Ozark business owners and possible animal abusers?!?
Attention Volleyball Families and Animal Lovers !!
**Something local volleyball families may want to know**
I love volleyball, I coach young girls, and I want our local volleyball community to thrive. I also am an avid animal lover, rescuer and advocate.
I also believe people deserve to have information and make their own decisions about where they spend their money and who they let spend time with the children and families.
For the past several years, I’ve personally witnessed the condition of dogs belonging to one of the owners of a local volleyball business in Ozark. What I’ve seen has bothered me for a very long time, but over the past year the condition of the dogs has become especially concerning.
I finally reached the point where I couldn’t just keep watching, so I reported my concerns to law enforcement.
A deputy did go to the property and personally saw the dogs. When he called me back, he acknowledged that these two dogs were in very poor condition and that their condition was very concerning. However, because there was food, water, outdoor shelter and shade available, he told me that he did not believe the situation met the legal threshold for animal cruelty at this time. If their condition did not improve or got worse, then they may be able to take action of some kind.
I want to be very clear that I am not here to claim that someone committed a crime when law enforcement did not make that determination. I understand that something can be heartbreaking or disturbing to witness and still not meet the legal definition of animal cruelty.
What bothers me is that this is a local, family-oriented volleyball business that many parents and kids support, and I honestly believe that if many of those families knew what I have personally witnessed regarding these animals, they would want to know before deciding whether they wanted to continue supporting it.
I’m not asking anyone to harass anyone, confront anyone, or take my word as absolute fact. I’m sharing my personal experience because I feel like people should have the opportunity to make informed choices about where they spend their money.
I have photographs documenting some of what I’ve personally witnessed. One picture of one of the dogs in his current condition is attached.
I’m happy to answer reasonable questions about what I saw and what I reported, but I’m not interested in a witch hunt or anyone being targeted.
I know I don’t feel comfortable supporting a business when I have personally witnessed something that I find this disturbing. I do believe others should be aware and then be able to make their own decisions.