed they are, but sitting in a courtroom the other day we heard how a standard poodle attacked a child! Isn't that crazy? So it isn't just pit bulls that have off days, it can be any breed of dog. We love the breed of pit bulls and we are setting a goal to eventually open a rescue specially designed for pit bulls who need to be re-homed due to circumstances beyond their control. Dogs are just like humans they just want someone to show them care and someone who will give them that unconditional love! We are doing our part, we just need more people that have the same thoughts and the same love for the breed to stand up and continue this fight with us.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The letter I sent to Sheriff Mike Scott as well as other officials. Below it his response
Dear Sheriff Mike Scott,
Since it seems that you are unavailable to sit down and have a meeting with us or unavailable to call us because of you being at the FBI academy for 10weeks. Though this throws us off a little because you were available for a news interview to offer defense for the officer who shot my dog. How does that work? The last time I checked it was people like me and my husband who care about our county who got you elected, yet you don't have the time for them until something like this happens and then instead of dealing with it yourself you send word by the news. This is such a let down to me because I use to look at you with respect and admiration. Now I like many other citizens am tired of hearing the lies and the excuses that just fly out of your mouth. Come on Sheriff, take a look at the whole situation and see how long we have had issues with our neighbors, how many times we have spoken with narcotics, how many times we have needed area checks to make us feel safe in our own home. Then just out of the blue the same people we have issues with calls LCSO instead of animal control for a dog out of a fence, knowing that the dog was not violent and knowing that it belonged to us. You guys come running, and end up shooting the dog IN THE SIDE, TWICE because he CLAIMS that the dog was aggressively advancing towards him. You know that is some BS as well as I do and as well as many other citizens in Lee County. If any animal is approaching you, it would have been a straight shot for the face, neck, or head not the total opposite side of the dog. Plus here is more FACTS for you, the crappy report that has been plastered all over the newspress.com and naplesnews.com has conflicting stories between the officer and the witness as well as 3rd person account from the second officer. It may be your job to stand up for your officers, but think about this, isnt the officer who shot our dog the same officer who discharged his weapon in the justice center and was reprimanded and made to take remedial weapons safety? Here is a link to the story in case you need to refresh your memory http://airbornecombatengineer.typepad.com/airborne_combat_engineer/2006/07/ad_of_the_day_2.html
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I am sorry if you think that I am being hateful or disrespectful to you because of the position that you hold, but I hold a position that I value and respect more: I am a mother, a wife, a citizen, and a pet owner. All of those positions are the reason that I will not give up on this whole Justice for Coco campaign that started on craigslist and that has spread so quickly. I will continue to get my voice heard until there are answers that make sense instead of half truths that are designed to help you and your officers avoid scrutiny. Here is the last post that I put on craigslist. I am sure that some people may have already pointed it out to you as many of the other posts were brought to light, but I want you to really read it and see just where we are coming from.
It is also sad when it takes the County Commissioners Office sending you an email about our situation in order for you to direct someone to look in our direction for the situation that we have been dealing with for almost a year. We truly feel that this action was possibly used as a distraction to get our focus off of holding LCSO accountable for the incident that occurred on January 22nd with our dog and the deputy.
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Here is the posting:
Please go to http://justiceforcoco.blogspot.com/ and become a follower of our blog and raise your voice to show your support for the fight that we are in. our beloved dog was shot on 1/22/2010 and we are doing everything in our power to get our voice heard. Please become a follower for our cause and help us make a big scream so things will change around here.
Many of you may have seen the Fox 4 news clip this evening, it is a shame that you did not get to see the other 95% that seems to have been censored out. The time that it took to interview me, take pictures of my home, outside my house, and whatever else they did took alittle over an hour. The interview was suppose to get our voice out there in order for us to voice our concerns. The biggest concern was if our dog was attacking or trying to attack the responding officer why was he shot in the side? Why do the online reports tell conflicting stories? Why is the officer not available for comment? Why was Mike Scott not available to speak with us or sit down for a meeting with us because he was suppose to be in the academy for 10wks but he suddenly shows up when a story is going to air? There are so many holes in this I am sure that we are never going to get to the bottom of it, but I promised you before that we were not going to give up and we will keep posting these ads, we will continue getting our voice heard on our blog, and we will continue having people stand behind us because they too are sick and tired of hearing about trigger happy officers who shoot because their target practice needs refreshing!
What is the policy for officers, and if there is one in affect why do they not follow any of it? Why is it that when a dog is shot no matter the breed they always justify it by saying it was attacking them or it was aggressive? Why does the story always get turned around to make them look like they actually Protect and Serve when in reality it seems that they just do as they please and get away with it? What is the case, since they are the law they are above the law? It is such a shame that this is what our law enforcement has come to, it is a shame that us as the people can no longer depend on them to do the job that we thought they were hired to do. Is there just so much crime out there that these officers are like stone that nothing seems to bother then anymore?
I am sorry, I understand stress,I am a mother of 3, I have had hard knocks, we live day to day, we struggle just like anyone else, but I will never let the stress of life get in the way of how I handle another life(in this case the life of our dog)! I also would think that when officers like this one get so stressed out because of his personal issues going on in his life that maybe he should ask for some time off instead of going out on the job and putting not only my dog in jeopardy but the lives of people he is suppose to protect. I suppose this will just be classified as one of those times that he accidentally discharged his weapon, but this time he wont get a slap on the wrist or be sent to do remedial weapons training, he will get a pat on the back and be sent on his merry way! Where is the justice in that, sorry there is none! According to articles that we have read when a weapon is fired on the job there should be an administrative investigation, but in this case we are told that they will not investigate the shooting, only the way he spoke to us! Why is that, maybe because they might just find out that the officer could have chosen a different path to follow instead of firing his weapon? Or see that the report has conflicting stories between the witness and the officer?
This case is going to split wide open before we are done with it. We have been in the New Press paper as well as online. We were in the Naples News, Marco News, and on many online topic chats and forums. This is no longer on a local level and we are going to continue to push it to the farthest point we can take it. For those of you who have already voiced your support to us, please continue. We appreciate it more than words can say! Coco deserves justice and one way or another he will get it!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe if you took more time to really listen to the citizens of Lee County you would see that we are not happy. There is so much that needs to be changed, but no one is willing to stand up and fight for it. Well, I may not be a person that is in leadership or in authority, but I am a person that is determined to be the kind of individual that never gives up in something she believes in. I teach my children that PRINCIPLE is the biggest and most important thing, and this is what I will hold on to. I just wish there were more people out there in law enforcement that remember that PRINCIPLE, LOYALTY, PROTECTION, and SERVICE is all part of the job they signed on for. It's not about how many notches that have on their belt or how many ego boosts they receive, its about that oath they took to do everything in their power to make Lee County a better place.
I am related to many police officers, and I hope that they never get that attitude that since they are the law that they are above it and if they start to feel that way that they put away the badge and go back to the basics.
Here is a quote that I stumbled on when I was reading about you on the Lee County Sheriffs website. It made me almost stumble out of my chair when I read this. I really had to laugh at the reality of it being such an oxymoron. Here is what I am referring to:
Sheriff Mike Scott is prepared for the challenges ahead and is always quick to promote the agency and its members’ performance. “I am the coach in the dugout, and I fully realize the importance of the players on the field…if they don’t make the plays, we lose.” “Fortunately, I have a team loaded with all-stars.”
http://www.sheriffleefl.org/about/sheriff.aspx
If this was truly the case, then why is your team losing so badly? Why has your rating as a sheriff hit an all-time low?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In searching on google I have found some interesting things here are just a few:
Lee County, Fl. Sheriff "Mike Scott" needs to be removed
Tue, 10/07/2008 - 11:19 — Anonymous (not verified)
Here he is in full disgusting bigoted flagrantia: His name is Mike Scott, Lee County Sheriff and he needs to be charged with "inciting violence" at the McCain/Palin rally yesterday. He needs to be charged with this crime immediately and removed from his position.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fort Myers Coalition for Justice, Inc. announced it will no longer support Sheriff Mike Scott during the November election. Instead, it's putting its support behind another candidate for sheriff... Independent, Christian Meister. The group tells us, had the Sheriff not worn his uniform, opinions would be different.
Sheriff Scott tells WINK News he is "unequivocally certain there was no wrong doing at any level." He says the Sheriff's Office as a department falls under the Hatch Act, the office of the Sheriff...does not.http://www.winknews.com/news/top/30542194.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a November 2009 press conference about the agency's unionization vote, Scott abruptly stopped to exclude Rachel Revehl, investigative reporter with The Fort Myers News-Press, who had exposed his relationship with convicted felon and former Cali Cartel member Dick Spence.(why exclude someone that was just telling the truth?)In August 2009 the Ft. Myers News-Press reported that Scott had a long standing friendship with Alva businessman Dick Spence, who was convicted and served prison time in the 1990's for money laundering and kidnaping. [15] The News-Press also pointed out that the Lee County Sheriff's department had a policy of firing or disciplining officers who associated with known felons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Scott
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheriff Mike Scott spent more time out of the office on non-business trips last year than any other elected constitutional officer in Lee County, an analysis by The News-Press shows.http://www.news-press.com/article/20100110/SS15/1100375/Sheriff-Mike-Scott-tops-in-Lee-County-in-time-out-of-office
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheriff Mike Scott told state law enforcement one story; his e-mails tell another. http://www.news-press.com/article/20100109/SS15/100108101/Lee-County-Sheriff-Mike-Scott%5C-s-claim-changed--records-show
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smooth talk proves enough to bail out Lee County sheriff http://www.news-press.com/article/20100123/COLUMNISTS02/1240390
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Nobody is going to lie to me or my kids," Scott said.http://blog.reidreport.com/labels/Sheriff%20Mike%20Scott.html So with this statement, then why is it ok for you and your officers to lie to me and my kids? What 15 departments do I need to file complaints with?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott is well aware of the DV calls to IA on his deputies, however, he makes the victim a defendant to protect his department.http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=24319378&blogId=418804390 This whole thing sickened me, especially your response to this woman.
- On Tue, 7/8/08, Mike Scott .. wrote:
From: Mike Scott ..
Subject: Re: Questions
To: comments2marian@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 10:13 AM
Frankly ma'am...you rant and rave too much for me. While I regret that you have not found the answers and results you are apparently looking for, our agency has investigated all claims and rendered fair and impartial decisions.
I read your inflammatory message over the weekend and see no need to engage in a volley of e-mail; therefore, consider this my final communication with you.
Mike -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(I am appalled that you would speak to someone who was dealing with legitimate issues, and just because you didn't want to hear them you dismissed them with no real thought! It is sad to know that the people that help get you into office are the ones that you are stepping on to get to the top!!)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am sure with all of these articles you are able to see the point that I am making. I am sure that I can keep reading on google and I will continue to see and read more articles that are unsatisfactory views of you while in office, but I do not want to stray to far from the point and issue at hand. I am asking you, to sit down, read all of the facts in our incident and see it from another side of view not just the view of protector of your officer and your department. With or without your help we are going to continue our fight, have you ever heard the saying, "its ok to admit fault"? I do believe this is one of those times that this saying should come to light.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been told by many people that if this letter was sent to you that I will become a target for you and your department, I do hope that is not the case and I do hope that it is just people being concerned for me and my family. I do not want issues for myself or any of my family members, I am only utilizing and exercising my 1st amendment right to freedom of speech. I would hope that you as a an officer of the law remember it is your duty to PROTECT me not to harass me and make my life more difficult than it often is. If I find that I become a target in any way actions will be taken to insure it is stopped immediately. My true goal is to get my issues and my concerns resolved and not pushed under the rug. If you feel that I am being persistent then I take that as a compliment, that means I am on the right path to completing something that I started. Please remember that I respect your badge, but I do disagree with the way things are being handled in each of the issues that we are currently dealing with.
Amy Sica on behalf of my whole family
***ALL REFERENCES WERE FOUND WHILE SEARCHING ON GOOGLE.*** For some reason the links are not enabled on here so please if you want to see what I am talking about just copy and paste them into your browser.****
HIS RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL******
I find your tone disrespectful and out of line; hence my abbreviated reply. I regret the situation and sympathize with your loss; however, it is your responsibility to ensure that your pet is tethered or contained on your property so spare me the blame game and consider this my final correspondence with you on this matter.
Mike
**********************************************************************************
Isn't this just wonderful? How nice of a sheriff to take an email that took so much time to write and just give me such a short response. This is a man that I no longer have any respect for. He could have put some thought into my letter before he responded, but just like his officer he acts first that thinks later. Just the kind of man we need in leadership!
Since it seems that you are unavailable to sit down and have a meeting with us or unavailable to call us because of you being at the FBI academy for 10weeks. Though this throws us off a little because you were available for a news interview to offer defense for the officer who shot my dog. How does that work? The last time I checked it was people like me and my husband who care about our county who got you elected, yet you don't have the time for them until something like this happens and then instead of dealing with it yourself you send word by the news. This is such a let down to me because I use to look at you with respect and admiration. Now I like many other citizens am tired of hearing the lies and the excuses that just fly out of your mouth. Come on Sheriff, take a look at the whole situation and see how long we have had issues with our neighbors, how many times we have spoken with narcotics, how many times we have needed area checks to make us feel safe in our own home. Then just out of the blue the same people we have issues with calls LCSO instead of animal control for a dog out of a fence, knowing that the dog was not violent and knowing that it belonged to us. You guys come running, and end up shooting the dog IN THE SIDE, TWICE because he CLAIMS that the dog was aggressively advancing towards him. You know that is some BS as well as I do and as well as many other citizens in Lee County. If any animal is approaching you, it would have been a straight shot for the face, neck, or head not the total opposite side of the dog. Plus here is more FACTS for you, the crappy report that has been plastered all over the newspress.com and naplesnews.com has conflicting stories between the officer and the witness as well as 3rd person account from the second officer. It may be your job to stand up for your officers, but think about this, isnt the officer who shot our dog the same officer who discharged his weapon in the justice center and was reprimanded and made to take remedial weapons safety? Here is a link to the story in case you need to refresh your memory http://airbornecombatengineer.typepad.com/airborne_combat_engineer/2006/07/ad_of_the_day_2.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am sorry if you think that I am being hateful or disrespectful to you because of the position that you hold, but I hold a position that I value and respect more: I am a mother, a wife, a citizen, and a pet owner. All of those positions are the reason that I will not give up on this whole Justice for Coco campaign that started on craigslist and that has spread so quickly. I will continue to get my voice heard until there are answers that make sense instead of half truths that are designed to help you and your officers avoid scrutiny. Here is the last post that I put on craigslist. I am sure that some people may have already pointed it out to you as many of the other posts were brought to light, but I want you to really read it and see just where we are coming from.
It is also sad when it takes the County Commissioners Office sending you an email about our situation in order for you to direct someone to look in our direction for the situation that we have been dealing with for almost a year. We truly feel that this action was possibly used as a distraction to get our focus off of holding LCSO accountable for the incident that occurred on January 22nd with our dog and the deputy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the posting:
Please go to http://justiceforcoco.blogspot.com/ and become a follower of our blog and raise your voice to show your support for the fight that we are in. our beloved dog was shot on 1/22/2010 and we are doing everything in our power to get our voice heard. Please become a follower for our cause and help us make a big scream so things will change around here.
Many of you may have seen the Fox 4 news clip this evening, it is a shame that you did not get to see the other 95% that seems to have been censored out. The time that it took to interview me, take pictures of my home, outside my house, and whatever else they did took alittle over an hour. The interview was suppose to get our voice out there in order for us to voice our concerns. The biggest concern was if our dog was attacking or trying to attack the responding officer why was he shot in the side? Why do the online reports tell conflicting stories? Why is the officer not available for comment? Why was Mike Scott not available to speak with us or sit down for a meeting with us because he was suppose to be in the academy for 10wks but he suddenly shows up when a story is going to air? There are so many holes in this I am sure that we are never going to get to the bottom of it, but I promised you before that we were not going to give up and we will keep posting these ads, we will continue getting our voice heard on our blog, and we will continue having people stand behind us because they too are sick and tired of hearing about trigger happy officers who shoot because their target practice needs refreshing!
What is the policy for officers, and if there is one in affect why do they not follow any of it? Why is it that when a dog is shot no matter the breed they always justify it by saying it was attacking them or it was aggressive? Why does the story always get turned around to make them look like they actually Protect and Serve when in reality it seems that they just do as they please and get away with it? What is the case, since they are the law they are above the law? It is such a shame that this is what our law enforcement has come to, it is a shame that us as the people can no longer depend on them to do the job that we thought they were hired to do. Is there just so much crime out there that these officers are like stone that nothing seems to bother then anymore?
I am sorry, I understand stress,I am a mother of 3, I have had hard knocks, we live day to day, we struggle just like anyone else, but I will never let the stress of life get in the way of how I handle another life(in this case the life of our dog)! I also would think that when officers like this one get so stressed out because of his personal issues going on in his life that maybe he should ask for some time off instead of going out on the job and putting not only my dog in jeopardy but the lives of people he is suppose to protect. I suppose this will just be classified as one of those times that he accidentally discharged his weapon, but this time he wont get a slap on the wrist or be sent to do remedial weapons training, he will get a pat on the back and be sent on his merry way! Where is the justice in that, sorry there is none! According to articles that we have read when a weapon is fired on the job there should be an administrative investigation, but in this case we are told that they will not investigate the shooting, only the way he spoke to us! Why is that, maybe because they might just find out that the officer could have chosen a different path to follow instead of firing his weapon? Or see that the report has conflicting stories between the witness and the officer?
This case is going to split wide open before we are done with it. We have been in the New Press paper as well as online. We were in the Naples News, Marco News, and on many online topic chats and forums. This is no longer on a local level and we are going to continue to push it to the farthest point we can take it. For those of you who have already voiced your support to us, please continue. We appreciate it more than words can say! Coco deserves justice and one way or another he will get it!!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe if you took more time to really listen to the citizens of Lee County you would see that we are not happy. There is so much that needs to be changed, but no one is willing to stand up and fight for it. Well, I may not be a person that is in leadership or in authority, but I am a person that is determined to be the kind of individual that never gives up in something she believes in. I teach my children that PRINCIPLE is the biggest and most important thing, and this is what I will hold on to. I just wish there were more people out there in law enforcement that remember that PRINCIPLE, LOYALTY, PROTECTION, and SERVICE is all part of the job they signed on for. It's not about how many notches that have on their belt or how many ego boosts they receive, its about that oath they took to do everything in their power to make Lee County a better place.
I am related to many police officers, and I hope that they never get that attitude that since they are the law that they are above it and if they start to feel that way that they put away the badge and go back to the basics.
Here is a quote that I stumbled on when I was reading about you on the Lee County Sheriffs website. It made me almost stumble out of my chair when I read this. I really had to laugh at the reality of it being such an oxymoron. Here is what I am referring to:
Sheriff Mike Scott is prepared for the challenges ahead and is always quick to promote the agency and its members’ performance. “I am the coach in the dugout, and I fully realize the importance of the players on the field…if they don’t make the plays, we lose.” “Fortunately, I have a team loaded with all-stars.”
http://www.sheriffleefl.org/about/sheriff.aspx
If this was truly the case, then why is your team losing so badly? Why has your rating as a sheriff hit an all-time low?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In searching on google I have found some interesting things here are just a few:
Lee County, Fl. Sheriff "Mike Scott" needs to be removed
Tue, 10/07/2008 - 11:19 — Anonymous (not verified)
Here he is in full disgusting bigoted flagrantia: His name is Mike Scott, Lee County Sheriff and he needs to be charged with "inciting violence" at the McCain/Palin rally yesterday. He needs to be charged with this crime immediately and removed from his position.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Fort Myers Coalition for Justice, Inc. announced it will no longer support Sheriff Mike Scott during the November election. Instead, it's putting its support behind another candidate for sheriff... Independent, Christian Meister. The group tells us, had the Sheriff not worn his uniform, opinions would be different.
Sheriff Scott tells WINK News he is "unequivocally certain there was no wrong doing at any level." He says the Sheriff's Office as a department falls under the Hatch Act, the office of the Sheriff...does not.http://www.winknews.com/news/top/30542194.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a November 2009 press conference about the agency's unionization vote, Scott abruptly stopped to exclude Rachel Revehl, investigative reporter with The Fort Myers News-Press, who had exposed his relationship with convicted felon and former Cali Cartel member Dick Spence.(why exclude someone that was just telling the truth?)In August 2009 the Ft. Myers News-Press reported that Scott had a long standing friendship with Alva businessman Dick Spence, who was convicted and served prison time in the 1990's for money laundering and kidnaping. [15] The News-Press also pointed out that the Lee County Sheriff's department had a policy of firing or disciplining officers who associated with known felons. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_J._Scott
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheriff Mike Scott spent more time out of the office on non-business trips last year than any other elected constitutional officer in Lee County, an analysis by The News-Press shows.http://www.news-press.com/article/20100110/SS15/1100375/Sheriff-Mike-Scott-tops-in-Lee-County-in-time-out-of-office
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sheriff Mike Scott told state law enforcement one story; his e-mails tell another. http://www.news-press.com/article/20100109/SS15/100108101/Lee-County-Sheriff-Mike-Scott%5C-s-claim-changed--records-show
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smooth talk proves enough to bail out Lee County sheriff http://www.news-press.com/article/20100123/COLUMNISTS02/1240390
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Nobody is going to lie to me or my kids," Scott said.http://blog.reidreport.com/labels/Sheriff%20Mike%20Scott.html So with this statement, then why is it ok for you and your officers to lie to me and my kids? What 15 departments do I need to file complaints with?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott is well aware of the DV calls to IA on his deputies, however, he makes the victim a defendant to protect his department.http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=24319378&blogId=418804390 This whole thing sickened me, especially your response to this woman.
- On Tue, 7/8/08, Mike Scott .. wrote:
From: Mike Scott ..
Subject: Re: Questions
To: comments2marian@yahoo.com
Date: Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 10:13 AM
Frankly ma'am...you rant and rave too much for me. While I regret that you have not found the answers and results you are apparently looking for, our agency has investigated all claims and rendered fair and impartial decisions.
I read your inflammatory message over the weekend and see no need to engage in a volley of e-mail; therefore, consider this my final communication with you.
Mike -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(I am appalled that you would speak to someone who was dealing with legitimate issues, and just because you didn't want to hear them you dismissed them with no real thought! It is sad to know that the people that help get you into office are the ones that you are stepping on to get to the top!!)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am sure with all of these articles you are able to see the point that I am making. I am sure that I can keep reading on google and I will continue to see and read more articles that are unsatisfactory views of you while in office, but I do not want to stray to far from the point and issue at hand. I am asking you, to sit down, read all of the facts in our incident and see it from another side of view not just the view of protector of your officer and your department. With or without your help we are going to continue our fight, have you ever heard the saying, "its ok to admit fault"? I do believe this is one of those times that this saying should come to light.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been told by many people that if this letter was sent to you that I will become a target for you and your department, I do hope that is not the case and I do hope that it is just people being concerned for me and my family. I do not want issues for myself or any of my family members, I am only utilizing and exercising my 1st amendment right to freedom of speech. I would hope that you as a an officer of the law remember it is your duty to PROTECT me not to harass me and make my life more difficult than it often is. If I find that I become a target in any way actions will be taken to insure it is stopped immediately. My true goal is to get my issues and my concerns resolved and not pushed under the rug. If you feel that I am being persistent then I take that as a compliment, that means I am on the right path to completing something that I started. Please remember that I respect your badge, but I do disagree with the way things are being handled in each of the issues that we are currently dealing with.
Amy Sica on behalf of my whole family
***ALL REFERENCES WERE FOUND WHILE SEARCHING ON GOOGLE.*** For some reason the links are not enabled on here so please if you want to see what I am talking about just copy and paste them into your browser.****
HIS RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL******
I find your tone disrespectful and out of line; hence my abbreviated reply. I regret the situation and sympathize with your loss; however, it is your responsibility to ensure that your pet is tethered or contained on your property so spare me the blame game and consider this my final correspondence with you on this matter.
Mike
**********************************************************************************
Isn't this just wonderful? How nice of a sheriff to take an email that took so much time to write and just give me such a short response. This is a man that I no longer have any respect for. He could have put some thought into my letter before he responded, but just like his officer he acts first that thinks later. Just the kind of man we need in leadership!
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