“So I come here to say to you, that you must find a way to get in the way. You must find a way to get in trouble. Good trouble, Necessary trouble.” U.S. Rep. John Lewis
Last evening, our team filed a brief in federal court on behalf of a client who luckily has his beloved dog home again. But that was not the plan of the police officers who encountered him one evening while his dog lay stoically beside him. He needed to be hospitalized, and after dropping him off at the hospital, the officers inconceivably gave his dog away to a friend of theirs.
Months went by frantically searching for his secreted dog, and finally we could go to court and got her back. The judge was not fooled by the police officers’ persistence of innocence.
While elated at being reunited with his cherished companion, our client was also deeply distraught this could happen tomorrow to any dog owner. He decided to try and stop this from ever occurring again, to hold the police officers accountable for their unconscionable conduct.
This is too often the only way to rein in the unbridled power of government, when they blatantly disregard the basic rights of others and think nothing of it. To them, stealing was simply not a crime, and it seared a wound in our dog owner, who well understands the sacred bond we share with animals.
Our client found a way to get in trouble. Necessary trouble. And for that we are thankful and proud.
Animals have rights we will always protect and defend. They are counting on us.
PS: Photo depicts our grateful client giving thanks to her lawyer. You can support our work by donating at www.thecfal.org The animals say many thanks.
