Colorado Hiker Who Abandoned Injured Dog Relinquishes Custody

Good Morning America ^ | 09/17/12 | Christina Ng and Annie Rose Ramos

[sirchtruth]

The Colorado climber criticized for abandoning his injured dog on a mountain has agreed to give up custody of the dog to one of its rescuers.

Anthony Ortolani, 29, originally said he wanted custody of his dog Missy when she was rescued by a team of hikers after surviving eight days on the mountain. Since then, Ortolani has received intense criticism and even death threats over his decision.

[krb]

Thanks for the link, but that’s not the beginning of the saga.

I started following this story when it broke (and I am sure you guys did too). There was a lot more depth to this than that blog page lays out.

I swear that I’m not trying to be a douchebag with my cautious opinion, and if you could help me find the original threads I could probably explain better why I think this is an incautious outcome.

[hinckley buzzard]

He abandoned his loyal pet and didn't even try to get back to her. He is unworthy scum. He should be prosecuted for animal cruelty.

[hinckley buzzard]

Post of the century.

[Revolting cat!]

This cat would never abandon her dog!

[hinckley buzzard]

Here's a lesson in life, son. Sometimes, when you are as dead wrong as a pile of buffalo shit, nobody cares how or why you think the way you do.

[Eaker]

That isn’t a blog page, it is a forum just like FR. There are no “threads” out there that more completely recount the story as these are the real posts of all of the participants from start to finish.

The posts include when the dog was first discover, the plans for a rescue, the successful rescue with photos and finally the jerk coming on the thread making excuses.

This IS the whole story.

[CedarDave]

Here are three earlier FR articles:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2919776/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2920219/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2920137/posts

Over 400 total replies...

[krb]

Ah, gotcha. That’s not the same forum I started following this story from, but I see the history now. BBL.

[AlmaKing]

The reason I don’t own a dog and will not buy one for my family is that there are too many humans who will kill other humans over their concern for a dog.

[RegulatorCountry]

The guy just left her for dead when the government wouldn’t go get her for him. She was up there for days, stunned hikers were coming down off the mountain wanting to know why, they finally did what this lazy excuse of a man should have done the very next day, got a group together, went up the mountain, got her, brought her back down and got her to a vet for treatment of her injuries.

He abandoned any claim to the dog when he abandoned her and left her for dead. He has no claim. Ample precedent regarding abandoned property exists, look to the very old vendue laws regarding shipwreck salvage here in NC for but one example.

The dog belongs to her rescuers.

[Eaker]

LOL!

[berdie]

Mr. (or Mrs.) Buzzard..that is a profound bit of wisdom that I absolutely intend to plagiarize and use in other life situations.

[berdie]

Your post makes absolute sense. You should not have a dog, cat, canary or gerbil.

[null and void]

I swear that I’m not trying to be a douchebag with my cautious opinion

Didn't think you were, but I was/am curious about your reasoning.

if you could help me find the original threads

No luck, sorry.

[krb]

An earlier thread on this story detailed injuries to the dog’s paws that made it reportedly impossible to bring him down by the owners at the time (or so they said—yeah, I’m skeptical too). And the original owners were depicted as trying harder to rescue their dog than is being depicted in this over-simplified final story prosecution.

I don’t doubt that the dog is in absolutely fantastic hands in the ownership of the eventual rescuers, but I just want to make sure that the fact that the original owners lost ownership of their dog as the result of legal prosecution is really something to feel good about.

[Tomato lover]

With all the miserable news lately, this is a wonderful bright spot.

Brought a smile to our faces.

That, and H Buzzard’s post. :D

[CedarDave]

The last post on the 46 page thread before it was locked was from the prosecuting attorney. I'd say he might just have had a conflict of interest but it seems to have worked out alright.

A message from Scott Turner, the prosecutor in this case...

-----------------------------------------------------------

Once again the world has been made aware of the caring community that is known as 14ers.com

I have been following this thread with great interest as I, a 14ers.com member, will be the prosecutor handling the criminal charges in this case. If you were one of the rescuers or personally witnessed anything that happened on the mountain please contact me through my 14ers.com profile. I want to make sure we have contact information for all potential witnesses. Any photographs or video that you may have will also be helpful. If we get to the point where the judge is considering punishment I will do another post with information for whomever would like to send a letter to the judge to make their opinion known as to what should happen to the defendant and the dog. However please remember that under the law Mr. Ortolani is innocent until proven guilty.

That is all I can comment on for now. I will continue to keep the 14ers.com community updated on the progress of the case.

Scott Turner, Chief Deputy District Attorney, 5th Judicial District
swturner

Man who left dog on 14er faces animal cruelty charges

[Salamander]

Amen.

[Salamander]

I would’ve died trying...but that’s just me.

[Salamander]

Gotta love the buzzard.

:)