Background
What you have just read is the story of Maggie Dawson’s ongoing struggle to have Pomelo Gideon returned to her. Ms. Dawson is Gideon’s rightful owner.
Once it became public knowledge Gideon’s TEMPORARY foster family had no intention of returning him to Ms. Dawson…as was ordered by the Executive Director of Cavalier Rescue, USA, (CR-USA,) there was outrage from people all over the world who had donated large sums of money in honor of Gideon’s story in the hopes Ms. Dawson would be reunited with him. Many people have sought answers to the lingering questions regarding Gideon and the actions of the PRIVATE SOCIAL GROUP, Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham and have implored and begged these very people for answers. Only vague and implausible explanations have been offered, if offered at all. Therefore, in an effort to share what we have learned, we have compiled of list of questions with answers when they are known.
Nearly 5 months after the November, 2014 auction, the effort to return Gideon to Ms. Dawson continues.
In 2014, members of a private social group, The Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham made public allegations that a breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in Lineville, Alabama was operating a “Puppy Mill”. This group alleged the dogs were living in substandard conditions and many had serious health issues.
This group attempted to persuade Terri Taylor Easterbrooks, owner of Rock Cliff Farms to cease her breeding operation. She refused, and in November, 2014 sent the dogs to auction. When members of this group learned the dogs would be going to auction, they initiated a fundraising effort through GoFundMe in order to raise money to attend the auction and buy as many dogs as possible. They stated ALL dogs purchased would be turned over to Cavalier Rescue, USA. Although this group was acting as a group of private citizens, they stated they were organizing and working cooperatively with Cavalier Rescue, USA. Two Members of this private group were at that time the Alabama Coordinators for Cavalier Rescue, USA.
Q & A
Q. Was Terri Taylor Easterbrooks of Rock Cliff Farms ever charged by authorities with abuse or neglect of her dogs?
A. No. Per members of the private social group, The Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham via postings on GoFundMe and their Facebook page, which members were asked to publicly share, as well as several media articles, members of this group contacted Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Clay County District Attorney’s Office in Alabama. Investigations were conducted by law enforcement and no charges were filed. (Reference: GoFundMe, Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham, media articles)
Q. Did members of the private social group, The Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham state via the GoFundMe Page initiated by Brittney Wilk that ALL dogs purchased at the auction by their group would be turned over to Cavalier Rescue, USA?
A. Yes (Reference: GoFundMe Page)
Q. Did Angie Ingram, a member of the private social group group, The Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham who was also the person bidding for said group at auction communicate in an email/private message to Maggie Dawson prior to the auction she was aware of Gideon’s story and circumstances and not to worry; the groups would not compete against each other and all were coordinating together?
A. Yes (Reference: Ms. Dawson has this statement in writing from Angie Ingram dated 11-16-14, 6 days prior to auction)
Q. Did the other members of the private social group, The Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham who went to auction, as well as Cavalier Rescue, USA also have knowledge of Ms. Dawson’s and Gideon’s story and her wishes for Gideon?
A. Yes (Reference: Ms. Dawson has written communication from Angie Ingram, Carolyn Stigler and Brittney Wilk, and Lisa Thompson There was also communication between Lisa Swoboda, a representative with The Rescue Trust and Crys Carnes, one of the members of the private Birmingham social group)
Q. Did Brittney Wilk communicate via email/private message on 11-22-14 immediately after the auction to the Executive Director of CR-USA , that her group was in possession of Gideon, that she was aware Gideon already had a forever home with Ms. Dawson’s friends in Kansas and that he would be well cared for while in temporary foster care until Ms. Dawson’s friends from Kansas could arrange to travel to Alabama to take him home?
A. Yes (Reference: Ms. Dawson has copy of this written communication sent from Brittney Wilk to Carolyn Stigler after the auction dated 11-22-14)
A. Yes (Reference: Ms. Dawson has copy of this written communication sent from Brittney Wilk to Carolyn Stigler after the auction dated 11-22-14)
Q. Were ALL dogs purchased by the Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham turned over to Cavalier Rescue, USA?
A. Unknown…the claim was initially made ALL dogs were turned over to CR-USA, however, it was later reported that Gideon, and ONLY Gideon was rescinded from being turned over to the rescue. (Reference: Statement made by Crys Carnes on Facebook, one of the private members of the Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham who attended the auction)
A. Yes (Reference: Ms. Dawson has copy of this communication)
A. Yes (Reference: Written communication from Carolyn Stigler to Ms. Dawson)
A. Yes (Reference: This information was communicated by Carolyn Stigler, Executive Director of CR-USA to Maggie Dawson and to many people concerned about what transpired after the 11-22-14 auction)
Q. Did the CR-USA Alabama coordinators comply with orders of the Executive Director of CR-USA to relinquish Gideon?
A. No (Reference: This information was communicated by Carolyn Stigler, Executive Director of CR-USA to Maggie Dawson and to many people concerned about what transpired after the 11-22-14 auction)
Q. Were ALL Cavaliers sold at the November 22, 2014 auction turned over to Rescue as was claimed by members of the private social group, the Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham?
A. No. Two dogs were purchased outside of the rescues/groups that were purchasing dogs to turn over to Rescue. One of the dogs purchased privately was purchased by a breeder, was not neutered and has since sired a litter of puppies. A member of the private social group, The Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham stated in writing the group would NOT bid against this breeder. She also messaged representatives of the other rescues asking them NOT to bid against this breeder. The other dog was purchased privately by a personal friend of Brittney Wilk, who was at that time the Alabama Coordinator for CR-USA. This friend also was one of the top 2 donors to the GoFundMe fund raiser, donating $4000.00. (Reference: Statements made by Crys Carnes, Blake Rhodes, Brittney Wilk and posts on GoFundMe)
Q. How many Cavaliers were bought by the private social group, The Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham with bidding handled by Angie Ingram?
A. 46 (Reference: GoFundMe)
A. 34 (Reference: GoFundMe)
A. Yes (Reference: Various members of the Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham posted on the group’s FB Page which is now a secret group)
Q. A.) Did Brittney Wilk, Alabama Coordinator for CR-USA pre-select an auction dog “Happy Go Lucky” prior to the 11-22-14 auction? B.) Was that dog purchased by a member of the private social group, The Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham with donated funds? C.) Did Brittney Wilk adopt that dog?
A. Yes, (Reference: Brittney’s video stating part of her mission was to get Happy Go Lucky for herself and email sent to another rescue representative requesting no one bid on this particular dog as well as another dog that was pre-selected by a different member of the private social club Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham.)
Q. Was the Alabama coordinator for CR-USA, Brittney Wilk asked to resign from her volunteer position due to her actions regarding Gideon which went against the orders of the Rescue and did Lisa Thompson, the co-coordinator also resign her position?
A. Yes (Reference: This information was communicated to Maggie Dawson by CR-USA Executive Director, Carolyn Stigler on 1-12-15)
Q. Did Lisa Thompson, at the time the Alabama Co-Coordinator for CR-USA state the reasons Ms. Dawson’s friends were deemed an unsuitable adoptive home for Gideon were because they 1) were a retired couple and Gideon needed to be in a more active household and 2) because they did not own another Cavalier?
A. Yes (Reference: Written communication from Lisa Thompson)
A. Yes, (Reference: Brittney’s video stating part of her mission was to get Happy Go Lucky for herself and email sent to another rescue representative requesting no one bid on this particular dog as well as another dog that was pre-selected by a different member of the private social club Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham.)
Q. Was the Alabama coordinator for CR-USA, Brittney Wilk asked to resign from her volunteer position due to her actions regarding Gideon which went against the orders of the Rescue and did Lisa Thompson, the co-coordinator also resign her position?
A. Yes (Reference: This information was communicated to Maggie Dawson by CR-USA Executive Director, Carolyn Stigler on 1-12-15)
Q. Did Lisa Thompson, at the time the Alabama Co-Coordinator for CR-USA state the reasons Ms. Dawson’s friends were deemed an unsuitable adoptive home for Gideon were because they 1) were a retired couple and Gideon needed to be in a more active household and 2) because they did not own another Cavalier?
A. Yes (Reference: Written communication from Lisa Thompson)
Q. Did Angie Ingram purchase 2 Cavaliers for $10,000 each from the high bidder after the auction had ended, and were the dogs purchased with funds from a last minute plea to be donated into her private PayPal account as she was out of funds and this would be the quickest way to get immediate funding?
A. Yes. (Reference: Media articles, GOFUNDME)
Q. Where are those 2 Cavaliers now?
A. Angie Ingram has one of them. Crys Carnes, another member of the private social group, The Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham who also attended the auction has the other one...adopted by them for standard CR-USA adoption fees, yet purchased after the auction with DONATED funds for a total of $20,000. (Reference: statement made by Crys Carnes)
So here we are nearly five months later with no acceptable resolution. CR-USA has provided no additional assistance in the safe return of Gideon to Ms. Dawson, in spite of the fact
Executive Director, Carolyn Stigler stated Gideon was legally under CR-USA’s control.
Executive Director, Carolyn Stigler agreed Gideon should go to the family of Ms. Dawson’s choosing as per her organization’s protocol when the identity of the original breeder is known.Executive Director Carolyn Stigler ORDERED the Alabama representatives to relinquish him.
What was supposed to be“All about the Dogs” now has the appearance of being “All about CERTAIN PEOPLE”who wanted the dogs for themselves. There is now the appearance of impropriety and a less than transparent accounting how foster and adoptive homes were chosen.
We have one and only one goal…
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