Justice for Jaime and Gabby Rally

This article was written by Linda Wissel who organized the Rally.  She is a long time Rushville Shelter volunteer and supporter and friend of Jaime Glandon.  the article was written for the USAP forum.

First I'd like to say that I've volunteered at the Rushville Shelter for almost 3 years.  I found one of their dogs on petfinder and went out to adopt, the animals in the shelter broke my heart, the conditions were apalling.  Although I live 2 hours away in Cincinnati I vowed to do something for those animals.  It's the hell holes that need us most.  That is how I met Jamie Glandon (the shelter worker now facing being fired for saving Gabby).  At the time Jamie was a volunteer from Indianapolis which is about an hour drive from Rushville.  Jamie is selfless, compassionate and dedicated to the animals.  As a volunteer she would drive almost daily to the shelter to take pictures for the petfinder website, if not for Jamie the shelter wouldn't have been listed.  She was always on the job for the shelter transporting dogs, she made many changes as a volunteer to make the shelter rescue friendly.    When the shelter worker who was previously in Jamie's position resigned it left only Jack Hill to run the shelter.  Jamie volunteered to work FULL TIME, assuming all the duties of a paid employee for over a month with no guarantee that she would be awarded the paid position.  Jamie had to go through the same interview and application process as anyone else.  Jamie was awarded the position about 6 months ago.  Jamie forged relationships, and utilized her existing contacts with the rescue community to place more dogs in her years of volunteering then the shelter had placed into homes in the last 10 years.  The Rushville had close to a 95% kill rate for dogs and much higher for cats.  Jamie and I have shed many tears, scraped up money we didn't have becuse a dog or cat needed vet care which the shelter doesn't provide.  I know her to be beyond reproach, I know Jamie is telling the truth and I will stand with her till hell freezes over!

Justice for Jamie and Gabby Rally in Rushville

My partner Teri and I rolled into town horn blaring, around 11am, windows painted "Honk for Jamie and Gabby",  "Stop the Inhumane Killing in Rushville", car laden with signs, USAP donated buttons and banner, dog mascot costume.   It was a sunny day but cold, we were bundled up for a long haul in the day time high of 34 degrees.  I had the support of Marj and Dawn on the phone, quickly giving me advice as to what to do if the police showed up with riot gear! LOL  There was a winter weather advisory posted for that night, snow was expected.

Two members from Adopt-A-Pet, coming from Cincinnati as well, were delayed a bit by problems with the donated RV. 

Teri and I were the first ones there so I donned my dog mascot costume and was lead (you can't see out of those costumes) to the corner, sign in hand.  I'll tell you I felt so alone until I heard Teri's voice, one lone voice, cracking as she began to shout "Justice for Jamie, Justice for Gabby".  That's courage folks, at least I was under the dog costume!  We weren't alone long before the crew in the RV arrived, quickly following were three member of Adopt-A-Pet out of Liberty Indiana. 

Of course, one of the news stations from Indianapolis arrived right at noon when we were still setting up and not out in full force.   Taylor had the sign that seems to have peeved the people in Rushville off the most, it read "Welcome to Rushville, We Kill Dogs Here....But Not Very Well".  Our mascot was an inflatable Scooby Do.  The USAP banner read, "Stop the Inhumae Killing at the Rushville Shelter!  The United States Animal Protection Demands Justice for Jamie and Gabby!"  Our USAP buttons read, "Stop Inhumane Killing of Animals in Shelters, U.S. Animal Protection".  One of our signs said "Mayor Bridges, You've Been Naughty" and the person carrying it had a Santa hat on and was ringing cow bells.  Some of our other signs;  "Don't Kill Gabby AGAIN!", "HONK for Jamie & Gabby!", "Let Gabby Live!"  Some of our chants were "Rushville....Suport Your Shelter!",  "Mayor Bridges Tell The Truth!" , "Justice For Jamie, Justice For Gabby!" "Mayor Bridges, Tell The Truth!".

We were 7 strong through most of the afternoon, we rallied from noon until about 3:00 then broke for lunch.  It seemed we had more support for the evening rally then we did for the afternoon.  I guess alot of the afternoon traffic were retired folks who have known the Mayor and thought of us as "outsiders".    We had the privledge of being flipped of by an un-named, soon to be named, member of the Republican Party in Rushville.  He made the mistake of bragging about it to a loyal Jamie supporter.  You know who I'm talking about Marj!  Lisa from Adopt-A-Pet in Liberty left to pick up her three daughters from school and then returned.  We were 10 strong then.  Sadly, I can't tell you how many times those little girls, one of which was wearing a Santa hat, were flipped off and told to shove it in their ass. 

After lunch we had to do a little re planning.  Our original plan had been to move up to the Police Department and rally outside of the Council Chambers where the meeting was being held.  Hang the USAP banner on the R.V. and using that as a back drop, rally.  Conveniently, the City had removed the shelter issue from the agenda.  Jamie still planned on attending this meeting, as she had all other Council meetings even with the agenda change.  Jamie said "I'm not going to hide, I'm going in with my head held high."  And that she did.  There were other issues that made us decide to contine the "open invitation" rally at the courthouse.  Jamie had about 30 personal friends, heads of other local shelters and family to support her at the meeting.

For the evening rally we picked up Lindsey and Leslie Woelfel representing Muncie ARF.  We had much more support from the residents that evening then we did during the day.  When someone driving by, or stopped at the red light honked we began to chant "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU".  One woman who joined us was getting ready to leave and I told her how much we appreciated her coming out, I asked what rescue she was with.  She said, "I'm just from Rushville, I live here".   I said "You know, you are the very first resident to come out and join us today".  She looked absolutely stricken and said "You have got to be kidding me".  I said "No, in fact, I'm from Cincinnati and have been volunteering at the shelter for almost 3 years and it hasn't been until this past summer that we got our first Rushville volunteer".  She absolutley couldn't believe it, and seemed downright ashamed.  She thanked us for coming and doing this for the town.  I thanked her again, shook her hand.  We had people stopping at the traffic light asking what was going on, when told, they would just lay on the horn.  About 8 more residents came forward to join us, we gave them all buttons, cards, exchanged emails so we could organize for the next rally.  One man, a Rushville resident, thanked us and went to the Shell Station and bought us all hot coffee, which was much appreciated.  Those are the people that give me hope.

We got word that the Council meeting had ended, and when Jamie left, 30 of her supporters got up and followed her out.  The Indy news station was there to interview her and behind her gathered all of her supporters.

Overall, I think we made a statement in Rushville.  Our lack of numbers protesting, I think hurt us in that it added to the perception of us being a "fringe element".   One man, during lunch pulled up to the RV with the Adopt-A-Pet crew and asked "You all from Peta?" they replied "No". He said "Good, because if you were I was going to get my gun out and shoot you".  Some people drove by with complete indifference, at one point, between chants, I said to Taylor.  "When you see people like that, totally indifferent, doesn't it make you wonder if they've not stood for anything in their lives?".

I think it is sad when people from out of town have to come to a town and stand up because the town won't stand up for itself.  I think it's sad when volunteer's have to come from out of town and volunteer because a town won't volunteer for itself.  I told one of the news stations, "We are the people who have pulled dogs out of your shelter and placed them into no kill rescues and foster homes, We are the same people who on a minutes notice would be here to help clean and paint your shelter". 

I'm willing to do it again, if I have to, stand alone.  If I have to stand alone I will write an appeal to the people of Rushville, delivered thru the Rushville Republican.  Basically saying, now it's your turn.  If they leave me standing alone, it makes a statement, if they join me and we can circle the courthouse, what a wonderful statement that would make.

I want to thank you all, all the member of USAP, Marj and Dawn especially.  You do wonderful work and we are honored that you supported our cause with your generous donations.  It is much appreciated.  As are the numerous people who continue to spread the word over the internet.  We have to let the elected officals in Rushville know that we aren't finished yet, that this will not go away, and as our last chant promised "WE WILL BE BACK".  Thank you all.

Sincerely,

Linda Wissel

Comments are welcome and can be left on the blog - Euthanized Dog Found Four Days Later Alive in Freezer - Petition or Rally - “Justice for Jamie” & eBay Auction

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