WHAT'S NEXT

Tell Local Authorities to Prosecute Groomers Involved in Gooch's Death
  1. Signatures
    6,329 out of 7,500
    Petitioning
    1. Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney (+ 2 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Oakland County Prosecuting Attorney (Jessica Cooper)
      • Chief of Police (Daniel McCaw)
      • Oakland County Sherriff (Michael J. Bouchard)
  2. Created By
    R E
    Minneapolis, MN
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Mar 04, 2011

Kathryn Tucker was hired to trim the nails of Gooch, a disabled woman's pit bull mix. Ignoring the cries of his owner, Tucker handled him so roughly, even sitting on top of him, that by the time she left, his organs had ruptured and he was dead. At first, authorities declined to file charges. Gooch's family didn't give up on getting justice for him, and neither did Change.org members, who sent more than 6,000 messages to local officials. Several months later, Tucker was finally charged with animal cruelty.

Ultimately, Tucker received probation and fines, a sentencing which many, including Gooch's family, felt did not fit the crime. However, authorities were forced to take his death, and the cruelty that led to it, seriously. Gooch's family plans to continue to fight for stronger laws to protect companion animals.

In October, 2010, Laurie Crouch of Oakland County, Michigan, hired a local groomer to trim her dog's nails. When her beloved pit-bull mix, Gooch, became agitated, the groomers tied a leash around his muzzle and used a pronged choke collar around his neck to control him. The groomers lifted him up by the leash and forced him to the ground where they sat on top of him, pinning him down by the neck.

Moments later, Gooch was dead. A necropsy performed by the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University concluded that Gooch suffered from suffocation and internal injuries severe enough to cause organ rupture. 

Laurie -- who suffers from multiple sclerosis -- threw herself onto the ground from her wheelchair and crawled to Gooch to his lifeless body.

Waterford Township police and Oakland County Animal Control investigated but claim they have no authority to press charges even though it is a clear case of animal cruelty.

Sign the petition to urge Waterford County and Oakland County authorities to launch and in-depth investigation and fully prosecute those responsible for the death of Gooch.

Photo credit: Steph Skardal

Recent Signatures

Please Investigate and Prosecute Those Responsible for Gooch's Death

Greetings,

On October 14, 2010, Laurie Crouch's beloved companion, Gooch, suffered and died at the hands of two groomers. Yet, despite Michigan laws against animal cruelty, no charges have been filed.

Kathryn Tucker and her assistant tied a leash around Gooch's muzzle and used a pronged choke collar on his neck. After they picked him up by the leash and forced him to the ground, they sat on top of him and pinned down his neck. Within moments, Gooch was dead.

A necropsy performed by the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University showed Gooch died from suffocation and multiple internal injuries. They concluded that nothing in his system could have caused the same outcome.

This is a tragic case of animal cruelty, and I am appalled that no charges were filed against those responsible. If the persons are let off without penalty, they are likely to severely or fatally injury more animals. Please launch a thorough investigation and file the appropriate charges. Gooch and Crouch deserve justice. Thank you.

[Your name]

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