Ernest Dempsey — It is unfortunate that cases of cops busting in people’s houses and causing harassment to families seem to bebecoming a matter of routine now. Such display of ‘heroism’ against a helpless family has more often than not caused killings of family pets by cops who perceived those dearly loved animals as potential threat. But in the case of Tazzy and Stella, two dogs having a happy life with a family in Colchester, Connecticut, defending the owner against cops’ assault led to prolonged suffering of the dogs causing them to languish in captivity away from their family.
Tazzy and Stella
In December 2011, a bunch of cops from the police department in Colchester raided the house of Michelle Chapman-Avery, following a breach of peace complaint. As the group of cops created a commotion in the house, launching what would appear a physical attack to a dog, the two dogs—Tazzy and Stella—got defensive, following their normal, natural instinct of defending their home against the assailants. They rushed to the defense of their owner and Stella nipped one of the officers, who was on top of the owner, though not biting the cop as such. This was enough for the cops to turn onto the dogs. Soon afterward, both dogs were taken away by the authorities and held in captivity at the local animal control.
Since then, the owner of the dogs has been denied any visit to see her family’s canine friends. As reported in Court House News, Tazzy was released recently, after spending months in the shelter in miserable conditions leading to a near-fatal decline in health. Stella, on the contrary, remains imprisoned at the shelter, languishing in captivity. Her sole crime is acting like a normal dog and coming to her owner’s defense without causing harm to the cops who made the situation look like an emergency with undue physical action. Will Stella get a second chance at life? It would depend on what the court decides about her.
Of now, a case has been filed by the Lexus Project on behalf of the trust established for the dogs. The case sues officials from police and animal control involved in seizing the dogs illegally and without due process and holding them wrongfully at the shelter. The police officials are practically holding the position that dogs should know cops from assailants. However, they don’t consider the failure of their reason on the grounds that dogs as well as many humans distinguish friend from foe on the basis of behavior. Raiding a house and getting physical with the owner makes one assailant, even if in uniform. Hopefully, Stella will not fall a victim to police transgression which has previously ruined families in different states and cities.
Updates on Stella will be posted at the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Stella-and-Tazzy/138823709591084.
This is ridiculous and this dog needs to be reunited with her family. The very fact that Stellas location has been kept a secret makes this story almost impossible to believe. Do the police believe these dogs should be able to tell the difference between good and bad attacks on their family? Is it possible that Connecticuts crime rate is so low that the police have nothing better to do, or is it more likely they plan on stalling until Stella dies rather than admit wrong doing?
This has been happening way too much lately. I wonder how many we don’t even hear about? It’s only normal for a dog to protect its home and family. I think most of these cops that do this are bullies, and should not be allowed to be cops.
Waste of taxpayer money as usual. Why can’t they just let Stella go home. SHE IS A DOG AND WAS DOING WHAT DOG’S DO. Cops are way outta control and need to be reminded that they are human too and can say they are sorry without losing face. It takes a big person to admit they mad a mistake and apologize for it. This is a big mistake and taxpayers, as usual, are paying. REALLY COLCHESTER PD IT’S OK TO SAY YOU ARE SORRY!!
OMG are they out of their minds?! this is about the most IGNORANT and ABSURD thing i think i have ever heard, and ive heard some shit…
“The police officials are practically holding the position that dogs should know cops from assailants.”
SERIOUSLY? how the HELL is a dog supposed to know a cop from anyone else…and even if they could…WHO CARES…cops attack people wrongfully all the time, i would HOPE my dogs defended me…against ANYONE attacking me
I think more importantly the cops should know the difference especially the ones in NYC who managed to would 9 bystanders when the gunman was 3 feet away from them and as good as standing still.
Let this poor girl go home, how cruel to lock her away from the people she loves. this is animal cruelty.
How can an animal tell the difference between a threat or Police.
Use common sense & release her now.
I personally would like to know more about this story. This article is very one sided and clearly the author has an issue with police. I’m not saying they were right to seize the animals I would just like more facts of the case before I go bashing the police and animal control for doing their jobs.
For gods sake let this girl go home,you know shes done NO WRONG……
you are better off getting a gun and shoot and ask questions later! The dogs are there to protect and then when they do they either get shot or hauled away! I bet those cops have dogs that would do the same thing
Stella needs to go home now. The police nearly killed Tazzy with this punitive confinement. A dog is loyal and will rush to help their owner when the owner is attacked. The cops were on top of the owner. The dogs naturally thought their owner was being killed by assailants. Get a grip police. None of the cops were harmed. There’s no reason to hold Stella. Give her back to her owner.
I would like to remain anonymous as Stella blues owner. But thank you to everyone who is showing support for our pet. We miss her so much and we can only pray that justice will be brought. Please like the facebook page “the Lexus project” to follow updates on her and tazz!
I came across this page today. I am so sorry and cannot begin to imagine what you and your family are going through. I hope that you are getting to see your Tazz and that Stella is home very soon. It seems that situations like this are happening too often. All we read about is how full the shelters are and yet they seize pets that could easily be cared for at home. I am sorry you are having to go through this, hugs.