ISAA heartily recommends the public write or call the local elected officials to thank them for their efforts to Free Dakota!

September 15, 2004 Update: The Indiana Governor's Office is now officially investigating this case.

On August 4, 2004, 8-year old Dakota Main was removed from his mother's custody by Porter County Division of Family & Children in Valparaiso, Indiana. There was no home visit, no warning and in court soon afterwards, the lawyer for Dakota's mother proved there was no medical neglect or abuse of her child. So why was Dakota taken from his mother and sister?

Dakota is fat. He is 4 feet tall and weighs 175 pounds.

Dakota has one non-life-threatening medical condition which is not weight-related and is an otherwise healthy and well-adjusted child.

The circumstances are painfully similar to the Anamarie Martinez-Regino case of 2000. With the phone calls, faxes, letters, e-mails and other support, well-wishes and prayers of thousands of individuals from around the world, Anamarie was returned to her loving parents and is growing up normally.

Now Dakota needs your help.

He has been placed in a foster family that has placed him in harm's way by giving him chores that are age-inapprorpriate for an 8-year old, such as mowing lawns and chopping wood with an axe.

This will take tremendous effort but together, WE CAN FREE DAKOTA!|

For media interviews, please contact ISAA Representative Catherine Schuller at 917.375.0731 or by e-mail at cschuller@size-acceptance.org

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The International Size Acceptance Association (ISAA) is encouraging you to contact the political officials of the State of Indiana and the Porter County Division of Family & Children at the information provided below.

Senator Richard Lugar (R) Main District Office: 1180 Market Tower 10 W. Market St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone: (317) 226-5555 Fax: (317) 226-5508 Senator Evan Bayh (D) Main District Office: 1180 Market Tower 10 W. Market St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone: (317) 226-5555 Fax: (317) 226-5508 Governor Joseph Kernan Main District Office: 504 Broadway, Ste. 423 Gary, IN 46402 Phone: (219) 881-6704 Fax: (219) 881-0045 Attorney General Steven Carter Government Center S. 302 W. Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone: (317) 232-6201 Fax: (317) 232-7979 Mayor John Costas E-mail: mayorcostas@netnitco.net City of Valparaiso 166 Lincolnway Valparaiso, IN 46383 Phone: (219) 462-1161 Porter County Division of Family & Children 152 Indiana Avenue Valparaiso, IN 46383 Telephone Numbers and Contact Information (219) 462-2112 Office (219) 462-6817 Fax Email: jrutkowski@fssa.state.in.us House District #4 Representative Ralph Ayres (R) Indiana House of Representatives 200 West Washington Street Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786 Phone: (317) 232-9600 Toll-free: (800) 382-9842 E-mail: h4@IN.gov

Congressional House Dan Burton, Indiana, 5th Main District Office: 8900 Keystone at the Crossing, #1050 Indianapolis, IN 46240 Phone: (317) 848-0201 Fax: (317) 846-7306 Steve Buyer, Indiana, 4th Main District Office: 148 N. Perry Rd. Plainfield, IN 46168 Phone: (317) 838-0404 Fax: (317) 838-8964 Chris Chocola, Indiana, 2nd Main District Office: 100 East Wayne St., Ste. 330 South Bend, IN 46601 Phone: (574) 251-0596 Fax: (574) 251-1066 John Hostettler, Indiana, 8th Main District Office: 101 NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Rm. 124 Evansville, IN 47708 Phone: (812) 465-6484 Fax: (812) 422-4761 Mike Pence, Indiana, 6th Main District Office: 1134 Meridian St. Anderson, IN 46106 Phone: (765) 640-2919 Fax: (765) 640-2922 Mark Souder, Indiana, 3rd Main District Office: 1300 S. Harrison St., #3105 Ft. Wayne, IN 46802 Phone: (260) 424-3041 Fax: (260) 424-4042 Peter Visclosky, Indiana, 1st Main District Office: 701 E. 83rd Ave., Ste. 9 Merrillville, IN 46410 Phone: (219) 795-1844 Fax: (219) 795-1850 Baron Hill, Indiana, 9th Main District Office: 590 Missouri Ave., Ste. 203 Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Phone: (812) 288-3999 Fax: (812) 288-3877 Julia Carson, Indiana, 7th Main District Office: 300 E. Fall Creek Pkwy., #301 Indianapolis, IN 46205 Phone: (317) 283-6516 Fax: (317) 283-6567