New Trial

A second trial will take place in May or early June, according to prosecutor Merle Raph. A hearing will determine the exact dates and deadlines. On April 15, the order was signed denying request by the defense for a writ of supervisory control to prevent a second trial. The location for the second trial has not yet been determined by the judge. A change of venue has been requested by the prosecution. Merle Raph told me this morning, “I am looking forward to choosing a new jury, and presenting our evidence to them.”

Relocating Animals

A hearing on or about April 24-25 will determine where the animals are relocated. The 4-H building at the Marias Fairground must be vacated and decontaminated before fair season. Sheriff Donna Matoon has selected a building in Great Falls, pending court approval.

Camp Collie II

Linda Hughes, Director of HSCC – Humane Society of Cascade County – in Great Falls will be the supervisor of Camp Collie II if after the hearing on April 24 or 25 permission is granted to move the animals to Great Falls.

Presently, she is preparing a large volunteer base including Malmstrom Airforce Bass Red Horse personnel under the supervision of Colonel Terry Crummett. Colonel and Mrs. Crummett have been faithful volunteers at Camp Collie, driving frequently from Great Falls to Shelby to help with the animals.

Red Horse personnel, some of whom have rotated back to Montana from Iraq, will assume the responsibility of preparation of the building and grounds.

It takes a great many people to provide proper care for such a large colony of animals. Great Falls has a population of approximately 60,000 people from which to draw volunteers. As in Shelby, volunteers will provide the day-to-day care. To ease the transition for the animals, core volunteers from Shelby will accompany them to their new location for a time, and frequent volunteers from the surrounding area will work with the animals in Great Falls and will assist in the training of new volunteers.

Equipment and Supplies

Large, new pens, acquired by Dave Pauli, Regional Director of HSUS, will be set up in the new building for the animals. When the pens are no longer needed at Camp Collie II, they will be kept for disaster relief in the region.

The inventory of AWCA supplies shipped to Shelby will be transported along with the animals to the new location. The building has a cement floor, therefore, wood chips will not be required for bedding. Instead, the hundreds of used towels you all shipped to Shelby will be used as bedding, along with used towels from the hospitals in Great Falls. The money AWCA will save on wood chip shipping costs will be used to pay for modifications to the water system in the new location.

Calmly,

Jean Levitt, President AWCA

Lisa King, AWCA Director AWCA Rescue

Officers and Members of AWCA

If you would like to assist AWCA with this rescue effort, you may send a check to:

Bethany Burke

AWCA Treasurer

2807 Lee Trevino Court

Shalimar, FL 32579

Make the check out to AWCA and in the memo area note: collie rescue-medical, collie rescue-stainless steel, or collie rescue-general.