Anthony Ortolani faces petition against getting back dog he left on a mountain


Take this conversation on the Life With Dogs Facebook page, which has gathered nearly 400 comments at this writing. Examples:

That useless piece of humanity had the gall to ask for her back after he abandoned her and she was rescued over a week later??? I think I'd abandon him with no shoes, no food, no water (leave him some snow? yellow maybe?)

Thank God the rescue team. I know Missy will now get the love and loyalty she deserves.

Exactly what should happen to this person - he simply thought the poor dog would die/no one would find the dog and he would be home free. I hope they throw the book at him.

Anthony Ortalani missy german shepherd petition.jpg
The photo of Missy and the rescue team that accompanies the Change.org petition.
Meanwhile, a Change.org petition has been launched under the title "Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office: Please do not allow Anthony Ortolani to reclaim Missy, German Shepherd." Here's the intro, which features a link to a story about Missy featured on Good Morning America.

Please read the attached article. Missy was left by her owner due to a storm in very tough terrain without food, water or shelter. She was injured and could not walk to safety. He made no attempt to organize any rescue group and made no attempt to go back for her to save her. A couple hiking in the area found her and worked very hard to save her. They did everything they could to save Missy, a dog they did not know. She was very close to death when they found her. She is recovering now but Mr. Ortolani wants his dog back. The couple who saved her, along with others, have expressed interest in adopting her. I am not suggesting that Mr. Ortolani is a bad person but simply that he did not step up to the plate when his dog needed him. Please sign this petition so Missy can go to her new home with the couple who loved her enough to save her.
At this writing, the petition has 128 signatures toward a goal of 200. Ortolani is next due in court on October 16.

Here's the 9News story about Ortolani and Missy.

More from our Colorado Crimes archive: "Corey Haveman skips sentencing after guilty plea for starving Irish Setter to death."


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79 comments
Paul Vincent Saurini
Paul Vincent Saurini

People imagine a scenario when they were not there. How closed minded is it to know what happened when you weren't there?

Evelyn Maria
Evelyn Maria

No he should of gathered people to help get the dog

jessicalynnavery
jessicalynnavery

That is so flippin' messed up!  I can't even imagine how scared and sad his dog must have been as she saw her person walk away and leave her when she was in pain!  He should NOT get her back!  I hope she finds a loving home!

Sharon Krell
Sharon Krell

absolutely not....not only did he leave the dog, but then left town for his job. not sure how many employers wouldn't have allowed him to go back up the mountain to find his dog. Unless he was too embarrassed to tell his boss he abandoned his dog on a mountain. Now that could seriously have hurt his chances for promotion.

Christopher VanGarven
Christopher VanGarven

Wow. You guys are right! This picture definitely looks like he didn't like his dog and was looking for any reason to leave her up on a mountain. How many of you have been struggling to breathe, carrying an animal on your back at 13, 000 feet? A storm at 13,000 ft can be deadly at any time of year. The dog's survival instincts are much stronger than his and there was a much greater chance of the dog's survival than his. As far as him not going back for the dog... He contacted agencies who are equipped to deal with search and rescue and they did not help him or his dog because they said that it was not worth the resources. It's foolish to think that the dog would be anywhere near where it was left even the next day. In the mountains things can change in an instant. As hard as it would be to leave your beloved pet up there on the mountain, you would be foolish not to. I'm sure that this guy tried his hardest and then realized that it could very well be his life or the dog's life. If he didn't believe he was in danger... Damn him, but if you can't understand the circumstances then you are ignorant.

Diane Schwender
Diane Schwender

Take a break , stay with your dog and make it down slowly I would never leave my pet

Diane Schwender
Diane Schwender

Take a break , stay with your dog and make it down slowly I would never leave my pet

Diane Schwender
Diane Schwender

Take a break , stay with your dog and make it down slowly I would never leave my pet

Aaron Robert Matteson
Aaron Robert Matteson

i see there is no love, no forgiveness, probably no ron paul either, we don't deserve our freedoms

Aaron Robert Matteson
Aaron Robert Matteson

i see there is no love, no forgiveness, probably no ron paul either, we don't deserve our freedoms

Aaron Robert Matteson
Aaron Robert Matteson

i see there is no love, no forgiveness, probably no ron paul either, we don't deserve our freedoms

Jason Estes
Jason Estes

I would have stayed with the dog on that mountain till the storm passed. And if she could not walk I would have carried her on my back. If he loved that dog at all he would have done much more to keep her safe. Give her to someone that knows how to treat living beings with compassion.

Arlie Kendall
Arlie Kendall

In case Mr. Ortolani doesn't understand the public uproar ... you could be forgiven for leaving an injured pet up on that mountain, sir ... if you had come down that hill intending to get assistance for him. But to leave him there for eight days until someone ELSE brings him down? Your inaction says all I need to hear. You don't need a dog, you need a goldfish.

Shirlee McDaniels
Shirlee McDaniels

He not only left the dog but made NO attempt to go back and get him. He left the dog for dead. He absolutely should not get this dog back!!!

jpinaz515
jpinaz515

My question is... why didn't he come back the next day?

Jessica Willard
Jessica Willard

No, animals are family, if you would not leave your child on the mountain like that, you should not leave your animal. That is absolutely ridiculous that another couple had the courage and compassion to rescue this dog and only after the story blew up into one of fame and popularity did this man suddenly care about the well-being of his animal and want him back. He should not be rewarded for his actions, do not give him the dog back!

Juan_Leg
Juan_Leg topcommenter

Why AND  how was his wife so quiet ?

There is more to this story we are starting

to learn as as w/ many in their early stage of

  investigation and reporting.

puppylove_ca
puppylove_ca

Not a chance.  This dog only has a future because of the rescuers certainly she would not have because of his actions.  Furthermore, his facebook profile says he likes to work out before work and then work 12 hour days several in a row because he only cares about the "money" - give the dog a break.   He is selfish and narcissistic to the extreme and should not own any pet.

Juan_Leg
Juan_Leg topcommenter

I personally, would have died along side my beloved, Clyde Monster.

But then again, I confess to being one of those obsessed animal owners.

This guy is NO Michael Vick, or even close. I believe the prosecutors will

have a difficult time securing a conviction.

I 'want' to give the guy the benefit of doubt til proven otherwise....

Kelly Weger
Kelly Weger

No way...personally speaking it's not "me OR the dog" but rather me AND the dog. Electrical storm or not, I would have carried him down until WE could go no further. Especially if I had put him in that untenable situation to begin with! And, a boxer is not all that light...

Angie Godsey
Angie Godsey

NO!! In the eyes of the law a dog is property. He abandoned his dog which means it's abandoned property. The rescuers should get it!

RobertChase
RobertChase topcommenter

There is no need to petition -- Ortolani is not getting the dog he abandoned back and will be convicted of abusing her.  The dog was found not on Mt. Bierstadt, but on the Sawtooth -- only a grossly irresponsible person would lead their dog there; it is a rock-scramble.  There is nothing wrong with taking a dog up Mt. Bierstadt, which is a class 2 walk-up, but somehow maneuvering her out onto the Sawtooth with a storm approaching and then abandoning her was stupid, illegal, and wrong.

Carrie Appel
Carrie Appel

I signed the petition & shared. I would have laid on the ground and died with my dog before I would abandon her; injured, scared and alone. I hope this goes viral and an example is made. Animals have feelings, they get scared and lonely. I can't imagine the fear she was feeling on that mountain.

Amelia Ebert
Amelia Ebert

Hell no! I know storms above treeline are very dangerous, but he did not go back for the dog. The dog was up on that mountain for days with no shelter, food or water. I am pretty sure the dog suffered up there. She would of died if it were not for the caring rescue group. The dog owner left the poor dog to die, it's cold on those peaks. Poor dog was probably shivering, hungry, and thirsty waiting for his return.

Amelia Ebert
Amelia Ebert

Hell no! I know storms above treeline are very dangerous, but he did not go back for the dog. The dog was up on that mountain for days with no shelter, food or water. I am pretty sure the dog suffered up there. She would of died if it were not for the caring rescue group. The dog owner left the poor dog to die, it's cold on those peaks. Poor dog was probably shivering, hungry, and thirsty waiting for his return.

Chareese Erickson Lopez
Chareese Erickson Lopez

This guy left his dog to die for 8 days. He did not try to save his dog at all. 8 days later a stranger helped, even called for help. The loser who owned the dog in the first place didn't even call for help. Who knows what else he has done or will do to this poor dog if he gets him back. This guy does NOT deserve a dog at all! He does, however deserve to get charged with animal abuse a cruelty. Hopefully someday soon guys like this will be on a list that won't allow him to have an animal of any kind!

Greg Henry
Greg Henry

This turd should get his pet-owner card permanently revoked.

Greg Henry
Greg Henry

This turd should get his pet-owner card permanently revoked.

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