I would like to take this opportunity to voice my opinion on the neighbor that called into the radio station last week. I promise to be very respectful. I ask that you please read my entire message before you comment as well.
Words from the caller:
-The owner had no empathy or apologies and that is WHY they decided to throw a civil suit against him? Maybe because Ms. Hirt ran off and Jeremy wasn’t there to witness the bite. He was not aware of what happened or to whom it happened to. Personally, I have heard nothing but good things about Jeremy & find it hard to believe that he didn’t apologize once he found out what happened. Also heard he offered to pay the medical expenses. Jeremys girlfriend, who had the dogs at the time, asked Ms. Hirt if she was ok and said she just ran off.
-He is trying to smear the family for his own benefit and you find it disgusting? The man is trying to save a family member that your neighbor is not willing to give another chance to and have her killed! If this was your dog, can you honestly say you wouldn’t do the same? Let’s also be reminded that roughly 80% of dog owners care for their pets like kids.
-You say read the facts, the dog has bitten two additional people in the kennel and is very aggressive? No, the dog is scared and is being mistreated. Under those conditions, even the sweetest dog could act out. I suggest you read the facts as well. The dog has been evaluated several times. A professional dog trainer said she showed no signs of aggression & would be very surprised if she was the one who did the biting. So are you saying you have more knowledge about a dogs behavior than a professional? A better question here is how do you even know this information? How do you know where the dog is & that she bit 2 people in the kennel when her own owner is not allowed any information on her? This leads us all to believe that you have inside information or you’re just lying. Supposedly Judge Murante is going around taking statements and collecting evidence against Vanessa. Need I remind everyone that if that is true, it is highly illegal and NOT HIS JOB to do!
-We dont want “it” in the neighborhood because of the kids. The dog has been in your neighborhood for I believe 4 years now? Has any child been bit? Pit Bulls are very loving dogs and are great with children. Sounds like you do have some breed bias in your neighborhood!
-You said, stop saying negative things about people you dont know? Well, isn’t that what you just did on the radio? You’re smearing us & Jeremy by saying we have no empathy.
-You say, please read court documents – have you read them? You do realize Ms. Hirt said herself she was not sure which dog bit her. Enough said there!
-Owner is instigating all of this? Jeremy isn’t instigating anything! He is simply trying to save his dog. He wouldn’t be in this situation had the court given the dog a fair trial. So again, if this was your dog or child you’d just sit back and do nothing?
-Bashing his first lawyer – so who is smearing who again?
-You said people are yelling “Conflict of Interest” because Victims husband is a lawyer & has been for 20yrs. NO Ms. Neighbor, thats not the conflict. So maybe you yourself should know more about the story before you go on the air and spread false information. The conflict is they all work together – the Judge, the husband (Mr. Hirt) and their lawyer (Mr. O’Toole).
-You said, everybody loves dogs, but that doesn’t mean they want to get bit by a dog. Well everybody doesn’t love dogs, but I will agree with you that no one wants to get bit. Even though you may not believe this, I personally and Im sure many others, feel extremely bad for Ms. Hirt. Of course we all wish this never happened to her and hope she has a full recovery. It’s not that Jeremy nor all of us dont have empathy for Ms. Hirt or her family. The issue is they’re not willing to budge at all and immediately wanted Vanessa euthanized. No mention of rehabilitating, obedience classes, professional trainer, muzzles, fences etc… nothing to help the owner save his dog. Jeremy was willing to do whatever the courts asked of him, but they didn’t want to hear it. So I ask you, how fair is that?
-I personally have not seen nor heard anything about kids being bashed or their house etc… so I can not comment on that statement.
Although many of the things the neighbor said on the radio was upsetting, one thing stuck out the most to me. She said Jeremy instigated this & loves the media attention. Jeremy wouldn’t even be in this position in the first place if the Judge didn’t order his dog to be seized & euthanized. Vanessa has been evaluated more than once! Before Jeremy was even allowed to adopt her, she had to be evaluated. I do not believe shelters allow aggressive dogs to be adopted. Now I have no idea what happened in Vanessas life before Jeremy got her. A kennel can break a dogs spirt. Make them anxious & aggressive. Tossing her basically in jail for the past 10 months with no human interaction and love is inhumane. “IF” she did nip at someone recently, than likely 2 things might be happening – she is frightened or being provoked/mistreated. I understand these neighbors are concerned & yes a dog bite is very serious & scary. Jeremy is just asking that Vanessa be given a chance. He knows his dog better than any of us. For all we know, the jogger could have startled the dogs. Sometimes dogs have triggers from their past. Dog trainers are remarkable & can help in so many ways! The saddest part of all this, is that they won’t even give her a chance! No good respectable dog trainer is going to say oh ya let’s give her back to her owner even though she’s very aggressive and most likely will bite someone! Ya not going to happen! If they can rehabilitate 49 pit bulls from Michael Vick, then if Vanessa is the one who did the biting, then Im sure her behavior can be modified . The past 10 months could have been spent training & rehabilitating Vanessa instead of punishing her & Jeremy! Please Ms. Hirt, give her a chance to prove you all wrong!
