UPDATE 1/21/03 on the Montana Collies

Statement by AWCA President Jean Levitt, from Shelby, MT

*Permission to crosspost*

Trial

                The trial location was moved from the Toole county Sheriff’s Office conference room to the courthouse in Shelby to accommodate the large number of people interested in this case.

                Jury selection was completed behind closed doors at 3 PM.  Six jurors, 4 men and 2 women plus 1 male alternate will determine guilt or innocence.  We sat in the courtroom while members of the 66 member jury pool drawn from Toole County filed in and out of the jury room for questioning.

                At 9 AM on Wednesday the members of the jury will tour Camp Collie for approximately 3 hours after which time the trial will begin.

                Dave Pauli, Regional Director of the HSUS, Northern Rockies Office, said, “HSUS has located 3 alternate long-term housing facilities capable of housing the dogs through June 2004 if that becomes necessary.”

Prayers

                The collie on i.v. is finally eating on his own!  He’s ready to return to Camp Collie, according to Dr. Clark, the attending veterinarian.

4-H

                Funky Farmers 4-H Club from the Nikiski area of Kenai, Alaska, baked cookies and raised money to help with the collies’ medical bills.

England

                The Rough and Smooth Collie Training Association has contributed to this collie rescue mission.

Calmly,

Jean Levitt, President AWCA

Lisa King, AWCA Director AWCA Rescue

Officers and Members of AWCA