Disappointing News . . .

Hi, everyone - it's Kat. I haven't posted in a while, so I feel bad bringing disappointing news to Maggie's blog, but it's something I have to share.

On July 1st the Fond Du Lac Reporter published a story with the results of the trial of J.C. Heiberg. Who's that? The owner / operator of Maggie's puppy mill. The verdict? Not guilty. I'm speechless - - and angry, upset, and sick to my stomach. Who does this to animals? Who sets them free to do it again?

I try hard not focus on Maggie's past and let anger enter my mind, but it's hard. I know the best thing I can do for Maggie is to focus on her future. Steve and I are committed to giving Maggie the very best and everything she needs - - and lots of love! We just want her to be happy, healthy, and to know that she's safe.

But the past keeps coming back to haunt us. As I type this Maggie is literally having a nightmare and is crying out. I used to rush to her side and wake her, but everything we have read says to let her sleep through them in the hopes of her not remembering. We can't help but wonder if she'll spend the rest of her life tortured by her past.

In order to keep our focus positive we've deliberately not Googled J.C. Heiberg in the past. Tonight "curiosity killed the Kat". If we had known her case was going to trial what would we have done? Attended? Maybe. Called the prosecutor and offered our assistance? Absolutely.

In the end it's Maggie - and the other animals - who were robbed of their justice. Steve and I are blessed to have Maggie, and we give thanks for her each day. She is the love of our lives.

It's been in the blog in the past, but it's worth mentioning again - - PLEASE DO NOT BUY A PET FROM A RETAIL STORE! Pet stores keep puppy mills in business.

Here's the story from the Fond du Lac Reporter on July 1st (and a link with more info) . . .

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A Fond du Lac County jury decided Tuesday afternoon that a 70-year-old woman was not guilty of mistreating up to 70 dogs, which authorities found housed in barns at her former Townline Road home in December 2007.

On a separate misdemeanor charge, J.C. M. Heiberg was found guilty Tuesday of not providing proper shelter for an animal.

Along with finding her not guilty of intentionally mistreating animals, the jury ruled she also was not guilty on two counts of obstructing an officer.

A sentencing hearing has been set for 10 a.m. July 21. Heiberg faces up to nine months in jail for the lone guilty verdict.

As a defense witness, Heiberg took the stand Tuesday morning, explaining to the court that she had a kennel license and was able to house the large number of animals she was keeping at her Townline Road home.

She said she was in the process of moving when authorities showed up on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007, to search her residence.

Heiberg said she first started moving her horses and some of her dogs to her new Kenosha home the Friday before that, but made daily trips to the Townline Road home to care for the animals.

“Were the animals fed and watered every day between Friday and Tuesday,” defense attorney Brian Mares asked during direct examination.

“Yes,” Heiberg answered.

According to a criminal complaint, when authorities from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the home on Dec. 18, they found animal waste covering the floors of the barns where the animals were kept, with no food and little water for the dogs. Most of the water was frozen due to freezing temperatures at the time, according to the complaint.Two puppies were found dead, according to the complaint.

A Waupun Veterinary Clinic report concluded Heiberg was using her home to serve as an inhumane puppy mill in “an environment that kept the puppies alive but nothing else.”

Fond du Lac County Assistant District Attorney Jocelyn Jurva called detectives on the case to the stand during the first day of trial Monday. Testimony wrapped up Tuesday with the jury getting the case early in the afternoon.

After about three hours of deliberating, the jury returned with the verdict around 3:45 p.m.

This case is not the first time Heiberg has been charged with neglecting animals. Charges were sought after authorities searched her Townline Road home in December 2005 and found several animals without food or water. One dog was found dead in that instance.

Charges in that case were later dismissed on a prosecutor’s motion.

http://www.pet-abuse.com/cases/13052/WI/US/