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Current diary entries    I    Past diary entries Doll's Diary Account by Doll Stanley, November 30, 2005 November 30th, 2005 It’s Nov. 30, 2005 and I have just experienced the most exhilarating, and yet bittersweet victory. On Nov. 1, 2005 Project Hope acted with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department in removing 21 “Pit Bred” dogs from a property in Monroe County. The Monroe sheriff and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics had served a warrant at the property and discovered 23 chained dogs and 10 caged pups in a state of neglect, and most were traumatized. Equipment and items used for training, breeding, and fighting dogs was found. Tragically, 11 of the adult dogs were missing when the seizure warrant was executed. Yesterday, Monroe County Judge Fowlkes not only granted IDA’s Project Hope guardianship of the 21 dogs, but he ordered that Theron Hampton, the person who considered himself the dogs’ “owner,” never have an animal again in his life.  What an astounding judgment! There could have been no sweeter victory, so what makes this momentous achievement bittersweet? Cookie, one of the rescued dogs, was adopted, and Elaina is awaiting her adoption. However, Hampton has vowed to appeal the decision and regain custody of the one mother dog and 10 pups our friends with Bull Breed Rescue are fostering. And, the two facilities that took turns caring for the adults for us have found them to be a liability and too dangerous to place. We’re just sick about this. Eight of the dogs will go to another facility to be evaluated by a trusted friend and pit breed specialist. If any of them can be placed we will work towards that end.  While we are involved in many efforts this week, the fate of these dogs has absorbed us. Doll Stanley Project Hope