Justice for Brutus and Skye

Brutus and Skye were four year old Siberian Huskies, and two very prominent members of the Fox family. Along with their smaller sisters, Bella and Sophia, Brutus and Skye were deeply loved by their mom and dad, Lisa and Jim Fox.
Brutus (he has the darker face) was named, obviously, for the Ohio State Buckeyes, and Skye, with his icy blue eyes, was named for the very sky. The boys were a constant source of love, loyalty and laughter to their family. Everyday it seemed that the boys had done something worthy of their mother logging on to Facebook to tell friends about their antics. Typical Husky shenanigans. 






Both dogs were equipped with Invisible fence collars, and the Fox's had their property physically fenced as well. Both dogs were properly identified with ID tags and licenses. The dogs had wandered out before, despite these efforts, but always would get tired, go to a neighbors and "wait" while the neighbor called their mom to come get them.

It was cause for a chuckle when those who would discover the boys called the Fox's, "Come get your boys, they're waiting for you!" 





On November 24th, The boys went missing. Lisa and Jim searched extensively for them, hopeful that someone would call and report that the pair had shown up and were ready to come get picked up.

So, Lisa and Jim waited anxiously. 

Weeks had gone by, and almost 100,000 shares on social media, yet not one sighting of the missing brothers.  Daily worry and concern were made all the worse by the fact that the holidays are approaching and the family is missing two members. Jim and Lisa remained dedicated, posting flyers all throughout the community, hoping that someone, anyone, would have information leading to their boys. Rewards were offered. "No questions asked" drop off's were offered. Understanding would be offered if there had been an accident; Lisa, just wanted her boys back, or to know what happened to them. Someone had to know something.



And as is usually the case, someone did know something, and that someone had the moral character to contact the Fox family and tell them that they had heard a confession from a local man, bragging that he had shot and killed the boys on November 24th. The caller, wished to remain anonymous, as he was afraid of the man who killed the dogs. 

The man was a neighbor of the Fox family and known to local law enforcement.

The  Fulton County Sherif and Dog Warden were made aware of the situation and immediately began their investigation. The Fox's were warned that this man should be considered dangerous and to allow the police to confront him.

The Sherif was first to the house, the man denied any involvement in the slaying of the two dogs.

It was only before the Warden, the man confessed to killing both dogs when he claimed they entered his property. Both had been shot, and even though they were wearing very visible collars, went about burying them on his property and watching as the Fox family tried in agony and vain to find their missing boys.

The man claims, that the dogs were mauling one of his animals. Upon investigation, the Warden found no evidence of any markings on any of the mans animals. Furthermore, the dogs had not even entered the livestock pen. 

The Fox's have lived in the country for over twenty years. They are more than familiar with the Ohio law regarding livestock and the protection of ones livestock. Had these dogs been pestering livestock, Lisa and Jim would have accepted what happened as an unfortunate reality and gone about their lives. The reality of the situation is that not one animal of the man's was killed, injured or even visibly stressed as a result of the dogs. 

Upon inspection of the man's property, the Warden has issued a 24 hour warning to the man to get his own animals into safer, better conditions, or they will be taken away by the State. The area occupied by his animal's is less than half an acre with deplorable conditions. This is not a man who farms and cares for animals as many in the community do. This is a man who has no earthly business owning animals of his own. Countless members of the community have come forward to tell horror stories of the acts of brutality he has inflicted on his own animals over the years.

In the state of Ohio, dogs merely entering another persons property is not grounds to shoot them dead.  According to Ohio law (959.02), the only time termination of another's pet is lawful is if the pet is causing immediate threat to a human life. 

"No person shall maliciously or willfully and without consent of the owner kill or injure a (list of farm animals) dog cat or domestic animal that is the property of another"  Effective Date 10-01-1953 You can find more here 

"A single warning shot into the air would have made my dogs run like hell" said Lisa.




This GoFund me is to pay for the legal fees accumulated by the Fox family in fighting to get justice for their murdered boys. Any funds raised over the cost of legal funds will be directly donated to the ever helpful Fulton County Humane Society, who work tirelessly to care for and protect all lost and otherwise neglected animals.

Many of us are celebrating the holidays differently this year, as a result of the global pandemic, but the Fox family will be grieving this Christmas. Their pack of four beloved dogs is now down to two, suddenly and without reason. The two surviving dogs grieve the loss of their brothers. A friendly neighbor Beagle, Brutus and Skye's best friend, keeps escaping and baying, trying to find his lost friends.








It is a truly heart-wrenching situation for every living person and animal involved.



I ask you, this Christmas, please think of this family as if you were in their position. If these were your boys. If you are like me, you would want legal justice and the assurance that this would not be the fate of any other living thing at the hands of this individual. 

My name is Stephanie, I speak on behalf of the family when I say how thankful they are for all of the efforts in looking for the boys, sharing their posts and stories. Thank you for reading the flyers, for spreading awareness and for sending prayers. Thank you for all of the love and support during this incredibly difficult time.