PETITION CLOSED

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Justice for Lucky: Returned to Owners Who Kept Him Locked in Basement
  1. Signatures
    2,371 out of 2,500
    Petitioning
    1. King County Executive (+ 5 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • King County Executive
      • King County Executive (Dow Constantine)
      • Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives (Carrie Cihak)
      • Director of Communications (Frank Abe)
      • Manager of Regional Animal Services (Ken Nakatsu)
      • Deputy County Executive (Fred Jarrett)
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Lucky is a nine-year-old dog who spent nearly half of his life locked in a basement. Before that, he was left alone in the yard most of the time, where he would constantly bark. The owners claim they love Lucky and he had the run of the house, but photos show that he was leashed and living in his own waste, and the neighbors could still hear him barking for attention.

In late summer 2010, Lucky's owner went out of town and neighbors report that her ex-husband would only stop by sporadically to open the sliding glass door just enough to pour kibble and a can of food into the basement. Local activists and concerned neighbors finally convinced authorities to free Lucky from the basement. Unfortunately, Lucky ended up locked up again -- this time in the shelter -- because authorities wouldn't release him to a foster home during the investigation.

Even worse is that, after just a few weeks in the local shelter, Lucky was returned to his owners. The King County Prosecutor's Office said there was insufficient evidence of animal cruelty since he wasn't starved, dehydrated or visibly suffering from physical pain.

It is unacceptable for a dog to live in the conditions that Lucky has had to endure. Dogs deserve clean living areas, where they don't have to live among their own waste, and food every day. Dogs are social animals, and leaving them in isolation is a form of neglect.

Lucky's case has highlighted the fact that defining cruelty and neglect by "physical pain" isn't good enough. Tell the prosecutor's office that it's time to re-evaluate cruelty laws to protect dogs like Lucky.

You can also sign the petition in protest of Lucky's release to his owners here.

Photo credit: Anonymous, with permission

Recent Signatures

Protect King County Animals From Neglect

Dear King County Executive and Staff

The recent case of Lucky, the dog who was rescued from the basement of a Shoreline home only to be returned to his owners, highlights serious flaws in the legislation regarding animal cruelty and neglect.

I am joining local citizens, and the Change.org community, in calling on you to use this case to strengthen animal protection in your community. Washington State's definition of animal cruelty in the second degree addresses abandonment and failure to provide necessary sanitation, but only in terms of suffering physical harm. Under King County code (11.04.250 Violations), it is unlawful to neglect an animal and allow suffering, but in Lucky's case, that was, again, only enforced in reference to physical pain. That's not good enough.

I urge King County to take immediate action on the following:

1) Redefine the legal standards of cruelty and neglect to more accurately reflect what our culture finds unacceptable for treatment of companion animals, and enforce these standards.

2) Pass legislation that requires the release of animals being held for cruelty investigations/prosecution into foster care with court-approved rescue networks.

3) Put cruelty investigations and enforcement in the hands of fully commissioned officers prepared to enforce all cruelty and neglect laws.

Once animals are rescued from situations of cruelty and neglect, they should be released as soon as possible to court-approved foster care for rehabilitation. It is the humane thing to do.

A society is judged on how it treats its animals, and allowing dogs to live in the conditions that Lucky had to endure is unacceptable. Living in isolation, among their own waste, and only being fed sporadically does cause suffering.

Please take a stand for King County's animals and set a positive example for the rest of the country on how our animals should be treated.

[Your name]

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