Julie Shay addresses justice failures in Lumi's preventable death incident

In a poignant moment at the Colorado Springs City Council meeting, Julie Shay shared a heart-wrenching account of the preventable death of her beloved dog, Lumi. With a voice filled with emotion, Shay recounted the tragic events that unfolded on December 23, when Lumi was killed while in the care of a dog trainer named Richard, who had been recommended to her four years prior.

Shay described how Richard allowed multiple dogs, including a large female named Ivy and a dog with a known bite history, to roam unsupervised in his backyard. The chaos led to Lumi's untimely death, yet Richard failed to notify Shay or the authorities. Instead, he contacted his uncle, Cliff Donnelly, who misrepresented himself as Lumi's owner to authorize her cremation. It wasn't until Shay received a text from Cliff, using Richard's phone, that she learned of her dog's death—29 hours after the incident.

The situation escalated further when Shay discovered that animal control had kept Lumi's body for three weeks without performing a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Despite evidence of Ivy's dangerous behavior, the animal control officer at the subsequent hearing was unprepared and confused Lumi's case with another, leading to Ivy's release and the quiet dismissal of the case against Richard.

Shay expressed her frustration at being sidelined in the legal process, as a deputy district attorney informed her that she was not considered the victim—her dog was. This revelation raised serious concerns about potential bias and accountability within the system. Adding to the troubling narrative, Shay revealed that Richard had a history of unresolved legal issues, including a past murder conviction and an inactive business registration.

As Shay's story unfolded, it highlighted not only the personal tragedy of losing a pet but also the systemic failures that allowed such incidents to occur. Her testimony resonated with those present, urging the council to consider the implications of animal safety and the need for accountability in the care of pets within the community.