Saturday morning, I call the man that we'd met walking on Stephan Bridge Road earlier that week. It's a long shot, but I'm hoping that maybe, after he's had a chance to think about it, he might remember something more.

He isn't home . . . but his wife is. With her that day is her sister, who is visiting from another city. The sister tells me that her and her husband personally saw Larry Baumgart walking with a yellow labrador retriever. Further, she says that she and her husband had been at the Teepee Restaurant in Roscommon within the past year, and had overheard several people talking 'disapprovingly' about how Larry Baumgart was raising his dogs. I call the Teepee Restaurant and ask if anyone has ever heard of Larry Baumgart. No one has.

With this new information, I provide a detailed, two-page report that consists of everything I know up to that point, and include my suspicions.

Later that afternoon at our hotel, I receive a cell phone call from my father. He and his friend, an off duty police officer, have had an exceptionally rewarding day. Early in the day when researching public records, they learned that the name reported to us as ‘Beaumgart’ was actually ‘Baumgart’. (This had, no doubt, hindered our search as we looked for the wrong name.) From there, he relates how, through a series of events, they were able to locate the residence where Larry Baumgart used to live in Indian Glens subdivision. They find out from a neighbor that yes, “Larry raises yellow and black Labs”. The neighbor advises that he now lives in Roscommon County and provides them with his telephone number.

With this information they travel to the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Department and meet with Detective John Wybraniec. They show Detective Wybraniec the photos of Thor, a copy of my flyer, and relate my concerns about there possibly being more dogs involved. The detective agrees that the matter should be looked into and says he will ask their Animal Control Officer to investigate. Detective Wybraniec is given my name and phone number to contact with further information.

My father and his friend then drive to Baumgart's residence, where they see what appears to be dog crates in a heavily boarded-up back yard. No dogs are seen or heard on their drive by the house. It is just after they leave the area of Larry Baumgart’s house that my father places the cell phone call to me.

With all this new information, I immediately call Detective John Wybraniec at the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office to speak to him personally about my concerns and ask that someone be sent to Baumgart’s home as soon as possible, as we believe that other dogs could be involved. While I am speaking with Detective Wybraniec, I do an internet search for Baumgart and find pictures of equipment he is selling. Several of these pictures show dog crates in the background.

Note the dog crates in each of these photos:

Now, the crates alone say nothing, but it is more evidence that it is very possible that Baumgart is raising dogs, as we've been told. I am now certain that we've discovered where Thor *really* came from. In fact, one picture clearly shows a thin, brown dog next to a snowmobile.

Actual photo of a dog at the Baumgart residence:

Detective Wybraniec agrees to look into the matter immediately, and contacts Roscommon County Animal Control Officer Terry MacKillop. MacKillop, who is vice-president of the Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers, (MAACO) goes to Larry Baumgart's home that evening. Baumgart is not home.

Later that day, I receive a call from Detective Wybraniec. My worst fears have been realized: Six labradors, in various stages of starvation, some sick and in desperate need of medical attention, have been removed from Baumgart's 'kennel' by Roscommon County Animal Control. Some were living in "urine-soaked hay," according to Detective Wybraniec.

I am both relieved and outraged. I am relieved that we've found the dogs before they died or suffered further. But I am outraged that anyone could do such a thing to creatures that depended on someone for food and care.

Unfortunately, this is only the beginning of a bizarre story that is about to bring outrage and fury to a whole new level.

Home/Welcome Page

LABS & LIES - Chapter 1: A Shot in the Dark

LABS & LIES - Chapter 2: It Doesn't take a Rocket Scientist

LABS & LIES - Chapter 3: And Then There Were Six

LABS & LIES - Chapter 4: Out of Sight, Out of Mind

LABS & LIES - Chapter 5: Rattling Cages & Furious Rages

LABS & LIES - Chapter 6: With Labradors and Justice for All

LABS & LIES - Chapter 7: Black Friday

LABS & LIES - Chapter 8: Puppygate (UPDATED 5/27/07)

LABS & LIES - Chapter 9: GUILTY! (UPDATED 6/22/2007)

LABS & LIES - Chapter 10: Justice . . . Crawford County Style (added 7/11/07)

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