At 8:15 in the morning, I arrive at the studios of Eagle 101.5 in Gaylord, Michigan. Mike Reling, the morning show host, graciously gives me nearly 20 minutes of air time in which I explain what's transpired with Thor and the six starved labs. Mike, a died-in-the-wool dog lover, is completely baffled by what he hears. He offers Roscommon County officials equal time on the air.

When I arrive home, I've already started receiving e-mails from all over the country. I spend the day replying and contacting other sources to alert them about this website. Already, the response is overwhelming. After dealing with this issue for the past three months, it feels good to see others just as angry as we are. People simply can't believe that after removing six starving dogs from a man with a kennel license, Roscommon county re-issues his kennel license two months later. Even better: people are promising to act by forwarding the site, and writing letters to those persons I've asked.

Later that afternoon, I fax the website link to the Petoskey office of the Michigan Attorney General. Also: I prepare a single-page letter addressed to Attorney General Mike Cox. I mail it, with pictures.

Most of the day I spend on-line replying to e-mails and posting links to www.thorswarriors.com. Also, I create and print handbills to pass out wherever we travel. My wife and I are preparing for another week on the road; I have six speaking engagements this coming week, and three book signings. I plan to make everyone aware of www.thorswarriors.com.

Flyers I create on Saturday:

All the while, e-mail is flooding in, and it feels good to know there are so many supportive people not only in Michigan, but across the country and in several other countries, as well. This site has logged over 54,000 hits since launching on Friday.

In Crawford County, still under the care of Cheryl Postma, Thor is doing very well . . . physically. However, his mental condition, Cheryl tells me, has not improved. Thor is still terrified of any man who comes anywhere near him. Women and Children, she tells me, he seems to be okay with. Even her own husband cannot get near Thor. What happened to this dog to cause this incredible fear of men?

My wife and I travel to Riverside Animal Hospital in Flushing, Michigan. They have prepared a statement regarding the condition of the six labs. Contributors to this statement are: Greg Brown, D.V.M., Theresa Driscoll, D.V.M., and Michele Koan, D.V.M. As I read the 4-page statement shortly after leaving the hospital, my blood burns my arteries. Although I think I'm prepared for what I'm about to read, the statement is horrifying, disgusting, and shocking. Within the 4-page statement:

"The dogs were covered in dirt and feces, their hair coats were matted and their hair was dull and brittle. Their ribs, spinal vertibrae, and pelvic bones were all evident without placing a hand on the dogs and there was minimal muscle mass or fat covering the bones. No obvious physical abnormalities were found that could explain their severe state of emaciation . . ."

". . . on several occasions one of the other five dogs would randomly urinate or defacate in the room. Whenever that would happen, it was witnessed that all the other dogs would lunge in that direction and eagerly drink or ravenously eat the excrement, indicating that they were extremely hungry."

"Their poor Body Conditon Scores were definitely not a result of an acute episode of starvation but rather a chronic process."

". . . these six rescued dogs had very likely been in a condition of starvation for greater than three weeks in order to lose such a large percentage of their body weight . . .

". . . it is our professional opinion that these six dogs were living in a chronic condition of neglect and starvation prior to their rescue."

And to think: the man who did this to these animals was not only re-issued a kennel license, but now has 8 more dogs he is currently raising, according to the kennel inspection of March 5th, 2007!

Please take a moment to download and read the entire statement from Drs. Brown, Driscoll, and Koan. It is very easy to read and understand. Then ask yourself: Why is the person responsible not being held accountable for these six dogs?

(Please note that some of the names of the dogs on this site and those mentioned in the vet statement are different, due to the foster families, who, in some cases, changed the names of the dogs in their care.)

On this day, we also learn of a recent traumatic situation regarding Anna, the rescued female yellow labrador, and one of the dogs that was in the very worst shape. She was brought in by her new family over a week ago. Anna was very, very sick: She couldn't hold down her food, and was vomiting whatever she tried to eat. The vet couldn't find out what, exactly, was wrong. A few days later, Anna was brought in again: this time, it was an emergency. Anna appeared to be near death, and, indeed, she was: emergency surgery was perfomed, where it was discovered that Anna's intestines had wrapped around her bowels, and had literally cut off the organ. Eight inches of dead tissue needed to be removed to save Anna's life. I asked Dr. Koan if this condition had been brought on by starvation, etc. Dr. Koan could not definitely state with 100% certainty exactly how this condition occurred, and therefore could not offer a professional opinion. Whatever brought about the recent emergency, the important thing is that, once again, someone stepped in and saved the life of yet another one of the rescued Labradors. Anna, I learn, is doing better and is expected to recover.

Photo of Anna taken 2/11/07, more than a month before her emergency:

As of today, www.thorswarriors.com surpasses the 100,000 hit mark. All week long, I've been *flooded* with e-mails. It is challenging, but I am working hard to reply to each and every one. I've received e-mails from all over the WORLD. Many have written to the Powers-That-Be, and I appreciate it tremendously.

Also on this day, I learn that Cheryl Postma, director of the Animal Shelter of Crawford County, has received a few e-mails inquiring about the 'truthfulness' of my site, as a few people are hearing from some in Roscommon county that www.thorswarriors.com is mostly 'untruthful,' and 'not factual.' (I expected this, and I literally laughed out loud when I read her e-mail!) She explains to them that 'from what she's read, what's posted on www.thorswarriors.com *is* factual.'

Every statement on this website is fact, supported by downloadable documents. When someone tells you that this website is "mostly untrue", or has any questions about the 'truth content' on this site, please e-mail me directly. If anyone needs clarification, or challenges me to offer additional proof of anything on this site, just let me know. I will address any issue and post my reply for all to see. No need to leave your name, and I will not post names or e-mail addresses.

But facts are facts, folks. This site is first-hand information. I've written 54 books (fiction), over 75 non-fiction feature articles, and thousands of radio commercials. I learned to separate fantasy from reality long ago.

One thing of note: I grew up in Crawford County. (1974-1985) For several years, I worked at Skyline Ski Resort in neighboring Roscommon County. I attended Kirtland Community College in Roscommon County for a brief time before taking a full time job at a radio station in Grayling. I lived in Prudenville/Houghton Lake (Roscommon County) when I worked as an on-air personality at 98.5 WJGS (now WUPS). During those years, I made a number of friends in Roscommon and the surrounding areas. With the magnifying glass of the world now focused on a large square in northern lower Michigan, I want everyone to know that the actions of a few do not accurately represent the 99.99999% of great people, including County and City officials, in Roscommon County. This is not a fight against any individual . . . but a fight against the actions of persons. It is a fight for justice for ALL SEVEN Labradors.

The day is sunny and warm. It's been one of the first really nice spring weekends we've had here in beautiful northern Michigan. Still, my thoughts are on where all of this is going. Why isn't Larry Baumgart being held accountable for all seven dogs? Why, after six severely emaciated dogs were taken from his home, was he re-issued a kennel license? Why is this man raising more dogs, with the 'permission' of Roscommon County? And why, THREE WEEKS after my attorney has sent Roscommon County Animal Control Officer Terry MacKillop a written request for public information, has he not complied?

NOTE: 4/24/07: UPDATE AND AMENDMENT TO THE LAST SENTENCE ABOVE: Being that my attorney and I have both been traveling, we have both been out of offices and failed to reach one another. Today, when we do speak, he informs me that a letter from Roscommon ACO Terry MacKillop was delivered to his office last Wednesday, 4/18/07. Although the letter was sent with a metered postage dated the 12th of April, 2007, it does not arrive at my attorney's office until six days later, the 18th of April. Interesting. Still, the info requested has not been provided. Instead, Mr. MacKillop has been gracious enough to give an estimate of what our FOIA request will cost: approximately $460.00, and requests a deposit of 50% to proceed.

NOTE: 5/08/07: In double-checking with the actual date of the metered mail, I discover that the date is actually the 13th, and not the 12th as reported above. I will not change any statements in this site, but will make amendments such as this if I find a correction needs to be made. This will insure that the site remains intact and truthful.

Photo of Thor taken 2/12/07. Inset photo taken 1/12/07, exactly one month prior. Yes, this is the SAME dog:

I am determined to find out what is going on, as this story is FAR from over. It's gratifying to speak to so many supportive people who want to help. Many people I don't even know are calling and e-mailing. Today, I get an e-mail from an old friend who offers his assistance . . . and I am thrilled to accept.

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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