#JusticeForMiri ~ our battle cry through the end of 2020 and the entire year of 2021 as we fought tooth and nail for a modicum of justice for a 3 pound Yorkie who spent her life continuously heavily pregnant, starving, and as the judge on her case said “despite her abusers best efforts she just ‘would not die’.”
In October 2020 we went the the shelter for a transport and shelter workers asked us to come see a tiny Yorkie. We were horrified by what we discovered. 3 pounds, covered in yeast and infection, with eyes so crusted she could not close them to blink and with no lower jaw, she sat unable to eat or even drink water. We began advocating for her and pressuring police to make arrests after the abusers own daughters identified them to us. Finally we made headway and the pair were arrested for animal cruelty.
On June 8, 2021 with your help and support, we got justice for Miracle though we endured another 5 months of appeals. We did something almost unheard of in rescue and it is ONLY because of the persistence and dedication of volunteers and supporters who gave voice to the voiceless. The following week Miri’s Haven was born.
A Frederick County Virginia court determined that Miracle’s abusers, Gary Helsley Sr and Sylvia Ann Alexander Helsley of the 100 block of Cedar Grove Road in Winchester, VA systemically abused and neglected Miracle, breeding her at least twice a year for 11 years. She was then discarded like trash.
We did not expect justice in any real form simply because it is so rare in rescue. Our laws don’t protect dogs well enough and do nothing to regulate breeding for profit. However, we had a tenacious prosecutor who painstakingly detailed what the Helsley’s did to Miri. Our Georgia testified about the condition Miracle was in when we got her, and how well she was recovering in the few short weeks before she passed away in Georgia’s arms.
The pair who had made a living out of breeding dogs in filthy unacceptable conditions were given the maximum sentence of 365 days, with 265 days suspended - with the judge saying the photos of Miri were appalling and if Miri’s condition was not the definition of neglect, she didn’t know what was. They were also ordered to never have a companion animal again, for the remainder of their lives. Sadly one defendant died before serving their sentence.
In her final moments we made a promise to Miri to keep fighting in her name. We created Miri’s Haven initially running on anger born of love and though we have never encountered another situation where justice can be found we have saved over 220 dogs in two years ~ and it is all because of you Miracle.
Her name was Miracle and this is her legacy.
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