Law Offices of Thompson Gould Page, LLC

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

07/15/2025

Please help if you can.

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!!

05/28/2025

Animals reunited in custody disputes after lengthy periods of separation always do two things:

1. They go nuts upon being reunited (and can’t seem to ever sit still for a photo); and

2. They give me a knowing look of thanks – my ultimate reward.

Today was no different.

04/12/2025

He’s never been let out of his municipal holding cell since June, 2024. Food is slipped under the door of his cage, and his p**s and s**t are washed away with a hose. I can’t fight for better living conditions because the law says this is not animal abuse as long as it is done by a municipal pound and not by a private citizen. Go figure.

But we are dug in fighting to save him. I saw him once when we were allowed to have a dog behaviorist go to the pound to do an evaluation for our court case. The animal control officer wouldn’t allow him out of his cell, so we stood at this wired window for close to an hour, tossing treats, observing his demeanor, speaking to him, playing games with him through the fencing and interacting as best we could.

He warmed up pretty quickly and was clearly happy, attentive, positive and overwhelmed with the attention from us. Not a growl. He knew we were on his side.

When we left, I told our dog behaviorist getting into the pound and seeing my “clients” is the hardest part of defending them. But it only bolsters our motivation and perseverance to achieve what we set out to do.

Trial was last week and went as well as it could have. We have post-trial briefs to draft and then wait for the decision. If it doesn’t go well, we’ll have more work to do to save him, but hopefully that won’t be necessary. We’ll see.

02/14/2025

DOGS KNOW WHAT MATTERS

A few months ago 3 year old Diamond (on the left) entered our lives. Her younger playfulness was a shock to her three older brothers during the 1 1/2 month decompensation & get-to-know-you period. They were more perturbed than the 6 cats Diamond thought would be engaging play pals. But being a dog, who learn quickly and adjust, Diamond is today Bugsy’s ride or die (on the right), even moreso after Bugsy’s recent diagnosis.

A week ago Bugsy, at @12 years old with the scars of an abusive childhood, couldn’t stand up. Off to the vet we scurried, and I soon was very relieved to learn about Idiopathic vestibular disease.

This usually strikes dogs in their golden years. “Idiopathic” means the origin of disease is unknown and “Vestibular” refers to the inner ear, and like vertigo, it creates imbalance, abnormal posture, head tilt, and rapid, uncontrolled eye movement. While visually very alarming, thankfully it is not a serious nervous system disorder.

There is no specific cure. Treatment includes lots of TLC, a medication for motion sickness/nausea called Meclizine, and because it may foretell hypothyroidism in some dogs, we got blood work to determine if his diet should change.

The disease comes on suddenly and doesn’t significantly worsen, usually improving in the first 72 hours. Full recovery can take 1-4 weeks, but a head tilt may remain permanently. There is no mental dullness/stupor, or generalized weakness even though his equilibrium will always be pretty much out of whack.

Diamond was keen to Bugsy’s change, and now even moreso is constantly glued to his side. This is nothing but heartwarming, and yet another reminder of how tuned in these creatures are to their surroundings, and to those who mean the most to them. The wonder of how life should be didn’t miss a beat and goes on with our crew.

02/13/2025

10/21/2024

A Note That All Who Save Them Will Understand

Tres Jolie showed up one night years ago to eat chow, raw food scraps, and I’m fairly sure never took us up on sleeping in the spacious, warmer and straw-filled kitty condo, out of the wind and cold next to the food and water bowls nestled in our garage. She had a clipped ear, and thus avoided our traps with a no-doubt learned suspicion. The vet guessed she was 8-9 years old at the time of her arrival.

At the sound of the back door opening, she would scoot out of the garage and scamper across the lawn, too scared to even make eye contact. And so it went like that until a summer Covid dinner, when she warmed up enough to visit the back patio as we ate outdoors with a few family and friends. Never getting too close and with always an exit strategy pending, we got a photo of her investigating the appetizer plate from my sister.

With the patio door open and food just inside one night, we finally got her “trapped” in the house. She stayed mad for a few days and then life went on, slowly gaining trust with us and a peaceful understanding from the other dogs and cats (12 total at one point) that she had superlative supervisory credentials. The best spots on the most comfortable sun porch couches were reserved for her.

The much too common diagnosis of a hyper-active thyroid soon changed her diet, and age brought an interest in head scratches and occasional belly rubs, but don’t even think of picking her up.

Last week as she began a final decline, the vet said the kidney failure was at full throttle against her now 3+ pound body. And so we did what we set out to do – to give her a better life than she had, for as long as we could. She gave us much in return, as they all always do.