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The Dog Lover (2016)
[baby giggles]
[woman] Happy birthday, blow out the candles. - Happy birthday, Aidan. - [man] Did you make a wish? - [indistinct singing] - [dog howling] [woman] Max was diagnosed with autism at the age of 32 months. Chester joined our family six weeks ago. We don't get outbursts in the middle of the night any more. And I don't really worry about Max, because I know that Chester's in there. He very much is a healing balm for our family. [man] We arrived at Ground Zero and we immediately began to search. And then sometime on the morning of September 12th Tracker got a hit. These rescue workers later pulled a woman, the last survivor, from the pile. And I'm extremely proud of Tracker's involvement in the rescue. [woman] Get him! Who is it? Hey, it's Crazy! Crazy, you remember Daddy? Do you remember Daddy? I missed you so bad, honey. I'm so sorry I went away. [woman] Oh, my gosh! I missed you so bad. [knocking] Yeah? [woman] Hi, we're the ones that called about the puppies for sale. Oh. Jack. [man] Wow, you got a lot of 'em. [Jack] Yeah, about a 100 or so. [man] Must be hard taking care of them all. - [dogs whining] - [Jack] You're tellin' me. All right, you can pick any one you like. But I think she's the best of 'em. [man] What do you think, honey? [woman] I think she's so cute. Hi. Hey, what's wrong with her eye? [man] It looks infected. [Jack] Look, you can look at any you want. I got four of 'em. [man] I only see three. [Jack] The other one's around here somewhere. They sneak out of the cage, you know? [man] Let's see this guy. Come here, bud. - [man] How about him? - [Jack] Good dog. [man] Yeah, hey, buddy. They all have their shots and all that? [Jack] Yeah, whatever you need. Hey, what you doin'? What is that? [woman] Nothing, I just... She's got a damn camera! [Jack] Hey, what are you doing? [woman] No, hey, we're going, we're leaving! Gimme that, this is private property. Gimme that bag! [woman] Come on, we're going, we're going. Go, go. Jack, get the shotgun! [man] Keep running, get to the car. [woman] Go, go, go. [Jack] Stop or I'll shoot. [panting] Are you okay? Yeah, you? [woman] Yeah, I'm fine. Tell me you got all that. Yeah, yeah, I got it. [cheering] Fantastic, really. It's because of this type of heroic work by people like Sara and Trevor that I am proud to report that Yates County now has one less puppy mill to worry about. [cheering] This organization does not work without your passion and your commitment, and your dedication. We're truly grateful. This morning I'm flying to Los Angeles to be a guest on Good Day USA, where I will share footage of the rescue we conducted at this location. It's the first stop on our summer media tour to raise funding and awareness for UAPA. - [all] Yes. - [cheering] Hey, Sara, Cassie wants to see you in her office as soon as possible. Okay, did she say why? No, but I'm sure it's nothing but good news. You're really making a difference. Thanks. [woman] Hey, me and the girls are going out for drinks later, you want to go? [woman 2] Yeah, I'd love to. Thank you, Hannah. Here's the latest press release. Get it distributed, please. - There's the girl of the hour. - [Sara] Hi. Hello. You know, Brad thinks that you're our rising star, - and I couldn't agree more. - Thank you. We're expanding. We're hitting all the state capitals. Rubbing elbows with all the big donors. That's what I heard. It's so exciting. And you, what do we have you working on? Well, you know, I've been doing a lot of research on our breeding reform strategy and it seems to be really paying off. Oh, yeah, we're shutting down breeders from here to San Diego. Austin. Albuquerque, Sioux Falls, there's half dozen state legislatures passing bills right now keeping dogs out of pet stores. Two years ago, this was our dream. Now it's a reality. So, what do you know about Prop 12? Breeders hate it, I mean, it causes them to actually take care of their animals. It eliminates that bottom line. We're gonna need some more directors of operations on our rescue missions. Won't get you rich, but it's a big calling card here in DC. His name is Daniel Holloway. He breeds hunting dogs. He's basically a good, old boy, and he's a very vocal opponent to Prop 12, pretty much everything that we stand for. Today is the day that we, as responsible dog breeders, cast our votes against Proposition 12, and stop the bureaucrats from trying to take away our livelihood. - You ready to vote? - [people] Yeah. [Daniel] Let's go. Occasionally Daniel Holloway takes in interns from Greenville University. Brad and I think you'd be a perfect fit. Okay, what about Trevor? You know, to be honest, I trust you more on this. Trevor can be your support from here. I've been asking for an assignment like that for months. I'm sorry, Trevor, I don't make these decisions. Right. [Cassie] Sara, we think that Holloway operates through two separate websites. There's Holloway Farms for his regular dogs, as well as Heavenly Farms where he sells any dogs that get sick, so that he doesn't lose any profit margin. At 500 bucks a pop, that is huge business. We have a local contact for you in Marshfield, Jackie McConnell, Head of Animal Control. You'll report directly to her. Posing as a vet student is no small deal. You're gonna have to study, so that you actually know what you're talking about. What we really need are photos, video, proof of negligence. Based on our intelligence there was a bad case of Parvo Virus there recently. If we get Holloway, I think that Prop 12 is done. And I think whoever delivers that is up for a very big promotion. [woman] Relax. My only daughter wants to go undercover like the CIA and she tells me to relax? It's an important assignment. It means they have faith in me. But can they keep you safe? Honey, it's a non-profit. Who goes undercover for a non-profit, really? Okay, what is it, Dad? Nothing, honey. No, come on, just say it. Well, I just thought that this whole puppy-saving thing was something you were doing on the side. I mean, is there a reason we spent a hundred grand on a marketing degree? Dad, the UAPA is one of the most respected organizations in the country. Then why don't they pay you? What is with all this sneaking around? Because it's something that I believe in. Dog breeding is wrong. What about Mark Stephens over at Unitel? - Oh, wow. - Seriously, in six months, you could become a marketing manager. Okay, but did you not hear anything that I just said? So how long are you gonna be out there? As long as it takes for me to find something on these low-lifes. Low-lifes? You can't go into this thing with an attitude like that. As a journalist, I would never begin a story with a presumption of guilt. These people may be responsible breeders. There's no such thing. These people keep dogs in horrible conditions and then they contribute to overpopulation. Every time somebody buys a designer puppy instead of adopting from a shelter, a homeless animal loses its chance at finding a home and then it's euthanized. It's a horrible cycle, and nobody wants to face it, but it's the truth. And we stop that, that is what we do. Nothing's that black and white, honey. Well, here goes nothing. Sara, right? I'm Will Holloway. Hi, guess I was pretty easy to spot, huh? You, um, you might want to reconsider. Reconsider what? What you're wearing. It's just my dad's conservative. Right. - Give you a hand? - I'm good, I got it. - Okay. - Okay. You just gotta jump in. - You got it. - Yup, we're good, yup, good. Thank you. So, my mom tells me you're going to Greenville, huh? - Vet tech program? - Yeah, I love it. My professors are really, really great. Your family, they've been breeding dogs for a long time? Hah, yeah. Nice, is it something you're looking to carry on or... Yeah, it looks that way now. You enjoy doing it, or... It's okay. [switches radio on] [country music plays] [girl] You're in trouble! You didn't fix the fence like Dad asked you to, and Roger got out again. - I can take these. - I got 'em. You must be Sara, I'm Abigail. I am, nice to meet you. Can you tell the difference between neuter and spay? I can, neutering is done to a male, and spaying is done to a female. When should you start weaning a puppy from its mother? Abby, just give her a break. No, it's okay, at three to four weeks. What does heterozygous mean? Okay, we get it. That... Hi. Is actually a tough one. See, I knew I'd get you! Abi, stop giving our guest a hard time. Hi, I'm Liz Holloway, nice to meet you. She doesn't know what heterozygous means. Of course, she knows it means one dominant and one recessive gene. Exactly, I don't know how I forgot that. She is all business, just like her father. Speaking of which, we should go meet him. I know what a zygote is, too. - That's great. - Honey, come on! There's the guest house where you'll be staying. Great. And here's a barn, we converted it to a kennel a few years ago. It's beautiful. He got out, and then got caught up on the fence trying to get back in. I was gonna fix that as soon as I got back. Just put him in his cage. Honey, this is our new intern, Sara. Mr. Holloway, very nice to meet you. Don't get out in the field much, do you? Well, you know, that's why I'm here. I'd like to get my hands dirty. These ladies know there's more to animals than carryin' 'em around in expensive handbags. Well, then I will follow their lead. Honey, Sara was the most qualified applicant. Must have been slim pickings. May I? - She's due soon, right? - Mm-hm. Hi, girl, good girl. I'm just gonna... She's about three weeks out. It's gonna be a big litter. I'll give you a day... see what you've got. Thank you. Honey, show Sara where she's gonna be staying, okay? Follow me. You aren't afraid of rattlers, are you? Uh, no. Honey, she was the only applicant. We need help. Young lady, no cell phones in my kennels, ever! - Okay, I'll go put it... - Come on, hand it over. Don't worry, I won't keep it forever. Forgot to tell you, he just doesn't want anybody posting stuff. [dogs yelping] Well, welcome to my world. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Little dog, little bowl, got it? Yes, sir. Hey, what's back there? Nothing that concerns you. Can you just let me-come here, can you just let me look? Let me look. You're being timid. They're smart, they know who's the boss. No, she just doesn't want to cooperate. You're a second year tech and you haven't done this before? No, I never said that. Stand over here. Stay. Remember, you're the master, not the friend. Okay, get a good look, open up the gums, teeth, that's how you give a good check, okay? - Okay. - Good girl, try again. Stay! Take care of her. Papers. - Hey, Will, oh! - Oh, sorry. - Sorry. - Sorry, I just gotta keep this locked. No, I just wanted to see if you needed help with anything. No, I'm good. Let's go see what what everyone's up to. Yeah. You're almost done. Thanks. Okay, what's next? [knocking on door] Long day? Piece of cake. You'll get the hang of it. - Here. - Oh, thank you. Supper's almost ready. Thank you. Okay, I'm gonna give you an easy one. Look up distemper, okay? You look nice. What are you reading? So, I set it up so all your video clips go into your home movies file. Perfect, thank you for doing that. There they are. I'll log in remotely every night and review the videos. Sounds good, thanks again. Yeah, I'll be right here waiting. Trevor, come on, don't... Or hang up on me. Okay. He's being polite, we have a guest. You should try it some time. I washed the important parts. Daddy, did you know that New York City was the murder capital of the United States? Okay, Abi, put your book away. We're about to eat dinner. Welcome, have a seat over there. Thank you, everything looks delicious. - Thank you. - I want the drumsticks. You can only have one. It might be Sara's favorite part, honey. Oh, actually, none for me, thank you. I'm a vegetarian, so I'll just do potatoes and veggies. - You don't eat meat? Why? - Hey! Uh, honey, when I was in vet school, I was a vegetarian, too. And when I graduated, I couldn't resist, so... Okay. Oh, uh... Are you an atheist, too? Uh, no. Good, grab a hand. Okay. Lord, we thank you for this bounty which will nourish our bodies... Oh, man, come on, Jackie. - Hey! - Hi! - Jackie McConnell. - Sara Gold. About three weeks ago I found a Holloway Wirehair running wild. Not in good shape, he hadn't eaten. Yeah, I know, I saw the photos. Yeah, so I picked him up, I took him to Daniel, he looked me straight in the face and denied it was his. Then he kicked me off his property. So, I need DNA samples, preferably from every Wirehair bitch on his property, so I can prove that dog is his. Okay, I can do that, I can do that. We also need video. You got it, talk to you soon. Hey, what's he got you doing now? Uh, I was just checking to see if she was coming into season. What, with that? Yeah, just doing a standard cytology test. There, uh, there's an easier way. Okay. All right, um, grab your nose, right. - At the base. - Okay. Here, do you feel that? The firmness? - Yeah. - That means that she's not ready yet. Now touch your lower lip. - Go ahead. - Okay. All right, you feel the softness? That's how you can tell that she's... that she's about to be in heat. Oh... Yeah, it's not very scientific, but it's the easiest way. And if we miss a cycle, it costs us a lot of money. Right, yeah, no, thanks, thank you for the tips. Pete, what's going on, how's the pup? The dog had Parvo. What do you mean the dog had Parvo? I don't sell sick animals. Oh, yeah, just my dog? Look, just let me give him the test, all right? It's too late. What do you mean it's too late? - I had Jackie look at him. - Jackie? Wait, Pete, why don't you come inside. We could have a drink. [Pete] Look, I'm sorry, Liz, there's just not that much left to talk about. Why would you have Jackie look at him, when I sold you the pup? [Liz] Wait, let me examine him. [Pete] And Jackie was right about you. [Liz] Pete, we can make this right. Okay, I promise you. Good night, Pete. Damn! Dan, I don't understand. [Dan] Will? Will! I have got to tell you again and again and again - that you gotta document... - Dad, it was a mistake. [Dan] A mistake? Why do you keep making these mistakes? You're a smart guy. Is your heart not in it? No, no, no, that mistake can put me in the witch's crosshairs. What the hell was that? [Will] Probably just a raccoon. Look, fix this with Pete before he starts telling the whole county, all right? Yes, sir. Will, hold on. You going into town? - Yeah. - Can I come with? For what? I just have to get some stuff from the drug store. Just, uh, just wait here. You okay? So, what was that about? Nothing. I'm not... I'm not sure I gave the dog we sold him his last set of shots, and that's probably why he got sick. They euthanized him. Will, you cannot beat yourself up over this. It was an honest mistake. Tell that to my dad. - You have them all? - They're all labeled. - How many? - Fifteen in total. Also a guy stopped by last night... - Pete Martin. - Yeah, that's it. I checked that pup myself. I warned him about Holloway. What about the other kennel, the one in the back? It's all locked up, but it's something I'm working on. Okay, just keep going, we're gonna bring this thing down. What are you doing out here? [snarling] [distant whistling] Hey, who owns that farm on the other side? Tanner's. Are they breeders? Back yard breeders. - Hunting dogs? - Sometimes. Okay, well, when I went for my run this morning I found this dog and she came at me. Looked exactly like one of yours, the German Wirehair. She came at you? Yeah. I mean, there was a fence and I got through it luckily or she definitely would've bit me. Hold on a second. Those two Wirehairs that went missing last year? Sara was out running this morning, said a Wirehair tried to attack her on Tanner's property. [Dan] What was she doing on their property? Don't get like that, I'll deal with this. No, we gotta have a conversation with her, but keep an eye on her. Tell her not to go on other people's property. Shh, shh, shh! - [dog barking] - [gasps] You miss the sign? I'm sorry, I was just out for a jog. You always jog over fences? Could have shot you, would have been my right, too. I'm really sorry, I didn't think anybody lived here. What do you think, H, should we call the police? Please, I just saw a dog and I thought maybe one of ours had gotten out or... One of yours? Yeah, yeah, I work for Daniel Holloway. And you want to see our dogs? Go ahead. [Will] Jace! Sorry for the bother, she's new around here. It won't happen again. Don't appreciate people trespassing on our property. Neither do we. Some white trash stole a couple of our dogs last year. What are you trying to say? Just that it'd be a shame if someone got shot for dog poaching. [Will] What were you doing over there? [Sara] I saw the kennel and I just heard barking, and... I don't know, okay, I don't know. I told you, they're backyarders, bad news. Just do us all a favor and stay away. Don't you want your dogs back? Yeah, of course. But after they've been living in that kind of filth, who knows what kind of diseases they'd bring back. They're abusing those dogs, Will, you cannot just do nothing. So, what do you expect me to do, huh? We can barely pay our bills and maintain our kennel. [Sara] So why does your dad do it? My great, great grandad's name was Jack Holloway. He arrived, worked the land, and around World War I he had enough money saved up to buy the entire valley. Two thousand acres. Back then, a hunting dog was a necessity. He was also your friend and your only tool to survive, provide for your family. Then the dust bowl hit and you couldn't grow much out here. People had to turn to hunting. And Jack Holloway's hunting dogs were the best around. That is a tradition my dad is proud of. And more important, that's the only life he's ever known. - [Sara] Are you proud of it? - Yeah, of course. I'm just not sure I want to be stuck out here like he is. [dog whimpering] What are you doing? Uh... Daniel told you not to come in here, am I right? Yes, he told me not to, but I just heard whimpering and so I thought that I should come and make sure everything was okay. I didn't know where you were. This is why I have such a hard time getting him to take on interns. You kids think you know everything and you don't! This is a quarantine area. This pup has distemper, he got it from some stray who wandered onto the property and he gave it to that one. You coming in here, touching them, could make the whole kennel sick. I am so sorry. Oh, God. Anyone else would have just put 'em down. I will go, I am really sorry. - Wash your hands! - Okay, I... - Hi. - Hi. You want to see something cool? Wow. Yeah, it used to be my grandpa's. It was all rusted out and my parents wanted to junk it, but I couldn't let that happen. It's beautiful. I did all the work myself. Took me almost five years. Impressive. You want to turn it over? [engine starts] [both laughing] Oh, gosh. I just... I cannot believe you did this all by yourself. Have you ever thought of making a career of it? Yeah, I had some plans, but a couple things happened and I had to stay here. What happened? Uh, my dad had a heart attack a couple of months before I was gonna leave. Oh, I am so sorry. No, doctor said he'd make a full recovery, but my mom and Abi, just they were so scared, you know? So I decided to stay and help out. Well, your dad seems pretty healthy to me. Why don't you go now? Doing what he does is a lot of work. If anything ever happened to him, I'd never be able to forgive myself. Maybe when Abi gets older. You want to take it to town tomorrow? Yeah. [country music plays] What's wrong? Nothing. Come on. No, I just... I thought this thing was... you know, fast. That is more like it. So I just have to grab a couple things. You want to just meet back at the truck? Yeah. Hey, there, Sara. Jackie, no, no, no, Will is here if he sees us together this would be really bad. Did you get anything new? Yeah, I got some video, but... - Great. - No, the thing is... - The DNA's a match. - What? All I need is one more piece of evidence and I can get a warrant. I don't think these dogs are coming from them. I think the sick ones are coming from another farm. It doesn't matter, the DNA is a match. - It's their dog. - Okay, I understand that, but they had dogs stolen from them. And when their dogs are sick, they put them in quarantine. What do you mean? Okay, I got into the back kennel and they had two dogs with distemper. What? No, Daniel, he quarantines them, look. I need this. He quarantines them, Jackie, that's a good thing, when they are sick. That's fine, but I need this. Send it to me now, Dropbox, whatever. Okay? I need this. It's a really nice truck, Will. If you ever change your mind, the offer still stands, okay? I appreciate that, Mr. Grant. Bye, Will, we'll see you later. Bye, Mrs. Grant. Hey. Who's that? Jim Grant, just a guy that owns a car shop in town. Could I drive home, actually? Uh... I'll give you three stalls. I am not gonna stall. [truck stalls] [Sara] No, stop, no, no, no, I'm gonna get it, no. - [Will] Do you want me to drive? - No. Hey, so I've been in touch with Jackie. She says everything looks great. What do you mean? Uh, the evidence. There isn't any evidence. No, no, we're very confident. We're almost there. Cassie, no, I don't think that you understand, this isn't... I have to go, I'll talk to you later. Hey, sorry to interrupt. No, it's okay, I was just talking to my dad. I just need your help. Yeah, sure. [Sara chuckling] You did such a good job, Momma. All the pups accounted for? Yes, sir, six total. Weighed and measured? Yes! [Liz] Awesome. Good job. Take it, bring it in, bring it here. Good boy! Good boy, good boy. Good boy! Good boy! Hold it, off. Ready, take it. [knocking on door] Come in. Hey... are you up for a little adventure? Your family owns this? Yeah, we used to own more, but my dad's been selling off some of it to make ends meet. It's like a living, breathing screen saver. Yeah, this part, this he will never sell. Uh, so, I got a call from my intern professor. Yeah? Yeah, uh, I might have to go early. They want me to cut it short. Oh, yeah, that figures. What are you looking at? What, are you bored already, city girl? No, I just... I thought if you're gonna make a move, you should maybe hurry up. Ssh-shh... Look, look straight out. You see that? They're coming. No, no, no, no, no. Will, they're coming. You can't move, you can't move. - Don't move, keep your eyes open! - Are you crazy? So... What do you think? I think you're pretty smooth, Will Holloway. Where are you going? Outside to lock up. I'll do it. Be careful. Easy, easy, good boy. [screaming] Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Baby, baby! Are you okay, are you okay? I'm fine. Don't anybody touch it. It could be rabid. Where did it come from? [Will] It's one of the Tanners' dogs. You all right, Dad? [panting] Yeah. Daddy! Daniel! Honey! What's up? What the hell is this? Will? Who are these people? [man] Daniel! Sheriff, what is this all about? Daniel Holloway, we have a warrant to search your property. - Go ahead. - All right, let's go! Wait, wait, wait, exactly what am I being accused of? - Inhumane treatment of animals. - On what basis? Did Jackie McConnell put you up to this? Bart, whatever she's got you believing, it's all lies. You just make sure he stays out of my way. - What's going on? - Move him! Sir, step aside. We have a warrant. What? Goddammit, Bart, you gotta stop them. Daniel, I need you to be calm. Come on, guys, get in there! Let's go! Let's go! What have we done? According to the paper, these dogs are unhealthy. They are not unhealthy! I am a vet, they are perfect... Wait, what are they doing with our dog, sir? Those are my personal house dogs. They're gonna kill them dragging them out of there. Will, no, stop! Warrant says we can take all the dogs on the premises. Put those dogs down! Sir, I need you to stay out of our way. Listen, son, you are not a cop. So don't even try to tell me what to do. - Dad, no! - Christ, Daniel! - Why'd you go and do that for? - Get off of me! Do not move! [man] Slow down a bit... Yeah, yeah, that looks great. Turn it off. What? I don't understand. Why are you guys here? It's all thanks to your footage, babe. What? What are you talking about? Your video got us the warrant. What? Where's Abigail? Where are they gonna bring them? Don't worry, I'll bring them home soon. I gotta get you inside, honey. Let's call our lawyer. I think they're taking the dogs to the fairgrounds. - Well, how do you know? - I overheard something. I gotta go with my mom to the sheriff's... Can we just go there, please, Will? Maybe there's something that we can do, please? All right, just... I gotta talk to my mom, okay? - Daniel! - What? Promise me you're not gonna do anything stupid. Does getting my dogs back qualify as stupid? They seized your dogs legally. It's a criminal investigation. We can't do anything until they're finished examining them. Yeah, we'll see about that. Yeah, we got 'em all. Yeah, they're safe. - You son of a bitch! - What... - What is wrong with you? - Are you crazy? You doctored that footage, Trevor. That dog was attacking his daughter and that's the only reason he did what he did and you know it. Whoa, I don't care why he did it. You just took away a family's livelihood. A family that sells dogs like they're product in a store. No, they are a family that followed the law and they cared for those dogs. A family that sells hunting dogs bred to stalk other animals! - Whose side are you on? - They didn't do anything wrong. My goal is to stop all animal slavery, whatever it takes. Hey, Ma, yeah, it's just like Sara said, they're at the fairgrounds. Honey, it's Will, he says they're at the fairgrounds. All right, just tell him we're on our way. Okay, stay where you are, we're on our way. [Dan] I don't know how Jackie McConnell ever got put in charge of an organization that cares for animals. She doesn't know anything about caring for animals. Not a damn thing. Don't try to turn it around on me. What, do you know him or something? No, I was just trying to get information. There's my dad. Come on. They got them in there in the livestock holding. Livestock holding? This is pathetic! What is wrong with you people? Hey! Hey, you can't be in here! Mr. Holloway, you need to leave right now, sir. - [Dan] No! - Have it your way. I have right to see what kind of environment you people brought my dogs into. They're getting better care here than you ever gave them. The hell they are! You've got a dozen pups in here without their immunizations and they're being exposed to other dogs in a place used for livestock! That's how disease spreads! We are being very careful. But there's another 24 that haven't had their full round of immunizations yet! At least look at their records! We have everything under control. - The hell you do! - You need to leave! And what kind of crap are you people feeding them? - Hey, I brought that myself! - Well, it's garbage! You'd be better off feeding them the bag! Daniel, stop it! Just stop it! - No! - Mr. Holloway, you need to leave. - Let go of him! - Sir! You need to calm down! McConnell, you don't know what the hell you're doing! [gasping] - Daddy? - Daniel! Daniel! - Dad! - Daniel! Call 9-1-1! 5-KING-28, I need a paramedic to my location. I've got an adult male down, he is unconscious. We're gonna have to take him to the hospital, have the doctor take a look at him. Make sure that he's okay. Wait, wait, wait. You're in charge. Please tell me he's okay. They're gonna take him to the hospital and run some tests. My mom just wants the family there, so can you get the truck home? Yeah. [reporter] Right now, inside this barn, 86 dogs are getting check-ups, food and water after the United Animal Protection Agency took them from what they called a puppy mill. This video, provided by the UAPA shows what officials from the organization are calling unsanitary conditions. [Scott] We found these dogs in absolutely horrible conditions. Living in dilapidated buildings, walking around in their own urine, their own feces. A lot of sharp objects, too. On a scale of one to ten, this is definitely a nine. [Jackie] We're giving each animal a full examination for signs of abuse, neglect, malnutrition, or any other physical trauma they may have received. We'll continue to provide care for these animals as long as the investigation continues. We're providing volunteers scheduled on a daily basis. And that's a schedule that will remain in place until the case is resolved. I'm Michael Ames reporting for KLO TV News from Marshfield. Hey. I have to tell you something. What's going on? Sara, are you happy? I hope whatever you got out of all this is worth it. Ask her, Will... if she knows the people that came in here and took away all of our dogs. Do you know them? This whole time? I was sent here to just look at your operation, to make sure that everything was safe and in order. And was it? Or should I say, is it now? My husband, their father, is lying in there on his back! Is everything in order? No, I'm... I'm so sorry. Let me be a witness, okay? Let me go to them. Let me tell them what I've seen here, because nothing that you've done - is in violation of any law. - I thought you were my friend! I am. It was not supposed to happen like this, I swear! It was not... We don't stand for this! We? Who are we? I want you to say it. I want you to be honest with us. Who do you work for? I... work for the United Animal Protection Agency. I want you to pack up your things and get out of here! Please. - Just go. - No, please. - Just go. - Stop, just give me... Go! Hi, I'm Katie Simpson. You've seen me sing my heart out onstage for years, but my heart really belongs to these innocent animals. Every day, helpless animals are abused, beaten, and neglected, and they're crying out for help. Please call the number on your screen with a monthly gift to the UAPA right now. You'll help rescue animals from their abusers and provide medical care, food, shelter and love. Right now there's an animal that needs you... and your call says, "I'm here to help." I love it. I'm gonna get Hannah to put it on the air right away. I bet this is gonna double our revenue from the last spot. Hey, superstar! Wait until you see our new commercial. It is gonna go viral! Oh, and you're never gonna believe who called me this morning. The chairman of the Senate Animal Welfare Committee. He called me! It turns out that this is the largest puppy mill takedown in state history! This is gonna do huge things for us. We've really got his attention. He is pushing for hearings! I mean, better late than never. At this point, we can get anything we want, because of you. Trevor doctored that video. Director of operations, your own office, an expense account. Did you not hear what I just said? Do you want me to give this promotion to somebody else? Trevor created a lie. He destroyed a family, Cassie. He took away their way of life, their reputation. I think they did this to themselves. I have spent a lot of time with that family, Cassie, and Daniel loves those dogs the way he loves his children. He's also the single biggest opponent to Prop 12, and the video wasn't the only evidence! Trevor and Scott were both at his farm and said the conditions were deplorable. Some of the worst they have ever seen. That is a lie! I was there! I was there for weeks! - It's a difference of opinion. - Of fact, Cassie, not opinion! These "facts" that you're disputing, are they in any way influenced by your relationship with Holloway's son? Jackie says that the two of you are quite cozy. Will and I are just... I mean... This is a small victory for the millions of animals who don't have a voice. Think about them. No matter the collateral damage? Yeah, because the war goes on. And I need my soldiers committed 100 percent. This is not what I signed up for. Okay. [man] Trevor, congratulations! [Trevor] Thank you. I appreciate this opportunity. I'm going. Well, I think we should get away, right? Go somewhere. The Ettingers asked us to come down for the long weekend, and Margaret's in town. What about that? Mom, Margaret and I were friends in, like, the sixth grade. [sighing] Well, it's just an idea. [father] It's a good idea. Honey, how did the interview for Daggett go? Fine. Just fine, or...? Uh, it went well, very well. Well, do you think they're gonna make an offer, or...? Probably. Probably. That's fantastic! That is great news. Look, we should... Okay, guys, can we just stop doing this, please? Stop pretending like nothing just happened. Because I just let a lot of people down. [crying softly] - Baby... it's not your fault. - No, it was wrong, Mom. That entire farm, that has been in their family for generations, and they could lose everything, and... I'm just supposed to sit here and have dinner and pretend like nothing happened and I can't, because it was wrong. Honey... [line ringing] [recorded] You've reached Will Holloway, leave a message. [sniffling] No, Mom, the interview's at 11:00. Yes, I have plenty of time. [news anchor] In California, charges have been officially filed in the case of a Marshfield breeder suspected of running a "puppy mill." 54-year-old Daniel Holloway has been charged with 86 counts of inhumane treatment of animals. If convicted, he faces life in prison, one year for each count. The United Animal Protection Agency and New Beginnings Animal Shelter raided his property last month after an anonymously-posted video showed Holloway beating a dog to death. The organization had long suspected Holloway of selling sick animals. Because if I do nothing, I won't be able to live with myself. Yes, just enough for the plane ticket, I promise. Thank you, Dad. I love you. And Dr. Reddick, what did you find upon examining the dogs that were seized at the Holloway property? They were living in absolute squalor. They didn't have adequate food or water. Many were lying in their own feces. Upon further inspection at the county fairgrounds, we found 32 of the dogs were infested with roundworms. You don't need my expertise. You just need common sense. Five people can't provide adequate care to 100 dogs. That's the very definition of negligence. Thank you. No further questions, Your Honor. Doctor Laughton, aren't you, Doctor Dale and Doctor Reddick all members of the UAPA's board of directors? Yes. But we're also veterinarians with 60 years of combined experience. Is it the UAPA's stance on dog breeding, even though it's completely legal, that it just shouldn't exist? Yes. Thank you, nothing further. [people yelling, jeering] Please, back off. Folks, back off. Look, I know you probably want nothing to do with me. Let me help... please! We're in a "battle of experts." And judges and juries naturally tend to side with experts. These "experts" are nailing us to the wall. Okay, so what if we bring in our own experts? We have, but they're money, they're big money and we can't afford that. We're already having to sell the back hundred... with the horses. No choice. What if I took the stand? Your involvement with Will damages your credibility. Okay, then what do we do to win? Just one way: we attack their credibility. So, it comes down to Prop 12, the puppy mill reform bill. Your dad is a target because he's the opposition's loudest voice. If they discredit him, they discredit the opposition and they win. - Case closed. - "Puppy mill reform?" Yeah. Prop 12, it does things like make it illegal to keep animals in cages with wire floors. It would put the Tanners out of business, so I don't get why - your dad wouldn't want that. - You don't need new laws to put people like the Tanners away. They're in violation of dozens of existing animal welfare laws. Proposition 12 puts breeders like them and breeders like us in the same category. It'll put an end to breeding. That's what the bill is designed to do, and that's why my father's against it. Where are we going, by the way? - To see Jackie. - Why? Shelter's out of food. Can't afford to care for all the dogs. What do you mean? I don't know, not enough donations. Donations? I... All right, you can have these two and then that's it. We're closed, you need to go. No, we still need to see the Border Collie. Uh, I don't have time for you to go back there now. That's ridiculous, I don't understand what the big deal is. Yeah, she's our house dog. Just let her see her. [Sara] Jackie, it'll take a minute. She's with her foster family. Wait, what? You fostered dogs out? - We had no choice. - What about her pups? We're running low on food. That's impossible, the UAPA gives you food. Let me see your inventory list. You got an inventory list, don't you? We're run by part-time volunteers, people who give us their time. Vincent and I, we do our best. Those dogs are evidence in a trial. I'm sorry, but you're done here. - [Sara] What would they have done with them? - [Will] I don't know. The shelter, they run these adoption fairs at local pet stores in town. Maybe they took them there. But those dogs are state evidence, so wouldn't giving them away be considered obstruction of justice? Negligence? We'd, uh... We'd have to prove it. Miss McConnell advised us not to buy a dog from Mr. Holloway. [prosecutor] Really? Did she say why? Mm-hm, said he was running a puppy mill. I didn't listen and I bought a dog from Mr. Holloway anyway. What then? Two weeks later the dog got really sick. It had loss of appetite, fatigue, diarrhea, all symptoms of the Parvo virus. What happened then? We took the dog to Miss McConnell's animal shelter, where it tested positive for Parvo. Were you upset? Of course. I had just paid $1,000 for this dog. It should have had all of its shots. Mr. Morton, what happened to your dog? We had to euthanize him. Miss McConnell recommended it. [prosecutor] Thank you. When a dog is vaccinated for the Parvo virus, it may test positive for the virus, because of the vaccine. What about the dog's symptoms? The dog may have had a type of common hookworm, which is treatable and not life threatening. That dog should have been tested for worms before it was euthanized. Then, why did you refund Mr. Morton's money? Because my son wasn't 100 percent certain that he had finished the last round of shots. Without an autopsy, we couldn't be certain what the dog died from. Now, of course, we want our customers to be satisfied. We take great pride in our work. Thank you, nothing further. - Redirect, your Honor? - Proceed. So, Mrs. Holloway, your son admitted to possible negligence and took responsibility for the death of Mr. Morton's dog? Is that correct? - Uh, yes, but... - Mrs. Holloway, are you a licensed veterinarian? Due to certain health issues at home, I let my certification lapse, but I... - Thank you, nothing further. - Sir, if I may! We love animals. I used to work at a shelter. That's why I became a vet. Why... Thank you! Thank you, Mrs. Holloway, nothing further! Yeah, we gave away 12. I'm gonna need those addresses. Where did you get the dog? I got him at a shelter. I'm really sorry, but he's private property and we're gonna have to take him back. I don't understand, why would somebody give him to me if he belonged to somebody else? Did you adopt a German Wirehair from the shelter recently? Yeah, I did. I'm with UAPA, the dog was given to you by mistake, and we're going to need to take him back. You're with who? That makes five. This is footage of the raid on the Holloway farm, shot by the UAPA. Notice the dogs are clean, well cared for, well fed, and not in distress. Mr. Joiner, if you claim to be an expert in this field, how can you rate these dogs as a "nine," in a scale of one to ten, ten being the worst? The dogs were skittish... poorly socialized. I saw skin infections, eye infections... parasites. Come on, Mr. Joiner, out of 100 dogs, only six had minor diseases. Common ailments that were already being treated. Two of which had distemper. The two dogs with distemper were quarantined properly and on their way to a full recovery, before your raid. - That's it, right? - Yeah. Okay, then that makes 29 dogs unaccounted for. So where'd they go? I don't know, but this is negligence. Yeah, they got rid of state's evidence. You can't prove it was intentional. Well, why not? Because this is an organization run by volunteers. Non-professionals. They could argue that those types of people will make mistakes. So what if we tied someone who is a professional into it? That could help. What are you thinking? Mr. Holloway, have you ever abused your dogs? Never. And hookworms, roundworms, pinworms... are any of these things life-threatening to your animals? No, not so long as proper de-worming protocols are followed, - which is what we do. - Even with your family dog? Of course. Where is your family dog, Mr. Holloway? My family dog, Delilah, was taken from my home by UAPA, along with her newborn litter. [attorney] Do you know where your dogs are now? No, I don't. Nothing further, thank you. [judge] Your witness, Mr. Landon. [Landon] Your Honor. Mr. Holloway... have you ever killed an animal in a cruel fashion? Of course, not. Ladies and gentlemen, please direct your attention to the monitor. Mr. Holloway... That video is a lie! It was altered, as we've explained before! That isn't the question. I just want to know, is that you hitting the dog with the shovel or not? - Objection! - I'll allow it. Answer the question, Mr. Holloway. That dog got into my yard accidentally, and was threatening to attack my daughter. Who is conveniently off-screen, or so you claim. No, that dog, it was threatening my family. And yes, I did, and if I had to do it again, I would! Well, that sounds like the actions of a very violent individual! - Objection! - Mr. Landon! No, you'd do the same thing, I'm sure! I'm not the one on trial here, Mr. Holloway! - Objection! - Mr. Landon! Order! Order! I have nothing further. I am putting us into a 30-minute recess and I want to see both of the counsels in my chambers now! [people shouting, jeering] [Sara] Can I talk to you for a minute? Can't. I just want to go inside. It won't take long. No. No way. Can't. Then can you tell me why 29 of the Holloway dogs are completely unaccounted for? I'm not talking to you. You know what I think? I think you know what happened to them, and I think you're a good person and you want to help me. My wife's not well. I can't afford to lose this job. So you think it's okay to let an innocent man sit in jail for the rest of his life? Couple weeks ago, we lost the fairground location. Had to bring the Holloway dogs here. There's usually only 50 dogs in there. With the Holloway dogs, there were 150. They were on top of one another. Didn't have enough food to feed them. So tell me what did you did. I... I just need you to understand that it's tough for me to find work. Why's that? Done time, that's all, it's just tough. Oh, my God, what is that smell? Vincent, where are we? We're here. Vincent? Vincent! [Vincent] Over here! Parvo killed a dozen of them overnight. Had to put down the rest. Jackie, she didn't know what to do. Some bigwig from UAPA called and said for me to dump them. Jackie told me to do as she said. I was part of a dog training program in prison. [voice breaking] Dogs helped turn my life around. I couldn't do it. I couldn't just toss 'em up there with all the other trash. So I gave them a proper burial... right here. Vincent, what happened to the Collie? Caught kennel cough from another dog. She's gone. And her puppies? I'm not sure. [crying] I'm sorry. Hey, Hannah, it's Sara. You ready to make a real difference? [Cassie] So what made you change your mind? I am so sorry about our last conversation, and I have learned a lot in all of this. Hmm. Like what? Well, I went to Jackie's animal shelter, and it hit me that even with all of the money that UAPA has given her, she still couldn't take care of those animals. That's right. I just didn't realize how important the organization really is. The organization is the only thing that matters, Sara. I know, I know, I guess what I mean is... that makes sense to me now. - She said she'll be here. - She better be. [attorney] You have been an animal control officer for how long? Five years. Do you consider yourself an expert in the field of animal care? Yes, I do. During the raid, you used a UAPA truck to transport Mr. Holloway's dog. That same truck had been used in previous rescues to transport diseased animals, correct? Yes. Was the truck properly disinfected before the raid on the Holloway farm? I'm sure the UAPA team took care of that. Do you have any records to support this? No. And the barn at the county Fairgrounds, it's frequently used to store livestock. Were proper bio-security measures taken there? The Holloway dogs were in such bad shape that those measures weren't necessary. Upon seizure, how many of Mr. Holloway's dogs tested positive for the Parvo virus? How many? None. Hm... how many died while they were under your care? [Landon] Objection! Your Honor, Miss McConnell is not on trial here. This question is directly relevant to the credibility of the witness's claim that she's an expert on animal care. Overruled. Please answer that question, Miss McConnell. I will repeat, how many of Mr. Holloway's dogs died while in your care? How many? I don't know what you're talking about. You're under oath, Miss McConnell! I'll do the math for you: 29 dogs died, 29! - Objection! - Overruled. Quiet! Order! Order! We have autopsy reports here of all 29 dogs, most of whom contracted and died of the Parvo virus while under your care. It's extremely common and very contagious! Did you vaccinate the dogs for Parvo? No, there wasn't time and we didn't have the resources. - Why? - We were overwhelmed. Promises are made and then broken. - It happens all the time... - By who? Who made these promises? [sighs] The UAPA. [crowd murmuring] Quiet. Do you believe that dog breeding should be allowed? Absolutely not! That's what this was about, wasn't it? To shut my client down by any means possible, as dictated to you by the UAPA, even if it meant committing the same crime that you're accusing him of? Objection! Your Honor, objection! Sustained. Your Honor, permission to approach the bench. I would like to submit People's Exhibit D into evidence. Your Honor, the state has no knowledge of any new evidence. Permission granted. You're gonna love this. The organization is the only thing that matters, Sara. I know, I know and I guess what I mean is... that makes sense to me now. We can't be in the business of finding a home for every stray. Yeah, we attack from the top. At the root cause. And if animals are destroyed along the way, then so be it. Yeah, we are focused on the bigger picture. Our job is to raise awareness. It's a numbers game. We can't throw away money on animals that are never gonna find a home. Right. Then let me ask you something. Why is it that we pretend to care about actual animals? I mean, we beg for donations and then basically trick people into thinking they're really saving animals? I checked with accounting. You didn't give a single cent to Jackie to care for the Holloway dogs. Sara, we spend our resources changing legislation. That helps millions of animals. It's where we can make the most difference. We raised a hundred and sixty million dollars last year. You have no idea how much money it costs to get a bill passed through the Senate. [Sara] I also found this. The Holloway press release... so what? It's dated three days before the raid. Three days before anybody set foot on their property. We write early drafts all the time. Yeah, but this draft is almost identical to what was released. "Dogs living in their own feces, looking skittish, underfed." If any of that were true, I would have reported it to you and you know it! But no, you were going in no matter what. Oh... you are free to leave any time. Oh, I'm not done. This is the best part. See, I can prove that you ordered a shelter employee to get rid of dogs you didn't provide care for. You let the Holloway dogs die and then made them disappear. Man, I wonder how that'd go over at your next fundraiser? Hmm. Well played. There's the real Sara underneath your cutesy smile. Okay. Forget everything you know, and you'll get your big promotion, a corner office, an expense account, you name it. Make all this disappear. [Sara] You would love that, wouldn't you? But see then that would make me exactly like you. I will never be like you. We are done here. Brad? I think we have a problem. Can you take this to accounting and find out who has been talking to Sara Gold? Of course. And close the door on your way out. - No problem. - Thank you. Oh, it's the Holloway case. She's not letting it go. We find the defendant, Daniel Holloway, - not guilty, on all counts. - [gasping] [Liz sobbing] [Dan] Come here. Thank you. It's the least I could do. I'm so sorry. Mr. Holloway. Mr. Holloway, Mike Ames, KOL-TV. How do you feel about the verdict? Very grateful that the Holloway family name has finally been cleared. And that justice has been served. - I'm very tired. - Let's go home, Daddy. Let's go home. Come here, come on. Good boy, that's a good boy. [laughing] Good boy. [laughing] Good boy. That's a good boy. Yes, we did it. - [barking] - Heel, boy. Come on, heel. |
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