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UPDATES for TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Headlines: |
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1.
For the Love of Pits' Events, Requests & Holiday Gift Ideas |
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8. |
House Bill 175 Passes House |
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2. Hike for Dog
Owners |
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9. |
Police Kill GSDs |
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3. Send Pit
Bull to the Rose Bowl Parade
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10. |
Rottweiler Killed |
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4.
Lorain County Dog Pound Needs Improvement
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11. |
Neighbor Dispute over Loose
Dog |
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5. Updates
Regarding Tom Skeldon
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12. |
Police Kill Pit Bull |
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6. Remove Erie
County Dog Warden
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13. |
Man Kills Adoptive Mom and
Dog |
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7. House Bill 79
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For the Love of Pits' Events, Requests & Holiday
Gift Ideas
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Find
Great Holiday Gifts for your friends, family & Dogs
while Supporting For the
Love of Pits
Buy for
Humans and Dogs at Grateful Dog Bakery!!
Don't
miss this fun event on
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2009
1:00 - 4:00 P.M.
Pampered Chef,
Avon and
Tastefully Simple will be at The Grateful Dog Bakery
to raise funds for
For
The Love of Pits!
THIS
IS THE FIRST TIME A BUSINESS HAS RAISED MONEY FOR OUR
RESCUE.
PLEASE STOP BY AND SPEND MONEY TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS
AND OUR DOGS!
Grateful Dog Bakery
31966
Center Ridge Rd.
N. Ridgeville, Oh 44039
440-353-1990
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Order your 2010 For the Love of Pits' Calendar Today!
Never forget an important
date again! With this 12 month calendar dedicated to Ohio's wonderful pit
bull dogs, it will be easier than ever! Our high-quality calendar can be
used i n
your home or office.
·
Page Size: 11'' by 8.5''
·
Measures 11 by 17 when open
·
80 lb cover weight paper
·
high gloss paper, double
stapled
100% of the profits from the
sale of the calendar are used to help homeless pit bull dogs.
Price: $16 per calendar
Click here to order:
htp://www.fortheloveofpits.org/Fundraising/Pre-order.htm
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Two Foster Homes Desperately Needed ASAP!!!
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Janie was chained behind an abandoned house in a horrible neighborhood in
Cleveland. She has been in a temporary foster home but her time is running
out. Janie is very small, weighing 40 pounds. She’s housebroken and
knows a few basic commands. She does well in a crate and is doing well
with her foster brother. She is very sweet and cuddly and just all around
happy. Her spirit is amazing.
Please
foster this girl!!! Even if just for 4 or 5 months. We are desperate
to give her a chance.
Click here
to complete a foster/caregiver application.
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Cory is a breed ambassador who has a wonderful, calm and gentle
temperament.
He has had one of the worst stories we’ve heard. He lived at the end of a
chain with 6 other dogs. He was a cruelty case and confiscated by a local
humane society. He had heartworm and spent almost 7 months at the humane
society. He knows sit, he’s housebroken and is good with dogs.
Although he looks large in his
pics, he is only 42 pounds.
Click
here to complete a foster/caregiver application.
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Just
in Time for the Holidays: A Book About Rescued Pit
Bulls!!!!
“Lost Souls: Found!
Inspirational Stories of Adopted Pit Bulls”
is a MUST-READ
for Pittie lovers!
It’s full of great
short stories and is available for pre-order until
November 30th at
http://happytailsbooks.com/buy.htm.
By pre-ordering, you
can receive a $2.00 discount per book OR
have Happy Tails Books donate double to Pit Bull
rescue.
Up to 50% of net
profits from your book purchase will be divided
among Pit Bull rescue groups.
The book was compiled with stories from people who
have adopted Pitties from rescue groups around the
country. The stories are happy, sad and educational,
and are meant to encourage pet rescue and paint a
clear picture of life with a rescued Pit Bull. You
can sneak a preview of the book at
http://happytailsbooks.com/images/Pit_Bull_Book_Preview.pdf.
Books are available
at
http://happytailsbooks.com/buy.htm
and will
be shipped towards the end of November.
Get one for yourself, and don’t forget that the
holidays are coming up – these books make great
gifts, too!
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PURCHASE STRONG COLLARS AND LEASHES FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!
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AN ARRAY OF COLORS
FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE!
Click here to see
options. |
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HIKE FOR OWNERS AND DOGS IN THE
CLEVELAND METROPARKS
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Dog Hike
Date: November
29, 2009
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Where:
Cleveland Metroparks, Nature
Center, Sunset Lane off SOM
Center Road, Mayfield, OH
What: Dog hike for those
who want to walk with their dogs
for some exercise and
socialization. This hike
will travel through the forests
of North Chagrin Reservation.
All dogs must be on leash.
Click here for link to
information.
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SEND PIT BULL TO THE ROSE BOWL
PARADE!
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Gunny was a "bait" dog in a dog
fighting kennel. He lost a leg, was starved, body mutilated and
left for dead. Now, he is healthy and in a national photo contest
where the winner gets to be in the Tournament of Roses Parade with
international TV coverage, along with all sorts of other publicity
opportunities, free food for the rescue shelter, etc.
Voting ends on
November 30. This thing is
bigger than Gunny. If a 3-legged, mutilated and scarred Gunny makes
it to the Rose Bowl and can call attention to the abuse toward what
used to be an American icon (Petey in The Little Rascals) as well as
abuse toward dogs and animals in general, then our efforts will be
well rewarded. Need inspiration? See Gunny's video. Together - the
dog and animal world can make a difference in how the world views
Pit Bulls and other bully breeds who receive a death sentence at
their very sight.
Thank you so much on behalf of Gunny
and the underdogs.
Click here to VOTE!
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IT'S TIME FOR HUMANE PRACTICES AT
THE LORAIN COUNTY DOG POUND!
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ELYRIA
— Lorain County Commissioners should beef up their policies for
dealing with dogs at the county pound, said volunteers who have
concerns about the kennel.
About 20 supporters of United for
Animal Justice discussed dog health and safety yesterday at the
Lorain County Commission meeting. Commissioners Lori Kokoski, Betty
Blair and Ted Kalo agreed there are ways the kennel and its staff
could improve.
"The dog pound should not be rocket
science," Kokoski said. "It should be very simple," with the dogs
fed, the pens clean and staff sending the dogs home to loving
families, she said.
"It's a matter of people caring and
going the extra mile to care for these animals," Kokoski said.
United for Animal Justice Chairman
Rick Lalonde, of Oberlin, said the dog lovers believe the kennel
lacks management, policies and procedures, accurate and timely
records and consistent identification of medical problems.
He cited several instances the kennel
supporters argued could have been handled better.
It appeared workers have missed dogs
coming in with health problems, Lalonde said.
Dogs that have been treated for parvo
should not be taken back to mingle with the healthy dogs, Lalonde
said. Parvovirus is a canine disease that can be deadly to dogs and
is spread by contact with the feces or vomit of an infected dog.
One time, a collie suffering from
muscle atrophy was left to lie in cage, unable to get its own food
and water, Lalonde said. County Administrator James Cordes
questioned whether the dog came in appearing to be healthy, but grew
weak while at the kennel.
"I just can't understand them carrying
in a dog in that condition and walking away," Cordes said.
The county commissioners and Cordes
agreed the kennel could use a basic checklist for workers to
evaluate dogs' health when the animals arrive, or shortly after if
the dogs are dropped off during the weekend.
The county officials also are
examining an instance in which a dog was euthanized even though
someone was coming to the pound from Michigan to adopt it, Cordes
said. That was a problem that could have been avoided with a note on
its cage, Kokoski said.
Cordes
also encouraged the group to file specific complaints if they saw an
example of substandard care.
The commissioners thanked the group
for calling attention to the pound. They also noted improvements in
recent years, including the addition of a veterinarian as medical
director there.
The pound has euthanized 14 dogs this
year, not including pit bulls or sick or injured dogs that could not
be healed; that figure is down from 48 last year, Kokoski said.
Click here to read the published article on the Morning Journal
website.
| PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!
Please contact the Lorain
County Commissioners at the email and phone numbers below
and express your support United for Animal Justice's
position and that you expect improvements at the kennel
immediately!
All correspondence should be POLITE, RESPECTFUL and
INFORMATIVE.
Commissioner Betty C. Blair
440-329-5112
bblair@loraincounty.us
Commissioner Ted Kalo
440-329-5301
tkalo@loraincounty.us
Commissioner Lori Kokoski
440-329-5101
lkokoski@loraincounty.us |
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NEWS REGARDING LUCAS COUNTY DOG
WARDEN, TOM SKELDON
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Tom
skeldon comments regarding his retirement
Visit this link to view
video:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/video?id=7130554
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Commissioners approve puppy kill ban
TOLEDO, OH -- The Lucas County
Commissioners approved a measure on Tuesday that temporarily halts
euthanizing of puppies at the county animal shelter.
The temporary ban includes pit bulls, which had been deemed by dog
warden Tom Skeldon, to be vicious -- even as puppies. The measure is the
result of a recommendation made by the Dog Warden Advisory Committee
which was appointed earlier this year to provide oversight and guidance
to the dog warden. The ban lasts through the end of the year.
Puppies deemed to be ill by a licensed veterinarian can be euthanized
under the measure.
Skeldon resigned effective Jan. 31, 2010 after receiving heavy criticism
from animal rights advocates for not working hard enough to increase
adoptions through the county shelter and for euthanizing healthy
puppies.
Click
here to see video and read article.
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By
Rob Wiercinski -
bio
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email
Posted by Lisa Strawbridge -
email
LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio (WTOL) - Over
recent weeks, Dog Warden Tom Skeldon has come under fire from
critics who say not enough dogs are being adopted out of the
Lucas County pound and too many dogs are being put to sleep.
Commissioner Pete Gerken says he
received a letter from Skeldon on Thursday announcing his
retirement to be effective January 31. By using vacation time,
his final day on the job will be December 31.
"Tom's a long-time employee. He's
been in the public system a long time, so he's entitled to
vacation time. He said he'll take pre-retirement, then move into
retirement," said Gerken
Those terms for Skeldon's
departure are not acceptable to Commissioner Ben Konop.
"I'm not comfortable with him as
our dog warden for even another day. On Tuesday at our next
commissioners meeting, I'll make a motion to terminate Mr.
Skeldon," Konop said.
Konop
says he's backed by animal rights groups, including the Ohio
Coalition of Dog Advocates who say Tom Skeldon must go.
Jean Keating with the
coalition said, "I'd like to see us stop talking about a dog
warden and start talking about an animal resource director, who
is looking at the community's best interest. That's what we need
to move to."
Commissioner Gerken argues Skeldon
has worked toward making improvements to the office.
"Tom's worked with the advisory
committee. I think they validate that 4,5 suggestions they
brought forth -- we're close to implementing every one," Gerken
said.
A press release by County
Commissioner Pete Gerken
This morning, Commissioner Pete
Gerken, President of the Board of County Commissioners, received
a letter from Dog Warden Tom Skeldon announcing his retirement,
effective January 31, 2010. Commissioner Gerken shared the
letter with his colleagues Thursday morning.
According to Commissioner Gerken,
Skeldon intends to take advantage of his accrued vacation time,
making December 31, 2009 his last day in the office.
“I’d like to publicly recognize
Tom Skeldon’s 20+ years as Dog Warden. He has served over 10
different Commissioners in a very difficult position and I wish
him well in his retirement,” said Commissioner Gerken.
Commissioner Gerken will propose
to his colleagues that a search committee be formed to find the
next leader for this important county office.
“Each Commissioner will have the
opportunity to appoint one member to this search committee,
which will be supported by the Commissioners’ Human Resources
department,” said Commissioner Gerken.
Commissioner Gerken will also ask
County Administration to appoint Bonnie Mitchell, current Dog
Pound Manager, as the interim Dog Warden while a search takes
place.
Statement from Commissioner
Skeldon Wozniak
In light of Dog Warden Tom
Skeldon’s announcement this morning that he will retire at the
end of the year, Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak
offered the following statement:
“I
have received Dog Warden Tom Skeldon’s letter, and I wish him
all the best in his well-earned retirement.
I look forward to working with my
colleagues and county administration to develop a transition
plan that will identify a strong leader for that department in
the future.
I will also continue to work with
the Dog Warden Advisory Committee to increase dog adoptions and
establish the best policies and practices for the department.”
Click
here to visit wtol11 website and to see this article.
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OHIO COUNTY DOG WARDENS'
ASSOCIATION ENDORSES MASS EXTERMINATION OF FAMILY PETS!!!
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Residents of Lucas County
kept the pressure on to get Skeldon removed as the Lucas County Dog
Warden. As we have learned from the persistent and consistent
efforts of Lucas County residents, we can achieve change if we work hard
as a group!!!
Since announcing his
appointment, Skeldon has not had many supporters. Surprisingly (or
not so surprising to people who know her), however, is Skeldon's
supporter, Barb Knapp, the Erie County Dog Warden. I have had
personal contact with Ms. Knapp and can say that she is very similar to
Skeldon, has no education regarding dogs, has no clue about effective
and enforceable animal legislation, she does not understand dog behavior
and she is a danger to companion animals. She must be removed from
her position as dog warden.
"It's a
sad day for the dog warden's profession in Ohio," said Ms. Knapp.
"We lost a very valued and experienced person who succumbed
to the pressure of the media and personal vendettas."
- Barb Knapp, President, Ohio Dog Wardens' Association.
Barb Knapp's
statements are evidence that:
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She agrees with Skeldon's inhumane policies at the Toledo shelter,
including, among other things, the mass killing of healthy, friendly
dogs, innocent puppies and all dogs identified as pit bulls.
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She supports violating the laws (see information on Skeldon below).
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We need to investigate the Erie County shelter to make sure the dogs
are not inhumanely treated or unnecessarily killed.
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Barb Knapp is not fit to be a warden because she supports, among
other things, inhumane practices and she supports Skeldon, a man
who:
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Has unnecessarily killed TENS of THOUSANDS
of healthy, friendly dogs during his 20-year period as the Lucas
County dog warden.
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Runs a shelter with a 77% kill rate for
dogs so far in 2009. This is the LOWEST kill rate
in his 20 years as dog warden.
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Has killed 1,848 dogs since January 2009.
This is on track to meet or exceed the number of killings in
2008.
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In 2008, killed 2,483 dogs. Of that number, 1,281 were
identified as "pit bulls."
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Has killed at least 100 healthy, friendly
puppies since January 2009. It has been confirmed that at least
10 of those puppies were killed less than 24 hours after
surrender by their owner and were perfectly healthy
shepherd-chow mixes.
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After listening to another dog warden's dilemma where the dog
warden received numerous complaints regarding a dog living on a
chain but could not do anything since the owners of the dog were
in compliance with applicable laws, instructed the dog warden to
"cut the chain" off the dog so she could seize the dog and kill
it. This advice was a violation of law. Barbara
Knapp was present at the Ohio County Dog Wardens' Conference in
2007 where Skeldon gave this advice.
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Refused to work with dog rescues interested in saving the dogs
at Skeldon's shelter. Instead, all the dogs were killed.
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Intimidated residents of Lucas County with citations, court and
jail time to surrender their dogs to him to be killed.
| PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!
Please contact the Erie
County Commissioners and demand Barb Knapp's removal from
her position as dog warden and express your expectation that
the Erie County shelter follow humane practices and not kill
healthy dogs. In addition, demand that a dog warden be
hired who understands dogs, dog behavior, safe interaction
with dogs, effective and enforceable laws and responsible
ownership.
All correspondence should be POLITE, RESPECTFUL and
INFORMATIVE.
Commissioner
Bill Monaghan
Commissioner Thomas M. Ferrell, Jr.
Commissioner Patrick Shenigo
To Contact via Email:
http://www.erie-county-ohio.net/qac.php
To Contact by
Phone or Fax:
Phone: 419-627-7682
Fax: 419-627-7692
To Contact by Mail:
Board of Erie County
Commissioners
Erie County Administrator
2900 Columbus Avenue
Sandusky, OH 44870
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HOUSE BILL 79 IS DYING IN
COMMITTEE
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Click here for more information.
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HOUSE BILL 175 PASSES THE HOUSE
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House Bill 175, the
bill that brings accountability to requirements for humane agent
training, passed the Ohio House yesterday by a vote of 91-7. The bill
corrects a deficiency in the 2002 law that required training for humane
agents but failed to include a mechanism for certification that agents
had completed the training. As a result of this oversight, many humane
agents remain untrained and their inability to properly apply for search
warrants and gather evidence has damaged the ability to prosecute animal
cruelty cases and has resulted in harassment of some animal owners.
HB 175 was initiated by the Ohio Association of Animal Owners, an
organization that represents animal owners of all species. The bill now
goes to the Ohio Senate. If it passes as intended, county humane agents
will be required to file proof of training completion with their county
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POLICE SHOOT AND KILL GERMAN
SHEPHERDS
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Lorain woman mauled by two German
shepherds
Click here to read the version in the Chronicle.
Filed by
Alicia Castelli
November 22nd, 2009
LORAIN — A 58-year-old Lorain woman is in fair condition
after being mauled Saturday afternoon by two German
shepherds in her backyard. The dogs were killed by
police.
Linda Milchen and her husband have been caring for the
two dogs, Niko and Lola, for about three months because
their daughter recently moved into a new residence that
wouldn’t accept her dogs, according to William Milchen,
Linda’s husband.
The Milchens already had a cat and two Australian cattle
dogs, Shelby and Abby. They did the “puppy shuffle”
three times a day - letting the smaller dogs out into
the yard first, then bringing them back inside before
letting the two shepherds out. There are two fenced-in
areas in the backyard - one for each set of dogs,
William Milchen said.
Something went wrong Saturday just after 1:30 p.m. One
of the smaller dogs, Shelby, was still outside when Niko
and Lola somehow got out of their upstairs bedroom ahead
of schedule, William Milchen said.
“Shelby went after them,” William Milchen said, shaking
his head.
The shepherds instantly went on the attack. Linda
reacted instantly, too, William said, and threw herself
on top of Shelby despite a sling securing her arm from
recent rotator cuff surgery.
When police arrived at the Shaffer Drive home, they saw
the Milchens being “circled” by the shepherds who were
still trying to attack Shelby, according to a police
report. Linda was in the way.
“That is not their behavior,” William Milchen said of
the 4-year-old shepherds’ attack. “I’ve never seen this
side of them before. Never.”
Neighbor Lawrence Bonner saw part of the attack from his
back deck.
“The dogs were on top of her viciously biting her,
mauling her,” Bonner said. “From what I could see, her
arm was really badly mauled.”
Click here to read the full story.
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LORAIN — Lorain police shot and
killed two German Shepherds yesterday afternoon to
end a dog attack on Shaffer Drive.
Police responded at 1:39 p.m. Saturday to an
emergency call at 1402 Shaffer Drive, where they
found William and Linda Milchen on the ground in the
back yard, shielding a small dog from a male German
Shepherd and a female German Shepherd and calling
for help, according to a police report.
Protecting the small dog caused Linda Milchen to be
bitten by the German Shepherds, the report said.
A Lorain police officer Tasered one and then the
other of the aggressive dogs and told the Milchens
to get inside their home. But they required several
minutes to get inside, and the male German Shepherd
broke loose from the Taser prongs and went inside
the house as well, the report said. Linda Milchen
screamed at the dog, called it Niko and ordered it
out of the house, but it did not obey, according to
the report.
An officer Tasered the dog again indoors, since it
was lunging at William Milchen, according to the
report. When the Taser proved ineffective against
the dog, the officer shot the dog twice, killing it.
Seconds later, the female German Shepherd, named
Lola, broke free from the Taser wires attached to
her and the officer shot and killed that dog as
well.
William Milchen said he was not hurt and did not
require medical treatment, the report said.
Linda Milchen was taken to Community Regional
Medical Center with dog bites on both arms and both
legs, and was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in
Cleveland, according to the report.
Milchen was in fair condition last night, according
to a hospital spokeswoman.
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ROTTWEILER SHOT AND KILLED WHILE
ON OWNER'S PROPERTY
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Family dog targeted by weekend
shooting
By
Richard Wilson, Staff Writer
8:24 PM Monday,
November 23, 2009
HAMILTON — George and Carmen Duke said they haven’t heard
gunfire in their 2nd Ward neighborhood for many years.
The relative calm was disrupted in the 100 block of Chestnut
Street at around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, when a series
of gunshots rang out in the alley adjacent to Dukes’ home.
Police were called and officers found shell casings in the
alley, Carmen Duke said. No one appeared to be hurt,
including the Dukes’ two grandchildren, who were inside the
house and were told to get down on the floor when the shots
were heard.
George Duke said the next day he found his dog, a 3-year-old
rottweiler named Rocky, dead in his doghouse inside the
Dukes’ fenced yard.
The dog, described as protective but otherwise friendly, had
been shot about five times, he said.
“He never liked to stay in the house. He was an outside
dog,” George Duke said. “He was one of the family.”
Carmen Duke said she called police again and filed a report.
She said her grandchildren didn’t understand and she
struggled to explain what happened to Rocky.
“This has hurt my husband bad. That was his baby,” she said.
“It doesn’t make any sense at all.”
Carmen said she’s offering $100 to anyone with information
about what happened.
The incident is under investigation and the perpetrator, if
caught, will be charged with cruelty to animals, said
Hamilton police spokesman Sgt. Tom Kilgour.
If you have information about the shooting, you are asked to
call Hamilton police at (513) 868-5811, ext. 2007.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or
rwilson@coxohio.com.
Click here to see the article on Middletown Journal's
website.
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OLMSTED FALLS - NEIGHBOR DISPUTES
OVER DOG RUNNING LOOSE
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Neighbor again issues threat after man
hits charging dog: Olmsted Falls Police Blotter
By
Sun News
staff
November 22, 2009, 8:21AM
NEIGHBOR TROUBLE, LAKE OF THE
FALLS: A man came to the police station Nov. 9 to report a
problem with his neighbor. The man said his neighbor let her dog run
around without a leash and the dog charged at him while he was walking
his dog. The man said he hit the neighbor’s dog with his walking stick,
at which time his neighbor threatened to kill him if he hit her dog
again. The man said his neighbor had made similar threats two other
times.
Click here for link to police blotter. |
LORAIN POLICE SHOOT PIT BULL
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LORAIN — A Lorain police officer was forced to shoot and kill a pit
bull running wild near South Central Drive yesterday afternoon.
A resident on South Central called the police department after the
pit bull ran into her backyard around 12:47 p.m. When an officer
arrived at the home to try and catch the dog, it continued to bark
and growl and would not let anyone near it, according to a police
report.
The officer tried to use a broom to get the dog out of the woman’s
yard, but it attacked the broom. The dog then charged at the
officer, who shot the dog once, the report states.
The pit bull did not have any identification or a collar.
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ADOPTION FEE REDUCED FOR BLACK
PETS ON BLACK FRIDAY
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Fees cut for black pets on
'Black Friday'
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
3:11 AM
The Capital Area Humane
Society will be putting its own spin on "Black Friday"
this year.
On the day after
Thanksgiving, the humane society will offer an adoption
discount on all of its black or predominantly black
animals.
Black animals are
notoriously difficult to adopt out -- some experts say
they blend together differently from lighter animals so
don't they draw as much attention, or that their color
makes it difficult for people to see their facial
expressions.
The humane society will
offer a 50 percent discount on adoption fees from noon
to 2 p.m. and a 25 percent discount from 2 to 7 p.m. As
of yesterday, 11 black dogs, 19 black cats and two black
rabbits were available for adoption.
The Capital Area Humane
Society is at 3015 Scioto-Darby Executive Court in
Hilliard. To view adoptable animals, visit
www.cahs-pets.org.
-- Jeb
Phillips
jeb.phillips@dispatch.com
Click here for link to this article.
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Morgan County man gets life
for death
He first killed, then raped 'adoptive mom,' but doesn't
tell why
Friday, November 20, 2009 2:56 AM
McCONNELSVILLE, Ohio -- An 18-year-old who admitted
murdering and raping the woman who was like a mother to
him never explained to authorities why he did it.
And Travis Lee Fischer did not say anything in court
yesterday, either, about why he used a baseball bat to
bash in the head of 35-year-old mother-of-three Abi
Matthews and then raped her.
The family of Matthews had plenty to say yesterday, plus
a flood of emotions and tears to share, before a judge
sentenced Fischer to life in prison with parole
eligibility after 30 years.
Fischer pleaded guilty Nov. 4 to aggravated murder,
aggravated burglary, rape, grand theft of a motor
vehicle and arson.
Morgan County Common Pleas Judge D.W. Favreau sentenced
him yesterday to life in prison with parole eligibility
after 25 years for the murder, to run consecutive to
separate, concurrent sentences of five years each for
rape and aggravated burglary. He also sentenced Fischer
to concurrent sentences of one year each for grand theft
of a motor vehicle and arson. After killing Matthews,
Fischer stole her car and then burned it.
Fischer was 17 in June when he murdered Matthews in her
apartment in Malta in Morgan County, about 80 miles
southeast of Columbus. He was a troubled neighborhood
kid whom she had taken under her wing.
Fischer's father is in prison, and his mother was unable
to care for him properly because she suffered a brain
injury in a car crash, his attorney said.
Matthews treated him like a son; he lived with her
family for a year.
As family members rose to speak, Fischer stood still as
a statue, his face a mask as he faced the loved ones of
the woman he killed.
Shaneeka Goins, a 16-year-old junior at Morgan High
School, the eldest of the three children of Matthews and
longtime partner Don Goins, spoke first. She and her
siblings, ages 14 and 9, had regarded Fischer as a
brother.
"We just want to know why, Travis," she said.
Shaneeka said she misses talking to her mother: "I have
to go to the cemetery when I feel I need to talk to
her."
She and her brother and sister live with their father
now.
Peggy Matthews, 59, listened as her granddaughter spoke.
Her eyes welled with tears. Matthews wore the
bright-pink floral blouse she had worn when she and Abi
went on a trip to Ohio Amish country. The mother and
daughter loved to travel, to shop, to talk.
Matthews brought with her a framed photograph of Abi and
Maggie, her pet boxer. The dog was found with her head
bashed in, her body stuck in the cellar of her
daughter's home.
That was a few months before Fischer killed her
daughter. Matthews surmises that Fischer is the dog's
killer, too.
Standing to face her daughter's killer, Matthews said:
"It's a great irony that Travis killed the one person
outside his family that truly cared what happened to
him."
mlane@dispatch.com
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