Dogs Deserve Better Tamira C. Thayne Good Newz Rehab


Tamira Thayne Who Took Ownership of Michael Vick’s Dogs Wanted for Animal Cruelty
by Robert Littal | Posted on Monday, August 27th, 2012

The Irony is thick like school teachers working at Magic City.
Wonder if Ms. Thayne will get two years in jail?

The owner and founder of a group that bought Michael Vick’s former Surry County home in an effort to care for rescued dogs is being sought on animal cruelty charges.

According to Tracy Terry, Chief Animal Control officer for Surry County, Tamira Thayne is wanted for animal cruelty and inadequate care of animals. Animal Control has received numerous complaints about the property, but could not go into detail about the complaints.

Terry told WAVY.com Thayne has been operating an illegal shelter as long as she has been in the state of Virginia.

When Animal Control began to receive the complaints, Terry said officers and officials from Virginia’s Office of Veterinary Services visited the home and property.

While Michael Vick deserved to be punished for his dog fighting ring, two years in jail was too harsh of a penalty and I will venture a guess that Ms. Thayne charges will only amount to a slap on the wrist.

That is the difference when you are a starting QB in the NFL and just a random home owner.
Other athletes should take note.


Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne wanted by police, charged with cruelty

In shocking news released this afternoon,Surry County authorities have announced that a warrant on animal cruelty charges has been issued for Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne.
Thayne made headlines last year when she purchased Michael Vick's former dogfighting compound in Virginia. Renamed "Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs," the property was transformed into a facility for dogs rescued by Dogs Deserve Better.
In July, Surry County Animal Control received multiple complaints relating to the treatment of animals at the kennel. According to chief animal control officer Tracy Terry, it was these complaints that led to a visit of the site by officers and representatives from Virginia's Office of Veterinary Services. What they observed was enough to charge Thayne with animal cruelty and inadequate care of animals.
Authorities have refused to comment on the specifics behind the charges, however, Terry has noted that multiple animals are involved. While the dogs have not been removed from the premises, Terry states that her office is taking steps to ensure that the animals receive the proper care and treatment.
Officials have been unable to locate Thayne to serve the warrants. They have asked that anyone with information regarding Thayne's whereabouts contact the Surry County Sheriff's Office. A court date has already been set for September 25.
It is important to note that while Dogs Deserve Better operates several chapters across the country, no other chapter or representative has been named in the recent charges, which focus solely on Thayne's Virginia operation.
* Update #1: Shortly before 4pm, Dogs Deserve Better posted the following statement on their Facebook page: There is no truth to the recent news articles. This is another attempt by a small group of people who are trying to put an end to Dogs Deserve Better and other rescue groups. They have been sending in false claims to the Surry County officials and demanding they close our rescue. We have copies of their letters and are in the process of getting it straightened out. There will be an official statement soon. *
As of 11pm, the above statement has been removed from the Dogs Deserve Better Facebook page.
Update #2: Shortly before midnight, Dogs Deserve Better posted a note on their Facebook page. In the note, DDB denies the abuse allegations while pleading for the return of Jada, a pit bull who was seized by Surry County Animal Control.

New details emerge behind Dogs Deserve Better cruelty charges

Search warrants filed Tuesday are shedding light on the charges being levied against Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne.
According to the warrants, "animals are being maced and tased on a regular basis." The seizure report reflects that one taser and nine cans of Mace were confiscated from the Surry County property. Also taken into evidence was an invoice for the purchase of the Mace.
The paperwork further states that Thayne's dogs were being kept in unsuitable size crates, "a minimum of 19 hours a day unless it is raining outside, then they are crated even longer."
The warrant goes on to allege that sick and injured dogs were not receiving veterinary care. Animals with bloody, runny and watery stools were said to have been continually dewormed instead of taken to a vet for diagnosis and treatment.
One pit bull was seized from the compound, a site that formerly housed the Michael Vick dogfighting ring but was later purchased by Thayne and transformed into the "Good Newz Rehab." The dog, Jada, is currently being held at the shelter and is not available for adoption at this time.
A handful of other dogs remain on the property, however, chief animal control officer Tracy Terry has stated that her office is ensuring that the animals receive the proper care. According to anote on the Dogs Deserve Better Facebook page, these dogs will "now have to wait" to be rescued or adopted.
Thayne has denied the charges against her. A since-deleted post on the Dogs Deserve Better Facebook page blamed the allegations on a small group of people who were trying to shut down the rescue by making false claims to Surry County officials. Dogs Deserve Better later posted anote stating that Thayne had been out of the country but the animals were "well taken care of by three caretakers and an office manager." According to the note, "They had each other's backs while Tami was gone, and they did great."
Thayne is facing charges for animal cruelty and inadequate care of an animal. She is due in court September 25.
Author's Note: Since publishing this objective news article, the terminology included in this piece has been disputed by persons challenging reports that Mace and a Taser were removed from the property. According to a family member of Thayne, the items seized were actually pepper spray and a stun gun. All terms and quotes used in this story have been taken verbatim from the Surry County search warrant. Per the Search Inventory & Return paperwork attached to the warrant:
The following items, and no others, were seized under the authority of this warrant:
1. Mace located in front closet (2)
2. Female black and white pit bull, 1 year female
3. 3 located in kitchen (Mace)
4. 2 located in kitchen drawer (Mace)
5. 2 located in bedroom office (Mace)
6. Copy of invoice for Mace
7. 1 taser found in desk drawer in living room
8. Vet records for pit bull named "Jada"
I would once again like to remind all parties that I am an impartial observer who reports on current events involving animals and animal rescue. I have no experience with DDB besides writing a flattering piece in the past about a Pennsylvania DDB rep who was helping a chained dog. I have no opinion on the allegations against Ms. Thayne, and am simply reporting on the charges that she is facing in Surry County.

Founder of Dog Rescue Wanted for Animal Cruelty

(ANIMAL NEWS) VIRGINIA — Could Michael Vick’s animal abuse be living on? Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne recently took over the compound infamous for Michael Vick’s former dogfighting operation to create a dog rescue in hopes of bringing justice to the hundreds of dogs that were abused there. But numerous complaints about the treatment of dogs at Dogs Deserve Better has caused a new investigation. The kennel is still up and running, but accusations against Thayne for animal cruelty are flying. Hopefully the whole situation is a misunderstanding; no more dogs need to suffer at this site, or anywhere for that matter. — Global Animal

Photo Credit: Adrin Snider/Daily Press
Examiner, Terese Seaberg
In shocking news released this afternoon, Surry County authorities have announced that an arrest warrant has been issued for Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne.
 Thayne made headlines last year when she purchased Michael Vick’s former dogfighting compound in Virginia. Renamed “Good Newz Rehab Center for Chained and Penned Dogs,” the property was transformed into a facility for dogs rescued by Dogs Deserve Better.
 In July, Surry County Animal Control received multiple complaints relating to the treatment of animals at the kennel. According to chief animal control officer Tracy Terry, it was these complaints that led to a visit of the site by officers and representatives from Virginia’s Office of Veterinary Services. What they observed was enough to charge Thayne with animal cruelty.
 Authorities have refused to comment on the specifics behind the charges, however, Terry has noted that multiple animals are involved. While the dogs have not been removed from the premises, Terry states that her office is taking steps to see that the animals receive the proper care and treatment.
 Officials have been unable to locate Thayne to serve the warrant. They have asked that anyone with information regarding Thayne’s whereabouts contact the Surry County Sheriff’s Office. A court date has already been set for September 25.
 It is important to note that Dogs Deserve Better operates several chapters across the country manned by area representatives with an interest in assisting and rescuing confined dogs. No other chapter or representative has been named in the recent charges, which focus solely on Thayne’s Virginia operation.
 * Update: Shortly before 4pm, Dogs Deserve Better posted the following statement on their Facebook page: There is no truth to the recent news articles. This is another attempt by a small group of people who are trying to put an end to Dogs Deserve Better and other rescue groups. They have been sending in false claims to the Surry County officials and demanding they close our rescue. We have copies of their letters and are in the process of getting it straightened out. There will be an official statement soon. *

Foster care needed for dogs ordered removed from Dogs Deserve Better facility

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