HELP US HELP MEMPHIS - BE HIS VOICE

On Saturday October 6th 2012 JAG Color Studio in Montclair NJ will be hosting the Free Memphis Cut-A-Thon.

Cuts are only $10 & proceeds will be donated to our legal fund.

Don't need a cut this weekend? That's okay......stop by, donate $10 & recieve a certificate good for 50% off a future service!

Don't live local? You can still make a donation to the salon & note "Free Memphis" or do so via the Pitty Rescue website. http://www.pittyrescue.com/donate

JAG Color Studio is located at 87 Valley Road in Montclair, NJ

Hope to see you there! Check out the event on our OFFICIAL Save Memphis Community page on Facebook. www.facebook.com/SaveMemphisNJ

Hi all and thank you for continuing to share this cause.

On September 20th, The Bloomfield Board of Health went into a closed session after a roomfull of supporters piled into a room not meant to hold us all. After an hour everyone returned and we were informed a decision was made relative to Memphis. I think everyone's heart stopped beating momentarily in hopes that "this was it", this was going to end right here and right now and Memphis would be permitted to return home with Jeff and Diana. We were told the decision would be communicated through the attorneys via telephone in the morning. Everyone waited all day. At approx 4:50pm the call came in and we learned Bloomfield would be taking the chance and spending un-necessary tax payer dollars.....we are going to court.

This ignited an outrage among township residents, Memphis supporters, and yes....the world. Bloomfield has been labeled Belfast and Memphis has even been moved from the shelter to an undisclosed location. We imagine he is very scared and we are so sorry because we know he does not understand what it happening. Memphis does not deserve this.

The Town Council held another meeting last night, again tons of supporters attended and many had their voices heard. Rumors were swirling on the internet on several Memphis pages that the decision had been overturned by the Mayor and Town Council and Memphis was to be returned to Jeff & Diana. Here is what happened in Jeff's own words:

Tonight's Town Council meeting was pretty positive overall. The mayor and council unanimously agreed to seek resolution to the Memphis situation without having to go to court. For this to occur all attorneys involved need to work within the judicial system to agree on a pre-trial solution. The Lexus Project, the 2 town attorneys and the Board of Health Attorney would all need to agree on a resolution. This is good news, but by no means does this suggest Memphis is coming home any time soon. This is merely a positive step. It appears that the Board of Health would be the only road block to this happening. At least that is my interpretation. And, no, I have no idea where Memphis is or how he is doing.

Please continue to share this page and pray for Memphis. As of right now, we will be going to court on October 5th however the Town Council is in favor of settleing this beforehand. We will continue to update here as well at the official Save Memphis facebook page. www.facebook.com/SaveMemphisNJ

Thank you again for your continued love and support.
Team Memphis

August 31, 2012

THE LEXUS PROJECT HAS NOW TAKEN OUR CASE

The Lexus project is a legal defense team for all breeds of dogs. We feel so fortunate that they are willing to help us fight for Memphis' right to be out of the shelter & home with the Coltenbacks. This organization is managing a chip in for Memphis to help defray the cost of the legal fees.

No amount is too small & any amount is appreciated. Every dollar will help get us closer to returning Memphis to the love & safety of Jeff & Diana.

DONATION LINK:
http://faithinmichigan.chipin.com/memphis

Much love & thanks from all of us at Team Memphis!

TEAM MEMPHIS UPDATE, a message from Jeff & Diana

I appreciate all the support, love and suggestions. Team Memphis is doing most of them... Media, Governor's office, representation, media committee, and much more.. Oh and by the way, the Governor's office said no one can tell us not to contact our local officials. Click "send"... Oh, yeah - can I please borrow a stamp from everyone? Better yet, why don't you all just mail letters of support directly. Feel free to call too - that's not against the law either.... Be respectful and polite. I think we need to remind them that Memphis has a loving home waiting for him!

Love,
Jeff & Diana Coltenback

Bloomfield Board of Health
One Municipal Plaza
Room 111
...
Address:
One Municipal Plaza
Room 111
Bloomfield, NJ 07003

Phone: 973.680.4024
Fax: 973.680.4825
Email: health@bloomfieldtwpnj.com

Board of Health Members:

James McLaughlin, President
Kathleen DeMarino, Vice President
Stephanie M. Smith, Member
Joel Elkins, Member
Martha Felix, Member

Councilwoman Peggy O' Boyle Dunigan, Council Liaison

Karen Lore, MSW, LCSW, BCD

Acting Director of Health & Human Services

F. Michael Fitzpatrick, MA, HO
Health Officer

8/17/12 UPDATE:
We'd like to thank everyone that have joined this cause and pledged your support for Memphis and the Coltenbacks. The support in that room last night was amazing. It was standing room only and the crowds were 3 to 4 deep at the doorways. It was also easily a stuffy, steamy 95 degrees in the room & everyone hung in there till the bitter end. We were at 10,400 signatures at nearly 4pm in the afternoon. These were all printed and presented to the board during the meeting.

Upon arrival to the Board of Health meeting last night, it was evident the BOH was aware of this petition and acknowledged it in their opening statement to the room. So again, thank you. Please continue to share this story. It's not over yet......Memphis, we will not give up until you are comfy & cozy at home curled up on Jeff & Diana's sofa!

In short Memphis is still alive and will remain at the shelter. This is a good thing so while we did not leave victorious last night, we did not leave defeated. By the end of the evening, the Board of Health seems to be open to more options. Although it was very clear to everyone in the room that had it been the sole decision of one member Memphis would have already been euthanized. We all know she was prepared to vote in that way last night.

Memphis failed his second evaluation from Pia Silvani of St.Huberts and the methods used came into question last evening by several qualified individuals that came to speak. Thankfully, they have finally agreed to have Memphis re-evaluated by other qualified individuals and will be working on that. We'll be at the meeting again next month.

I'd also like to add that "fundraising committee" of the Bloomfield Animal Shelter handed the board a typed letter they jointly composed that proposed sending Memphis to a sanctuary. Memphis does not belong in a santuary. Have we mentioned this dog does not have a bite history? Why on earth is that even an option? This fundraising committee went on to say that if the people that have signed this petition each donated $1, they could raise the $5000 needed to send him off to a santuary. This is not a viable solution and as the creator of this petition I am stating here we DO NOT support this in anyway. This petition was intended to bring awareness to this situation not to help this group of people raise funds to send this dog away for life at a santuary where it is not necessary for him to be.

I'll end this update with a quote from Jeff, "For the record, as much as Diana and I want to adopt Memphis, our primary objective here is saving his life, as it has been from the very beginning. This has been accomplished so far. We love him and want him in our home. But, if it is decided that he can go to a safe place and live his life out in peace, we are ok with that too..."