Rally to Have Roxie the Rottweiler Removed from Owner
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From animal rights activists, to concerned citizens.
"There's a lot of strength in public pressure and we're hoping to see some change,” said Diane Digavio of Webster.
After writing e-mails and making phone calls, this group decided to deliver its message in person.
Roxie is a Rottweiler, a dog most of these people didn't know until three weeks ago, when a video was posted on YouTube. It’s evidence, some say, that Roxie is being mistreated.
"In the, video it shows him saying he's going to use a shock collar, and he's going to use physical force,” said Mark Patrick, an animal behaviorist. “So if she's abused this way, she herself will turn aggressive."
Since Roxie's owner is an Irondequoit police officer, this group took its concerns directly to the town board, submitting a petition with 2,600 signatures.
"We basically want him to turn Roxie over to a local rescue group,” one person said.
“We have done what we can within the limits of the law," said town supervisor Mary Joyce D'Aurizio, (R).
D’Aurizio says a complete and thorough investigation was conducted by the Monroe County Humane Society. After viewing the video, obtaining additional video evidence, conducting interviews and examining Roxie, the Humane Society found no evidence of animal cruelty.
Because the video was clearly edited, D'Aurizio says it's open to interpretation.
"We really had to leave it up to the pros who deal that,” she said.
While investigators at Lollypop Farm say they found the video "disturbing," they are not able to legally remove Roxie from her owner.
With more than 15,000 hits on YouTube, some say this matter is far from over.
Whether or not the law was broken, this group is determined to hold Roxie's owner accountable.
"This is a person who's defending our constitutional rights and, quite frankly, I don't know if I feel safe."
The Irondequoit Police Department released a statement saying it respects the Humane Society's independent findings, but Chief Richard Boyan told YNN off camera his department is continuing to review the matter.