Residents, Council to Watson: Return Dog

Residents continue to call on Councilman Dave Watson and his wife to return a dog to its original owners — and on Monday night, they were joined by Watson’s colleagues on Easley City Council.

A large audience came out to discuss the growing controversy, calling on the Watsons to return the dog they’ve been caring for since Mothers Day to its original owners, who have been looking for the dog since it escaped while they were out of town.

The Watsons have not returned the dog to the Blanton family and now, the matter is headed to court.

Mayor Larry Bagwell said he and every member of council had received “lots and lots” of phone calls and emails about the situation, wondering “why the City of Easley has not stepped in.” 

“We have gone through the Municipal Association and the Ethics Commission in Columbia,” Bagwell said. “They have told us, as a city, we can not do anything. Mr. Watson was elected like every one of us. Our name gets linked in with things sometimes that we have no control over. It’s not been a good two to three weeks in Easley, we all know that.”

Bagwell said Easley would get past this and that he hoped for a good outcome for all concerned.

Watson listened, at times pulling on his glasses or jotting down notes, as fellow councilmembers and members of the community spoke.

Every councilmember present at the meeting called for Watson to return the dog that he calls Gracie — and that the Blantons call Lucy.

“It’s gone on way too long,” said Councilman Brian Garrison. “It’s been an embarrassment for the city. My opinion is that the dog should be given back.”

Councilwoman Libby Dodson asked Watson to return the dog.

Councilman Chris Mann said he was embarrassed that Watson had brought the dog to an earlier council meeting, and that he had from people from as far away as California and Finland over the controversy.

“If it were me, I would give the dog back,” Mann said.

Councilwoman Kim Valentin said the situation was an embarrassment to the community. “Had it been my kids, I probably would have come to your house and taken the dog back,” she said.

Bagwell said he agreed with council.

“It would be hard for me, knowing that the dog doesn’t belong to me, and there’s children over there that knows it’s their dog, to not give it back,” Bagwell said.

Alison Underwood said the situation was making her, for the first time in her life, feel not proud of her town.

She said the Watsons are facing misdemeanor charges, a fine and imprisonment for not returning Lucy/Gracie to the Blantons, who they acknowledge, owned the dog originally.

“It is clear that the Watsons have appropriated Lucy for their own enjoyment,” Underwood said. “That is both illegal and immoral.” 

She asked why the police had not returned the dog to the family.

“Why has their property not been returned to them?” she asked.

Underwood said claims that the dog was mistreated by its original owners are hearsay.

She said if Watson was concerned about the dog’s treatment, he should return her to the Blantons and contact Animal Control to follow up on the case.

Underwood said she came to the meeting to call upon council to censure Watson over the issue.

“But I believe they already have,” Underwood said.

Cathy Weisner said Watson’s actions were going to hurt him financially, as she believed many would refuse to do business with him after learning he was keeping the dog.

She said children and grandchildren are taught not to lie, not to steal, not to take anything that doesn’t belong to them.

“And if you find something that’s not yours, you give back to whomever it belongs to or you turn it in to the appropriate person,” Weisner said. “It’s theirs. You know it and everyone here knows it.”

Lisa Hinton called the Watsons request that they be reimbursed $400-$550 for Lucy’s care, “extortion.”

“Why has Mr. Watson not been arrested?” she said. “Why has this charge not been made?”

Aaron Butner, youth pastor of Lakeview Baptist, knows first hand that the Blanton children are grieving for their dog.  

Butner, like several who spoke, thanked Watson for taking Lucy in and caring for her over the last few months.

“I know you love her, too,” Butner told Watson. “I know you’ve gotten attached her. Thank you for showing that care and that compassion.”

He said the Blanton children don’t understand the entire situation.

“The only thing that these children understand at all about this is that Lucy has been found and that the man who found her won’t give her back,” Butner said. “I want our children to grow up in this community to respect our local officials, but it’s hard to do that when they do things that aren’t respectful. I know you love Gracie – but please give Lucy back.”      

Watson said that he would not be commenting on the matter during the council meeting.

“Quite frankly, it is not the city’s business,” Watson said. “I have no intention of discussing Gracie here at the council meeting. It is a personal matter between myself and the Blantons.”

He did say the dog’s presence at the earlier council meeting was meant to advertise Easley’s first Responsible Dog Ownership Day event, nothing more.

When asked for further comment, Watson gave a statement outlining the concerns he and his wife have over Lucy/Gracie.

“I am not interested in what is best for me or for the Blantons,” he said. “I am only interested in what is best for Gracie. I have reason to suspect that Gracie may have been mistreated.”

He acknowledged that the Blantons and their supporters deny that the dog was abused.

“I am saying I am not sure,” Watson said. “That is why I recommended that it be turned over to a magistrate and allow them to decide. That has been done."

His statement acknowledged that some are calling for him to resign or be removed from council.

“My political career comes second when it concerns the safety and well-being of Gracie,” Watson said. “I did not take this stance because I knew it would be easy for me or I was worried about a political career. I took it to protect Gracie.”

His statement acknowledged the calls from council and the mayor to return the dog.

“The Mayor and others have told me no matter what happens I cannot win,” Watson said. “I am not worried about me winning. I am only worried about Gracie winning.”