Acker makes slanderous comments to GFPGreenwich Free Press) Reporter

Regarding Fred Acker’s attempt to discredit Officer Judith Umstead and anyone who is supporting her in the prosecution of Acker, I would like to comment. The allegations that have been posted by Acker and his  attorney, Ralph Crozier, are flowing in the media to distract the public from the original issue which is, Acker’s history of shady and illegal dealings in the area of animal (dogs) rescue and the hundreds of thousands of dollars that Acker has pocketed by using a 501-C3 designation and being registered as a “non-profit” animal rescue organization and therefore not having to pay ANY taxes either to the State or to the IRS. Crozier has stated that Acker has spent $178K in vet bills over the past 8 years but Acker’s IRS fillings in 2010 and 2011 he showed an income of almost $400K. I would suggest to both Acker and Crozier that they are both flirting with possible law suits for slander and defamation of character which I’m sure Acker is familiar with as he has used both of these charges to sue people who had bought dogs from him and realized they had been “taken” and tried to obtain the money back after finding that they had bought dogs with health, temperament, and aggression issues. Acker’s “application form” costs a potential buyer $20.00 online and is NOT refundable even if you don’t purchase a dog, but the actual fee that’s charged is $395.00 which is called a “donation” and therefore, under law, is not refundable. This is the old “fine print” routine better known as “buyer beware”.

Over the past 25 or so years, Acker has sold dogs out of his home on Spring-Hill Rd. in Monroe. After receiving a number of tickets from State Animal Control for various infractions over the past couple of years, and having been ordered by the Town that he limit the number of dogs he could house on his property, he decided to move to another small town where he could ply his illicit, illegal trade without being bothered by animal control officers. The ACO in Monroe never inspected his “kennels”, never cited him for animal cruelty, which was obvious to most people who visited the site and, in fact, made many of the people more inclined to by one of his dogs just to get them out of the facility. That’s how he wound up in Bethlehem thinking it was a little “hick town” with only 1 ACO he felt he could manipulate. He couldn’t have been more wrong! Officer Umstead only did her sworn duty in the arrest of Fred Acker and is now being vilified by a man who has already been found guilty of 15 counts of animal cruelty and is being defended by an attorney who has been suspended by the Connecticut Bar for six months three different times in 2007, suspended for six months in 2005, and suspended for six months in 2010. “Birds of a feather flock together”. How can an attorney be suspended that many times and still be allowed to practice law? How did Acker get away with his criminality for over 25 years in Monroe? Where has Chief State Animal Control Officer Ray Connors been while all this has been going on, on his watch?

Acker and his “mouth piece” will be facing 17 more counts of animal cruelty on Friday Feb. 21st. at 9:00am. We, “Free the Bethlehem 63,” which is the number of dogs who have been in protective custody for the past 14 months while Acker and his lawyers manipulate the court system, are asking anyone who is as disturbed as dozens of animal rights advocates are, to join us in a demonstration in front of the Court House at 14 West River St. Milford, Friday 9:00am. Please be a voice for the ones that can’t speak for themselves. Even though it may rain, the temp will be a spring-like 50 degrees (f). If you have any horror stories of you own regarding Acker, please join us on face-book and speak with many voices not only for what’s right but for justice for the dogs and Acker. Freedom for the dogs, and jail time for Acker.  See how he would feel caged up in a 8X12 cell 24 hours a day.