Welcome to Dane Outreach

After Pierce County seized the dogs and all the puppies were born, Dane Outreach ended up caring for 9 adults and 25 Great Dane puppies for over seven months, while the criminal case against their “breeder” wound its way through court. We are a small group with about five foster homes. The needs of these dogs and puppies came close to overwhelming us. Throughout this major effort, Dane Outreach had to also place the other Danes who of course continued to come into our program the “usual” way, through shelters or owner surrender.

We could never have done it without the amazingly generous support of dozens of people who gave however they could, donating time, care, food, supplies, transport, and money to help in this effort.

Bernadette Vohs, (a/k/a Jackie Greatsinger, Bernadette Beyers, Jackie Vohs, and others), doing business as "Greatsinger Great Danes" was arrested by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department and released on bail. Approximately 15 dogs (2-3 Danes and several other breeds) are seized by Animal Control due to their physical and/or living conditions. (Breeds were Danes, Saint Bernards, English & French Bulldogs, Miniature Poodles, Miniature Dachshunds, Yorkshire Terrier, Pug, and a Scottie-mix.

The remaining dogs then on Vohs’ property are confiscated. A total of about 35 dogs owned by her are held in the Tacoma Humane Society. At this time, Dane Outreach is told there were 12 adult Danes and a 5-week old litter of eight. The Humane Society would not release the Danes to us at that time, pending permission from the Auditor’s Office (in charge of Animal Control) and the Pierce County Prosecutor’s office.

Dane Outreach is notified that we can now take the Danes into foster care, as criminal charges against Vohs were pending (and the Danes were having puppies). The Humane Society was overloaded with these dogs, and knew it would be a while before they could be adopted. (No one knew it would be over six months!) By this time there was a second Dane litter of 12 puppies who were one-week old.

Vohs sets a court hearing for 8/9 to get her dogs back because no charges have been filed against her.

Morning: Dane Outreach is notified that the remaining three adult bitches are also pregnant. Afternoon: Another litter (7 ) is born.

[During the next three weeks: Dane Outreach goes into “high-speed overdrive” trying to find foster homes in order to get the Danes out of the shelter. We needed experienced people who could take nursing bitches/litters, and who could whelp the new litters -- another 15-20 puppies were anticipated -- and also take the other (non-housebroken) adults and the older litter. We were very fortunate to find wonderful people with very generous hearts to take everyone, including the puppies and pregnant girls.]

Two misdemeanor charges are filed against Vohs in District (lower) Court: One charge of “second-degree animal cruelty” and one “no kennel license” charge. (Felony charges are pending.) The dogs are still legally owned by Vohs, but remain in the County’s custody -- and in our foster homes. Filing the charges cancels her Aug. 9 scheduled hearing to get the dogs back. Meanwhile, the remaining two Dane bitches whelp, one litter has four of eight surviving, none of the 16 in the other litter survive.

Felony charges are filed against Vohs in Pierce County Superior Court: Ten counts of fraud (One count 1^st degree theft; nine counts 2^nd degree theft); one count of doing business on a revoked business license.

9/6/07
Vohs is arraigned. Schedules another hearing for return of dogs to her, argument is that they were illegally / improperly seized. (Motion is re-scheduled twice.) Trial is set for 11/21. Dane Outreach finds foster homes for the 25 puppies that are now old enough to leave their littermates and go out to individual homes.

Vohs’ Motion for Return of Dogs is heard: Vohs’ attorney argues: Seizure was illegal, dogs were not neglected and state can't seize just for lack of county kennel license. The State argues : The state “felony forfeiture” law allows (temporary) seizure of property “used or intended to be used in a felony, until disposition (trial). The argument continued on 11/5, 11/8 and 11/30. (Trial is re-set for 12/3/07)

The judge denies Vohs' motion to get her dogs back, ruling that the seizures (15 dogs on 6/21/07 for neglect; 20 dogs on 6/27/07 due to “use in a felony”) by the county/state was legal. New trial date of 1/28/08 is set.

Media reports reveals the shelter board bill (which taxpayers will pay) is over $90,000. [Search on “Greatsinger” and “Vohs” in the Tacoma News Tribune (www.thenewstribune.com), KING 5 TV www.king5.com and KOMO TV www.komotv.com website for this story and related reports.]

Vohs requests that the dogs be sold and the proceeds credited towards what she owes the County for the board bill at the Humane Society. Judge Grant agrees to “protect the taxpayers” and orders that the “dogs be sold on the Internet to maximize the proceeds.” The County prosecutor tells the judge that it was not legal for the County to sell pets like that but the Order is entered. Neither the Auditor, the Sheriff, nor the Tacoma Humane Society (nor Dane Outreach!) wants them sold, of course – most of them have been in the same foster homes for months, and those homes are waiting to adopt them. A plan is made by the County to obtain appraisals of the dogs, to avoid their actual “sale.” All the foster homes and Dane Outreach rush to supply photos and information.

2/22/08
Vohs enters a plea deal, pleading guilty to six felonies and one count misdemeanor animal cruelty. She is barred from buying or selling any dogs for ten years. She also is under "house arrest" for a month, 30 days in jail (suspended), and will pay restitution in amount determined at a restitution hearing.

The State (County) requests Judge Grant to cancel her Order to Sell the dogs but she refuses.

2/29/08
Judge Grant reviews appraisals of the dogs, in which AKC judges give their opinion on the “fair market value” of each dog. The appraisals persuade the Judge that their health makes a sale impractical, they area worth very little, and that it is not in the best welfare of the dogs. She cancels the sale Order.

3/3/08
No longer under an order to sell them, Pierce County transfers ownership of the dogs to the Tacoma Humane Society.

3/5/08
The Humane Society transfers ownership of the Danes to Dane Outreach. Dane Outreach is FINALLY able to start altering, micro-chipping and ADOPTING out the 34 Danes they have been caring for over the last seven months!! Lots of VERY happy (and exhausted) people and dogs!!!

Restitution hearing scheduled.

5/23/08

On May 23, Judge Grant ordered that Bernadette Vohs (a/k/a/ Jackie Greatsinger) pay restitution of $113,000 to the County (for care costs of the seized dogs) and $6,000 to the people named as victims in the fraud charges. The Judge "credited" her with $15,000 towards that bill (about $300/dog) for the value of the dogs that were seized.

The story does not really end here. Most of the Greatsinger Danes were adopted by the specially-recruited foster families who cared for them all this time, but Dane Outreach still needs to find just the right homes for a few. The need for education about “backyard breeders” and “puppy-millers” certainly does not end here. Dane Outreach will continue its mission to help educate people about Danes, their needs, and how to find a reputable breeder. And, of course, we will continue to help place Danes who need new owners into just the right “forever home.” To accomplish this, we will continue to need your support.

The Humane Society remained responsible for food and basic veterinary costs of the Danes, which totaled over $14,000, while they were owned by the County and were in Dane Outreach foster homes. But Dane Outreach wishes to thank the Great Dane Club of America, many local veterinarians, and the many individuals who also contributed to handle the “special needs” costs incurred by these dogs.