In 2021, my beloved other half and Emotional Support Animal named Brooklyn, was stolen. After TWO & A HALF YEARS of endlessly searching for him to no avail, by some miracle, on a night just before New Years Eve 2024, we FINALLY crossed paths!!!

 

 

 

 

After finding out he'd been adopted out through a privately owned rescue, I discovered the only way to pursue getting him back was via Civil Litigation, and requesting the return of my registered ESA dog Brooklyn. I took the many steps to bring this matter before the court. After the defendants had the case adjourned on 2 seperate dates, they applied for the entire case to be dismissed.

My main argument, was that Brooklyn was wrongfully adopted out by the private rescue, as they had not followed regular rescue standards and proper protocols when he was originally surrendered (after being stolen from me in 2021), to ensure he had not been reported missing or stolen with any agencies; Such as Police, SPCA Animal Control, etc....

Though it is still unclear what the intention was when Brooklyn was stolen, it is clear that within the very same 24HRS of being stolen, he was then just as quickly abandoned by an unkown man in a different area of the city, and left with a good semartitan. The good semartitan waited an extensive amount of time for the man, claiming to be Brooklyn's owner (but now calling Brooklyn, "Baxter") to come back, but the man never showed. The good semartitan and their family then surrendered Brooklyn (as Baxter) to a private rescue. When they surrendered Brooklyn (under the name of Baxter), they made it clear that they were NOT the owners, and that they were unable to relocate the man they believed to be his owner.

 

 

 

 

Generally, the standard procedure in which rescues follow in the case of an animal being surrendered (ESPECIALLY in the event an animal is NOT surrendered by their actual owner), is once a surrender form has been signed for the animal, the rescue first checks if the animal has been microchipped or tattooed. If the animal has not been microchipped or tattooed, the rescue then checks in with other agencies such as;

• The Police Department

Checking to see if any files have been opened in reports to a missing animal, that may fit the description of the animal just surrendered.

• SPCA, Animal Control, or any other similar Animal Agencies

Again, checking to see if any reports have been made for a missing animal, that may fit the description of the animal just surrendered.

• Missing Pet Pages on Social Media, and Missing Pet Websites

Checking to see if any post's have been published for a missing animal, that may fit the description of the animal just surrendered.

• Posting a Photo of the Animal Surrendered Online for a "Holding Period"

Posting the surrendered animal's photo with their name on the rescue's webpage and/or social media profile, so that in the event the animal's family has been searching for them, they will be able to have a chance to locate and claim their beloved pet.

 

 

 

 

In the case of Brooklyn and I, Brooklyn had not been chipped or tattooed, as when we inquired about it, the veterinarian advised me in order to do either one, Brooklyn would have to have been sedated. At the time, I did not feel it was necessary to the extent of having to put him under sedation. So I chose not to go through with the procedure. I will never make that mistake again...

 

 

 

 

However, regardless of not being chipped or tattooed, the rescue in which he was surrendered to, DID NOT follow the other standard protocols...

• They did NOT check in with the Police Department, to see if he matched the description on the file, of any missing dog reports.

• They did NOT check in with any other animal agencies such as SPCA, Animal Control, etc...

IF THEY HAD CHECKED IN WITH ANY OF THESE AGENCIES, THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND REPORTS OF BROOKLYN LISTED AS MISSING WITH ALL OF THEM...

Complete with a multitude of identifying photo's. 

 

 

 

 

The ONLY standard procedures the rescue alleges they followed, was checking missing pet pages on social media throughout the 90 day holding period prior to adopting him out, listing off the names of only 3 missing pet pages. 1 out of the 3 pages, I had evidence to prove that Brooklyn had been posted in the very same missing pet page, WITHIN the 90 day holding period they claimed to have repeatedly checked throughout. The Judge dismissed this as an "administrative error", given that these standard protocols are merely guidelines, not actual laws that rescues need to abide by... Regardless of whether most rescues follow them, or not!

The only other procedure the rescue claims to have followed, was posting an alleged album of Brooklyn (posted under the name of Baxter) on their Facebook and Instagram pages, along with their website. They claim the album was left up for the same 90 day holding period, but then deleted. The only evidence the rescue brought before the court of this alleged album being up, was a simple Word Document, with a write up for "Baxter" (Brooklyn) typed out and pasted on a blank page. They brought none of the many photo's they claim were uploaded and included in this alleged album. They showed no screenshots of the album up itself online, on any of the platforms they claimed it to have been posted on. The ONLY evidence they have ever been able to show, was that simple Word Document page, with a few paragraphs typed out about "Baxter" (Brooklyn). That was it! Yet because of the lack of law's, again the Judge viewed this as being enough!

 

 

 

 

All this goes to show, that the law's in our animal rescue industry are seriously lacking! To the extent of being almost non-existent. For a private rescue to be able to easily get away with this, on a continued basis, this proves there is next to nothing in place when it comes to regulating where these dog's are coming from, what steps are taken when a dog is surrendered, what steps are taken when a lost, stolen, or missing dog is surrendered, who and how they are cared for and by, how their future homes are screened—if at all, etc...

If you would like more information on Brooklyn's situation, please find his page on Facebook [Brooklyn The Pitt]. There are many updates on the current situation, and the devastating reality these "Broker Dog Rescue's" have come to.

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO CHANGE THE FUTURE OF ANIMAL RESCUE FOR GOOD!!!

❤️‍🩹🪽

The worth of your support cannot be priced! 

BROOKLYN THE PITT