Click here to see recent picures of Sallie, Ellie & Officer Petitt and to read the officer's assessment of the dogs

The Chain Reaction: Standing Witness

The country roads of Jefferson County, Georgia glide between falling barns, fertile fields and dense pine forests.  Log trucks barrel by, hauling trees thirty at a time bundled with heavy chain.  

On June 2, 2009, a Wadley police officer discovered two female American Staffordshire Terriers anchored by this same, heavy chain, living life in a four foot radius.  The two dogs, now known as Sallie and Ellie, were in a state of shameful neglect.  Both dogs were scarred and malnourished, anchored by these heavy chains in an open field.  No water.  No food bowls, just food strewn around the muddy ground, cruelly beyond the four foot radius of their chains. 

Officer Petit also discovered the decaying remains of other dogs scattered around the field.  He saw what appeared to be the remains of four puppies of either Sallie or Ellie, moldering just beyond the radius of mama’s chain.  Both Sallie and Ellie had recently given birth, as evidenced by their sagging teats. 

Somehow, despite all, these two dogs were able to muster a gentle greeting to Officer Petit.  He approached them cautiously, but having twenty-four years of professional dog handling experience and having served as a K9 officer in the past, he quickly determined they could sense he was no foe.  Amazed at the gentle nature of these two dogs of such a vilified breed that he admits he too harbored prejudice against, Officer Petit broke their chains, led them to his car and delivered them to the local veterinarian. 

Jefferson County, like so many of Georgia’s counties, has no animal control.  So when Officer Petit presented Sallie and Ellie to the local veterinarian, he was promptly advised he would have to remove them within two weeks, as there is no county money allotted for their boarding and the vet would not assume the burden of these two dogs.

Officer Petit contacted a local animal rescue group, and was quickly matched up with two locals who, like him, refused to allow Sallie and Ellie to taste the nectar of hope just moments before dying. 

Sallie and Ellie are two of thousands in and around Jefferson County.  They are, however, two with hope.  Hope for a chance to feel safe in a home full of love.  Hope for a police force of compassionate officers to have the ability to enforce Georgia’s animal protection laws.  Hope for the pride of a community that has long turned a blind eye to intolerable animal cruelty due to no resources to handle the festering mar of this unacceptable status quo.  And perhaps, even, hope for the children of the man who claimed Sallie and Ellie as his property.  Perhaps, one day, these children will learn just how devastating committing and standing witness to animal cruelty can be to the health of a human’s moral dignity. 

How you can help. Sallie and Ellie are currently being boarded at the Burke County Animal Hospital in Waynesboro, Georgia.  Thanks to generous contributions already tendered, they have received medical assessments, vaccinations and both will be spayed this week.  At present, there is no where else for these girls to go.  But we send out this appeal with the hope that you or someone you know is in a position to offer Sallie and Ellie a forever home. Officer Petit has conducted extensive behavioral assessments of these two dogs and has concluded they have wonderful dispositions.   No food aggression.  No dog aggression.  They are wonderful with humans and gentle with children.  These photos were taken on Monday, June 22, 2009 and feature Officer Petit and his children interacting with Sallie and Ellie at a Waynesboro park. Please consider breaking this chain of despair.  There is hope in this moment.

Click here to view the original plea for help for these girls. Thanks to the generosity of others who also want to see this chain of dispair end for dogs everywhere, enough money was donated to buy these dogs more time, vet care and one step closer to a real home.