Mitt Romney petting a dog during a campaign stop in 2008. (Photo: Getty)

The infamous incident where Mitt Romney put his dog in a crate tied to the roof his station wagon during a family road trip in 1983 made a surprise appearance in an Oregon courtroom last week. A defense attorney representing one of two men who was charged with animal abuse after they dragged a pitbull behind a car for several hundred feet after tying the dog to the outside of the vehicle and forgetting to let it back in before driving off invoked Mr. Romney's story to argue everyone makes mistakes sometimes.

"Our presidential candidate tied up a dog and drove off with him for quite a while," the lawyer, Lisa Pardini, said.

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Kenneth Walker was not swayed by Ms. Pardini's argument and said he "probably" would have convicted Mr. Romney of animal abuse.

"I would have probably found him guilty for that," Judge Walker said.

The pitbull, Rhino, lost his toenails and suffered cuts on his paws during the incident, which occurred in May, he has since made a full recovery.  Judge Walker found the men not guilty because, though he found them negligent, he said he did not believe they were reckless.

The tale of Mr. Romney's dog, Seamus, has haunted him through two election cycles. It first emerged in a 2007 Boston Globe profile. Since then, it has inspired protests, canine clothing and, most recently, a game.

Cover art for "The Crate Escape: Seamus Unleashed"

The founders of Dogs Against Romney, the PAC that has been, well, dogging Mitt Romney for the infamous tale of the time he strapped his Irish Setter, Seamus, to the roof of his station wagon during a family road trip in 1983, are releasing a new mobile game about the incident. The Crate Escape: Seamus Unleashed will be available as a free download for iPhone and iPad users late next month.

"We have over 65,000 passionate supporters in Dogs Against Romney whom I know will love this game,” Dogs Against Romney co-founder Scott Crider said in a statement. “In addition to being fun and hilarious, it raises awareness about a shocking incident of animal cruelty.”

A still from the "Seamus Unleashed" game.

The Crate Escape: Seamus Unleashed will be released on August 26, which is "National Dog Day" and also happens to be one day before the Republican National Convention in Tampa. According to the game's Facebook page, the storyline involves "Seamus get[ting] revenge against his arch enemy, Mitt Romneya. A photo included in the press release shows and angry Seamus chasing Mr. Romney by a bank on the beach as the presidential candidate drops dollar bills, a clear reference to the ongoing controversy over Mr. Romney's offshore assets.

Watchdog Interactive, LLC, a company owned by Mr. Crider and his fellow Dogs Against Romney co-founder Morgan Robinson teamed with app-maker Censault to promote and market the game. According to the press release, The Crate Escape: Seamus Unleashed will "offer upgrades and in-game purchase opportunities that will let players help raise funds for important causes ranging from breast cancer research to veterans causes and more."

Dogs Against Romney poster (Photo: Dogs Against Romney)

Dogs Against Romney, the stealth PAC backed canine-inspired protesters hounding Mitt Romney for once strapping his dog to the roof of his car, unleashed their newest salvo at the presumed Republican nominee this morning with a web video highlighting Mr. Romney's presence in databases of animal users.

"Abusing animals has consequences--consequences not even Mitt Romney can avoid. In the wake of his campaign’s 2007 revelation of the 'dog-on-roof story,' Mitt Romney’s name was listed by two national animal cruelty registries used to track animal abuse offenders," the Dogs Against Romney statement announcing the video said. "Both registries are maintained so that animal welfare organizations, Humane Law Enforcement officials, animal shelters, rescue operations, and breeders can share information about animal abuse offenders and conduct background checks before allowing people to adopt or purchase a pet."

The databases referred to in the Dogs Against Romney video are Pet-Abuse.com and Inhumane.org, two sites that catalogue alleged incidents of animal cruelty from court records and press coverage. Neither Pet-Abuse.com or Inhumane.org is affiliated with any official agency, but both sites listed Mr. Romney for the 1983 incident where he put his dog in a crate on the roof of his family car.

In their video, Dogs Against Romney, which exists solely to highlight the "crate gate" scandal, cited recent polling that found 68 percent of voters believe Mr. Romney's actions were "inhumane." The video, which is entitled "Registered Pet Offender," ends with the question, "Should we have a president who isn’t even qualified to adopt a pet?"

For his part, Mr. Romney and his wife, Ann, have maintained their dog, Seamus, "loved" his rooftop rides. Though The Politicker has uncovered new evidence the dog in question may have run away after the 1983 trip, Ann Romney claims it went on to live to "a ripe old age" with Mr. Romney's older sister in California.

Watch the "Registered Pet Offender" video below.

Mitt Romney petting a dog (not Seamus) during a campaign stop in 2008. (Photo: Getty)

In an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC News last night, Mitt and Ann Romney addressed one of the more persistent topics of this presidential campaign—the infamous 1983 road trip when they strapped their dog, Seamus, to the roof of the family car. Ms. Romney told Ms. Sawyer the Irish Setter "loved" riding on top of the car, but The Politicker has uncovered new information indicating the Romneys may not have been honest about the canine controversy.

Back in January, a tipster told us that one of the Romney sons said that rather than spending the rest of his days in California, as the family has claimed, Seamus actually ran away after the rooftop road trip.

Ms. Romney has previously said that, following the trip, the dog lived to a "ripe old age" in California, with Mr. Romney's older sister, Jane. However, Jane Romney's ex-husband, Bruce H. Robinson, told us that can't be true.

"That's not correct," Mr. Robinson said of Ann Romney's explanation of what happened to Seamus.

Seamus's story first emerged in a 2007 Boston Globe profile of Mr. Romney, which revealed he put the dog into a carrier strapped to the roof of his car for a 12-hour drive to the family vacation home in Canada. During the trip, the dog defecated on himself and Mr. Romney responded by hosing down the car and putting the dog back into his case. The story sparked a fluffy kerfuffle, inspiring jabs from the Obama campaign, persistent protests and a stealth PAC backed group, Dogs Against Romney, dedicated to keeping the story in the news.

Mr. Robinson, a doctor and nephew of the late president of the Mormon Church Gordon Hinckley, married Jane Romney in 1958. In 1968, he flew to France to care for Mr. Romney after the future White House hopeful was nearly killed in a car crash while working as a Mormon missionary. Mr. Robinson told us he and Jane Romney did indeed take Seamus to live with them in California, but that it was before 1980 (the vacation in question happened in 1983), and they gave the dog back prior to the notorious rooftop road trip.

Mr. Robinson said Mitt and Ann Romney gave Seamus away because they "couldn't handle" the dog, which Mr. Robinson described as "a wanderer" who had a propensity for running away.

"They had a couple of their little boys at that point," Mr. Robinson said. "So they gave him to us."

Mr. Robinson said he can't recall the exact year Seamus came to live with him and Jane, but he's sure it was well before the roof ride.

(The Romney campaign did not respond for comment by publication time, and Jane Romney could not be reached.)

"We were living in the Sacramento area, and so, Jane and I, in the 70's, I'd say '78 or so, but I'm not 100 percent sure about that," Mr. Robinson said. "So, we took care of Seamus, a beautiful, magnificent dog. We had three other dogs of our own, but we had an acre of property overlooking the American River, so we had lots of land to take care of these dogs and for them to roam around in."

Mr. Robinson said he's certain they gave the dog back to the Romneys when he and Jane got divorced in 1980. At that point, Jane went to live in Southern California, and Mr. Robinson said she was unable to "handle the dog" on her own.

"We had him for three or four years, but I couldn't swear on that exactly how long it was, but it was years anyway," Mr. Robinson said. "Then we gave him back to Mitt again and I think, actually Jane and I broke up. We got divorced in 1980, so I think, at that point, she couldn't handle the dog anymore and I think that's when she gave him back to Mitt, sometime in the period of time after we separated. So, Mitt ended up with the dog again, and then, this episode that has been so widely popularized throughout the country."

During the time he and Jane had custody of Seamus, Mr. Robinson said the dog had a history of absconding.

"He ran away from us a couple times, but we tracked him down and the police reported him. He had a tag on, of course, you know, so they were always able to identify him and bring him back," Mr. Robinson said. "He was a delightful dog, but he was a bit of trouble that way because he was wandering, a wandering dog."

Mr. Robinson reportedly had an "acrimonious" divorce with Jane Romney, but he said there is no bad blood with the family. Mr. Robinson told us he was recently invited to "a special dinner" with the Romney campaign and that he plans to vote for Mr. Romney, whom he described as "wonderful." He also said he doesn't believe Seamus' rooftop ride was abusive.

"Mitt wouldn't be actually capable of abusing anybody or anything. He's too kindhearted for that, whatever you want to say about him he's a kindhearted person," Mr. Robsinson said. "I don't think that Seamus was ever abused in any way."

In yesterday's ABC News interview, Ms. Sawyer asked Mr. Romney if he would put a dog on the roof of his car again.

"Certainly not with the attention it's received," he said.

We imagine not.

Dogs Against Romney, which was created in 2007 after the story first emerged about Mr. Romney putting his Irish Setter, Seamus, on the roof of his car during the more than twelve hour trip from Boston to Mr. Romney's vacation home in Ontario. The press release about the protest included a quote from the supposed "founder" of Dogs Against Romney, a dog named Rusty:

“I'm sure everyone who attends the Westminster dog show will agree: Dogs are not luggage.”

Seamus' story has been a persistent issue for Mr. Romney during this year's presidential campaign. Mr. Romney  has repeatedly insisted his dog enjoyed traveling on top of the car and his Ann, has said Seamus survived the trip and went on to live to a “ripe old age." However, last month, The Politicker reported two of Mr. Romney’s sons had an off-record conversation with reporters where they revealed the dog ran away when they reached their destination on that infamous journey. Mr. Romney and his campaign didn't respond to multiple requests for comment on that story.

The Dogs Against Romney protest will take place tomorrow at Noon in front of Madison Square Garden, where the Westminster dog show is in progress. Read the press release announcing the Dog-loving demonstration below:

***Media Advisory for Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 12pm ET***

“Dogs Against Romney” to Greet Westminster Dog Show Fans

Event Introduces Dog Lovers to Their Best Friend’s Worst Enemy

New York, NY -- On Tuesday, February 14, Outside the Westminster dog show at Madison Square Garden at 12 Noon dogs and their dog-loving friends and families will gather for an informational protest to ensure pet lovers are aware that Mitt Romney is mean to dogs.

Armed with signs bearing slogans like “I Ride Inside,” the passionate canines and humans will seek to focus more public attention on the fact that Romney forced his dog to ride for 12 hours on the roof of his car in a crate -- even when the dog became ill.

“I'm sure everyone who attends the Westminster dog show will agree: Dogs are not luggage,”said Dogs Against Romney founder Rusty, who is also the founder of the Dogs Against Romney Super Pack.

Who: Dogs and dog-lovers

Time: Noon, Tuesday, February 14th.

Place: Outside Madison Square Garden (West Side of 7th Ave between 31st and 32nd Street)

What: Informational protests to inform dog lovers about Mitt Romney’s history of dog abuse

For more information go to www.dogsagainstromney.com

Mitt Romney and his grandson petting a dog (not Seamus) during a campaign stop in 2008. (Photo: Getty)

Mitt Romney may not have told the whole truth about the scandalous tale of his Irish Setter, Seamus, being strapped to the roof of his car during a 12-hour family road trip to Canada. According to a trusted Politicker tipster, two of Mr. Romney's sons had an off-record conversation with reporters where they revealed the dog ran away when they reached their destination on that infamous journey in 1983.

Mr. Romney's wife, Ann, has previously said Seamus survived the trip and went on to live to a "ripe old age." As of this writing, Mr. Romney's campaign has not responded to multiple requests for comment on this story. 

Seamus' story first came to light in a 2007 Boston Globe profile of Mr. Romney that told the story of the voyage to his father's cottage in the gated Beach O' Pines community on Ontario's Lake Huron:

"The white Chevy station wagon with the wood paneling was overstuffed with suitcases, supplies, and sons when Mitt Romney climbed behind the wheel to begin the annual 12-hour family trek from Boston to Ontario. ... Before beginning the drive, Mitt Romney put Seamus, the family's hulking Irish setter, in a dog carrier and attached it to the station wagon's roof rack. He'd built a windshield for the carrier, to make the ride more comfortable for the dog.

According to the Globe, Mr. Romney told his family he would "be making predetermined stops for gas, and that was it," but one of his sons, Tagg, eventually noticed something was amiss:

As the oldest son, Tagg Romney commandeered the way-back of the wagon, keeping his eyes fixed out the rear window, where he glimpsed the first sign of trouble. ''Dad!'' he yelled. ''Gross!'' A brown liquid was dripping down the back window, payback from an Irish setter who'd been riding on the roof in the wind for hours.

Mr. Romney responded to his dog's defecation by "coolly" stopping at a gas station where he "borrowed a hose, washed down Seamus and the car, then hopped back onto the highway" with Seamus strapped back on the roof.

The Globe initially presented the story as an example of Mr. Romney's "emotion-free crisis management," but the incident has enraged many animal lovers and caused many issues on the campaign trail. Seamus inspired an attack ad from Mr. Romney's Republican rival Newt Gingrich, a "Google bomb" coining "Romney" as a verb meaning "to defecate in terror," a mocking Tweet from President Barack Obama's advisor, David Axelrod, and, of course, an angry statement from PETA.

At a campaign stop in Pittsburgh the day after the Globe story ran, Mr. Romney dismissed the tale as a smear from PETA.

"You know, PETA has not been my fan over the years," he said. "PETA has been after me for having a rodeo at the Olympics and were very, very upset about that. PETA was after me when I went quail hunting in Georgia. And PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air."

Mr. Romney also argued Seamus enjoyed traveling on top of the car.

"He scrambled up there every time we went on trips," Mr. Romney said. "He got it all by himself and enjoyed it."

Mr. Romney and his wife clearly want the world to think that, despite defecating himself, Seamus had a pleasant trip to Canada and a long life in the Romney household. However, based on what Mr. Romney's sons allegedly told reporters about Seamus going on the lam in Canada, Seamus didn't like being strapped to the car enough to stick around for the return trip.