Since this website opened, we have received a few suggestions and comments like "change the ownership of Ato", "get Ato adopted out of state," and other suggestions similar to these. We have even agreed to part with our beloved Ato and relocate him elsewhere, but the prosecutor, pursuant to the urging of the Animal Control Officer Cheryl Christopher, flatly refused this idea. It is our understanding that Officer Christopher, who has never come to our house to investigate our side of the story, will not stop at anything short of euthanizing our beloved dog. Instead, she has met with the trespasser’s family and their attorney, but has refused to hear our story. We summarize some proposals we made and the prosecution’s refusals, as follows:

1. Shortly after the criminal charge against Seiko was filed by the City of Ann Arbor (September of 1998), the prosecutor suggested as part of the plea bargain that the city was prepared to drop the charge if Ato was relocated outside of Ann Arbor (even Ann Arbor Township was acceptable). We vigorously searched for many potential locations outside of Ann Arbor. 5 days later, we found a possible new home about 10 miles from our present home. We were prepared to sign a lease contract and to move with Ato into this home. We contacted our attorney of our actions, but received no response. On October 13, 1998, the hearing took place in the 15^th District Court before Judge Ann Mattson. It was at this time, we were told that Ato was not even allowed to be transferred from the Dexter Animal Clinic (which was 40 miles round trip from our home) to an another animal clinic closer to our home, other than the Humane Society of Huron Valley. 

2. On December 11, 1998, the last day of the jury trial, Mr. David Fee, our family friend (who is an attorney), testified that because he had known Ato and was quite fond of him, he (David) would be willing to adopt Ato and keep him under his care. Despite the jury verdict of "not guilty," Judge Mattson would not allow the adoption. Instead, she ordered that Ato be confined inside the Dexter facility until a court ordered release was issued. Moreover, the Judge ordered that no one could handle Ato except the clinic employees and Hiroshi and Seiko Ikuma. Our adult children were excluded from any contact of our beloved family pet.

3. After the City of Ann Arbor filed for the destruction of Ato in December 1998, our attorney offered the relocation of Ato to a few places including our daughter’s place in Ohio. The prosecution steadfastly refused any relocation possibilities in-state or out-of-state, saying something to the effect of "we will inform the local authority to watch out for the dog . . . there is no way to escape our pursuit." There were no compromises.