In December last year, the Green Heritage News published the then untold story of the killing of Ace, an abused pit bull, at the Detroit Animal Control (DAC) in Michigan. Ace was killed in November 2011 in violation of a court order of stay of execution for the dog. But, as published in our story, an eye-witness saw what no one else had – Ace disappeared before the legal date of his euthanasia and there was a strong belief that he has been killed illegally before the due date. While there is possibility of a lawsuit against DAC, the eye witness named Mike has been interviewed by Shayla Weston for the Green Heritage News (GHN).
Following are the answers provided by Mike to interview questions sent in written. The link to the complete video interview online on YouTube is included in the interview below.
GHN: Mike, thank you for lending our forum your voice! Please tell us something about how you feel about dogs, as pets, and particularly about dogs that are abused or simply killed under any excuse whatsoever?
Mike: Dogs, and all animals for that matter, deserve to be treated humanely. Any form of animal abuse disgusts me. I have always loved animals and grew up with family pets myself. However, I became involved with animal rescue with Shayla Weston back in 2000.
GHN: How did you come to learn about Ace and how you felt about it?
Mike: I learned about Ace on Sunday, November 6th, 2011. Shayla Weston called me and told me about what she knew and asked me to act as his owner in an effort to get him out. When I knew, he was at DAC, I was concerned. Back in 2000, I had walked through that place and actually rescued 8 puppies—that were cases of owner-surrenders—before they had the chance to take them inside. I was trying to help recover one of our rescues dogs who had been picked up by DAC. The place disgusted me. I went in, got the dog I was originally looking for, and went outside. There was a man trying to see these eight puppies; I told him no one was going to buy the puppies; that they would be killed. He had fed them Rice Krispies too; it was all over the box. Anyway, he finally gave me the puppies. After a few minutes, a guy walked up to an older lab mix. He didn’t speak any English, only Spanish. He was crying and from what I could understand, he didn’t want to give up the dog. His landlord told him he couldn’t keep him. I convinced him to let me take the dog and he agreed. I called Shayla to let her know what was going on. She told me to bring them all home. So, instead of one dog that we were returning to the founder of the rescue league, I was coming back with ten! In the long run, we adopted out all the puppies and kept the older lab mix. We named him Luis. He died on July 26th. 2010. Anyway, I knew how horrible DAC was and knew ACE had no chance of surviving. I also felt that I could prove I was his owner and get him out. I had no doubts at that time and was going to fight to get him out of DAC.
GHN: So when was the first time you went up to DAC and what happened there?
Mike: The first time I went there was Monday, November 7th, at about 9:15 AM. I told the people there that Ace was mine and they took me back to see him. There was s desk attendant and security guard there and they were not very friendly. They told me they would take me to see him and I pretended his name was “Rocky”. They took me to a medical type of room where they had set up a makeshift kennel. Ace was leaning against the wall, lethargic, with a bowl of dry dog food sitting in front of him. It looked like he had a bad case of mange, had a neck injury from an embedded collar or something, and of course, he was very thin. I petted him for a while, trying to get him to perk up a bit, but it didn’t work. The attendant told me to come back after 10:30 with $150.00 and pictures of my backyard, proving it was secure. It seemed like I was going to get him. I called Shayla and she left work to come down to Detroit to help. She set up a Vet appointment for him through a rescue league she worked for. We came back in two separate cars, at about 12:00. I called DAC and someone who I hadn’t spoken to previously answered the phone. This man spoke with slurred speech and said to me, “I doubt the dog is really yours.” When I got there, Shayla waited off the property. I went in and a person I hadn’t seen previously approached me at the desk, and he told me that Ace was clinging to life and the Vet was working on him. They also told me that I could see myself that the kennel was empty. They took me back and Ace was gone. This man then told me that if I wanted to claim Ace as mine, I would be arrested for animal abuse. The security guard stepped forward in an attempt to put handcuffs on me. I couldn’t be arrested; I just couldn’t, so I left.
GHN: When did you visit the DAC again about Ace and what happened then?
Mike: I didn’t go back again until Wednesday the 9th. I had an attorney with me as well. That morning, another woman showed up who claimed she was Ace’s owner. She was there with Hush from DDR (Detroit Dog rescue). She was very upset and had documentation to prove Ace was really hers. We were walked through DAC to look at the dogs that were there. Some of the people that had been there on Monday were there again. They walked me through the entire DAC. They took me to the cages for sick dogs where it was filthy with feces, vomit, and even live worms in the feces. None of it was cleaned up. They took me by all the cages for the other dogs, and I even saw the Vet room where Ace was two days prior. I poked my head in and nothing was there, no kennel, no Vet, no Ace.
It was at that time that I saw another DAC employee walking a Spud McKenzie looking puppy down the hall on a catch pole. The employee was pushing this poor puppy’s face into the wall while she stopped to have a conversation with another employee. The puppy was so scared that it was urinating all over himself. It made me want to punch this employee in the face; I was so angry. But there was nothing I could really do about it. They finally took me to a cage where the guy said the dog was Ace. It was a healthy looking pit bull—no mange, no neck injury, no skin and bones. I said “Come on man, you know this is not Ace!” He insisted it was. They couldn’t show me any other dogs, so I finally left.
It was at this time that I called Shayla and let her know what had happened. She had arranged for the attorney and did all the legwork. She and I both figured out at that moment that Ace had probably been killed, maybe even on Monday. Before leaving, Hush from DDR got my information too. He called me later that night and we met at a nearby location. He listened to the account of what had happened from the point of my involvement to that day, November 19, 2011. I thought that after the meeting, Hush would help to shed some light on what I knew. I just wanted people to know the “truth” and Hush was in the media enough to do just that. He took my number and told me he would call; but after that night, I never heard from him again.
GHN: So you did suspect of anything bad having already happened to Ace when you saw the empty kennel?
Mike: When I saw the empty kennel, I knew that Ace might not be alive. But it wasn’t until they tried to pretend that the other pit bull was Ace that I knew. I knew that Ace had probably been killed.
GHN: When did you learn that Ace had been killed and how you did you receive the news?
Mike: I learned that Ace had been killed from the news. However, they claimed he had been killed on Thursday the 10th after they “did not receive” the court injunction to stop the killing of ANY dog that looked like Ace. I thought to myself, “Bullshit! Ace was gone on Wednesday the 9th when I was there”. In fact, after really thinking he was probably killed on Monday the 7th sometime after I left to go home, to take pictures of my yard, get the $150.00, and return at noon to get him. He was, in fact, gone from where he had been when I returned for a 2nd time on Monday.
GHN: Given your experience at DAC, do you think animal control facilities like this need to be closed down or radically reformed?
Mike: DAC needs to be either staffed more appropriately or closed down immediately. The conditions there are sickening.
GHN: Mike, we are indebted to you for your compassion and active attempts to save Ace from death. Thank you so much!
Mike: It was my pleasure to try to save Ace. If I could do it all again, I would. I just wish Ace was spared.
~ ~ ~
Editor’s Note: GHN is thankful to Shayla Weston for assisting with the interview and especially to Mike who volunteered to reveal the truth about DAC in Ace’s demise.
I still cry over Ace. The picture of him is burned in my memory. Nothing has affected me more in recent memory than what happened to this little Pitbull. His life and death were pure hell. Detroit Animal Control needs to be shut down and anyone there that contributes to the pain and suffering of the animals taken in should be charged with animal abuse. Why hasn’t anything been done? The people with power do NOTHING! They are just as guilty as those that are mistreating the animals.
I too still cry over Ace, every day. I’m not sure why he has affected me so much, but his face just reflects so much pain, so much unhappiness. I just want to hug the picture, every time I see it…I want him to know of love and kindness. Of course, now that he has gone over the rainbow bridge I am sure he is in bliss, happy and healthy…running and free. That is way I take comfort in all the efforts that have evolved because of him. I love the “Save Ace Wall/Facebook page”. So much has happened…really good things for so many other suffering animals. It’s like Ace was the catalyst for all of us animal lovers to come together and make whatever difference we can.
I love you ACE….you have made a difference in my life and the lives of so many others…you were an Angel…who suffered greatly and then left to be free and at peace.
It’s been a long time coming. But, finally the truth comes out.
Ironically my mother had an incident with DAC back in the 70′s where a kennel worker confirmed via phone her dog was at the shelter (it was a Samoyed – not hard to mistake and not easy to come by). She said she would be there in the morning to retreive him much before his “time was up” and the dog magically disappeared. Hopefully someone took him home and luckly it happened to my very quiet mother and not me. Point being corruption is nothing new at DAC and I would much rather see a private run organization head the need for animal control in the city. The city administrators can’t seem to run the shelter let alone a whole city. Compassion is non existent and so is accountability.
This is such a shame! The things that happen behind closed doors at Animal Control and shelter facilities. I’m glad Mike and Shayla Weston brought this to light and tried so hard to save this poor dog, Ace. If it wasnt for them Ace would have been one of many unknown dogs that mysteriously disappeared and killed unjustly. SHAME on Detroit Animal Control and Harry! May you get what you deserve!
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-mi-immediately-review-and-correct-the-terrible-treatment-of-animals-at-dac?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition&utm_term=friends_wall
Please sign this petition to have Detroit officials investigate this facility
You LIED. If they had given you such an injured dog they should be fired. And the dog was obviously suffering. They did their best and then did the right thing. Let it go.
Imelda,you are an idiot. You obviously did not take the time to read the article. Please take your idiocy and go somewhere where people care about what you have to say. WE DON’T.
Imelda, Yes, you are right. We did lie, and I would do it all over again. I would do it to save the life of any living creature who had tens of thousands of people fighting to show it love. The law was broken on the part of the DAC. In fact, if they had given Ace the full four days he was entitled by law, he would have been able to have been reunited with his real owner on Wednesday the 9th. However, the DAC thinks that they are above the law, and killed him anyway. I am not going to bother insulting you, as you have insulted me by calling me a liar. However, I am going to tell you that you have no right to judge unless you have walked in the shoes of someone who fights to give justice to the defenseless creatures that were simply put on earth to be “man’s best friend.” The dog was starving, and probably had an awful case of mange. Do you know anything about Patrick that was found last March 2011 in a garbage chute in New Jersey half dead??? (I am guessing not.) Look it up! Check out Patrick’s “happy ending!” Ace was far from being that bad off and he CAME TO A STORE WHERE HUMANS HELPED HIM! He tried to be saved and the DAC murdered him. He had a 1:30 vet appointment that day, November 7th. He was going straight to a vet to be helped.
By the way, the DAC didn’t “do their best.” If they had, the dog would have been reunited with it’s owner on Wednesday the 9th and would be a happy ending of a story right now. I will “let it go” as you suggested I should, when the dogs that are trapped in that hell on earth are treated humanely. Illegal, unjust, and torturous things go on there everyday for decades. My advice to you: before you go judging people who fight hard to save lives, get your facts straight and maybe put forth an ounce of effort to help yourself. Have a great night Imelda! Buh-bye….
Ur stupid…and just as bad as the incompatent ppl that work and run DAC. Did there best!?! Are u kidding ?U cant feed a starved amaciated dog dry food… they need to start back on formula. U think they just shell out thousands of dollars to save a dog that might not even get adopted. No. A animal rescue dose and would. yea he lied. .. for a damn good reason. If u have such a problem don’t follow the story and keep ur comments to ur self
Let’s not get personal. Imelda, whether or not the policy is to make the dog well before it is released the eyewitness was threatened, not told that policy, nor was he informed if the dog did die or was put down for any reason.
To this day, NO ONE has been told about the actual fate of Ace. Where is the documentation? What about the “real” owner that came forward on Wednesday? Again, if Patrick could be saved and is a happy, healthy dog who looked like a corpse when he was found (unable to walk), Ace had a great chance of surviving! I don’t buy it that they put him down after “trying everything.” Especially with the media attention and a potential owner coming forward on Monday, they should have spared him. But from what I understand, they believe they are above the law and there have been many questions over the years about the fate of thousands of dogs. This place needs to be investigated and maybe new staff needs to be hired. How about starting with Harry Ward? Maybe they could find someone who actually likes animals!!!
There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Ace and his sad, sad story. All he wanted was to be saved and live his life in a real home for however much time he had left on this earth. He was not given that chance, not that there were not plenty who would have gladly given their last dime to see that he was safe and taken care of Nooooo, DAC decided in their spiteful evil minds to kill him so that his wishes would never be granted. For this I will hate them for the rest of my life and continue to cry tears for Ace and all the other Aces in this cruel world. KARMA will come to those like DAC.
This is just another example of how shelters and Animal Control treat Pit Bulls. They have no concern for killing them whether they have done anything wrong or not or whether they have a family looking for them or not…It has got to stop. Poor Ace had an owner, and look what happened to him!
I followed this story and made a plea for him – I also feel so very sad that he could not have had a home with all the love he craved and deserved. Humans has to be the most evil, immoral people on earth.
Imelda..are you related to someone at DAC or do you just not know the facts?
Mike-you are truly an angel here on earth. SO many people rallied around this precious dog. THANKYOU for exposing what is going on in Detroit, and unfortunately, countless shelters/pounds across the country. These people are supposed to be protecting and helping these little lives,but instead they are treated like disgarded trash. We ALL owe it to these furbabies, both cats and dogs, to stand up for them. To inform the public of just how bad things really are. It’s so sad to see the dogs languish without being given a proper chance, but cats, in so many city pounds, are killed nearly the moment they arrive. Many will never bother with them, except to sweep them up to get rid of them. God bless you Mike!
Everyone knows what DAC is and what they have done and what they did to Ace. They murdered him without giving him his chance at life; being returned to his owner or rescued! Harry Ward is a vicious, ego-maniacal individual who should be in jail for what he did to Ace and all the Aces before him. We all know this and need to push for IMMEDIATE firing of Harry Ward and all staff members involved in his death and the many others that have suffered at the hands of such ARROGANT heartlessness and cruelty. Harry Ward MUST BE FIRED!! There is more than enough evidence to force the powers to be hand in this and I pray the community and the nation pull together on behalf of PRECIOUS, LITTLE, ABUSED AND MURDERED ACE!! He deserves to be defended and as do all the babies that have passed through that death chamber!! PLEASE PEOPLE, I IMPLORE YOU TO NOT BACK OFF OF THIS AND SEE DAC COMPLETELY REFORMED WITH THE STARTING OF FIRING HARRY WARD AND REHIIRIN ALL NEW STAFF….PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR AND LOVE ANIMALS!!! This is criminal what has happened at DAC and needs to be approached as such! YOUR TAX DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR SUCH TWISTED ARROGANCE AND CRUELTY!!! STOP IT NOW! Ace, I love you sweet baby and you will FOREVER BE IN MY HEART!!! Pitbull hugs and kisses forever Ace!!
Obviously Imelda is not an animal lover.
I can still see ACE,I have Pictures of ACE on my Phone.So,So very SAD,wised I could have Saved ACE,Thanks to Mike and Shayla and whoever tried to SAVE ACE,DAC should be shut down and the people that work there should LIVE the way those Animals have to LIVE.ACE is SADLY MISSED,NEVER FORGOTTON,ALWAYS REMEMERED,in the HEARTS of the many People who LOVED ACE and FOUGHT FOR ACE.THERE WILL BE PEACE AND CONFORT AT RAINBO BRIDGE..
Regarding HUSH and DDR… I wouldn’t excpect them to keep in contact. Dnt get me wrong, great group and cause however I’m inclined to believe there not quite as involved as they would like us to think..considering there’s no way to contact them except through email. .. which takes hours or days for a response. I myself tried to reach them regarding a starved injured dog on the streets of highland park… hours passed and nothing. I contacted last day dog rescue and the dog was picked up with in a half hour of my call. DDR seems more like a publisity stunt for a failing rapper to me. … I’m just saying.