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Lisbet Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2006 Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2706
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 2:35pm | IP Logged
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Ladies, Please pray for me and peace in our family. We had an ugly situation here this morning when the dog warden knocked on our door demanding to see our dog.
She said they received an 'annyomos' call that we had a dog --- duh - they had all of our license and registration information in front of them!! I asked why she wanted to see our dog - she said she wanted to see that she was confined, tagged, and healthy. I assured her that she was, and she peeked at the dog through the door. (clearly confined!) She said she still wanted to come in and see the dog, I refused. She then told me to bring the dog out and I refused. She asked why on earth I would refuse and I said I was protected under the Fourth Amendment. She got very very huffy with me and I remained calm. She then called the police. I went through very much the same with the police, yet he went on to accuse me of 'holing my kids up and feeding them hogwash' (they assumed I homeschooled I guess...) He also told me that the Fourth Amendment had nothing to do with search and seizure and that I had no idea what I was talking about. (what are you teaching your kids he said, you don't know the first thing about the constitution and your rights!!) Of course he was wrong, ah well, it went on and on with me saying nothing more than "If you procure a warrent I will gladly comply with it". He continued to belittle my knowledge and that I was a poor teacher and poor example to my children. I calmly said "I think we are done here." and I went into the house. They stood in our driveway and ran our license plates on our van and left.
I went in and called our lawyer who assured me that I was well within my rights and I did the right thing. My husband said he was wildly proud of me, yet he was nervous about the police officers attitude about homeschooling - he is fearing a call to CPS b/c of it or something.
On one hand I think "what the heck was I thinking - it's just a dog" But on the other hand I firmly feel that our rights under the constitution are at stake and we need to stand up for them no matter how minor it seems.
Either way, I've been worked up about it. We are speculating that someone called b/c they don't like our political signs or whatever else. The dog warden never did give us a reason for the call or visit. We are baffled over it, b/c our dog is legal, healthy, and confined.
__________________ Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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hylabrook1 Forum Moderator
Joined: July 09 2006
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 2:43pm | IP Logged
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Lisa -
I also am very proud of you! Also, I'm sorry you had to endure such an unsettling incident. I am praying for your sense of peace. Can your lawyer call and find out who called the dog warden or why? I would think that the nature of the complaint should be something that has to be shared with you, even if the report was anonymous.
Peace,
Nancy
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KC in TX Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2005 Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline Posts: 2621
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 2:58pm | IP Logged
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Go, Lisa!
I'll pray for your peace of mind.
__________________ KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
Mama to LB ('98)
Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
The Cabbage Patch
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Maryan Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 02 2007
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 3:08pm | IP Logged
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Oh Lisa I'm so sorry. I'm glad you stood up for your family. Prayers.
__________________ Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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DominaCaeli Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2007
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 3:28pm | IP Logged
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Lisa, I'm sorry you and your family have to go through all this. Praying for peace of mind and protection for all of you.
__________________ Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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Angie Mc Board Moderator
Joined: Jan 31 2005 Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline Posts: 11400
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 3:32pm | IP Logged
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I'm praying, Lisa. Please don't second guess your decision to stand firm. Our family found ourselves in a rotten situation with an agency contracted by the state for foster/adoption licensing. Objectively, the people we were dealing with weren't the brightest and loved their little power position. When we didn't go with their program, they were insulted and were very inclined toward bullying behaviors. They do it because they get away with it over and over again because people get caught off guard or don't know their rights or are tired. There are definitely times to cut our losses for the benefit of our family, but I can't help but think that if more people stood firmly, they would at least think twice. This is my long winded way of saying, I'm with you sister and I'm praying for you. Goodness, I wish that I could transplant you to my neighborhood.
Love,
__________________ Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
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Carole N. Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 28 2006 Location: Wales
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 3:38pm | IP Logged
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Praying for you, Lisa! You did a great job standing up for your family and I am so sorry that you had to have this experience.
__________________ Carole ... in Wales
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teachingmyown Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 20 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 3:41pm | IP Logged
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Oh Lisa, how frustrating and scary! You did great, though! I just hate the idea of what someone with even a little power can do to our families if we make them mad, though. Homeschooling may be legal, but it makes us targets. Not very American, I'd say!
__________________ In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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folklaur Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 3:45pm | IP Logged
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Wow - Good for you! That was very, very brave.
I would SO be calling the cop's supervisor and complaining about his behavior (but then my Daddy was a cop so I am not uncomfortable doing things like that, and I know my Dad as Shift Lt. would have wanted to know if his guys were behaving like that....but I also totally understand being uneasy about doing that too!)
Good on ya! You did great!
And big too!
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chrisv664 Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 22 2005 Location: New York
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 4:32pm | IP Logged
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Lisa,
I am sorry you had to go through this strssful situation. But at the same time I am impressed with your courage and example to your children and all of us here. Great job!
__________________ Chris
Loving Wife of Dan and Mom to Kate, Jessica, Ben,
Rebecca, Thomas and Hannah
Burning The Candle At Both Ends
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wifemommy Forum All-Star
Joined: July 10 2006
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 4:40pm | IP Logged
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Lisa Good job !!!! I pray this is the end of it for you. Annie
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LisaR Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 4:49pm | IP Logged
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sounds like she saw the dog confined. I'm not getting at what more needed to be seen?
I'm not kidding, are you sure that these people were legit??
praying for you all.
__________________ Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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MarieA Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 27 2006 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 5:40pm | IP Logged
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You did a great job! I am praying for you all.
Marie
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TrixieJ Forum Newbie
Joined: Sept 30 2008
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 6:16pm | IP Logged
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So sorry to hear this, Lisa. You did a great job protecting your family. I'm praying for your piece of mind and that this is the end of the whole ordeal.
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insegnante Forum All-Star
Joined: April 07 2006 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 8:26pm | IP Logged
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Lisa, I will pray for your comfort and that nothing else negative comes of this situation. It just turned my stomach to read what you describe.
__________________ Theresa
mommy to three boys, 3/02, 8/04, and 9/10, and a girl, 8/08
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Mackfam Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006 Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline Posts: 14656
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 8:33pm | IP Logged
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I'm so impressed by your courage, Lisa! I'm just not sure what I would have done in that situation. Clearly, they were attempting to bully and intimidate you! I think you did great!!!!!
I will certainly pray that this situation doesn't escalate and that your guardian angels cover and protect your entire family (and that good St. Francis watches over your pup! ).
We have 3 acres for sale next to us... wide open spaces Catholic neighbors great view of the mountains
__________________ Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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Booksnbabes Forum All-Star
Joined: July 20 2008 Location: N/A
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 9:30pm | IP Logged
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Oh wow! I'm sooo impressed you were able to keep your cool like that! I'm practically shaking just reading about it! Big to you and sending prayers your way!
__________________ Wife to wonderful DH, mom to SIX beautiful gifts from God!
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Jen L. Forum All-Star
Joined: Oct 18 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 10:56pm | IP Logged
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We had someone call about our cat last year. Crazy since she was a full-time indoor cat. The guy from the county that came admitted that sometimes it is used as an excuse to get into someone's house who they have other "questions" about.
Praying!
__________________ Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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SusanMc Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 21 2008
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Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 2:54am | IP Logged
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I've been praying for you and your family as well as the officials in your town. Good for you for standing up for your Constitutional rights!
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mariB Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 20 2006 Location: Vermont
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Posted: Nov 05 2008 at 4:21am | IP Logged
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Praying for your family and proud of you to stand firm in your rights! What a sad thing to have officials bully and push. i will continue to pray and you are a wonderful example to your children that they should not believe the lies and hogwash of these unethical officials!
You are a good example of standing up for your rights!
__________________ marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
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