Many of you have been asking for an update on Stitch, while
we have been lying low over here. First let me assure you, Stitch is still
happily with us, and is healthy and thriving. He and Evan are growing up strong
together.
When this legal battle for Stitch began, I had hoped ours
would be the precedent-setting case - the tipping point for overturning the
Lost Property Statute in relation to family pets. But it wasn’t. As most of you
know, in June of 2011, the judge awarded custody of Stitch to the plaintiff
because of Lost Property Statute. (He also slapped the plaintiff with monetary
damages, which we never asked for, and never collected). We immediately filed
for an appeal. Our appeal was thrown out last July, 2012 (due to budget cuts in
California courts). But we never gave Stitch up, and we continue to file
motions. At this point, we will file motion after motion until the case burns
itself out.
The interesting thing is that, although the plaintiff won
custody of Stitch, he never attempted to claim him. He never contacted us,
neither after the first or the second trial.
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| Stitchy on the news! |
So Stitch is still with us and the case goes on and on in
perpetuity. Limbo was not exactly the happily-ever-after ending I
wanted. I wanted to change the law – for Stitch, for you, for all our pets. We
didn’t change the law. But, at least we started a national conversation. We
were on the news, front page of L.A. Times and many national newspapers, we
were even on NPR. We got America buzzing about the issue of pet’s rights, verses
“owner’s” rights. We made the point that our pets are loving sentient beings - guide dogs for
the blind, therapy dogs for the sick, companions for our veterans. I hope America’s eyes have been opened to
the fact that pets are not property.
For backstory on the Stitch case, read: "Stitchy, the L.A. Times and the Painful Lesson Learned."
OR
Hollye,
ReplyDeleteSometimes the best you can hope for is not ideal. I hope with all my heart that Stitch remains with you for the rest of his life. You are his family, something his previous owner, who just wants to treat him like property, knows nothing about. Keep up the good fight!! We are with you!
All my best,
Guelay
Thank you so much!
DeleteSo much appreciation for your continued efforts Hollye, loving our sweet furry children who are such heros each and everyday... Please give Stitchy a huge hug from me... Xoxo
ReplyDeleteI'll give him a million hugs for you. : )
DeleteKeep up the good fight! Stich is, whether he knows it or not (and I think he probably does), is lucky to have you. Your son is, too! Your whole family is an inspiration to many.
ReplyDeleteThank you Frenchster family!
DeleteAnd we feel very lucky to have Stitch. He inspires us!
I admire you so much for fighting for your dog's rights. We have a service dog for one child and our other dog unofficially serves in that capacity for our other child. They are family, not property.
ReplyDeleteStitch is adorable!
Thank you Michelle!
DeleteHe is adorable- and what would we do without our furry companions? I can't count all the times my dogs or cats have cuddled with me when I was crying or sad. They are angels.
What ever happened to that awful little girl from "The Ring" who abandoned Stitch in the first place? Has she tried to get him back, or was it just her boyfriend?
ReplyDeleteShe has never tried to get him back. Her boyfriend, even though he "won" custody, never tried to get him back either. I feel sorry for those kids. I think they are just very lost and on a bad path. I wish them the best.
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