Facing public concern over the perception of how he raises his dogs — under the name “Our Gang Kennels” — with accusations of improper kenneling and dogfighting, Klinger has posted a large sign on his front porch, with a hand-written letter to his detractors.
"Dear Concerned Neighor, Buy Your Son a Dog, and Leave me and mine alone," the sign reads. "As for my Situation. When you start paying any of my Bills Then you will have a right to Know. My dogs are Fed an awesome Diet Daily Have all Current shots and Boosters, Heart worm Preventitive, DE-Worming, and of course Rabies Vaccines. So in short MIND Your Own Business”
Just around the back of the house, two pit bulls could be found Wednesday, tethered by industrial-strength collars and heavy duty metal chains, trudging around a beaten-down dirt section.
Because the dogs don't appear to be in distress and are provided water, shelter and shade, Washington County-Johnson City Animal Shelter Animal Control Officer Wayne Thomas said he hasn't been able to charge the owner with anything substantial, despite the calls of the public who accuse the owner of various kinds of animal mistreatment.
The situation has been tossed back and forth between Klinger and Animal Control for years, but on Wednesday the issue turned heated at the monthly Animal Control Board meeting, ending with officials beginning to look into so-called “backyard breeders” and whether ordinances can be drawn to put more teeth into breeding regulations.
Wendy Crum, who created an online Change.org petition calling for action, pleaded with board members to look further into the situation. Several others among the crowd in the shelter’s conference room added their voices to the growing concern, including Sydney Robinson with the Humane Society.
Robinson said the problem stretches beyond Klinger’s situation and Johnson City, and other members agreed that “backyard breeding” is responsible for the overage of pit bull breeds in shelters across the nation. Shelter Director Debbie Dobbs estimated about 60 percent of the shelter’s animals are “bully” breeds at any given time, many of which take months or even years to adopt out.
“Where are (the pit bulls) coming from?” Another resident, Jessica Lou, asked. “There’s a lot going on that we’re not talking about. This is beyond neglect.”
Lou and others in the audience pointed to Klinger’s Facebook page. They say he breeds the dogs to sell them, and alleged that he made posts bragging that he had “six pregnant pit bulls” at his residence.
Jael Capper, who said she cares for the dogs during the week while Klinger works out of state, disputed the claims about the pregnant pit bulls as well as concerns that she and Klinger are fighting the dogs.
She said the posts about fighting are to showcase the dog’s history, not to promote dog fighting.
“We’re sharing the history of the dog so we don’t go there,” she said. “We don’t produce them for that reason. We take them to (American Dog Breeders Association aka ADBA and All American Dog Registry International aka AADR) shows.”
Earlier Wednesday, Thomas was again at Klinger’s house, posting yet another notice on his door. Amid a constant stream of complaints from citizens, Capper agreed to let Thomas inspect the premises directly after the meeting, and Thomas would report back to the board with his findings.
Capper declined to let any media attend the inspection.
Capper said the house holds eight adult dogs including the ones tied in the backyard, and two puppies less than a year old. She also said none of the dogs have been pregnant in over a year.
In online comment sections of a Facebook page titled “Friends of Animals In Need In Kingsport and Surround Area,” discussing the matter, Klinger's gone back and forth with other commenters who’ve accused him of being a “backyard breeder” and about his method.
While explaining the kind of work and training he does with this dogs, in one post on July 23, he touched on Tennessee dog laws.
“They are not human,” he wrote. “They are viewed as property in TN, just like your car.”
But he goes on to say that the dogs are well-kept.
“I live here, the dogs are fine, absolutely nothing wrong with any of them.”
The petition's author said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was looking into the matter, among other law enforcement agencies — including the Johnson City Police Department. But Leslie Earhart, the Johnson City media contact for the TBI, said that wasn't currently the case.
By the conclusion of the meeting, though, Dobbs agreed to contact the TBI, but remained skeptical anything could be done about the situation under current laws.
“There has to be evidence of neglect or fighting,” Dobbs said, adding that so far in this case, officers have been unable to find credible evidence.
Thomas said he's been working on building a case against Klinger for two years and that he'll be fair to everyone in pursuing legal action against Klinger if there is cruelty or any kind of mistreatment of animals.
Laws are pretty minimal - they need shelter, clean water, clean living area, rabies vaccinations, and that's about it. It's a bonus if the dog has shade.
If someone really thinks he's fighting dogs or facilitating it, they need to pony up some real evidence for authorities to go on - not just a vague complaint that he's fighting the dogs.
(Johnson City Press - July 28, 2016)
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