"The Gage Foundation: Taking a stand against Animal Cruelty"

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Comment by allcreaturesgreatandsmall on February 17, 2009 at 3:51pm

there are no words to say to you that would make it better or change it..I can't imagine what u and your friends and family are dealing with...there is another member that had a similar tragedy with their bassett hound...they are on my friends list...BabyBoy Is In Heaven R.I.P....I sent an add to your page for friend

Comment by Honey on November 12, 2008 at 11:21pm

Why don't we see MORE of this in the news?!!

November 5, 2008
Stray Pit Bull Saves Woman, Child from Attacker



PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The wandering 65-pound Pit Bull mix might have seemed menacing to some passerby, but one woman will always remember him as her "guardian angel."

The dog, which authorities think is lost and not a stray, successfully thwarted a robbery attack on a mother and her 2-year-old son, who were held at knifepoint Monday afternoon.

The Florida woman, who has been identified by authorities simply as "Angela," was leaving a playground with her toddler son in Port Charlotte when a man approached her in the parking lot with a knife and told her not to make any noise or sudden movements.

Angela didn't have to do either to protect herself and her child -- a dog mysteriously ran to the scene and charged the man, who quickly fled.

"I don't think the dog physically attacked the man, but he went at him and was showing signs of aggression, just baring his teeth and growling and barking. It was clear he was trying to defend this woman," Animal Control Lt. Brian Jones told Pet Pulse.

"I don't know what this man's intentions were, but it is very possible this dog saved her life."

The exceptional part of the story, Jones said, is that the dog had never met or even seen the people it quickly jumped to defend.

"You hear about family dogs protecting their owners, but this dog had nothing to do with this woman or her kid," Jones said. "He was like her guardian angel."

After the alleged thief ran away, Angela quickly placed her son, Jordan, in the car and tried to drive off. Before she could, though, the dog jumped into her backseat, waiting with her for the police and animal control officers to arrive at the scene.

The dog was transported to a local shelter and if his owners don't step forward within five days, Jones said, Angela and her family plan to adopt the savior she named "Angel."

Animal control officers and shelter workers believe Angel is lost, and not a stray, because of his good health, sturdy weight and mild temperament.

"It's funny, that someone's irresponsibility could have saved someone's life," Jones said of Angel's possible owners.

For Angela, it doesn't matter where the dog came from, just that he was there when she needed him most.

"I don't know what his [the thief's] intentions were -- I don't know why he did it, but I'm glad that -- we call him Angel -- I'm glad that Angel showed up because I don't know what would have happened," Angela told NBC2 News.

Comment by pistons58 on October 28, 2008 at 7:48pm

I just got done reading all your blogs and posts and I must say - I never knew this dog or his family - but I still tear up.
This man is sick (and I mean that in a nice way) Hear me out.....as others have said.....he snuffed Gage in a blink of an eye but how soon before he turns his sickness onto a child or another person.
Besides the cimmunity service, he should be placed into mandatory couseling.
None of this will bring poor Gage back BUT if anything - it just goes to show you cannot take the law into your own hands and you can NOT impose a sentence on your "enemies" even those with fur.
I keep up with this page and your MySpace page (and cry each and everytime) but this is Gage's chance to shine (more so then he did as a beloved family pet) He can now become the "poster child" of his fellow animals. I don't mean that in a disrespectful way - but rather, in a way to let others know, This will NOT be tolerated.
Thanks for doing all you do!!!

Comment by pistons58 on October 23, 2008 at 6:15pm

Thanks for the invite----I will join up anywhere to support poor Gage and his family!!!!
Love You Guys----Kathy

Comment by Honey on October 18, 2008 at 12:03pm

Good Morning! Just a reminder that Oct 25th is the 2nd annual Pit Bull Awareness Day. Check your area for scheduled events. Or, better yet, gather your PB-lovin' Pack and contact your local vets, shelters, groomers, pet supplies stores, etc. about offering PB educational material for their customers. Help turn their fear into curiosity!

Comment by Justice4Gage/ Sherry Kidwell on September 30, 2008 at 10:40pm

Today is the day we have all been waiting for...On March 12, 2008, Ray Stanfill took it upon himself to be Gage's Judge, Jury and Executioner and I mean that literally..

Over the next 6 months me and Shana spent countless hours every day talking on the phone. I shared my story of Rayne with her and we cried together so many times I can not count..So many days and nights I wished I wasn’t over 1,000 miles from her because I just wanted to hold her and tell her “We are going to get through this.. At the time I didn’t know how we were going to but my heart was leading me at this point and I wasn’t going to walk away from her

I grew to love Gage as soon as I saw his beautiful pictures.. From the first day I saw him he stole a huge piece of my heart...He wasn’t a dog someone got for protection that was thrown in the backyard to live..Gage was a dog that went trick-or-treating, sporting his Superman costume. He was a dog that the “other GOOD” neighbor would “borrow” for companionship when her husband had to go out of town..And more importantly, Gage was the center of the Burke family...

I have spent hours crying after talking with Shana, wishing that I could turn the clock back and bring Gage back. Gage never knew anything but love in the seven years that he was on this earthHe lived and slept with kittens, bunnies and never showed an ounce of aggression...And he returned that love times a hundred...These were very responsible and loving owners and what happened to them and Gage is just wrong on every level. Ray Stanfill not only took Gage from them, he also took their freedom. Until the day that Ray moved, Shana was terrified to let her other dogs outside The family was scared for themselves as well. They felt like prisoners in their own home.. This is something that no one can fix..No one can bring their 'security' back. No man should have that power, but this man did...And to this date we are all still asking “WHY'?

We only know that Ray disliked Gage, but never thought in a million years that he was capable of such a heartless and brutal crime.

Well today, Ray Stanfill stood before his JUDGE and below is the outcome

1) 6 Months Jailtime Suspened (see #20

2) Ordered to 180 Consecutive days (8 hour days).. of community Service at
The Bossier County Animal Control Center- Very Closely monitored by staff!!!!

3) 2 Years Active Probation

4) He can not commit any criminal acts in the future

5) Ordered to pay $1,000 + Court Cost to Courts

6) Ordered to pay Gage's Family $1,000 (the maximum allowed

7) Ordered to pay his probabation officer $55.00 a month for the entire 2 years that he is on probation

In talking to Shana., we both agree that based on the maximum sentence that Ray could get (6 months in jail) we are satisfied with the Judges decision....As some may know, anytime a person is sentenced to less than a year in jail they are contained at a County Jail and basically it would be a bed, food, tv, playing cards.. etc......etc.........etc..... BUT taking that 6 months maximum sentence and turning it into a full 6 months of Community Service at an Animal Shelter (to us) is more of a punishment to Ray than Jail would have been as we all know Ray hates animals and now he is FORCED to clean out their cages.. and mop the floors and look at these animals for 6 months!..!!!! One can hope that this will help Ray see the horrible crime that he committed and how wrong it was but I don't have much hope for this man..

The best part of todays Verdict is that the Judge told Ray what a scum he was and how his actions that day has affected Gage's family forever..(..Just a little behind the scene info: Gage's entir..e family and I were asked by the Judge to each write a letter of how Gage's death has affected our lives..) And let me tell you, we all got together and our Impact letters put us all to tears and they really got to the Judge and he made this very aware to MR. STANFILL! The courtroom was full when Ray was Sentenced and the Judge gave him hell..When he ordered Ray to pay Gage's family the $1,000.00, he reminded Mr. Stanfill that this $1,000.00 is on top of the amount that he will be ordered to pay the Burkes when the Civil Trial comes to court.! (Yes, we have another Trial to go through thanks to Ray Stanfill suing the Burkes for 'Defamantion of Character'.) Excuse me, but who ruined who's character??? I swear this man is MENTAL and very unstable..AND IGNORANT!

So.all in all we are satisfied with todays Verdict..And Gage baby, you have made your mark on this world and on some many peoples hearts...And we are not done yet..

Thanks for everyones AWESOME support..


Gage, you will forever live on through the hearts of many...Your beautiful life and tragic, senseless death is what gives your wonderful family the strength to fight..And we have only begun our fight Gage...Your death has touched and changed my life forever and I will forever be by your families side, fighting to change the laws and help people realize how precious our animals lives are to us..

I love you so much Gage...Your are now safe and from this crazy world and I promise you that I will look after your family..I will be there for your mommie forever.



With Heartfelt Love,
Sherry

Comment by Justice4Gage/ Sherry Kidwell on September 29, 2008 at 4:16pm

Hi everyone...Tommorrow is the day Gage's family, I and so many others have been waiting for. It is the day Gage's killer, Mr. Ray Stanfill will receive his sentence.Most know that Ray was found Guilty of the senseless and cruel killing of Gage...Those who don't know the story please visit:

www.justiceforgage.com

Ray was officially charged with "Aggravated Felony Animal Cruelty" and after 3 days of sitting and waiting for Gage's case to be called he was found guilty of "Simple Animal Cruelty"...Which is a misdemeanor.. I along with thousands of other people can not understand how this man went from a Felonly charge and ended up with a misdemeanor.The bottom line to that is that Ray was not found guility of "Felony Aggravated Animal Cruelty" because Louisiana Animal Cruelty Law (for Felony Aggravated) does not include the word "DEATH"...So...the jury came back with "Simple Animal Cruelty"...The most infuriating part of this is that if Gage "lived" Ray would have been found GUILTY of FELONY AGGRAVATED and faced a sentence of 10 years in jail BUT because Gage died, he could only be charged with "Simple Animal Cruelty" which holds a maximum of 6 months in jail...Talk about a backwards ass LAW!!!

We (Gage's family and I) are working very hard to get this law changed..And our next mission is to look at EVERY STATES Animal Cruelty Law's Wording and if it is a likeness to Louisiana's Law, we will fight each and every state to get these laws changed.

As most know, it has been a very long and rough 6 months awaiting "Justice" and to me there isn't any form of punishment that could be harsh enough for what this man has done to this family...He took a very precious family member from them. Gage was a son, a brother and a friend to so many and I wish everyday that I had the power to bring Gage back to this wonderful family but we all know that is not possible. So, we fight in Gage's honor and memory..We fight for the life that no one had the right to take away...And we forever hold Gage in our hearts, for when it is all said and done, no one can take away the memories..Not even Ray Stanfill .....

Was Justice served? We (Gage's family and I) have accepted the verdict and don't regret one single second of our fight for Gage..Although we feel Ray deserved much worse, we walk away knowing:

1- Ray's reputation is forever ruined.(Could that be why he moved
to another State ..Google Ray Stanfill and there are
pages and pages and pages out there...I posted Gage's story on
so, so many forums when this first happened...So glad I did that now!

2- There was a "Guility" Verdict...To us thats a victory for every pitbull
that a human has ever harmed and it sends a message that hopefully
people will think twice before they pick up a gun and shoot someone
else's pet (pitbull or not) ....

The best thing out of all this is "The Gage Foundation"...Gage will live forever through us...through all the animals that we "The Foundation" are able to help...and through all the supporters like you...

Comment by Sissy on September 23, 2008 at 10:46pm

So glad to hear a guilty verdict.Gage has touched my life and he will forever hold a place in my heart.My prayers are with Gages family.

Comment by Justeff3 on September 10, 2008 at 4:36pm

Was thrilled to hear about the conviction, I followed the story on MySpace before the trial it was neat to see all the photos changed to the same justice for Gage logo before the trial (and yes I changed mine too) A heart breaking story that no one should have had to have gone through.

Comment by Ashlee on September 2, 2008 at 10:19pm

Your story is touching...let me know if i can help in any way!!

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