Smiley’s supporters take action as DNA test awaited

Whidbey Islanders concerned over a reclaimed shelter dog’s fate have written Gov. Christine Gregoire, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan about Smiley, a mixed-breed dog being held as evidence in a criminal investigation by the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

Whidbey Islanders concerned over a reclaimed shelter dog’s fate have written Gov. Christine Gregoire, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan about Smiley, a mixed-breed dog being held as evidence in a criminal investigation by the Island County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Ed Wallace, Island County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, said Tuesday that Smiley is in good health and is being well taken care of while his identity is confirmed through DNA analysis.

EDP Biotech, the same company that determined Smiley’s breed makeup during the four-month-long litigation process between WAIF, which runs the county’s animal shelters, and two former volunteers, Bob Baker and Barbara Moran of Freeland, will take a DNA sample of the dog in custody, Wallace said.

“This will provide proof positive that we are dealing with the same dog,” he said. “Once the testing has confirmed his identity the DNA sample will be held for use in any future criminal prosecution and “Smiley” will be released to WAIF.”

WAIF determined Smiley was too dangerous to let anyone adopt and planned to euthanize him before Baker and Moran intervened through legal action. When WAIF won the court dispute, someone stole Smiley from the Coupeville shelter. He was found last week at a South Whidbey dog park.

Fuming animal right’s activists plan to storm the Island County Commissioners’ meeting Monday to stop the Sheriff’s Office from handing the dog over to WAIF, according to comments made on the Whidbey News-Times Web site.

From the more than 170-some-odd posts at www.whidbeynewstimes.com, angry Smiley supporters may swarm the next Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation board meeting, as well. The regularly-scheduled meeting will be held April 20 at the Freeland Library.