Law Offices of Thompson Gould Page, LLC

08/21/2026

Saving Dogs From Death Row Is Not The End: Eventual Placement Is Never Certain.

In June, 11 year old, +100 pound overweight Thor had spent ten months on death row following a dog-on-dog incident while under a last chance restraint order I hammered out years ago for him after two prior dog-on-dog incidents. To the City of Waterbury’s credit, although procedurally they had to claim Thor’s disposal in order to seize and retain him, they really just wanted to prevent any future recurrences. This meant the owner would have to permanently surrender Thor. Like almost all owners I’ve had in similar situations, he sadly but dutifully offered to do so.

Waterbury animal control allowed Thor’s devoted owner to visit every day for ten months and feed him a diet which had “death row inmate’s last meal” written all over it. During this time, I took the necessary legal steps to prevent Thor’s killing and set the matter up for possible settlement.

The ensuing agreement required that Thor enter behavior modification training. In late June he left for a remote peaceful facility in upstate New York I found when his expected trainer had to cancel last minute. Shortly after a week of decompression, the trainer told me Thor was settling in well, and if boarding would be his next stop at the end of his training regimen, Thor could stay until we found a foster or adoptive home for him. I was naturally surprised and pleased to hear this, hoping any additional cost would be feasible.

Weeks into Thor’s new lease on life, the trainer said Thor’s skin infections from laying in a pound for so long had healed, he was having a ball, losing excess weight and getting along well with everyone, including her personal pack of a small dog, a Belgian Malinois and a pitbull. The latter two compete in weekend dock-diving events while Thor lounges in the grassy yards under shade trees waiting for their return. Life has become good.

Last week the trainer said because Thor is so happy and getting along, she would much rather he stay with her permanently rather than face the uncertainty and adjustment of another new home.

In order to protect the trainer from being literally deluged with requests, her name will stay anonymous, though she will certainly stay in the heart of Thor forever.

05/09/2026

The Dogs Lost One of the Good Guys.

I met Mike in 2017 when he was 83 years old and had a dog issue. His wife had been the animal control officer in a Connecticut town for decades. When the town got a stray dog which was “unadoptable” (too big and likely had a bite history), Mike would often take the dog home so it wasn’t sent to its last vet appointment.

Mike was a relatively quiet, big and burly guy who didn’t seem scared of anything, much less any dog. Afterall, those fortunate to go home with him soon realized he was their savior, as all rescued dogs do.

He also had a heart I soon became quite fond of. He visited my office for years, always with a big bag of treats, and would sit with my pitbulls and soon forget why he had otherwise come to the office. Often, there was no otherwise.

Years later I drafted his will. Last month his daughter called to say he had passed away and that she knew what her Dad and I shared together. We reminisced about Mike and his devotion to these wonderful but lost creatures.

She also told me that until he was close to 90 years old and no longer able to drive, Mike would often visit a public beach in Bridgeport where owners walked their dogs. Not surprisingly, he always brought a bag of treats. The dogs memorized the sound of his car engine and welcomed him whenever he visited.

My kind of human.

03/21/2026

A memory from my life with dogs

The following is an email I sent in 2019 to Richard, a truly extraordinary animal rights attorney from New York and my legal soulmate. He changed my life when in 2014 he needed an in-state lawyer to sponsor him so he could take on a dog kill order case in Connecticut, and he somehow found me:

“This morning I drove Maggie to the vet for the last time. She has gone from 90 pounds to 52, won’t eat her cherished raw food for the last week, only kibble, and threw up a huge amount of blood last night (twice), I suspect either from a large stomach tumor rupture or perhaps an ulcer from the pain meds she’s been on, but the latter would require her to be in much better shape to withstand the treatment, and even then it would be very iffy at this point in what clearly appears to be her shutting down.

She’s at peace, and so are we, after 13 years of borrowed time from being a day away from the fate of a pitbull in the Hartford pound and having lived a good life with lots of love. Jacqueline wouldn’t leave her side this morning and also wouldn’t sound her normal purr.

They all know so much more than we ever will.”

03/04/2026

Kai graduated with honors under trainer Mike Malan of Canine Confidence Center in Rhinebeck, NY last Saturday. He spent wonderful time with loads of dogs while with Mike, and I can’t say enough about Mike’s understanding, guidance and positive direction of him. Mike brought out Kai’s natural character, playfulness and confidence, getting him ready for the next phase on his journey to a forever home.
When I arrived to drive Kai to Northwind Kennels in Bedford, NY for temporary boarding, he was so excited to see me and immediately jumped into the rear hatch of my SUV. As we pulled away, he began nuzzling my arm for treats, which continued throughout most of the ride!
Today Kai was examined, tested, neutered and vaccinated with the grateful assistance of Lisa Smith at A Good Dog Rescue, who will also be handling the eventual vetting of possible adopters.
Kai’s 1 1/2 years in a cage on death row is getting further and further behind him, but the costs to turn his life around haven’t stopped yet. Many thanks to those who have helped us so far in trying to cover the expenses we've already incurred.
We take on dogs who are misunderstood, seized, given a death sentence and need a legal battle to save them. We then find a way for them to realize their second chance.
Donations of any amount will greatly help us not only fulfill our commitment to Kai, but will allow us to continue this vital work for those to come.
Many thanks for whatever you can do.

https://gofund.me/b625fa234

02/02/2026

In 2016, a distraught dog owner posted that animal control was coming the following day to pick up (and destroy) a dog she had thankfully rescued out of Hartford. Within a month of taking him in, she had a large noisy party that frightened Bugsy who bit a guest.

I responded with some ideas for her, but nobody was coming forward to take him, so on a cold rainy early Saturday morning, I drove out to eastern CT and Bugsy jumped into my jeep.

Bugsy was @ 1 ½ years old with so many scars on him that either revealed a history as a bait dog or at the very least a terrible beginning to his life. On the drive home, I told him he best behave with the dogs already at home, and he nodded in agreement. Thus began my journey with a truly abused dog.

Bugsy spent many years at the office with our small part-time staff and surely knew what we alI tried to accomplish for those like him. He met and enjoyed countless clients, and at 80 pounds of muscled blue-nose pitbull, he no doubt changed many minds.

Bugsy moved on yesterday while I was at the office working on a fundraiser for another dog. After filing suit on behalf of Kaiser in 2024 and recently settling his case, he is now in upstate NY with a wonderful trainer beginning his second chance.

Bugsy knew all about second chances, and I think he knew each of our legal successes would help the misunderstood and misjudged who would inevitably come along after him.

Please consider a donation through the GoFundMe below in any amount to help defray over $5,000 we have spent thus far securing Kaiser’s second chance.

Bugsy, Kaiser and those yet to cross our path surely thank you.

https://gofund.me/691a6ec17

01/31/2026

In June 2024, The Center For Animal Litigation received a call from a family who had taken in an abandoned dog — we’ll call him Kaiser. They had very little money but tried to help him when no one else would. A few months later, a heartbreaking incident occurred. Kaiser bit a 9-year-old family member after the child had been teasing him while he was tied to a tree.

Kaiser was seized and placed in a Connecticut municipal pound — on death row.

In August 2024, I met the family at court. The child asked to come. Through tears, he told me what had happened. It was a moment none of us will ever forget.

The family did not want Kaiser back. What they wanted — what they begged for — was for him not to be killed.

We proposed a solution: Kaiser would never return to the family or remain in Connecticut. Instead, he would permanently leave the state and enter a minimum four-week professional training program to determine whether he could safely be rehabilitated and adopted. Initially, the town rejected this offer. After further hearings and an appeal to Superior Court in October 2025, an agreement was finally reached.

For more than a year and a half, Kaiser lived in a 4 x 8 holding cell. He never left that space.

Two weeks ago, Kaiser finally left Connecticut. He is now in upstate New York with an experienced trainer in a remote, serene, woodsy setting — the kind of place where healing can begin. Within days, he impressed the trainer and is already learning, engaging, and safely interacting with other dogs.

This is what a second chance looks like.

To get Kaiser here required court filing fees, legal support from our law clerks, veterinary care, vaccinations, neutering, and a professional board-and-train program. The costs have already exceeded $5,000.

We take on these cases to save lives — but also to move the needle legally for misunderstood dogs who would otherwise have no voice. When we fight and win, it sets precedent. It gives the next dog a chance.

We cannot do this without financial support.

If you believe that one mistake — especially under difficult circumstances — should not automatically equal death, please consider making a tax-deductible donation in any amount.

Your support will not only help Kaiser. It will help the many others who will come after him — frightened, misunderstood, and out of time.

We fight for them because they deserve it.

In June 2024, The Center For Animal Litigation received a call from a family who h… Thompson Page needs your support for Saving Kaiser and Future Dogs in Need

12/12/2025

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PLEASE HELP US SAVE MOOSE Moose is our sweet 5-year-old Great Dane mix. He's gentle, lov… Jaime Marconis needs your support for PLEASE HELP US SAVE MOOSE!!

07/15/2025

PLEASE HELP US SAVE MOOSE Moose is our sweet 5-year-old Great Dane mix. He's gentle, lov… Jaime Marconis needs your support for PLEASE HELP US SAVE MOOSE!!