By Kate Reardon
Herald Writer
MONROE — Heidi Webster knew she couldn’t sit on her hands after learning about the alleged animal abuse and rescue of 75 collies on Camano Island earlier this month.
So she turned to the Internet. After communicating with dog lovers around the country, she knew she had to do more than just talk.
The Monroe woman started an e-mail campaign to the Island County sheriff’s and prosecutor’s offices. Now, she is seeking signatures from animal lovers across the nation to send a strong message in support of prosecution of Paul and Karen Chestney.
Island County officials allege the couple failed to provide necessary conditions for their dogs such as food, water, shelter, rest, sanitation, ventilation, space and medical condition.
The Chestneys each have been cited with one count of animal cruelty in the second degree, a misdemeanor. The couple this week entered innocent pleas on the charges.
Webster said she hopes to collect 5,000 signatures before June 10. She has e-mailed the petition to various friends in Washington, Canada, Pennsylvania and California.
"We’re saying we’re behind you, and we want to see the collies get good homes and make sure the owners get punished," she said.
She hopes to hand over the petitions to Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks before a pre-trial hearing June 18. Trial is set for July 18.
"In general, petitions don’t have a lot of impact on how we do our job, Banks said. "More important to me are prosecutorial standards, ethical requirements and legislative intent in drafting criminal statutes."
That said, Banks added there is also a problem with this particular petition.
"It is based on incomplete and inaccurate information. I know that for a fact, because I have reviewed the police investigations and the information that has been released to the media, and they are not the same."
The dogs are staying at shelters and foster homes on Whidbey and Camano islands. Seven of the dogs are in Purdy at a prison pet partnership program.
Webster can be reached through e-mail at: autowoman@earthlink.net.
You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455
or send e-mail to reardon@heraldnet.com.
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