๐จSnuggles Needs Our Help!๐จ
๐ฉทWrite Your Email Today!๐ฉท
prosecutor@tucsonaz.gov
alan.merritt@tucsonaz.gov Mari.Worman@tucsonaz.gov
chad.kasmar@pima.gov
steve.kozachik@pima.gov
Carmine.DeBonis@pima.gov
steve.holmes@pima.gov
Mayor.Romero@tucsonaz.gov
Example: " I am writing regarding Snuggles- the veteran family puppy currently facing euthanasia in Tucson. Please negotiate with the family for alternatives to euthanasia.
The family is willing to keep him confined to their 3 acre property, work with a trainer, and they even installed reinforced fencing.
They are ready for him to come home. Please save Snuggles."
#savesnuggles
๐ฉท Family Has Tried to Negotiate w/Tucson Prosecutor to No Avail๐ฉท:
โข Agreed to have Snuggles neutered.
โข Already reinforced and raised gates on the 3-acre property.
โข Offered to keep Snuggles confined to the property.
โข Offered to refrain from taking him into public settings. โข Offered to work with a licensed professional trainer.
โข Even offered for Snuggles to be re-homed to a sanctuary outside the district to save his life
๐ Conditions of Confinement- This is DIRE ๐:
- Snuggles has spent roughly eight months confined in a cement kennel.
- He receives little to no meaningful enrichment. - He is not taken on walks.
- He is forced to eat, sleep, and relieve himself in the same confined space
- Family has had to pay $17, 000 in boarding fees, without any updates from staff on his condition since last year.
๐ Key facts ๐:
- Snuggles was approximately a one year old puppy when the incident occurred.
- The bite occurred on the family's private 3-acre property.
- The injured party (the dog's grandmother/owner's family member) has consistently stated that she provoked the dog before the bite.
- Grandma has repeatedly stated that she does NOT consider herself a victim and wants Snuggles returned home.
- She did not intend to initiate a dangerous dog proceeding and was unaware that seeking medical treatment would result in the bite being reported to Pima Animal Care Center (PACC).
- After the report, PACC confiscated Snuggles and has held him for approximately EIGHT months.
- This was Snuggles first bite incident, and he's been sentenced to death despite it occurring on private party and with no reporting victims.
โ๏ธ Concerns regarding the proceedings โ๏ธ:
- The city prosecution proceeded despite the alleged victim stating she was NOT a victim and did NOT want the dog euthanized. She wants the dog HOME.
- The incident occurred entirely on PRIVATE property- the public was NEVER at risk.
- The court's characterization of the victim's wishes was wildly inconsistent with her actual written statement (there is court audio of this).
- The judge stated that grandma was afraid to return home if Snuggles were present, which is false. Grandma wants Snuggles returned home and is not afraid of him.
- During the hearing, the prosecution pressed the behavior expert to provide a "100% guarantee" that Snuggles would never bite again.
- The expert explained that no qualified professional can provide such a guarantee, but testified that neutering, training, and management would substantially reduce future risk.
- PACC approached grandma and took photos of her stitches, which they are now using to say the bite was level 4 which it is NOT. This seems like a violation of basic civil rights laws, taking advantage of an elder like this.
- Judge acknowledged she is not familiar with these types of cases, and yet ultimately sentenced the puppy to death.
๐พ Additional concerns ๐พ:
โข Efforts to negotiate alternative conditions with Prosecutor Alan Merritt were unsuccessful and received no response.
โข Family members, including 2 young children, remain deeply attached to Snuggles and are desperate to bring him home.
โข PACC has severely restricted public access to the dog, making it difficult for supporters and family members to assess his condition.
@JenniferEvn22