Prevent Bentley from DYING

Bentley is a 5 year old male pitbull. He's a sweet boy who has NO previous history being aggressive and/or any behavioral issues. Bentley lives at home with his hoomans, Baron and Emily. (This is my ex and our daughter). 

2/23/22 Baron placed a Doordash order and left instructions to leave items in truck-bed. The driver FAILED to follow instructions and of her own testimony states she never saw a dog on the premises.

*She never saw a dog because Bentley was never outside in the front yard. Baron actually had 2 doordash deliveries that day (1st being food AND left in truck-bed as instructed). He was sitting at his table eating when he put food in Bentley's slow-feeder bowl located on his deck. A glass door was in between baron and Bentley as they both ate their food. Baron had eyes on Bentley the entire time. 

**This is when Baron received notification that his 2nd order was delivered (at the front door)

She claims when she was walking back to her car she was knocked down from behind and felt something attacking her leg. She said she looked and saw a dog. She was able to fight her way to her vehicle and from there she sat to make sure she got a good description of said dog. 

*Baron says when he got the notification the order was delivered, he got up from the table. Bentley was at the back door (glass deck door) watching him. When Bentley saw Baron go to front door he (Bentley) left the deck and THEN came around side of house to front and straight to front door. When Baron opened the door Bentley was already coming up the porch and inside the front door with him. Where the bag was left, Baron didn't even have to step out onto his porch. He just opened the door and Bentley came in WITH Baron. He was not left outdoor unattended. 

*We in NO way dispute this woman was injured somehow. We ARE disputing that Bentley was responsible for said injury.

Her description: a black or grey pitbull type dog I think 

Pretty vague. Even more vague if you've ever found yourself on Sunny Acre Drive/Sunset and surrounding streets in Belinda Parkway in MJ. 

She drove herself to the fire station on a Belinda Parkway and from there was transported to a local hospital. 

Animal control and police arrived to Baron's home, as this is where the driver said the incident occurred. Upon their arrival a neighbor was pulling into her driveway and so the police asked her do you know the people who live here? She says yes. They say they're there responding to a dog bite and she says something like that doesn't sound like Bentley. (Now they have a name and confirmation that there is a dog on premises). They now have determined Bentley is their guilty party and will be taking him.

Baron works nights (3rd shift) and at this time him and Bentley were inside the house, asleep. According to police and animal control, Bentley was outside when they arrived however body camera footage CANNOT confirm this. He is never seen on camera. The neighbor went to the door and knocked, no answer. She tried calling Baron. No answer. Bentley was NOT outside when the neighbor arrived home. 

I receive panicked calls from our daughter that she received calls and texts that there are a lot of cops at your house. Is everything okay? She was unable to touch base with dad so called mom to go and see what was going on. I said ok and ran down there (we live 2.2 miles away from one another). 

When I arrived there were 3 cop cars in addition to animal control. I immediately ask what's going on? This is my daughters dads home. They tell me they're there to take Bentley he has attacked someone. 

I AM FLOORED! I still don't know to this day which threw me more, them addressing Bentley by name or someone accusing him of biting (let alone attacking) someone. 

I proceed to call and text baron. No response. Again he is SLEEPING. I go around to the back and knock (beat really) on his door to no avail. I then "knock" on his bedroom window (by knock I mean I almost break it I'm hitting it so hard). I can SEE Bentley THROUGH THE WINDOW. Between the window and Bentley this is enough to cause Baron to stir, tell Bentley to stop and look at phone. He has several missed calls and texts. He's like oh shiiii.... and immediately calls me back. 

Bentley is kept on a shock collar so Baron removed that and brought him out on a leash to talk to them and see what's going on. He's informed that Bentley has attacked someone and they're going to take the dog. We ask is there anything we can do to keep the dog? No. Baron honestly wasn't too concerned. He was annoyed and frustrated but concerned - NO. He knew that the city has a 10 day bite hold and never for one second thought he wouldn't get his dog back AFTER the 10 day hold. Ultimately he was complacent in handing Bentley over. 

Baron's compliance is being misconstrued as an admission of guilt somehow. 

He didn't hand Bentley over because he thinks or thought his dog was or is guilty. He ultimately "handed his dog over" because he had animal control and police telling him he HAD too. 

Ten days came and went, it ended 3/5 which was a weekend. Monday the 7th he was told he cannot take Bentley home. Animal control "wasn't comfortable releasing him knowing what he had done." He's advised to take it up with the DA (District Attorney). For the next several days into weeks he is bounced between Animal Control and the DA office without resolution. 

At this point, Baron has "caused problems" by asking too many questions. Inquiring too much. Causing a ruckus if you will. 

He was banned from seeing Bentley. 

Seeing Bentley is CRUCIAL. Since he's being held on a "bite hold" that means Animal Control or the volunteers at the shelter cannot touch him, interact with him, or even let him outside for a basic right to use the restroom. He is confined to a kennel 24/7 in his own feces and urine until AC moves him across the hallway into a different kennel. He has been bounced back and forth between 2 kennels now for 6 months. 

While Baron was banned we were able to get myself permission to go. As long as I don't discuss the case. As long as I don't ask questions. As long as I don't make problems. I'm able to visit with Bentley outside in a enclosed pen 3x a week (MWF) between 4-5pm. He gets to use the bathroom like a dog. They've let me walk him twice, each time they chaperone me, and each walk was before the next days court date. 

Baron was finally granted access to Bentley after nearly 4 months of not seeing him. He can only go Wednesdays and cannot have any direct contact between himself and AC. He can only go with me babysitting him. He has literal supervised visitation with his own doggo one day a week for less than an hour. 

We go to court. We had no attorney at this time and after speaking to the DA (Tom) he suggests asking for a continuance as Baron really needs an attorney. We agree and take the continuance. 

We then hire an attorney. Dog bite lawyers on a defense side are non existent in our area and since we didn't need a personal injury attorney, we had a hard time finding someone even willing to take the case. Enter Trey. He told us upfront he had never taken a dog bite case before but he believed us and that Bentley was not guilty of this alleged crime. Trey is hired. 

Brief back story, years ago Baron and I found ourselves in front of a judge to discuss child support payments. Let's just say the judge wasn't a fan of Baron and neither him or myself have common names so that judge would remember our names if nothing else. 

Round One of Bentley case: the judge presiding over Bentley's case is the child support judge we went before years ago. This woman testified she was "I don't know... I guess I'm pretty sure that's the dog" (followed with a nonchalant shrug of the shoulder). 

When she testified she was pretty sure, NOT certain. Not positive. Not a doubt in my mind... none of that. She was/is "pretty sure." Everyone thought oh my gosh we just won!

We did not. The judge ruled that she had no reason to lie and Baron had every reason to lie. Bentley would be ordered to be put down.

Here's the thing. She's lawyered up with "Morgan and Morgan for the people" and she has a separate suit against Baron where she is going after his homeowners insurance and will receive a minimum of $100K.

Trey immediately says we want to appeal. So we appeal. 

Round Two of Bentley case: this is a new judge. He opens with he will try to be as impartial as he can be as he himself experienced a dog attack as a boy. 

There was no way to excuse the judge. Request a different judge. In civil court in Wilson County there is ONE judge who takes these cases and you guessed it, it was him. 

We lost a second time. Bentley will be court ordered to be put down. 

Our only legal option is to take it to the next level, an appellate court. Trey told us he doesn't do appellate cases and they aren't cheap. They are a minimum of $7500. 

We've been through two rounds of court, which was $2500 plus filing fees so close to $3000. Baron currently owes Animal Control another $2000 while they "house" Bentley. This fee goes up by the day. 

We started an online petition (change.org/savebentley) that has right now over 800 signatures and unfortunately we just received notification that it's essentially for nothing. The local mayor CANNOT interject into this as it will be deemed "obstruction of justice." 

Baron started a gofundme but it hasn't gotten the attention we had hoped for.

This is it people. This is our Hail Mary. We NEED TO SAVE BENTLEY. We NEED him to come home! He's been locked up since 2/23 and it's been 6 months. 

My dad said this to me and it shook me to my core. He said "dog years to human are 7 to 1. So 6 months for you has been 3.5 years for him."

I repeat, Bentley NEEDS TO COME HOME. 

My FB fundraiser was phenomenal but I still haven't received the funds. It takes a long time to get it and at this point that will be what funds Animal controls bill(s). 

I'm starting this up, giving ALL the info I can think to provide, and try one more time for public outreach. We need your help to get this boy back home. 

I'm sympathetic to whatever happened to this woman, I am. But I believe Baron that Bentley couldn't have been responsible for this attack. I believe myself and my own personal knowledge of Bentley over the last 5 years that this is not within his nature to do. I believe it more and more every day that I go to visit him. The way I've been adopted into his life as his new hooman. It breaks my heart. It absolutely destroys me 3 days a week. 

There are no cameras in the neighborhood. There are no witnesses to the attack. This is a perfect case of "he said/she said." Neither can prove or not prove the others testimony. 

If you can donate and share this, we are on a crunched timeframe. We need this to go viral or as close to it as humanly possible so we can raise this money and SAVE BENTLEY!! 

Please donate as little or as much as you can. And please, please, SHARE SHARE SHARE!!

Thank you,

Carmen, Baron, Emily and most importantly Bentley