Dolly Spice- Jones 🌱🎵

.@jonesbrendanm Kennel stress is real. It is the severe psychological and physical strain dogs can experience when confined in unfamiliar, restrictive environments—especially when they are isolated and taken away from the life and people they know. Kennel stress can kill—especially older dogs. Lucy is 11 years old. The average lifespan for Canaan breeds is 12. It’s been five weeks. We are wasting time! She did nothing wrong.
We did nothing wrong.
And yet we are the ones being treated like criminals. My husband is facing jail time. I’m facing having to raise four children alone if he is taken. Where is the justice? The emotional and psychological toll this has taken on me is unfathomable. Lucy is our protector. She is the reason I was no longer scared staying alone for months at time during my husband’s deployments. She is the reason I felt comfortable leaving our babies at home with a sitter when I had to leave for training while I served in the USAF. She is the reason our homestead is successful. She has saved the lives of countless of our farm animals from fox, hawks and bears. She is faithful, loving and brave! She served our family faithfully and well. And now, all she knows is that she hasn’t seen us for FIVE weeks. Does she think we abandoned her? Does she think the younger dogs took over her job so we just cast her aside? Does she think we sent her there to die? It enrages me beyond words that this can happen to an ordinary family who has never done anything but mind their own business. A collar mishap and barking that took place our own property—oh the horrors! How much of a coward do you have to be to call the authorities for such a thing? How much more of a coward do you have to be to take an elderly dog from her home and family for that? This has to stop. Lucy should be home, riding in the truck with her daddy, or running with Lex in her fields diligently keeping an eye out for hawks. She should be singing songs with me while I practice my music. (She loves to sing, and Lex always joins in. The singing has all but stopped since she was taken. And it is beyond heartbreaking) WE NEED YOU! Please sign our petition and call the courts to help bring Lucy home!! We also have a GiveSendGo for those who feel led to help with the legal costs we’re still facing. We are still in this fight, and it is YOU who can make a change and help demand the release of Lucy back where she belongs! As always, thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. We are only here because so many of you were moved by my husband’s story and Lucy’s story, and we are forever grateful from the bottom of our hearts! BRING LUCY HOME!! ⬇️ Court phone numbers, petition and legal funding links in comments! #saveLucy

@OneLastBark @jonesbrendanm Thank you!

@jonesbrendanm @Herb_Minstrel I just realized I didn’t hit the follow button, while I have been reading your posts and praying for you from the first time I read it. I just fixed it, following you now.

Today was a rollercoaster. @Herb_Minstrel and I went on air with #SeanHannity to talk about our fight to #SaveLucy. That was one of the highest honors of my lifetime. Thank you, Sean. Then I spoke with the DA. That was also an honor, but the experience was more difficult. I can honestly that she's the kind of DA I wish we had more of in America. That said, Lucy remains in her cell. I have a strong feeling, however, that I'll be posting a story someday soon in which the DA will feature as one of the heroes. Sad that Lucy is not back, but still moving forward. Will write more about both experiences, but for now I'm emotionally spent. Sorrowful, but still rejoicing. #SaveLucy

@lookyhere123 Never surrender!!

@Herb_Minstrel Never Give Up.

We were hopeful for Lucy’s release today. That did not happen. So tonight, we are still waiting. Still praying. Still fighting. But things do seem to be moving in the right direction for Lucy, and for that, I am so grateful. That said, today was also deeply eye-opening for me. And not in a good way. Photos were brought up today of one of our dogs from a fight between our two Pyrenees littermate brothers that happened years ago on our property—a situation completely unrelated to Lucy or anyone else. It should be noted that littermate aggression, especially before neutering, is a common issue in dogs. These were rescue dogs from a poor breeding situation, and based on advice from experienced breeders, we delayed neutering in hopes of allowing for better physical development and reducing future joint and hip problems. Those photos were taken entirely out of context, without my knowledge or consent, and were being used as evidence against us. (I’ll quickly note that those dogs have long-since been neutered and are just a couple of big teddy bears.) When I questioned how it is legal for neighbors to photograph our property and animals, I was told they absolutely can surveil and report whatever they see fit. It was even suggested they should given the circumstances. I honestly had no words. To sit there feeling like we are some sort of violent criminals who need to be monitored by self-appointed watchdog neighbors was beyond infuriating. We were called liars. Told we had “misrepresented” Lucy’s story. Told it was all our fault Lucy is locked away and that we had let her down. Told we were wrong for allowing this to gain attention on social media. We simply told our story and it resonated with people. I’m not sure how you could fault us for that. But, let me reiterate clearly, once again, because we have always been transparent: Lucy was involved in fights with two dogs over a decade, years apart, with the most recent being over a year ago. We were horrified. We paid the vet bills. We took responsibility. Then, about a year ago, shortly after surgery, while heavily medicated, in pain, and wearing a cone, Lucy bit a passing jogger after slipping loose. It was a terrible situation, one we also took full responsibility for, paid the ER bills, and deeply apologized. This occurrence is what set the dangerous dog declaration into motion. Agreeing to that dangerous dog declaration is what gave them the power to take Lucy after a brief leash slip. We were told for the first time today, that had she been muzzled, we wouldn’t be in this situation. It’s that simple. The terrifying part in all of this is not that we are pretending mistakes never happened. It’s that isolated moments and selective images can apparently be used to create a false story about a family while years of responsible ownership are completely ignored. Neighbors have spent years gossiping, sharing photos, creating text chains and Facebook groups, and pushing false narratives about our family, and we are being told there is little protection against it. Because while there may not be laws against cruel, invasive, or obsessive behavior, there certainly seem to be plenty of laws waiting for families to make a mistake. Imagine living under the feeling that every movement on your property is being watched and documented to potentially be weaponized against you. It is deeply disturbing. That said, I truly do believe the DA has Lucy’s best interest at heart and we remain hopeful she will be returned to us. If you continue contacting the Commonwealths Attorney’s office, please remain kind. I beg you. We are still standing. We are still fighting. And we believe Lucy is coming home. Please continue praying for Lucy’s release, for our family, and for my emotional and mental well-being. This has been incredibly heavy to carry. Change needs to happen. It will happen. And I believe Lucy’s story is going to help bring it. We miss her so much! #savelucy

I really agree with all of it. I have been trying to figure out a way to get out of here since six months after we moved into what was supposed to be our forever home. It has truly been that miserable since that early on. I hate even putting that out there because I know if “they”read it, it will give them nothing but joy.

This is sickening, but i’m afraid as others have commented, this isn’t going to stop with Lucy. It seems by what you’re sharing they aren’t going to stop. It could be in the future one of your other pets. You have to do what’s best for your family but if you can find a way to move.

@KristinaJulia2 I will, thank you!!

@Herb_Minstrel Sending you a private email to Brendon, ask him to give it to you.

.@jonesbrendanm Funny story… we were on the @seanhannity radio show today! We had the opportunity to share Lucy’s story, and also talk about our intent to take this far beyond just our family—to start pushing for real change in laws so that no one will ever suffer like we or Lucy have again. This was truly such an honor, and honestly still feels surreal. I’ll try to get the sound clip posted later—but just wanted to let you all know and say thank you again for all the unbelievable support. ❤️ 🐾 🇺🇸 @LoneStarChica @catturd2 @buckleycarlson @POTUS #BringLucyHome

@AnneKershman We are in the country. We’re on 6 1/2 acres there are two other farms at border our farm. Ours just happens to butt up to the elitist neighborhood of Karen’s.

@Herb_Minstrel My suggestion would be to move after you get Lucy back. Out in the country.

@OrangeChill Same. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt more anger.

@Herb_Minstrel This entire situation from start to where y'all are now just infuriates me.

@AGHOSTHUNTRESS So much easier said than done. I would give anything to move anywhere about here. Especially Tennessee.

@Herb_Minstrel I know it is hard to think of, but you may want to move. We are homesteading in NE TN . Our pet sitter didn't latch the gate while we were gone over Christmas & our neighbors all rallied, & helped bring them home for us. Don't live with hateful neighbors.

@KimberLeeB88 @SaraGonzalesTX It will continue! We are not going to waste this.

@Herb_Minstrel @SaraGonzalesTX God please help right this wrong! Know we have exposed this awful situation and an entire movement will continue! 🙏🙏🙏

@taleofterrier2 @SaraGonzalesTX I would give anything to be able to move anywhere else but here.

@Herb_Minstrel @SaraGonzalesTX Praying for your family. When you get Lucy back, and you will, please look into moving.

The DA kept talking about her vast farm upbringing and dog experience and made it a point a few times that a good livestock guardian dog never bites. A good dog never bites. She reiterated it. The fact that Lucy was drugged up and in pain post surgery also seemed to keep slipping through her cracks. She couldn’t bring herself to just acknowledge the hard facts.

You must step in @HarmeetKDhillon @CivilRights …seems this is a power issue. I have rescue dogs, scars from breaking up fights. I have a few dogs that could be labeled dangerous and they’re not. They love people, they just don’t like each other. It happens. I can’t imagine one of my dogs being arrested because neighbors don’t appreciate me as the owner. Please help.

@karin76707095 It makes me sick. I can’t even think about it because I become so desperate. It hurts more than I can say.

@Herb_Minstrel Can't imagine how Lucy misses you all 💔🙏

I’ve wanted to move since six months after moving in. What was supposed to be our forever home became a living hell when the police visits started over our barking working dogs. Trust me, if we could, we would. It is absolute insanity. We just kept being told today the law is the law and you broke it. She should’ve had a muzzle on. Never mind freaking common sense. I said something to the effects of, “how about we just don’t be snoopy neighbors that tattle when a dog slips off its collar for three seconds in it’s own yard”. I don’t tend to call people, Nazis, but…

@Herb_Minstrel How will you ever have any peace living there, I would move the second you get Lucy back. This is just insane. I cannot inagine how hard this has been for you guys.

.@jonesbrendanm To our “neighbors” still faithfully stalking my social pages—thank you for helping turn Lucy into an international celebrity. Truly. I believe in my heart Lucy will be coming home, and when she does her story is going to help change laws so this never happens to another family again. Couldn’t have done it without you. 🐾