09/04/2026
Email to Doug Brightwell:
Good Morning,
Upon taking Sage and signing legally binding documents, I was given a verbal rendition of the incident. Never during the process was I offered a bite report, shown any images, viewed vet bills, or afforded any evidentiary information, basically violating my due process rights. When I requested the information, I was told that they could not give me these things because redactions needed to be made in line with HIPPA, I never asked to see I***s medical bills; I asked for a bite report and shelter notes and was denied. We had to acquire all of our information regarding Sage and the events that transpired through outside sources and public records, which we did.
To my surprise, the criteria for an aggressive dog designation wasn't even met, as I do have a copy of I***s dog's vet bill, which clearly states "non-surgical wound care". Isn't the criteria under your own legal definition a bite requiring surgery and stitches? Wound care that costs $26.49 is neither of those things. This raises the bigger question: what was the actual plan here to designate this dog as aggressive to avoid legal conflict with I**t and place undue hardship on a transfer partner? It was very dishonest, to say the least.
I would like to get into some deeper details regarding Sage's behavior while in your care. On 7/23, Sage was evaluated by both Natalie and John, during which time they clearly saw that Sage is not dog-friendly. Yet, on 7/29, Sage was sent out on Broward Buddies with I**t. This assessment did not result in simply showing that Sage was not dog-friendly; what it showed was that Sage will, without a doubt, go after a male dog. Why was she sent out in the community? If a Broward Buddies participant chooses to ignore your own rules of not taking a dog around other dogs during these events, why is Sage being labeled as aggressive? Isn't the human supposed to follow your guidelines, or are those simply for show?
I have taken several dogs from the shelter, and if you had said this to me about them, I personally would not have argued. Dogs that bite or attack humans have been released into our care on more than 10 occasions yet I'm not even asked about those dog- where they are, who they are with, nothing. Which I personally and freely would answer for all of them. They pose more of a threat to our community than Sage ever has or will.
I am coming to you as a transfer partner and as a courtesy, asking you to redact the label of aggressive dog from Sage, as she legally does not meet the criteria outlined in the Broward County Code for aggressive dogs. I am by no means negotiating a "kind gesture"; I am asking that you do the right thing by a dog that was in your care, released by your employee into the community when she should not have. Furthermore, my due process rights were completely violated by withholding all of the information I would need as the owner of Sage to question this very decision in a legal and informed manner.
Thank you. I will be on standby for your reply.
Lori Drake
