JERIE DENE SMITH CLICK, a Great Dane breeder, arrested after puppy dies from Parvo
- voiceforus
- Mar 8, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 18, 2022
- Alabama, USA -
~ Update on April 18, 2022
All three misdemeanor animal cruelty charges against 53-years-old JERIE DENE SMITH CLICK, a Great Dane breeder, have been dismissed.
Walker County, District Judge Henry Prentiss Allred also ordered that CLICK’s seized dogs be returned to her.
CLICK was arrested in February on three counts of second-degree animal cruelty and 16 dogs were seized.
According to charging documents, on February 7, CLICK failed to properly seek veterinarian care for three Great Dane puppies to prevent illness/disease or to treat illness/disease causing injuries to the dogs’ health.
The charges stemmed from an investigation that was launched following the death of a puppy named Apollo sold by CLICK to a Kimberlee King.
The trial of the case began on April 5, 2022, and then continued and reset to resume April 11, 2022.
As reported by AL.com, one of the state’s witnesses, veterinarian Dr. Brandt Tolbert, testified that Apollo was infested with “very common” roundworms and parvo virus. According to Dr. Tolbert, there was “no neglect” on the part of the CLICK in Apollo’s plight.
CLICK was represented by attorney Garve W. Ivey, III of The Ivey Law Firm and the State of Alabama was represented by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Burgett.
In a Facebook post, Ivey wrote: “After hearing from two witnesses and the introduction of numerous exhibits, the State of Alabama, through their counsel Mr. Burgett, ultimately chose to make a motion that the Court dismiss the case. The Court granted the State's motion and in the Order on granting the motion, the Court stated that it “finds that the evidence and testimony (including the testimony of the State's own expert witness) presented thus far, overwhelmingly support a conclusion that the Defendant provided proper care for the puppies referenced in the complaint.”
Ivey also stated that “the claims made against his client were clearly false.”
The end of Ivey’s Facebook post reads: “I have to believe that the frenzy of the opinions of key-board warriors on social media, the news media attention and the like, placed such pressure on the local law enforcement and Humane Society that they chose to turn a blind eye to the actual facts. It is important to remember that the State, themselves, made the motion to dismiss when it became apparent through the State's own expert that no abuse had occurred. My client was terribly mistreated by the system in this case, but we are grateful for the outcome.”
While attorney Ivey believes that his client was “terribly mistreated”, let’s not forget the REAL VICTIM in all this, a VOICELESS VICTIM who was not in court taking the stand to tell HIS version of the story!
I loathe people who “purchase” lives instead of “rescuing” them!
I loathe breeders who make a profit out of innocent lives!
~ Original story:
The death of an innocent dog prompted the Walker County Sheriff’s Office to launch an investigation which resulted in the arrest of 53-years-old JERIE DENE SMITH CLICK, a Great Dane breeder of Alabama Danes.
SMITH CLICK is charged with three counts of second-degree animal cruelty.
It all started when Kimberlee King purchased a puppy, whom she named Apollo, for her 2-year-old son Grayson. King had bought Apollo in February through Alabama Danes for $2,000.
King showed CBS 42 handwritten vet records for vaccinations, deworming, and medical records that she said were provided to her after purchasing Apollo.
However, King told CBS 42 that after she bought Apollo, SMITH CLICK contacted her to let her know that other dogs had Parvo and that she should take Apollo to the vet.
King then took Apollo to the vet and she learned that the furbaby was sick and also had worms.
King told CBS 42: “My vet told me that if the parvo doesn’t kill him, the worms definitely could kill him.”
According to King, Alabama Danes paid around $1,300 to cover the cost for Apollo’s first vet deposit, but communication stopped as the puppy’s condition worsened.
King explained to CBS 42 that the vet called her to let her know that CLICK SMITH had called to dispute the charge and to say that she was no longer covering the medical expenses.
At that point King called SMITH CLICK but the breeder did not answer.
Apollo lost his precious life on February 11.
King decided to post details about Apollo’s story online and other families contacted her with similar stories about the same breeder.
The Walker County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies are working to determine if other people may have purchased dogs that got sick during the ongoing investigation
CBS 42 reached out to SMITH CLICK’s attorney Click’s attorney, Garve Ivey III but he was unable to comment on any details because of the pending criminal charges.
SMITH CLICK, of Quinton, was arrested on Wednesday, February 23.
She was released after posting a $300 bond!
Court records filed in Walker County District Court, accuse SMITH CLICK of failing to properly seek veterinary care for 3 Great Dane puppies to prevent illness/disease or to treat illness/disease causing the three dogs injuries to their health.
Investigators with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office confirmed 16 other dogs were seized and the case is ongoing.
Despite the numerous “Adopt, don’t shop” campaigns to bring public awareness to the plight of homeless animals and to encourage prospective furparents to adopt from animal shelters and rescue groups as opposed to buying furbabies from breeders, pet shops, on-line retailers and so on, there are still people who totally disregard the important message!
Voice For Us feels that the death of Apollo is ALSO the result of plain ignorance!
Voice For Us Disclaimer: This story is sourced from official news outlets. Links included.
Details may be removed or additional information may be provided in future should such sources report an update.
Sources:
Pictures shared from Alabama Pet Alert and The Great Danes public groups.
Prayers for Apollo. RIP wee pup. Lectures & condemnation for the breeder as well as the buyer. So many pups are waiting in shelters for forever homes…breeders must be shut down!