Local News
Court upholds verdict in dog-theft case
HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Blair County woman who three years ago took a dog she believed was mistreated said Friday she may be at the end of her battle.
Patton native Tamira Ci Thayne, formerly known as Tammy Sneath Grimes, 45, said she was disappointed by this week’s state Superior Court decision to uphold her December 2007 theft conviction.
“I haven’t had a chance to discuss it with my attorney yet, but as long as dogs are property, there is no use in taking it further,” she said.
In 2006, Thayne removed a 19-year-old dog named Jake from a property in East Freedom, Blair County, without the owners’ permission.
Thayne, the founder of Dogs Deserve Better, a Tipton-based group that is now an international organization opposed to tethering dogs, took Jake to a veterinarian and had him placed in a foster home until his death several months later.
Jake’s owners, Lori and Steve Arnold, called police to report Thayne’s actions, and she was charged with stealing the mixed-breed German shepherd, refusing to return it and related charges.
Thayne maintained she took the dog to save its life.
Following a three-day trial that attracted animal activists from a number of states, a jury took less than 30 minutes to find her guilty of all charges.
She was sentenced to a year on probation and 300 hours of community service. She also was ordered to pay the trial costs and remove all images of Jake – including items bearing his picture that she was selling – from Internet sites.
“Pretty much all of the punishment is over, I’ve done it all,” Thayne said Friday.
The three-member state judicial panel upheld Blair Judge Elizabeth Doyle’s ruling that a dog is personal property and a justification defense does not apply to dogs.
For Thayne, the case has been what she termed as a distraction for more than three years.
However, she said she continues to pursue private criminal charges against the Arnolds for what she views as animal abuse.
Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio has rejected the charges, and Thayne argued her case in late September before a visiting judge.
“We’re waiting for a ruling to see if we can go any further,” she said. “But this is the way of the activist – somebody’s got to be the forerunner.”
- Local News
-
-
‘Reunion time’: Cambria City fest draws tens of thousands
Monsignor Raymond Balta of St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church on Power Street prounounced this year’s Cambria City Ethnic Festival successful on Sunday evening shortly before the 22nd annual event drew to a close.
-
Cambria officials threatened
An inmate at the State Correctional Institution-Cresson has been charged with making written threats against several elected officials, including Judge Patrick Kiniry, District Attorney Kelly Callihan and District Judge Charity Nileski.
-
Milder winter in store, weather experts say
With recollections of last year’s record snowfall, blowing winds and closed roads still fresh in the minds of many Cambria and Somerset county residents, weather prognosticators are promising improvements for the upcoming winter of 2010-2011.
-
MICHELE M. BENDER | School’s first day can be hard on everybody
I don’t remember my first “first day of school.” There are, after all, 13 “firsts” between kindergarten and senior year.
-
Person of the week: Comfort food
Rita DeMarco has a good recipe for helping people.
First she looks for the needs of others then mixes the ingredients – food and other caring souls. -
Holy Name Elementary celebrating centennial
After 100 years, Catholic education is still thriving at Holy Name Elementary School.
As a way to celebrate the milestone, school officials are planning a week of festivities to usher in the centennial. -
Cycle run to benefit paramedic
The Blacklick Valley Foundation and Ambulance Service will hold a benefit motorcycle run – “Haulin’ for Heitz” – for Brian Heitzenrater on Sept. 18.
-
In brief: Somerset driver hurt in crash
One of the drivers was injured in a two-vehicle crash Saturday on the exit ramp from Route 219 in Somerset Township leading to Route 601.
- District Deaths Sept. 6, 2010
-
Research institute seeks entries for essay contest
With Breast Cancer Awareness Month on the horizon, Windber Research Institute is holding an essay contest for kids 14 and younger.
- More Local News Headlines
-
