Until now, Steve and Lori Arnold of East Freedom have said little about the controversial case surrounding their dog, but as the trial for Grimes began Tuesday, the Arnolds took the stand.
On Sept. 11, 2006, Grimes of Bellwood and founder of Dogs Deserve Better, took Jake from his outdoor ‘‘box,’’ and after having him examined by a veterinarian, kept the dog until its death in March.
The dog is buried on the Arnolds’ property.
Grimes faces charges of theft and receiving stolen property.
Blair County District Attorney Richard Consiglio said the case is about more than the theft of a dog.
‘‘We are here because of vigilantism,’’ Consiglio said.
Grimes set herself up as ‘‘judge, jury and executioner. We cannot have that in this country. ... If it happens, it leads to anarchy,’’ he said.
Defense attorney Phil Robertson said Grimes was a last resort to the Arnolds’ neighbor Kim Eicher, who witnessed Jake lying on the cold ground for three days without food and water.
Eicher, who is expected to testify during the three-day trial, called 911 and was referred to the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society. Calls Sept. 9, 10 and 11 brought no results.
Steve Arnold said Jake suffered from arthritis of the hips and had his good and bad days.
On the bad days, the Arnolds mixed aspirin in Jake’s food to ease the pain and gave him puppy food mixed with his dry dog food to save his teeth.
The dog was losing his eyesight and hearing, and Arnold and his wife talked about euthanizing Jake.
However, they hesitated because it ‘‘was one of the hardest things you ever have to think of,’’ Steve Arnold said.
He said he believes he took good care of Jake, adding, ‘‘He lived to [be] this old.’’
Paul Gutshall, a humane society police officer, said he began to investigate Eicher’s complaint Sept. 11, and he caught up to Tammy Grimes at the office of a local veterinarian.
Gutshall testified that Jake was ‘‘a very old dog,’’ but he did not appear neglected — only a little dehydrated.
He assisted Grimes in taking the dog into the vets’ office, and then he left on another call. He said he told Grimes to not take the dog, but to leave it at the vet’s office.
‘‘She took the dog even though I told her not to,’’ Gutshall said Tuesday.
The charges against Grimes have caused controversy with her supporters. They are critical of her arrest and say she was attempting to save a life.
About 25 supporters held a rally on the courthouse steps Wednesday.
‘‘I am here in of support the action Tammy Grimes took,” said Carole Graffius of Hollidaysburg, who stood in the cold rain. “Tammy did something to preserve a life. ... I am happy I live somewhere where someone will stand up and take action to right a wrong.’’
Mirror Staff Writer Phil Ray is at 946-7468.
