From Séamus: Hi K9 Mattie supporters, the time is here. We are at the finish line of our fundraiser (also on PayPal) to Bring K9 Mattie Home – 97% of the way there, only $650 left to go, let’s make today the day we go over the top!
I am astounded by the significance of the timing – this weekend is our beloved Mattie’s birthday, she is turning eight.
As we ready ourselves to enter discussions with MSA Security, owned by Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP), I cannot think of a better birthday present to Mattie than for the company to retire her and send her home to her family without delay.
I wonder if PWP / MSA is getting any Coronavirus relief money from the government? I don’t know, it’s just speculation on my part. But I do know that I am working the military COVID-19 mission in New York, the hardest hit city in the United States. Yet they still have Mattie – but not for too much longer, I pray.
In a response to one of our recent updates, a supporter named Star brought up several important points that many of you have been talking about. I am including the text of it here in italics, with my commentary in regular type.
I guess it’s the state of the nation/world right now, but I actually cried while reading your update today. With all the craziness and death and fear out there, it is especially cruel that PWP/MSA would continue to withhold Mattie. For most of us, this experience of Covid has prioritized what is important in life, and unimportant or petty grudges have fallen by the wayside. I'm surprised they don't have bigger, more important things to worry about than withholding a dog from a wonderful, hope-inspiring family, such as yours.
Thank you so much Star for your support and insightful words. I feel the same way – in these trying times, why is holding onto Mattie is so important to them? I have never really understood the company’s opposition to giving Mattie back to her rightful family. The CEO seems to fear that they will look weak. But this is unfounded. Handlers are not going to walk out with their dogs en masse, and every handler knows that they have to put in the time before a canine can be considered for retirement. All we are asking for is fairness based on a sense of common humanity.
Is there any way to confirm that Mattie is healthy and ok? i just worry this company would do something to hurt her...
I worry about the same thing with this company; I wouldn’t put anything past them. That’s why the bosses must be held accountable and the public spotlight must be kept on their activities.
As far as Mattie herself, the company has made sure that absolute secrecy is being kept. It’s vindictive on their part. But it’s nothing an investigator can’t find out, if it comes down to that.
I’m sure that she is at least physically okay, she would not be able to work otherwise. But I obviously fear for her emotional well-being. The sooner she comes home, the better.
Once Mattie is home, I hope you will have a party (either IRL or virtual) and let us all see the beautiful reunion and tell her how loved she is.
WE CERTAINLY WILL!
Thank you for your service and for your persistence in reuniting your family; this is EXACTLY the type of hope and tenacity the world needs right now. Bless you all and especially sweet Mattie.
This is so heartwarming to hear; my family and I appreciate it so much! And our deep gratitude to everyone out there who has expressed similar sentiments to us �
As I’ve stated before, the values of duty and honor to God, family, and country which motivate my military service are the same ones that motivate my family’s battle to bring our dog back where she belongs.
We will continue on until Mattie comes home and we can move on with our lives. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and GOD BLESS AMERICA XOXO
WAYS TO HELP
1) THE FUNDRAISER. Make a donation to Bring K9 Mattie Home through GoFundMe or PayPal. Every penny goes to Mattie. We are offering to buy her back from the company for their stated price of what it cost to train Mattie, along with any associated costs. In addition, MSA has a habit of legally turning over the dogs to their handlers when the dogs are physically broken down. All medical expenses have to be borne by the handler’s family. Maybe it’s not right, but that’s how they work.
Today we stand at 97% of the way to our goal!! You are part of making something amazing happen xoxoxo
2) CONTACTING THE PWP / MSA BOSSES. Send an email or give a call or text to the corporate bosses through the means of contact listed below.
You are a thorn in their side – you remind them that the public eye is on them, especially during this Coronavirus Crisis. And so every email, text, and phone call counts.
*NOTE* These guys listed here are the head honchos, but the list is not exhaustive – many other PWP and MSA contacts can be found through your favorite search engine (Google, Bing, etc.).
3) SPREAD THE WORD! If share what you think of MSA and PWP on online forums, or simply tell your friends and family, I believe the positive effect would end up being exponential.
And since MSA-trained K9s being sent overseas to terrible fates (read: PWP / MSA sends dogs to torture and death in Jordan) is a matter of national public interest and your tax dollars, contact your Congress members – Representatives and Senators – about the fraud that PWP / MSA Security is pulling on the American people.
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Relevant links & contact info are contained here below.
We would be so deeply thankful if you would consider making a donation to our fundraiser to Bring K9 Mattie Home: https://www.gofundme.com/f/bring-k9-mattie-home
If you prefer to donate through PayPal, here's our link: https://www.paypal.me/seamusk9
And please let MSA & PWP know how you feel about this! Direct contact has a positive impact. CONTACT INFO (the next four numbers can also be texted):
CEO Glen Kucera (the man who made the decision to take Mattie away), 973-981-1275; gkucera@msasecurity.net
Chairman Mike O’Neil (the company’s public face), 516-491-9721; moneil@msasecurity.net
VP of Global Operations Justin Kelley (the guy in charge of all MSA K9s in the world), 860-559-9208; jkelley@msasecurity.net
K9 Training Director Mike Wynn (the person who moved Mattie across the country, out of spite, to keep her from her family), 917-923-5508; mwynn@msasecurity.net or msak9@msasecurity.net
The Perella Weinberg people who own MSA keep themselves relatively insulated; they are billionaires after all. So while we don't have their direct numbers, here are the emails of the fellas who oversee MSA:
Chip Baird, cbaird@pwpartners.com
David Ferguson, dferguson@pwpartners.com
John McKee, jmckee@pwpartners.com
Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP) main number, 212-287-3341 (Heads up: PWP falsely claims that Mattie is an MSA internal issue, that they have nothing to do with it. This is false - they are intimately involved with MSA's operations!).
MSA Security main number, 212-509-1336
And of course, we welcome and encourage your feedback. Our email is: k9mattie@yahoo.com