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March 28, 2024

Stolen Dogs?

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On October 13, 2011

This story is becoming all too common in Paris and Edgar County, as a matter of fact is has become a common occurrence in Richland and Crawford Counties also. This organization has gone completely off the deep end and the sad thing is that they think they can keep getting by with illegally taking peoples dogs.

This story, and more like it that will follow in the next few days, will make you ask this simple question – Why would the Animal Control Board even consider contracting with this particular not-for-profit organization (or anyone associated with it) for care and control of dogs in Edgar County?  

If anyone knows of other cases of stolen dogs, please drop us an email!

Remember: Edgar County Animal Shelter – is an entity of the Edgar County Government and DOES NOT operate a webpage  or a facebook page, etc.

There are not-for-profit groups in the county that are trying to blur the lines and present the illusion that they are the Edgar County Animal Shelter when, in fact, they are not.

Keep in mind that the Edgar County Humane Association, The Edgar County Homeless Pets, or any other Humane or Rescue Organization in Paris and Edgar County DOES NOT have the authority step onto your property or to take control of your dog without your permission. They cannot fine you either, that is for the Animal Control Officer to do.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines “stealing” as theft of the dog, or using threats or intimidation to take a dog away from the owner.

 The Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare issues licenses and also investigates formal complaints. The phone number to file a formal complaint is 217-524-3006. It must be a first-hand complaint (the owner of the stolen dog) for them to take action.

 Now for the first story:

After talking to the owners of these dogs:

 A beagle and a basset (with a chip) were taken from a driveway in south easternEdgarCounty, right off of theLower Terre Haute Road, on approx. Aug 29, 2011.

 The owners immediately took an ad out in the Terre Haute Tribune (since they live so close toIndiana) and nobody called about the dog. Then, while searching online, they happened to find a craigslist ad (Aug 31) that had the basset up for adoption by Judy  @ 217-465-8727. The pictures are also up on “edgar county homeless pets” facebook page.

 Phone call after phone call revealed lie after lie about how the dogs were found, where they were taken to, and the date they were adopted out.

 -Val (also works at Wal-Mart) told her the Animal Control Warden scanned it – how could he scan it when it was never taken to the county shelter?

-Mel Elston told her the dog was not scanned for a chip and called the owner an irresponsible pet owner.

-There are many more lies, but I think you get the point by now.

 Keep in mind, that the “re-homing fee” to adopt a dog is usually $150.00

 If anyone knows the location of these dogs, please let us know.

  

 

The second story:

Will come in a few days and is about a litter of Pug puppies stolen out of a fenced yard.

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36 Comments
  • vickie
    Posted at 21:53h, 03 October

    all i want is my bassett back i miss him very much hes with me on the recliner everynite please some 1 knows where he is

  • Kirk Allen
    Posted at 22:41h, 03 October

    We are working on it Vickie! Public exposure does work!

    Do you know who adopted them out? If so provide a name! EVERYONE should call that person and demand your dogs be returned!

    There is no excuse for a person to sell a dog or put it up for adoption without checking to see if it was chipped.

    Dont give up and know that the Edgar County Watchdogs are pushing hard for a resolution. Nothing short of getting your dogs back is acceptable!

  • vickie
    Posted at 19:38h, 04 October

    melody elston&judy.The ill. dept of agriculture talk to melody&after admitting she did have my bassetts&adopted them out.Every time i talked to them they said my bassetts were not ever with them.i gave karl farnham my pets chip num.so on thur 22nd rob called it in to pet recovery&when they ask him to stay on the line while they contact the owner he hung up on them.pet recovery told me this.they tell me &every one else lie after lie.this weekend is2 of my grandchildrens birthday.I was really hoping to have them back at least the older one.the homeless pet has tried to make me look like the bad person.melody even threaten me with a fine.karl said she can give him back,but she wont.MY BASSETT has a chip they didnt every scan him.

  • Kirk Allen
    Posted at 21:25h, 04 October

    I suggest if you know who had the dogs you post their phone number for everyone to call and complain. This is wrong in so many ways it makes me want to puke.

    Those children deserve to have their dogs back! Ms. Elston, if you had anything to do with this its time to make it right. The owner wants her dog back and you should know that nothing shines light on things better than refusing to do whats right!

  • vickie
    Posted at 16:02h, 05 October

    i have ask her but she refuses it would b admitting shes wrong i dont understand how the ill.dept of agriculture wont do anything she admitted to them she was WRONG! so why cant they do something or tell me some1 who can simple fact HES CHIPPED HES MY BASSETT I SHOULDNT HAVE 2 FIGHT 4 HIM

  • Erica
    Posted at 00:33h, 06 October

    Hooray for Edgar County Watchdogs!!!! No one even understands how much Vickie loves Duke~ She has always treated him like a human and misses him so much. I can’t imagine how I would feel if someone did to my dog what these idiots did to her’s. I am so very thankful that someone is actually listening to all of us! THANK YOU, THANK YOU EDGAR COUNTY WATCHDOGS! 🙂 It sounds silly because to some people dogs are “just dogs” but I know how much I love mine and he is a part of the family; just like Duke is with Vickie. Vick, I have been doing some serious praying that you get Duke back and I think you are finally on the road to bringing him home.

  • Michelle
    Posted at 09:33h, 06 October

    Vickie is my Aunt.. I also posted on Edgar County Homeless Pets, Stating after they posted how they found the dogs in bad shape an where not taken well care of they posted this BS on september 28th when they are saying the bassetts where (ADOPTED) on September 6th.. They only reason they posted this BS is too make them look better cause they know they your lying.. My Aunt Vickie Has a ton of Pic.s of Duke.. An none of them show what they are saying about these dogs.. Duke an Tank where both loved dogs.. Not ony do her 5 Grandkids miss them very much, But my Aunt Vickies heart is broken Duke was her bestfriend.. like Erica said (to some people a dog is just a dog) But to some Dogs become Family members.. An duke was one of the (LOWE FAMILY).. It is wrong how they can take some ones family member an just (ADOPTED?) them out.. I think they are selling these dogs for money if you look at there site.. you only see a few breeds of dogs.. im mean not every one one has these breeds an just want to get read of them .. Im sure these dogs all had GREAT HOMES too.. an where sadly taken from there family memebers too an people just don’t know where to look like my aunt vickie.. she never thought someone had stolden her dogs they where bassetts an do run.. Im mean he could have got lost like she thought an stead someone stold DUKE AN TANK!!!!! These people should pay for these..

  • vickie
    Posted at 12:50h, 07 October

    there is to many people in this circle of lies they hav go n on the more people i call for help they are all in it together.THESE PEOPLE HAV TO BE STOPPED THEY ARE LIARS&THIEVES.

  • Grace
    Posted at 08:45h, 08 October

    It clearly states on the craigslist ad pictured above that was posted on August 31 that the dogs were found in “sorry” condition.

    I’m not condoning the taking of your dog, but if the craigslist ad was posted on August 31, and they were held for however many days and then adopted out, why didn’t SOMEONE see this ad? Or the one on Petfinder.com or kijiji.com? They advertised YOUR dogs. If someone was looking for them, why didn’t you see the ads? Or call the shelter? I would have called AND visited that shelter EVERY day looking for my baby!

    If my dog (who is chipped) was lost, I would check every website, newspaper and shelter in a 100 mile radius to find him EVERY day! I wouldn’t sleep till I had him back.

    There are a lot of different people talking about this, and no one says the same thing as far as the dates, etc. I’m just making sure that my beloved dog is with me and has his tags on all of the time.

  • vickie
    Posted at 15:16h, 08 October

    my dogs were not in poor shape i took pics to the sheriff&showed him &i didnt call all over the nation BECA– USE if they would of done their job right 2 begin with they would of scanned him like the law says to.&i didnt ever think to look on craigs list&when we did it just happen to b the last day for it.until every1 knows what ive been go n through, lie after lie no one needs to judge.if u would like to meet with me & get my full story ill be more than happy to.you dont no half of what judy,mel&rob has said.rob called pet recovery 2 call in the chip num bout 2 wks after i gave it to karl farnham&when he was asked to hold while they contact the owner he hung up on them.dont that sound like hes hiding something.when i called &talk to a volunteer at the pound,when she figured out it was me she told me DONT CALL ME BACK AGAIN now whats that sound like to you.they are wrong they admitted it to ill.dept of agriculture.they admitted they had the dogs, told me they havent seen the dogs then why was judy the one that took him to dr.staub. he could of scanned then he had them on labor day nobody has done their job so dont tell me im not trying .let me no if u would like to meet & hear more

  • Grace
    Posted at 09:30h, 09 October

    All over the nation? Hello?!?! Call your local pound! Even if Tank and Duke weren’t there, they would know who to contact.

    I think, personally, if you had put as much effort in finding your dogs as you’re putting in all of this posting all over weebsites, you would have them back.

  • Kirk Allen
    Posted at 09:37h, 09 October

    The local pound did not have the dog so calling them did no good as has been discussed. How would they know who to contact if they didnt have the dog?

    I find it sad Grace that instead of insisting the person who had the dog and adopted it out returns it you are casting blame on the owner.

    What is happening in this country when we know where a persons property is but they wont tell the owner? Melody rest assured an effort will be put forth to make sure not only that this woman gets her property back but a doubling of efforts to expose what has happen.

    Your husband sells insurance correct? I wonder how many folks will change policies because of actions like this?

  • vickie
    Posted at 16:18h, 09 October

    grace”mel”, i did call the pound&like i told u they didnt no a thing, if animal control would of picked them up like their suppose too, they might of new somthing, but when you and your little group goes around stealing dogs and hiding them ,nobody will have any info on them.and posting it on the web site is the right thing to do so everyone will no how you guys are, is some one getting a little scared.WHYdidnt judy have dr.staub scan him they could of came from terre haute to do it, they told me theirself. first you say he was picked up on a dirt road now you say somewhere on lower terre ht. road i really wish you would get your lies straight. and why does it have to turn into this all you had to do was give a name or number, ive talked to other oraganizations and they all say they keep records and they could get the dog right back, so that means one thing ITS ALL YOU. Your husband sent me a thing for me to get insurance through him the other day, i wonder if i could take out a insurance policy for stolen dogs..

  • Grace
    Posted at 17:47h, 09 October

    Melodie wouldn’t touch this website. She’s got too much going on to spend time here. There were ads everywhere…petfinder.com, kijiji.com, dogsindanger.com and craigslist. No one was trying to hide the dogs! They were clearly online.

    First you say you did call animal control, then you say you didn’t because you were waiting for them to do their jobs, then you say you were searching for them the entire time they were missing, then you said that you didn’t search for them immediately because they get to roam all over your acreage.

    I’m sick of this argument because it isn’t getting me anywhere. This will be the last time I visit this site.

  • vickie
    Posted at 19:21h, 09 October

    good DONT GET BACK ON THIS SITE i already hav enogh people running their mouth. if u dont no the story dont put your nose where it dont belong.I LOOKED FOR MY DOGS FROM DAY ONE & THEY DID LIE.HE IS CHIPPED, THEY DIDNOT DO THEIR JOB,IT WASNT MY JOB TO SEARCH ALL OVER WHEN THE LAW IS TO SCAN NOT STEAL.

  • Erica
    Posted at 21:17h, 09 October

    Why exactly are we judging Vickie when clearly, the fact that no one is disputing, is that Duke was chipped, not scanned, then adopted out? That is wrong, no matter how you look at it.

    • jmkraft
      Posted at 21:37h, 09 October

      Because they know they are wrong and are simply trying justify what they did with lies. They same reason they lie about me.

  • vickie
    Posted at 11:12h, 10 October

    yes erica i agree no matter jow u look at it they are in the wrong.i miss him so much i no his spoiled ways when he wants simething & i also no when he gets mad at me lol but he does if he doesnt get what he wants right then.but i made him that way.I DONT UNDERSTAND Y IT HAS 2 GO THIS FAR .ITS THE SOOOOO CRAZY! BUT LOOK WHO IM DEALING WITH LIARS&THIEVES. ” SCAN DONT STEAL”

  • sbarnes
    Posted at 19:24h, 10 October

    I hope that Vickie’s dog is found and returned to her. She had it chipped for a reason and the shelter didn’t do their job.

  • RHeleine
    Posted at 19:51h, 10 October

    You would think that they would give Vickie her dogs back They have proof that he belongs to her and the public is finding out how corrupt they are so why wouldnt they want to shed some possitive light on them that they helped her get her Duke back but I don’t think they care about what is right and what is WRONG Good Luck Vickie I know how much you miss him and want nothing more than to just have him back

  • Kirk Allen
    Posted at 21:19h, 10 October

    I think we should all pull together and file a civil law suit against those responsible for not returning the dog to its rightfull owner. I know I have had several calls wanting to go this route and a few of those folks have the deep pockets to make such an action happen.

    Its sad it has to go to that level but I think it might be the best way to get Vickie her dog back.

  • vickie
    Posted at 21:50h, 10 October

    thank you all for the comments,yes we all need to stick together.These people need to b stopped.You no the pets miss their owners also.hopefully i will have duke back before long. i wish the family who adopted him knew what i was going through to get him back.Maybe they would give him back&help us fight for whats right.

  • vickie
    Posted at 21:52h, 10 October

    SHE IS ALSO HIDING HER REAL NAME SHE CALLS HERSELF GRACE! WE NO WHO YOU ARE.GOOD TRY

  • steve
    Posted at 10:04h, 11 October

    GRACE vickie has looked for her CHIPPED DOG since aug. 29th, she should not had to call thats why she PAID to have HIM chipped. EVERYONE should have DONE THEIR JOB and SCANNED HIM! He was at dr. staub office on laber day, he told vickie Judy was the one that brought him there. she took him there on sept. 6th, that was seven days after he came missing, so vickie should had been called that day there. WHY dont you Keep your nose outta because we really know who you really are. JUST SCAN AND DONT STEAL.

  • Jacqueline Waller
    Posted at 21:29h, 11 October

    F*ckin’ amazing things here. I am very glad to see your post. Thanks so much and i’m having a look ahead to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?

  • vickie
    Posted at 14:20h, 12 October

    812-870-1143 if any1 can help me or any inf.PLEASE HELP ME STOP THEM.

  • vickie
    Posted at 14:55h, 13 October

    i hope whoever got my bassett has him inside he dont like the rain hes a big baby &like to stay in the house on hie camo pillow.MELODY&JUDY why cant u give my pet back we did nothing to deserve this from you.JUDY when u had him at DR.STAUBS office labor day 7 days after he was missing u guys should of scanned him.i called his office in terre ht.&she told me they can come over to to that.I MISS HIM SO MUCH& I NO HE MISSES MEi hav him so spoiled theres certain things he likes& wants & i no what they are not the people u let have him.SOMEONE HELP ME GET MY BASSETTS BACK HOME WHERE THEY BELONG.DR.STAUB WHAT KID OF VET ARE YOU ANYWAY.I TAKEN MY PET TO YOU MYSELF BEFORE.I JUST CANT BELIEVE THIS CRAP.

  • vickie
    Posted at 13:31h, 14 October

    jacqueline waller.please get ahold of me 8128701143,[email protected]

  • vickie
    Posted at 19:48h, 14 October

    ANOTHER WKEND WITHOUT MY BASSETT I CANT STAND IT WITOUT HIM HES SUCH A GOOD PET

  • [email protected]
    Posted at 18:31h, 24 October

    i hope melody&judy doesnt think ive gave up on getting my bassett back.i hav contacted alot of people to help me.even other counties.They are in with other counties on stealing dogs.i cant wait til KARMA comes back on all of them.

  • [email protected]
    Posted at 10:30h, 01 November

    i just left karla farnham a message for melody&judy at their next illegal meeting.to tell them we raise are children not to do excatly what they are doing which is stealing.my 2 yr.old granddaughter ask all the time where her pets are.I TELL HER THE BAD LADIES STOLED THEN.I hope someday they have to explain someth bad to their babies.im not a mean person but they hurt my babies, so let KARMA Come back on them.enjoy the tears in your babies eyes while youn try to tell them the bad news.

  • [email protected]
    Posted at 14:41h, 02 November

    IM SO SICK OF THESE PEOPLE,WHO DO YOU TRUST,NOT BOARD MEMEBERS OF PETS,DEPT.OF AG. CALLED STATE ATT.THE SHERIFF.IM ON WEBSITE BEEN IN DISCLOUSURE PAPER.STILL NO 1 WANTS TO HELP ME.I WISH YOU KNEW HOW I MISS MY DUKE I JUST WANT&NEED HIM BACK.THESE PEOPLE ARE HEARTLESS.NO 1 DID THEIR JOBS.DR.STAUB COULD HAV SCANNED HIM LOBOR DAY ALSO.WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE.EVERYONE IS IN ON IT 2GETHER.ITS 1 PERSON WHICH IS ME AGAINST ALL OF THEM.CANT BELIEVE IT HAD TO GO THIS FAR.

  • [email protected]
    Posted at 07:07h, 04 November

    my 2 yr.ld gd.daughter ask me TELLS me this moring duke,tank gone bye bye.well meolody&judy what else can i say.you are dirty people, some one willl hear my story someday & you will get whats coming to you.

  • [email protected]
    Posted at 10:55h, 04 November

    well i no now im not getting my bassett back that melody&judy @edgar humane association stole from me.just talk 2 ill.dept of ag.he got a little snippy with me so i voiced my thoughts to him.he said Y DONT I ASK MELODY FOR MY DOG BACK,LIKE I HAVENT come on guys grow a set & stand up to her.what does she have on all of yas.

  • Darth Syntax
    Posted at 22:03h, 27 February

    This is an eye opener for sure, all I know is if anyone tried to or actually succeeded to steal my pal Karma…a Red Nose Pit Bull Terrier, they would end up eating some dirt. My pet is chipped and inked, registered with the state and county. If people aren’t happy with the people in office of the organizations then attend a board meeting and let your voice be heard and don’t stop there, there are plenty of lengths I would go to, to get my pet back. If it were anybody that was low class or that has been in trouble before they would have been in jail quicker than you could say “hello” especially here in this county. However it is a “good ole” town and sadly still is ran the same. Go take your pets back, there is nothing the law can do but protect you as long as you have the proof that they are indeed yours. I would…I would go and take them back, can’t steal whats yours. I am on the pet owners side 100 percent, actions like this should never be allowed to take place. Theres enough crap going on in this county as it is, leave the dogs out of it..as long as they are being treated properly and given a life of happiness, then animal control, humane shelter, whoever has NO business sniffin around…thank you!

  • concerned
    Posted at 09:36h, 02 March

    the edgar county animal shelter can not legally come on to your property either without your permission or court orderd search and seizure notice. No different than police.

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