Dan Pierce has been a Collie breeder and professional handler for several years. He is well known to the fancy as such. However, the dark side of Pierce has been obscured from examination; until now. On June 12, 1996, responding to a report of animal cruelty, Humane Society officers raided his "kennels" and found atrocities which have rarely been seen beyond the Nazi concentration camps. In an uncovered, mud-deluged six by six foot pen were the only survivors of his perfidy: two frightened and emaciated blue merle Collie puppies, perhaps 5-6 months old. They had been without food and water for several weeks. The rusty water buckets held only the rain and mud. These surviving victims had been forced to cannibalize their dead littermates who had succumbed to their hideous deaths. Unfortunately, the rescue of these Collie puppies came too late. The two barely alive had to be euthanized as they were too weak with sickness and maggots to save. Dan Pierce was subsequently arrested and booked on 10 counts of animal cruelty: the worst case of this kind that Guernsey County had ever seen.

Few outsiders were aware of the tragedy unfolding at Pierce's house. It was generally assumed that as recognized breeder, exhibitor and handler of Collies, Pierce was by default, naturally concerned with the well being of the animals at his place; an assumption which couldn't be farther from the truth. Some of his friends, with whom he exhibited, co-owned dogs or shared official duties in a local Collie club, suspected a serious problem in early May 1996. He was vague about a set of sable Collie puppies they knew he had (found in various stages of decomposition shown in the photos) and openly disinterested in the group of blue merle puppies locked in the mud-deluged pen (seen in the photographs). Click to enlarge

please be aware that these photo are horrific and if you feel you cannot handle looking at them please press back button - thank you

The raid on the kennels was the beginning of the discovery of Pierce's monstrous acts of barbarism. Catching him at home was difficult, so the police staked out his house. He was arrested and booked on 10 counts of one misdemeanour charge of animal cruelty. Knowing that such a discovery would reach the ears of the American Kennel Club, Pierce collaborated with four others to immediately transfer ownership of any living dog to them. If convicted, Pierce knew that he would likely be suspended for many years by the AKC; preventing him from breeding, owning or exhibiting any registered animals. However, if the dogs were transferred before his trial, he would still have secret access to these activities through the others. Or so he thought.

The entire dog fancy was in shock at these crimes committed by someone who had been "one of their own". And then they began to ask questions:

How did these conditions and deaths go undetected? Who else knew? And who else said nothing? The answer, as it turned out, was right next door.

Dan Pierce had been exhibiting, co-breeding, co-owning or handling dogs for several years with a male companion and three women: Joe Latz, Mary Ann Keefer, Mary Shingle, and Melody Nolan. They had groomed dogs with him, travelled to shows together and had other social contacts with him. As late as Sunday June 9, 1996, three days before the raid by the Humane Society and law enforcement officials, at least two of these women had been to his house and "kennels". That day there were 4 blue merle puppies still alive, seen by at least two persons: Mary Shingle and Melody Nolan. They witnessed the horrendous conditions and pitiful cries of the thirsty, starving and lonely puppies. Shingle commented to Pierce that it looked like a "puppy Auschwitz". He is reported to have stated, "If you don't like looking at them then don't; I don't."

Even though Shingle and Nolan decided to notify the Humane Society the following day, they walked away from what they had seen and no effort was given to immediately contacting local law enforcement officials and lodging a complaint on behalf of these tortured puppies. They were abandoned by their owner and by Dan's associates.

The raid on Wednesday evening June 12, 1996 of his kennels was the beginning of the discovery of Pierce's monstrous acts of barbarism. Information previously provided to the Humane Society minimized the severity of the situation. Ms. Sandy Lindy, Humane Society Officer for Guernsey County, Ohio was initially told that "some Collie puppies were muddy and apparently neglected" in a pen at Dan Pierce's place. She states that she had no idea that the situation was an emergency. Consequently, only two of the previous four blue merle puppies were still alive when she arrived to investigate. It was Ms. Lindy who filed the charges of animal cruelty and neglect against Dan Pierce. Mary Ann Keefer, a long-time associate and his next door neighbour actually loaned her camera to the Humane Officer for some of these photographs, but chose not accompany her camera and the officials at all.

Dan Pierce, owner of Destiny Collies of Quaker City, Ohio, was arrested, handcuffed and jailed on 10 counts of one misdemeanour charge of animal cruelty. Knowing that such a discovery of his gruesome crimes would reach the ears of the American Kennel Club, Pierce bailed out of jail and swiftly executed the transfer of ownership of other living dogs he had to Latz, Keefer and others. Owners of dogs he was handling for a fee quickly retrieved their animals into their own safe-keeping. If convicted, Dan Pierce knew that he would likely be suspended from privileges for many years by the AKC; preventing him from breeding, exhibiting, handling, and owning any registered animals. However, if the dogs were transferred before the trial, he might retain secret access to these activities and dogs through the others.

On January 23, 1997 the Administrative Law Court of Guernsey County was filled with Collie fanciers from many different states, there to see that justice was done. Pierce, the principle player, was there as well. However, noticeably absent were Keefer, Shingle, Nolan, and Latz.

The entire dog fancy was in shock at these crimes committed by someone who had been "one of their own". This was not a puppy miller. This was a breeder of significant standing: the co-breeder of the winner of the 1994 Collie Club of America National Specialty show, held in Niagara Falls, New York that year! Yet unbelievably, Dan Pierce had deliberately and maliciously starved and cruelly neglected a total of 10 Collies to their deaths. Collie fanciers of the world watched as the legal process unfolded. When money was needed to enlarge the photographic evidence seen here, it was readily donated by Collie lovers who heard the cry for help through the internet. When there appeared to be attempts by Pierce to legally manoeuvre his way out of trouble, the same Collie lovers donated funds to retain a third-party attorney as a "guardian-ad litem" for the slain dogs. He monitored the proceedings faithfully.

Dan Pierce had pled "not guilty" to each of the ten counts at his June arraignment in the Guernsey County Court of Cambridge, Ohio. Trial was set for November 1996. Predictably, the defence requested and received a continuance and his jury trial was rescheduled to January 23, 1997. The prosecution had planned to offer the testimony of Keefer, Shingle and Nolan to the photographs and the report of the investigating officials. However, these three eye-witnesses, all who had cooperated at the beginning of the proceedings in June 1996, had now become "extremely reluctant... with regard to their desire to come in and testify at trial for the state, and indicated a desire that this case would be resolved short of the necessity of them coming in to testify." (taken from the official court transcripts, pg. 3). The prosecution considered this a major factor to the strength of it's case against Pierce. With his witnesses compromised, the prosecution was forced to seek a plea agreement two days before the scheduled trial.

On January 23, 1997 the Honourable Judge John Nicholson of the Cambridge Municipal Court, Guernsey County, Ohio accepted a change of plea by Dan Pierce to "no contest" on two counts of cruelty to animals. The courtroom was filled with Collie and animal fanciers from many different states, there to see that justice was done. Pierce, the principal player, was there as well. However, noticeably absent were Keefer, Shingle, Nolan, and Latz. Their absence created many questions of breed loyalty from the court gallery.

Dan Pierce was sentenced to two years of UNSUPERVISED probation; given 15 days in jail for each count to run consecutively, but suspended; fined $100 for each count and one set of court costs; and ordered to cooperate with random inspections by the Guernsey Co. Humane Society to insure, at least, minimum humane treatment of any animals on the property.

The prosecutor, under fire from the spectators who were stunned by such leniency, conducted a de-briefing session with them in a room at the courthouse. He explained how his case had been damaged by Keefer, Shingle and Nolan. He discussed the limitations of Ohio law regarding animal cruelty. No matter how hard he tried, he still could not convince the spectators that this was the best to be done. How could he, when even the judge had expressed his repugnance of Pierce and his detestable acts! That night Pierce is reported to have celebrated his perceived "victory" at a West Virginia bar he frequents. And the rest of the dog world mourned the deaths of these blameless puppies.

What about the future? Pierce's future in dogs is likely to be ended by the AKC. He has already failed a records inspection by them. But what about the others? Should they escape the consequences of their inactions?
Perhaps justice will be better served if the American Kennel Club, which has exclusive power over their futures in registered dogs, calls for a similar records and site investigation of Keefer, Shingle, Nolan, and Latz. The AKC may even decide to suspend these persons from all privileges, in an identical sentence to that of Pierce; perhaps for conduct contrary to the sport of dogs and conduct contrary to the best interests of the breed. True, it will not bring back the ten canine lives taken; however, it may prevent the loss of another ten puppies or more by persons previously considered reputable or responsible breeder/owner/exhibitors.

please don't think this just happens in the USA

it also happens in this country as well