Jaycee Dugard Wants Her Pets Back

By: Sammy Rose Saltzman
Topics: Daily Blotter

(Family Photo)

Family Photo: Jaycee Lee Dugard.

ANTIOCH, Calif. (CBS/AP) You might think that after spending 18 years in Phillip Garrido's squalid house and backyard, Jaycee Lee Dugard would want to get rid of everything associated with the experience.

Photos: Inside Phillip Garrido's House
Photos: The Search For Jaycee
Photos: Jaycee Lee Dugard Found Alive
Photos: Inside Jaycee's Terror Tent

Not so, says Dugard's advocate, who told authorities that Dugard wants her five cats, two dogs, three cockatiels, a pigeon and a mouse back after animal services removed them from the home.

Lieutenant Joe DeCosta of Contra Costa County animal services says his department is working on fulfilling Dugard's wishes.

"They have expressed an interest that they want their pets back," DeCosta said. "We are going to do everything we can to help facilitate that."

DeCosta said the animals are good condition, and most have been placed in temporary foster homes until Dugard, 29, and her two daughters can reclaim them.

DeCosta said he did not know how many of the animals are in new homes, and said there's no timetable on when they would be returned to Dugard.

The animals have been in protective custody since they were found Aug. 27 after authorities began searching the Antioch, Calif., property of Phillip and Nancy Garrido.

The couple has been charged with kidnapping a then-11-year-old Dugard in 1991 and raping her.

Authorities are also dissecting the property for possible clues linking the couple to two other child abductions in Northern California in the 1980s.

Photos: Inside Phillip Garrido's House
Photos: The Search For Jaycee
Photos: Jaycee Lee Dugard Found Alive
Photos: Inside Jaycee's Terror Tent

THE JAYCEE LEE DUGARD STORY
GET FULL COVERAGE HERE

11 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment See all 11 Comments


by kwmcbride September 22, 2009 11:48 AM EDT: Her 11 yr old picture is used since her current pictures are protected information to protect her privacy. Anything on the internet purporting to be her current photo is false or based on photo enhancements. And why shouldn't she want her pets back? Other than her girls, they were her only real family for 18 years. Maybe she can't have them in her hotel room, but when she gets a regular home she should definitely get them back. My heart goes out to them.; Reply to this comment


by StandUpForVictims September 22, 2009 2:26 AM EDT: Khadilov@1:38pm
I agree with you 100% - I am so mad at the ignorant headline..
Sammy RS. If you do write more stories on Jaycee (I hope you don't).
consider being empathetic with your words. My God!!

This is hard for an animal lover to explain to someone like you Sammy RS, but I shall give it a try. I feel sorry for you if you don't understand.

You Might think Jaycee and her daughters have missed their pets. People and animals bond with each other. They form loving loyal friendships when treated well. Pets are great therapy for the soul.
They become part of the Family. Best Friends to each other.

The animals will be missing their owners and will be out of sorts. The owners routine of taking care of the animals has abruptly stopped and they will be concerned about the care that the animals are receiving. It is a perfectly normal reaction to want to take care of your own pets. It is something good that people enjoy doing.
It takes maturity to put your pets needs first, organize your day around them.
Jaycee and her daughters have done a great job with their pets.
They want them back and any compassionate person would not even question this.
I hope their reunion will happen soon.
Best wishes to Jaycee and all her Family.
I hope all the negative sarcastic comments towards them will stop..; Reply to this comment


by willow013 September 21, 2009 6:14 PM EDT: Animals have a way of communicating that most humans are incapable of understanding.....You can tell an animal anything...Your fears, anger, anguishes, it doesn't matter....You can tell it all to an animal and they accept you in spite of it....They don't judge, they don't reprimand, they don't critisize....They listen unconditionally, and love the same way....I have three dogs, and I love them and trust them more than most humans.....Of course Jaycee wants her animals back....They are the reason she kept her sanity all of those years....; Reply to this comment


by erasmus111 September 21, 2009 3:29 PM EDT: by NewYork-Joey September 21, 2009 1:56 PM EDT
...is anyone curious about what she looks like now ? why are they using the image from when she was 12 ?

Probably because she wants PRIVACY. Once her picture is out there people won't leave her alone.

Awhile back someone said that they didn't know when she would give an interview. Why should she have to give anyone an interview, EVER? It's her business what happened to her, nobody elses. If she doesn't want to give an interview, everyone should leave her alone.

Because you were kidnapped, raped etc., does that mean that you owe the world the nitty gritty details?; Reply to this comment


by stryker54 September 21, 2009 2:01 PM EDT: shame on the system for taking them. Her pets along with her kids probably got her thru this ordeal and if it helps her cope with everything, plus she probably cares a great deal for them. GIVE THEM BACK. I'm sure they won't impede the investigation.; Reply to this comment


by khadilov September 21, 2009 1:38 PM EDT: You might think that after spending 18 years in Phillip Garrido?s squalid house and backyard, Jaycee Lee Dugard would want to get rid of everything associated with the experience.

****How dare you write anything disparaging about this young lady. Anything she wants to help her get through this, let her have it. Shame on you Sammy Rose Saltzman for scraping the bottom of the burrel for a story.; Reply to this comment


by kenhamlett September 21, 2009 1:12 PM EDT: This lady has class. Despite her situation in the past she cares about her animals and wants to keep them as "family' so they can receive the best care she can offer. Of course teaching the little ones to read and write showed she had priorities outside of her own troubles so this is no surprise.; Reply to this comment


by erasmus111 September 21, 2009 12:32 PM EDT: "You might think that after spending 18 years in Phillip Garrido?s squalid house and backyard, Jaycee Lee Dugard would want to get rid of everything associated with the experience."

WHY? She loved her animals obviously. Aside from her kids, those animals were probably the only enjoyable thing in her life. They are probably what got her through that life.; Reply to this comment

by cs4466 September 21, 2009 12:06 PM EDT

"DeCosta said the animals are good condition, and most have been placed in temporary foster homes until Dugard, 29, and her two daughters can reclaim them."

Jaycee's a bright little girl and she's got her priorities right on. Congratulations, Jaycee!

Reply to this comment


by NewYork-Joey September 21, 2009 1:56 PM EDT: by cs4466 September 21, 2009 12:06 PM EDT

"Jaycee's a bright little girl"
______________________

She's 29 years old, not a "little girl"....is anyone curious about what she looks like now ? why are they using the image from when she was 12 ?


by dowell100 September 21, 2009 2:05 PM EDT: Bright little girl??? She was 11 when she was kidnapped and was with the crazy guy for 18 years, so that makes her 29 years old now. She is not a "little girl."

Needing a dozen animals around shows she probably has some emotional issues. Better that she spend her time in therapy rather than attending to a menagerie.