The High Road…or the Forgotten Road?

Dear Southwest Ranches Friends and Neighbors:

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening and if I don't see you later…well then…Good Night!

I have received a lot of emails regarding the "Break the Chain" educational campaign over the past many months and I am almost embarrassed to say I missed a very obvious point with regard to this "hot button" issue here in our quaint little town. A resident pointed out what can be considered an accolade for the Humane Society of Broward County for taking the "High Road" so to speak, but within that resident's letter to me, I found what I believe to be the "Forgotten Road."

Indulge me here folks. Thank you…I knew you would!

I did a little research and found out that the Humane Society of Broward County (a non-profit organization that benefits the welfare of abandoned, surrendered, or rescued animals) footed the entire bill for the printing of thousands of posters (I believe the number was 10,000), thousands of brochures, power point presentations and basically everything that had to do with the "Break the Chain" educational campaign.

Follow me here folks, this is where it gets interesting.

Those posters and brochures picture a beautiful Doberman K-9 and a Broward Sheriff's Office Employee (Tony Vincent who is a resident of Southwest Ranches). In December of 2004 the Broward Sheriff's Office agreed to allow Mr. Vincent to represent the Broward Sheriff's Office and work in cooperation with the Humane Society of Broward County on the Educational campaign known as "Break the Chain."

The Humane Society spent a boatload of money on this campaign that educates the public about the cruelties of chaining dogs and our former disgraced ousted town councilman Don Maines had the campaign halted on June 26th 2008 by making false accusations against the BSO employee pictured in the posters and brochures.

You all remember good old Don Maines, the self proclaimed "protector of all animals and expert avid horseman."

Well, Don Maines convinced the Sheriff's Office that Tony Vincent was a "loose cannon" and he was threatening Don Maines and Don Maines was "ascared" of Tony Vincent because he was so volatile.

The day before the cease and desist order was put into place, the BSO employee, Mr. Vincent was giving a "Break the Chain" educational campaign presentation to about 130 underprivileged youth at the Davie Police Athletic League. Signing and handing out posters and brochures with a representative of the Humane Society of Broward County. All future educational campaign presentations from that day forth have been canceled.

The next day Tony Vincent was made to sign a cease and desist order and was permanently removed from the popular campaign, on the word of a disgraced, ousted former town councilman!

Many, many, many posters and brochures remain in storage on the shelves at the non-profit organization known as the Humane Society of Broward County. The Sheriff's office reneged on the agreement with the Humane Society and now those posters and brochures CANNOT be used…thanks to Don Maines.

How many dogs lives could have been saved with the money that was wasted due to Don Maines' unfounded accusations that led to the discontinuance of the partnership between BSO and the Humane Society? Did the Humane Society "take the high road" and absorb the financial loss that the BSO has caused them by reneging on their agreement or did the Humane Society just overlook the fact that BSO and Don Maines is responsible for the termination of the partnership and subsequent loss of these funds?

I don't know if anyone from the Humane Society of Broward County receives my emails but maybe someone should forward them a copy of this one just in case they took the "road forgotten."

My advise to the Humane Society of Broward County…Send BSO and Don Maines the bill!

That's all Folks!!!