Summertime

Its so hot here! I have been spending the dog days of summer in the cool air. I was at the lake last weekend and did I have fun. I was so pooped that I slept for 2 days. Mom calls me Sadie Bop! She says that I have energy when I want to play but the rest of the time, I sleep upside down like a bug. She says that I am one lazy D-O-G. Well gotta nap. Hello to all of my new friends!
Sadie

Congo Update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please read!

CONGO'S LAW ALERT!!!! We need to step it up folks!
Congo's Law needs your help immediately..please we need your support of Congo's Law. Especially from the Princeton Community & surrounding areas!!!!
Please CALL....... Rally via phone calls, in addition...
write letters and email ..
New Jersey Legislature - Electronic Coorespondence to your State Representative
District 15
Senator SHIRLEY K. TURNER - Democrat
District Office: 1440 Pennington Rd., 1st Floor, Ewing, NJ 08618 (609)-530-3277

Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA - Democrat
District Office: 226 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608 (609)-292-0500

Assemblywoman BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN - Democrat
District Office: 226 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608 (609)-292-0500
__________________________________________________________ ______
Congo's Law opponents lead in calls to local Assemblyman
Friday, December 14, 2007 7:09 AM EST
By Nick Norlen, Staff Writer


Though Congo’s owners have said thousands are contacting the governor to support the dog and the bill that bears his name, one local Assemblyman said the majority of the feedback directed to his office has been from those opposed to the bill.

According to the office of state Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton), approximately 60 percent of the correspondences he has received oppose the bill — and the bulk of those are coming from Princeton.

The calls and e-mails in support of the bill have come from all over the state, according to Assemblyman Gusciora’s legislative aide, Michael DeLoreto, who said the office has received approximately 60 comments on the bill.

A state Assembly vote on the so-called “Congo’s Law” — named for the German shepherd ordered to be euthanized after it attacked a landscaper in Princeton Township in June — has not yet been scheduled.

In a telephone interview Tuesday — during which he said he received at least five more e-mails about the bill — Assemblyman Gusciora said people’s views on the proposed law are “all over the map.”
Its supporters “are animal welfare people who e-mail that Congo should be saved,” he said.

Opponents, on the other hand, have questioned whether the legislature could be spending its time on what they see as more important issues, such as property taxes.

Others have said the law should not include a “beyond a reasonable doubt standard,” he said, noting that he has the same reservations.

”Particularly when you can’t get testimony from a dog, it would be very difficult to prove beyond a reasonable doubt what the dog’s intentions were,” he said, noting that he has concerns about the potential difficulty of euthanizing dogs raised to be vicious.

Despite the approximately 30 amendments made during the committee session on the bill, Assemblyman Gusciora said he won’t support the bill as it is currently written.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Union), was successfully approved for a floor vote by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last week.

Assemblyman Cohen introduced the bill to amend the current state statutes that govern consequences and requirements for dogs labeled as “vicious” and “potentially dangerous” after he heard about Congo’s case.

That ruling is currently being appealed to the Superior Court by the James family.

If passed, the legislation could have the same result — it would apply to current and pending cases and retroactively to dogs facing euthanasia by court orders back to Jan. 1.

Among other changes, the bill provides an alternative for the euthanizing of dogs declared “vicious” by allowing their owners to comply with the same precautions mandated for keeping a “potentially dangerous” dog, which include posting signs and restricting the dog’s contact with people and other animals.

In addition, the bill would hold prosecutors to stricter standards for proving that dogs were not provoked during attacks.

Provocation will be among the primary issues raised during the appeal, according to the James family’s attorney, Robert Lytle.

It has also been a source of debate among those who have joined the widespread discussion of the case since the ruling.

In an e-mail response to a constituent requesting her support for Congo’s Law — which was later forwarded to The Packet — state Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Lawrence) noted that she has “been informed that this was an unprovoked attack.”

That claim, she said, has been substantiated by Princeton’s animal control officer and the police report from the incident.
However, Sen. Turner did not mention in the e-mail whether she will support the bill if it in fact reaches the Senate.

Neither Sen. Turner nor Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman could be reached for comment.

A member of the legislature’s Democratic press office said a vote on Congo’s Law is possible before the end of the year, but declined to speculate on when it might be scheduled.

To all of my Pup pals and good friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congo is now on Dogster! Please welcome him and see his page:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/669654
He is so handsome and so nice. He needs this nightmare to go away.
If some of my pals are not aware. He was protecting his human and dog family and now his life hangs on the line! Read his story, sign his petition, call the Governor. It could be us !

Congo was able to go home and wait for his appeal.

Mom was so happy that Congo was released to his owners that she cried. I knew she was very stressed to see him in that situation. My Mom absolutely adores dogs especially us GSD's. She has a soft spot for German Shepherds. I know when she read his story she kept thinking of me. I am so happy that Congo can be with his family. His struggle is far from over and we still have to help. Please continue to sign his petition. Mom said that it could happen to anyone! Animal control officers are sometimes not trained on certain breeds and German Shepherds are automatically declared dangerous. I am not! Mom says that I am a big baby but I dont like strangers and I will get a nasty streak. So dont criticize the breed, criticize human behavior.Mom is happy today and we are going to help Congo stay home.
Thank you to everyone who helped save our friend Congo!
Sadie

Sign for Congo!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/591385946.
Sign to save Congo!
DO IT ASAP!
It could be you in this situation!

Help save Congo!

Mom called the Governor and sent an email. She also emailed the useless Judge. The illegal immigrant took off with the $250,000 and has not been heard from since not to mention he changed his story 5 times!!!!!!!!!!!! This is why The US needs to send them all back and stop the crossing at the borders. To make a profit and run is absurd. The animal control officer had witness statements but said a stray black lab ate them. What a 3rd grade excuse. Now the Judge is upset that he is being bothered at work and home in regards to Congo. What is happening with this country! New Jersey needs to get this incompetent judge out of office. The Governor needs to step in and stop catering to politics. Congo needs to go home and live out his life. He was protecting his humans and babies! The Mother should have pressed assault charges and had this illegal deported. I think everyone has won except for Congo. He sits depressed and is refusing to eat. He is sad and confused . This heartless judge needs to go as does the incompetent animal control officer. We are from Indiana and Mom is mad! Us GSD's are protectors and I am going to protect my family. Now they want Congo declared as vicious. Get real! People step in and call! 1.609.292.6000 today! Help Congo go home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember this could be you!

Thank you Bear for my Birthday Photo

Bear and his Mom made my Brthday Photo. Mom put it on my page! I was so excited whn I saw it! Thanks Bear!
Everyone see his page: http://www.dogster.com/dogs/395487
Thanks
Sadie!

My Birthday Wish!

I have decided what I want for my Birthday. I have somethin dear to my heart and Mom says I have a big one. I do not have a mean bone in my body!
I would like for all of my friends to sign Bandit's petition! This is important to me because he deserves justice. Please sign for Bandit!

His dogster page: http://www.dogster.com/dogs/610209

The petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/4/justice-for-bandit

Sadie

I am turning 1 year old on October 4

Mom doesnt know it but I am suppose to be inviting friends! I am so excited that I will be 1 year old on 10/4. I cant wait! Balls is what I want! I hope that I get tennis balls!
Gotta go!
Sadie

Pebs has a secret!

Pebs keeps running around telling her friends about me! All I heard was party! My party? Could it be for me? I am turning one next week! If anyone hears the secret tell me! I hope its me! I am so excited!
Love
Sadie