5/21/18
Many of you have asked about the details of how we were silenced for 5 months from a Personal Protection Order that was filed against us on November 30, 2017.
Since I don’t have time to reply to all of you about this, I’m attaching all the information that was involved with this case so that there is full disclosure about what happened.
This sad and draining situation has gone on long enough and we will now move on from this educational campaign, that involved this animal rescue, and will focus on educating the public in Michigan (and the world) about the facts about declawing so that cat owners won’t want to have their beloved kitties much needed toe bones and claws amputated.
We will focus on educating the public about the simple, commonsense humane alternatives to declawing like sturdy scratching posts, horizontal scratching posts, nail trims, deterrents, Soft Paws, Feliway, etc so that cat owners won’t want to have such an inhumane and harmful procedure done to their beloved kitties.
We will continue to shine light on how way too many declawing vets are deceiving the public and their clients about this inhumane and mutilating procedure.
I ask you to please take this path with me. I want to thank all of you who really tried your best to respectfully educate those involved about the facts about declawing and about the easy, commonsense, humane alternatives to declawing. Education is the key to end this very mutilating procedure and we will never give up this mission.
I have never attacked or threatened anyone in my campaigns against declawing, and I always ask you to also never attack or threaten anyone.
It’s wrong. It hurts the cause. It often hurts me when you are mean or threatening.
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A declawing veterinarian in Michigan , who I respectfully and privately reached out to, was the impetus in stripping City the Kitty’s First Amendment right to free speech for 5 months. And for the first time in history, the ACLU stepped in to help a cat get his first amendment right to free speech back. #CatHistory Thank you to all the wonderful people who helped me with this and who care about the welfare of animals and about the right to free speech.
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This Animal rescue in Michigan declaws hundreds of cats each year, before they put them up for adoption.
Lori Shepler reached out to the declawing vet that is in charge of this animal rescue, Dr Marie Breuker with Fremont Animal Hospital, in 2016 and also in November 2017. These emails were in the PPO. Link to PDF with emails- Dr Marie Breuker – Shepler emails
The opposing lawyer said, according to the transcripts on page 7 from the January 8, 2018 hearing, “a veterinarian who was contacted advised the director to file this”. Petitioner v Shepler 1-8-18 Hearing Transcripts
In the March 21, 2018 hearing transcripts on page 20, the opposing lawyer said, “But then the veterinarian said she — their business was contacted by City Kitty and the veterinarians advised her to come up and file a PPO.” Petitioner v Shepler 3-21-18 Hearing PDF
The petitioner said in this March 21, 2018 hearing on page 59, “She called my veterinarians and emailed my veterinarians over, and over again demanding that we stop declawing cats. My vet is the one that asked me to get the PPO because she said this is — we can’t conduct business like that.” The petitioner’s testimony transcripts PDF Petitioner v Shepler 3-21-18 Hearing PDF
(Shepler never emailed or called any other veterinarian, that is affiliated with this animal rescue, other than Dr Marie Breuker)
Here is the press release about the Personal Protection Order that was filed against Lori Shepler. City The Kitty Press Release
HERE IS THE LINK TO THE ACLU’S AMICUS BRIEF. ACLU’S AMICUS BRIEF
PDF link to Lori Shepler’s facts about what happened- PPO Shepler Rebuttal
Link to Shepler’s Affidavit PDF Shepler’s Affidavit
Link to Shepler’s Motion to Dismiss Motion to Dismiss
Here are photos of the information in this PPO, which is a public record document.
(The PPO was not available in electronic form. The handwritten notes on the documents are from the petitioner or her associates)
Included in the PPO was the email correspondence between the petitioner and Lori Shepler. Click on this link to the PDF – Petitioner- Shepler Email Correspondence
According to Kim Horan, she had been to this store, a least a month before this animal rescue campaign started, to look at a cat that had been up for adoption for a year. She said she has no clue as to why someone would use her name like this and say she was recently there as a stalker. The photo in the screenshot was taken by one of the animal rescue’s associates.
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Included in the PPO was the email correspondence between the petitioner and Lori Shepler. Link to PDF of emails. Petitioner- Shepler Emails
Here is the PDF of the correspondence between the animal rescue’s foster person and Shepler that was included in the PPO. Link to the PDF Animal Rescue foster -Shepler correspondence
Link to Better Business Bureau complaint that was entered as evidence by Petitioner BBB complaint
(Lori Shepler never contacted this person who adopted a kitty from this animal rescue to ask her to file a complaint with the BBB)
Here are the transcripts from both hearings
January 8, 2018 Hearing for
Petitioner v Shepler 1-8-18 Hearing Transcripts
March 21, 2018 Hearing
Petitioner vs Shepler 3-21-18 Hearing Transcripts PDF
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For the record, the following information was submitted by Shepler in response to the 3/21/18 testimony by Petitioner and Foster person.
The opposing lawyer objected to this information being submitted, on the grounds that the hearing was closed on March 21.
The court rejected the information and sent it back.
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PDF link to Shepler’s rebuttal- PPO Shepler Rebuttal
2) Below are the screenshots of all the posts that were done by City the Kitty
3) This is the email that Shepler sent to the Newaygo High School art dept. teacher.
Here is the dismissal letter.
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Lori Shepler and Petitioner agreed to these conditions.
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I want to remind everyone to please take the high road and be respectful and try to educate people about declawing. When you are threatening or mean, it hurts the cause, it’s wrong, and as in this example, it hurt me.
We must keep educating the public about the facts about this inhumane, mutilating, and harmful amputation procedure so that they won’t want their beloved kitties health and well-being harmed for life.
Thank you for all your help and support. #PAWSNEEDCLAWS
Please thank the ACLU for helping our cause https://www.aclu.org/