Help is needed for Legal Fees on behalf of Duke the bulldog.

Please make a donation today! 

In the Memo Section please Mark: Duke Legal Fund

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LI Bulldog Rescue

1254 N Country Road

DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF HEMPSTEAD TOWN HALL,  TUES. JUNE 6 AT 6:30PM     

Town Board meetings are held in the Nathan L.H. Bennett Pavilion,
adjacent to Hempstead Town Hall, One Washington Street, Hempstead.

           TIME IS RUNNING OUT

• Who’s Duke? 
• ·         A one-year old neutered English Bulldog Puppy.   

·         Why will he be killed? 

·         Duke is alleged to have participated in an attack on a 4 yr old child by 2 Rottweilers when they escaped from their home. The Rottweilers have been put down. Duke has shown no aggression during his confinement, and has no history of prior aggression. He has been described as a typical gentle couch potato.

·     Why do the Nassau SPCA, Long Island Bulldog Rescue, and thousands of Long Islanders – including many people from Nassau County and Hempstead, in particular –and people from around the world want to stop Duke’s execution?

·          It is not clear that Duke bit.  Bulldogs are “calm, gentle dogs that get along with everyone. They are patient and loving with children.  They are not property protectors.” (ASPCA, 1999, p. 136.) 

·         Long Island Bulldog Rescue (LIBR) and Nassau SPCA want justice for Duke, too.  They have asked that an unbiased, expert dog temperament evaluator test Duke AT NO COST TO THE TOWN OR COUNTY to see if he has the temperament to live a safe, happy life. If so, Nassau SPCA and LIBR assures he would be placed out of New York State,  AT NO COST TO THE TOWN OR COUNTY. 

·         Who should care?

·         Every person who:

§         Owns a pet in Hempstead or Nassau co., or anywhere else. Could your pet be next if your neighbor accuses him or her?   

§         Lives in Nassau Co., or Hempstead, or anywhere else. Could you be next if your neighbor accuses you?        

§         Believes that our country, county, and town are strong because we are

§         compassionate and fair, not because we are cruel and unfair.

§         Knows that the Town of Hempstead has been a progressive precedent- setting leader in many areas  and wants that tradition to go forward.

·         Why does Duke’s life or death matter to every Hempstead and Nassau County resident of all towns everywhere?

o        Duke could have just been at the wrong place at the wrong time.  Nassau County, and Hempstead, should be the right place at every time, so all residents are safe from being punished for something they didn’t do.

• A society is judged by the way it handles those least able to take care of themselves. Duke was turned over to the Town of Hempstead to be euthanized by his owner. Hempstead and Nassau residents don’t blame or punish babies and puppies for the actions of adults. 

• They do have the discretion to allow LI Bulldog Rescue or NCSPCA's Bob Sowers to advocate for Duke. Shelters do it every day, even for dogs known to have bitten.

• Why is the Town of Hempstead spending so much of the taxpayers money on putting this puppy to death?

o        Dogs have a long tradition of saving people.  Here’s our chance to return the favor.

Nassau County is a place where people come to live the American dream.  It takes teamwork to make the dream work.  Keep that dream alive. Promote justice for Duke. TELL THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD SUPERVISOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT DUKE THE ENGLISH BULLDOG PUPPY DESERVES THE CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF.  

If he is deemed adoptable LIBR will place him in a secure, responsible, loving and experienced Bulldog home out of state.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION :     www.longislandbulldogrescue.org     631-689-6245

 TO HELP DUKE NOW....

CALL and E-MAIL the Hempstead Town Board to politely and professionally tell them that Duke deserves to be evaluated by a trained, professional Animal Behaviorist.

Town of Hempstead town hall general #: (516) 489-5000

Supervisor Kate Murray

516-812-3255 direct line to "Confidential Assistant", Kim Whipperman (sp.)

516-812-3260 general # in supervisor's office

516-489-5000, x3260 general town # with supv. extension

516-538-2908 fax

E-mail to supervisor's Assistant, Kim: kimbwip@tohmail.org

General e-mail send through website form:

http://www.townofhempstead.org/content/home/contact.html#helplineform

Town Board:

516-489-5000, x3200 - Town Board general #

516-538-2908 general town board fax #

Dorothy L. Goosby (D)

1st District

Hempstead, Lakeview, Roosevelt, Uniondale, and portions of Baldwin, Freeport, West Hempstead and Lynbrook.

516-489-5000, x4304  

516-465-6514 fax

E-mail: dorogoo@tohmail.org

Legislative asst.(?) - Stephanie

Christina Martin - council staff

..................................................................................................................................... 

Ed Ambrosino (R)

2nd District

Bellerose Terrace, Elmont, Floral Park, Garden City, Garden City South, the incorporated area of New Hyde Park, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, and portions of Bellerose, Franklin Square, North Valley Stream and West Hempstead. 

Town contact info:

516-812-3179, direct #

516-538-2036, direct fax #

edwaamb@tohmail.org

Assistants:  Shane O'Neil, Chris Chinchili (sp.)

Business contact info:

Ruskin Moscou Faltischeck P.C. (law firm in Uniondale)

663-6675 w #

663-6578 Carolyn (exec. asst.?)
663-6875 w fax
E-mail: eambrosino@rmfpc.com

..................................................................................................................................

James Darcy (R)

3rd District

Part of Franklin Square, part of North Valley Stream, Valley Stream, Malverne, most of Lynbrook, Mill Brook, North Woodmere, Woodmere, Lawrence, Cedarhurst, Inwood, Atlantic Beach and Meadowmere Park.

516-489-5000, x3523

516-538-2036 direct fax

Secretary:  Liz

Legislative aide: Andrew

E-mail:  elizmul@tohmail.org (secretary's e-mail; would not give councilman's e-mail)

 ..................................................................................................................................

Anthony J. Santino (R)

Senior Town Councilperson

4th District

Baldwin, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Island Park, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, South Hempstead, and a portion of Lynbrook.

516-489-5000, x3200

516-393-0110 direct fax

E-mail: asantino@tohmail.org

Roseann - Executive Assistant (also is Supervising Secretary, Town Board)

.................................................................................................................................

Angie M. Cullen (R)

5th District

Barnum Island, Bellmore, Lido Beach, Merrick and Point Lookout; and parts of Freeport, North Bellmore, North Merrick, Seaford and Wantagh.

516-812-3285 direct line

516-538-2036 direct fax

E-mail: acullin@tohmail.org

Executive Assistant:  Cathy

.............................................................................................................................

Gary Hudes (R)

6th District

East Meadow, Levittown, Plainedge, Salisbury and portions of Bethpage, North Bellmore, North Merrick, Seaford and Wantagh.

516-812-3286 direct line

516-538-2036 direct fax

E-mail: ghudes@tohmail.org

Legislative aide:  Doreen

Secretary: Jean

Donate to Duke's Legal Fund

Donations are desperately needed to help Long Island Bulldog Rescue defray the cost of legal expenses for Duke.  Mark donations "Duke Legal Fund."  Please help.

To donate by credit card:

Go to http://www.lingislandbulldogrescue.org

Click on the PayPal donate box underneath the photos

Please indicate "Duke Legal Fund" in the "Payment For" box

To donate by check:

Checks may be made payable to "LI Bulldog Rescue", please mark "Duke Legal Fund" on the memo line. 

Mail to:  LI Bulldog Rescue, 1254 N. Country Rd., Stonybrook, NY 11790

Additional information:

"Attacks Are Not the Bulldog Norm" - Denise Flaim, Newsday, 5/22/06

http://www.newsday.com/features/consumer/ny-lspets4751749may22,0,3673639.column?coll=ny-advice-print

"It's a Dogfight to Save Duke - group says pooch isn't a mauler" - Richard Weir, Daily News, 5/23/06

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime_file/story/420109p-354690c.html

"Bulldog Gets Third Stay" - Newsday article, Zachary R. Dowdy, 5/23/06

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lidog0523,0,433591.story?coll=ny-main-tabheads1

Additional articles:

http://www.longislandbulldogrescue.org

5/12/06 UPDATE: Court Day for Duke

Our thoughts go out to all of the victims in the case.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Story as reported in Newsday, April 29, 2006 

BY DENISE M. BONILLA
STAFF WRITER; Staff writer Collin Nash contributed to this report.

April 29, 2006

A 4-year-old boy was hospitalized in guarded condition Friday night after one of his ears was nearly severed in an attack by a rottweiler as he walked with his grandparents in East Meadow, Nassau police said.

The grandfather also was hospitalized with chest pains after the attack just before 2 p.m. on Barkley Avenue.

The grandparents, whom police did not name, were with the boy, who neighbors said is named Matthew, and their 14-month-old granddaughter in a stroller when three dogs - a male and female rottweiler and a bulldog - approached them, said Sgt. John Buckley of Nassau's First Squad.

The dogs were in a nearby enclosed backyard, but apparently pushed open a gate, he said, so no criminal charges have been filed.

The family tried to retreat to the nearby home of the boy's parents, but one of the dogs attacked the boy, Buckley said.

The dogs jumped and bit at the family, knocking them to the ground, then chased them up their driveway, through the back-door vestibule and into the kitchen, he said.

While the grandmother protected the granddaughter, the grandfather tried to hold the boy aloft to avoid the dog's jaws, but one rottweiler named Jasmine tore into him, Buckley said. The dogs eventually retreated from the home on their own, he said.

Next-door neighbor Mitchell Shapiro was in his basement when he heard screaming and ran to his front door. When he opened it, he said he saw a rottweiler standing there.

"Right away, I'm thinking baseball bat or shotgun," he said. He took a baseball bat and tried to shoo the dog away, he said, but it did not move far.

Police showed up and directed what appeared to be pepper spray at the dog, Shapiro said, but the dog still did not move. Only when its owners pulled up in a truck did the dog leave, jumping into the truck with the other rottweiler, he said.

Matthew was admitted to Nassau University Medical Center with large cuts to his forehead, eye and cheek and bites to his torso and buttocks, Buckley said. Both ears were injured, he said, and the boy's right ear was torn down to the lobe.

Matthew was in guarded condition Friday night, said hospital spokeswoman Shelley Lotenberg. Matthew's grandfather, who Shapiro said was visiting from Ecuador, was in stable condition, Lotenberg said.

All three dogs were confiscated by the Town of Hempstead animal control.

The dogs' owner, whose name was not released by police, lives at 712 Buchanan Road, Buckley said, around the corner from the attack.

Buckley said one of the rottweilers was cited in January 2004 for killing a neighbor's pet rabbit, but it is not clear yet if the dog was Jasmine. A civil judge had placed restrictions on the dog, Buckley said. The investigation will continue