‘No-Kill’ Policies Slowly Killing Animals 2019

When “no-kill” animal shelters and rescue groups are filled to capacity, which is almost always, they are left with two options: turn away more animals than they take in or warehouse animals, often in substandard, filthy, and severely crowded conditions, for weeks, months, or even years on end. Most, if not all, of the animals who are turned away from such facilities still face untimely deaths—just not at these facilities.

Instead they are cruelly killed by people who don’t want them, are dumped on roadsides and left to die from starvation or being hit by a car, or spend their short lives homeless, unwanted, and producing more litters of animals for whom no homes exist.

The lucky ones are taken to well-run open-admission animal shelters, where they either find a well-screened, permanent home or are painlessly euthanized in the arms of professionally trained, compassionate people. Here are some of the “no-kill” animal shelter failures that made headlines in recent years for making animals suffer a fate far worse than a kind death.

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in December 2019

KVUE.com reported that an Austin-area nonprofit group had removed 58 dogs from the property of an unnamed self-professed animal “rescue,” where they had been found in conditions “described as ‘horrific.’” A spokesperson for the group reportedly said, “The ammonia from urine and three inches of feces and debris littered the house and stung our eyes. We found dogs were living in closets with rats crawling on them and they were defecating all over the house.” She said that despite the horrific conditions and the “rescuer’s” failing health, he kept acquiring dogs “because he feared the local animal shelter would kill them.” The dogs who were removed were reportedly “transported to multiple shelters not just in Texas, but across the country—to states like Michigan, Tennessee and Ohio.”

Guilderland, New York

AltamontEnterprise.com reported that Marcia and Charles Scott, the owners and operators of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Happy Cat Rescue Inc., had each been “charged with six counts of ‘Torture/Injure/Failure to Feed an Animal.’” A spokesperson for the local humane society reportedly said that it had received a complaint from someone who adopted a cat from the “rescue.” According to a woman who claimed to be a friend of the adopter, no adoption paperwork had been given to the adopter and “[t]he cat was losing weight and wouldn’t eat.” The animal “tested positive for FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and also had bartonella, which can be transmitted to humans, as well as stomatitis.” She said, “The cat had to be euthanized.” A former volunteer reportedly said that cats were kept stacked in cages in a garage: “The cats were always in the garage in cages. … They had cats that were unadoptable with no exercise. … She was adopting out cats that were pregnant, sick, and feral.” An investigation carried out by the humane society and local police officers revealed that approximately 52 cats were hoarded “between the garage and the house” at the “rescue.” “It was overcrowded and not great ventilation. It got to be too many cats,” a humane society spokesperson said. According to the report, “The arrest report filed by the Guilderland Police says six cats were not provided ‘medical attention’ and that 32 cats were not provided ‘proper ventilation.’” Charles Scott reportedly said of two of the animals, “Pinto … has eye issues. And Frankie, a male, has ‘dental issues that we missed …. He was drooling and we didn’t catch it right away.” The Scotts had reportedly made a deal in which they agreed to “permanently cease all operations as a rescue organization and … not ‘possess, reside with, or own any animals’ with the exception of five designated cats [who] are to be returned to them.” In exchange, “if the Scotts for the next six months do not violate the agreement, the charges will be dropped. However, the agreement is to remain in effect for the rest of their lives.”

Williamstown, Vermont

WCAX.com reported that a city “public health officer has stepped down after town officials failed to support his efforts to tighten oversight of dog rescue operations.” The dispute was reportedly caused by a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Heidi’s Haven Rescue, Inc., which had relocated to the town after it “was run out of Ferrisburgh last year after concerns from local zoning and health officials.” (See the March 2018/Ferrisburgh, Vermont, entry below for details.) The health officer who resigned, Don Angolano, said that “[m]ost of the dogs are kept in plastic crates or metal kennels that don’t meet statutory regulations” and that he’d “fielded complaints from community members and presented evidence of subpar conditions after working with veterinarians and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.” He said, “There have been vets up there that have checked out all of the dogs and have voiced some concerns …. There were dogs there that had open wounds and sores on them.” The town council reportedly rejected a proposed ordinance that “would have given the town the ability to regulate the operation to ensure that the dogs are well cared for.” He said, “This would have just brought her numbers down. This would have required her to have more oversight from the animal control officer and myself or a designated health officer.” The owner of the “rescue,” Sheila McGregor, reportedly declined to comment.

Raytown, Missouri

FOX4KC.com reported that a cat had been left outside a turn-away facility doing business as Midwest Animal ResQ. Surveillance footage showed a man leaving the animal outside in a carrier. The cat was later found “visibly terrified,” and an implanted microchip helped identify the man. According to the report, the “man’s family had contacted Midwest Animal ResQ on Saturday, complaining that [the cat] had been fighting with their other cat.” The group’s website states, “We receive [hundreds] of requests weekly for pet surrenders, and our currently [sic] response time is between 3–4 weeks. From there we will set up a meeting with you and your pet, to make sure we can safely find a great home for your pet, lastly we will set up a date for your pet to be relinquished to our program.” The man had reportedly “been turned into [sic] Raytown Animal Control officers” and could be fined.

Ashtabula, Ohio

KSHB.com reported that a dog who had been adopted after he had been warehoused for 602 days at an animal adoption group doing business as Ashtabula County Animal Protective League had been returned. The report said the adoption had failed and that “[d]ue to his extended time in a shelter, [the dog] does not do well with other animals. The shelter previously thought he would do well in a home with no male dogs or children, but have learned now that he doesn’t do well with any other animals or children.” No additional details were available.

APNews.com reported that two self-professed “no-kill” adoption groups doing business as Helping Animals Live On (HALO) Animal Rescue and Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA had “started shipping animals in from rural Arizona, other states and Mexico.” The groups were reportedly in conflict with the government-funded facility doing business as Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) over the shipment of thousands of adoptable dogs from MCACC to facilities in other states. The report said, “The seemingly unnecessary shuffling of animals across state lines has left the animal welfare community at odds. … Heather Allen, president and CEO of HALO Animal Rescue, said the transport program is not the option that’s best for pets, potential owners or taxpayers.” A spokesperson for MCACC reportedly told the outlet that “shipments of animals leav[e] the state on planes and in vans almost weekly” and end up at facilities “in New Mexico, Utah, Idaho and Washington state.”

Warren Township, New Jersey

MyCentralJersey.com reported that Toni Turco, the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Home for Good Dog Rescue Inc., had been “charged with 15 counts of fourth-degree falsifying records for the purpose of deceiving prospective pet owners, two counts of fourth-degree knowingly selling and/or exposing to human contact a pet with a contagious or infectious disease, and a single count of third-degree coercion by threatening to harm an employee’s reputation or livelihood, authorities said.” Employee Richard Errico was “charged with a single count of fourth-degree false advertising for the purpose of deceiving prospective pet owners.” The charges were reportedly “the result of a long-term joint investigation of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and the Special Prosecutions Unit of the Prosecutor’s Office.” The group, which claims to import dogs for adoption from animal shelters “in the South,” was allegedly found to have “been removing negative information from some of their dogs’ intake forms before putting them up for adoption. The investigation found the shelter did that more than a dozen times.” DailyVoice.com reported that “[i]f convicted, Errico faces up to 18 months in prison, while Turco may face three to five years in prison if found guilty on the third-degree charges.”

St. Augustine, Florida

ActionNewsJax.com reported that 11 cats and birds had died in a fire at a self-professed “no-kill” animal “sanctuary” doing business as Ayla’s Acres No-Kill Animal Rescue. A cat who was found badly burned was taken to a veterinary hospital, where he died. It was suspected that the fire had been started by a space heater. The report said that the “sanctuary” had been “destroyed” and that “about 140 unadoptable animals” had survived and “need a home.”

O’Fallon, Illinois

KMOV.com reported that two cats had died in a fire at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Randy’s Rescue Ranch. CBS58.com reported that owner Randy Grim said that when firefighters opened the door of a burning building that housed “disabled animals” on the property, “three dogs in wheelchairs came running out.” Firefighters “rescued two paralyzed dogs that were inside, but two senior cats did not make it.” According to the report, “Officials said the fire started with an exterior light that was spewing sparks.”

Lincoln, Nebraska

1011Now.com reported that Kandice Bremer, the former owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as All Hounds on Deck, had been cited for violating a court order that prohibited her from having custody of more than eight animals. Authorities reportedly executed a search warrant at her property, where they found 16 dogs and cats, including “six dogs and two cats she was not authorized to have.” The court order that Bremer had violated was apparently made when she was charged with cruelty to animals in September. (See the September 2019/Lincoln, Nebraska, entry below for details.)

Brownwood, Texas

BigCountryHomepage.com reported that the incoming president of a nonprofit—which is partly funded with public money—doing business as the Corinne T. Smith Animal Center had fired three employees and described conditions at the facility as “unacceptable.” Debra Dixon filed a complaint with the police department and reportedly said that animals were found “[s]itting in feces and urine. Sitting on cement floors in cages and many of them don’t even have a bottom. It’s just wired. They’re on sheets.” Former director Carren Bowden had reportedly “been the director for four years—looking toward a goal of [being] a no-kill shelter.” She said, “You’re damned if you … euthanize, so what are you supposed to do with all the overflow of animals that [come] in. And, that’s something people don’t understand—people out in the public.” Dixon said an “overwhelming foul odor, with feces and urine everywhere” was the norm at the facility. She explained that “the dogs were never taken out to relieve themselves or taken for walks.” She said, “It’s cruel to force an animal from one crate into another. You don’t know which ones are [housetrained]. It’s painful for the animals if they’re housebroken.” The facility was reportedly in the process of hiring a new director.

Jackson County, Illinois

KFVS12.com reported that three kittens were missing after a transport vehicle carrying 45 animals that was owned by a self-professed “no-kill” animal “rescue” group doing business as Wright-Way Rescue had been involved in a serious accident. According to the report, “The transport vehicle was cut apart during the crash and all of the crates holding the animals were destroyed in the crash.” DailyHerald.com reported that a puppy and a kitten were killed in the accident. A spokesperson for the group reportedly said that “[t]he animals were being taken from [the group’s] Murphysboro facility in southern Illinois to its shelter in Morton Grove.” NBCChicago.com reported that a dog injured in the crash “spent four days in the emergency room for injuries including a broken leg and lung contusions.”

Watervliet, New York

WNYT.com reported that authorities had seized 12 kittens from Samantha Valentine, a former foster caregiver for a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Kitten Angels. Valentine was reportedly facing charges, including forgery and animal abuse, after “she posed as a worker for … Kitten Angels, and used fake documents to sell kittens.” According to the report, “Police say Valentine was actually trying to start her own adoption business and sold at least two kittens [who] were ill and then died.” One of the kittens died within hours of being adopted, and another died a day after adoption. TimesUnion.com reported that two dogs had also been seized from Valentine and that she had been charged “with felony possession of a forged instrument and forgery as well as misdemeanor scheme to defraud, injuring/not feeding an animal and sale of a [diseased] animal.” She was arraigned and released on probation.

Manistee, Michigan

9And10News.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility—which is apparently contracted to provide Manistee County with sheltering services—doing business as Homeward Bound Animal Shelter was full and “[couldn’t] take in anymore dogs or cats until the ones they have [were] adopted.” No additional details were available.

Elyria, Ohio

MorningJournal.com reported that “[a]n Illinois woman ha[d] filed a lawsuit against the Lorain County commissioners and the Lorain County Dog Kennel alleging her daughter, who is a minor, was ‘viciously’ attacked by a dog up for adoption.” The dog had reportedly “been surrendered on two prior occasions due to ‘vicious, antisocial and aggressive behavior,’” information that the family says was not shared with them when they were placed in a closed room with the animal. The pit bull mix “latched onto” her daughter’s head, resulting “in multiple lacerations to the girl’s scalp and right ear, requiring 24 staples and several sutures, the suit says.” The dog was reportedly “recommended for adoption for a family with a two-year-old child.” The mother was “seeking compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $25,000.”

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

CBC.ca reported that a dog adopted from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Penny’s All-Breed Animal Rescue Inc. had attacked the adopter “just weeks” later. Describing the attack, she said, “I petted him, and then all of a sudden … he started to bare his teeth and growled ferociously, and then before I knew it he was leaping up toward my jugular. … The battle ensued. I pushed into his mouth, and this arm is fairly well chewed up. … One of the bites actually went into one of my bones … I collapsed.” She reportedly “suffered a severe bite to her left forearm, which fractured one of the bones. She has cuts and scratches on her chest and other arm. She’s since had surgery and needed a metal plate and screws put into her arm, which she will have the rest of her life.” The dog had reportedly been imported into the country from South Korea and had “never ever shown any signs of aggression,” according to the “rescue’s” owner. He was quarantined after the attack, and authorities were investigating.

Lakeway, Texas

KXAN.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as Austin Pets Alive! had adopted out a pit bull who was allegedly known to be aggressive toward smaller dogs to Patricia Stanford, who is “tied to multiple [dog] attacks of people—and other dogs.” According to the report, “Erica Curtis and her bulldog were badly injured after being bitten by Stanford’s two dogs. The animals are tied to attacks on other dogs and injuries to humans—in addition to the dogs simply running around unleashed.” Curtis filed a lawsuit against Stanford, and the two dogs involved were “banned in the city of Lakeway through a court order that required Stanford to house them with a relative in Midland, Texas. . . .   According to Lakeway PD documents, one of Stanford’s dogs was found roaming miles from her home back on September 6. The Austin Animal Center took the dog in, but later returned [the animal] to Stanford. In a statement to KXAN Monday, the AAC said that Lakeway’s ban was out of its jurisdiction. On September 13, another Lakeway police report says one of Stanford’s dogs was loose and tried to attack a neighbor’s puppy.” In an e-mail, Lakeway Animal Protection Officer Andrea Greig wrote, “Austin Pets Alive adopted out another pitbull to Patricia Stanford. I contacted them and they told me she adopted a dog that does attack little dogs. I feel she purposely got this dog because [he or she] attacks. I just can’t believe Austin Pets Alive as a rescue does not do even, Google lookups. To say I am livid is an understatement.”

Norman, Oklahoma

NormanTranscript.com reported that the city-funded animal shelter, doing business as Norman Animal Welfare Center, requires appointments to accept animals from residents who have animals for whom they can’t—or won’t—care. The report revealed that, “[a]ccording to data analyzed from Animal Welfare at the end of 2018, the shelter was taking an average of 56 days for an owner on the waiting list to receive an update. At the beginning of September, there were nearly 100 animals on the waiting list. . . . As time goes by for owners on the waiting list, owners often begin to look for other avenues for their pets. … [I]t’s common for some pets to be dropped off in rural parts of Norman.” A spokesperson for the city’s Animal Welfare Oversight Committee reportedly explained, “Some of these animals that get dropped off haven’t been spayed, neutered or vaccinated .… [T]his often leads to cats and dogs getting pregnant and having litters, which adds to the animal population. This creates a lot more work for Animal Welfare officers to pick up these animals. In a way, it’s just like kicking the can down the road.”

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in November 2019

Rowe, New Mexico

SantaFeNewMexican.com reported that authorities had seized 29 dogs from a self-professed animal “refuge” owned by Jessica Taylor. According to IRS.gov, Taylor is the owner of a nonprofit doing business as Green Gates Animal Sanctuary.

The animals had reportedly “been kept in a series of outdoor kennels and in a barn, or left running loose” at her property. According to the report, “Authorities in February charged Taylor with 35 counts of abusing animals—including several felony counts—after San Miguel County sheriff’s deputies seized 26 dogs, two goats and four cats from another property she owns in nearby Ilfeld. . . . Along with the animals seized during the Ilfeld raid in January, court records said, deputies collected carcasses of four dead dogs and a dead goat, as well as animal bones. . . . Dr. Jennifer Steketee, a veterinarian . . . said the case illustrates the need for better oversight of animal shelters, sanctuaries and rescues. ‘It is too easy for someone to obtain nonprofit status, receive support from well-meaning animal lovers and not actually provide a good quality of life for the animals in their care,’ Steketee said.” The seized animals were reportedly being held in temporary situations until another self-professed “sanctuary” was built in Madrid. That property was not yet fully fenced and had no well or running water. The self-professed “rescuer” building it reportedly “said she plans to live in a recreational vehicle on the land with her partner, Jason Jones, while they build kennels and other structures, which she said will take months. She bought a second RV this week for the dogs to sleep in at night while construction continues.”

KXAN.com reported that an employee of the Austin Animal Center had been transported to a hospital “for serious injuries sustained from a dog bite, according to Austin-Travis County EMS and the Austin Animal Center. The animal center says the dog was in the process of being removed from his kennel when the attack happened.” The dog had reportedly been confined at the facility since September and “had several incidents on record.” He was euthanized after the attack.

Des Moines, Iowa

KCCI.com reported that Tina Petraline, the owner of a self-professed “dog rescue” doing business as Unbreakabull Bullies, had been arrested for hoarding 17 dogs in her home. City code reportedly doesn’t allow more than three dogs at any one property. It was reportedly “Petraline’s fifth citation this year.”

Nevada, Texas

WFAA.com reported that authorities had seized more than 100 animals from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Astasia’s Angels Animal Rescue. The animals included dogs, cats, and a bearded dragon who were found in a doublewide trailer in which, according to the report, authorities said, “[T]he ammonia levels, mostly found in urine, were very high.” A spokesperson for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas said, “The animals are suffering from a variety of issues includ[ing] long nails, eye issues, ear issues, flea infestations, [and skin] issues, and so today our medical team started right away evaluating the animals.” The Collin County sheriff reportedly described the conditions as “reprehensible.” It wasn’t reported whether charges were being considered.

Erie, Pennsylvania

ErieNewsNow.com reported that a man had been “arrested on animal cruelty charges for drowning his cat in a bathtub in early November.” He reportedly “told investigators he was going to take [the cat] to an animal shelter but said he knew they had a lot of cats and though[t] they would charge him a fee.” After drowning the animal, he put the body in a trash can outside his home. According to the report, during the investigation “[i]nvestigators asked [the suspect] to show his arms, which had two fresh scratches inside his right wrist area. He told them the scratches came from [the cat] who fought him during the drowning.” The suspect reportedly refused to surrender a second cat in the home. GoErie.com later reported that an animal adoption group had secured custody of the surviving cat.

Tampa, Florida

WFLA.com reported that the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center had been “dumping 3-pound kittens, roughly 3 months of age, on the streets as part of its Community Cat program.” According to the report, the most recent program guidelines don’t “mention, as [they] previously did, that cats will be released in areas where caretakers can feed [them and] provide water and medical care for them. In 2016, we reported that 45% of PRC Director Scott Trebatoski’s annual evaluation is tied to increasing live release rates at the county shelter by 5% each year. . . . PRC slated a 3-month-old kitten now named Luigi, his brother and mother for the feral cat program. Lauren Tillotson of CJPaws rescued them. Luigi was just over 3 pounds, his brother weighed just under 3. Luigi was sick with upper respiratory and contagious eye infections, but PRC scheduled to send him out on the streets anyway. … ‘No one would take a 5-year-old child and drive them out to the Bronx and dump them off on a corner and say, “hope you do okay!” Lauren Tillotson said. But in Hillsborough County, 3 pounds is all it takes to get a kitten out the door.” A later report revealed that “Hillsborough County’s Pet Resource Center is lining up sick and injured animals to turn over [to] the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, which in turn eventually dumps them back into neighborhoods all at taxpayers’ expense. 8 On Your Side has discovered the county slated several sick and injured cats and kittens to be neutered, vaccinated then released by the Humane Society. . . . Lauren Tillotson rescued a 3 lb kitten now called Luigi from the TNVR list. ‘He was not healthy when we pulled him,’ Lauren said. ‘His sheet indicates he has an eye condition and that it is infectious.’ She also pulled Luigi’s brother and mother. ‘Their mother, when we received her, had a very high fever, she was not responsive,’ Lauren added. Another cat they pulled from the TNVR list has a permanent limp in a hind leg, is unable to run or jump, is unafraid of large dogs and would not have lived long on the streets. ‘It seems to be mostly about the money, it’s let’s get them out and away as cheaply as possible and let’s keep as many live release numbers as we can,’ Lauren said.”

Indianapolis, Indiana

TheIndyChannel.com reported that “Indianapolis Animal Care Services has another full house at the city shelter.” The facility’s deputy director reportedly said, “To accommodate the animals that continue to come into the shelter, staff members have started setting up portable crates for them to stay in until a kennel opens up.” The facility was reportedly giving away animals for free.

Middle River, Maryland

Baltimore.CBSLocal.com reported that authorities had seized 150 live and 74 dead cats found hoarded in a home operated by a “trap, neuter, vaccinate and release” group doing business as Colony Cats of Bird River and Beyond. An animal adoption group had reportedly alerted authorities because “[Colony Cats owner] Pamela Arrington would regularly bring cats to [another group] to be checked and diagnosed by … veterinarians, who sent a letter [to authorities] with their concerns. The letter described terrible conditions including cats and kittens with a ‘foul, indescribable odor,’ adding that she sometimes had the odor on her as well. ‘She has also brought us a few kittens who were in incredibly bad shape and refused our medical services and offer to have these sickly kittens admitted into our shelter program, stating she could offer better care of them,’ the letter said.” According to a report by an animal services investigator, when investigators “entered the garage [at her home, they] ‘were immediately met with very high levels of cat urine smell and ammonia.’ ‘My eyes and nose immediately started to burn and run and I had trouble speaking while in the garage,’” wrote the investigator. Other complaints received, apparently from neighbors, expressed concern about conditions because “the odor from her home can be smelled from the street.” Investigators found the home’s “garage … filled with uncleaned cages and litter boxes, and some cats had either no water in their bowls or no bowls at all.” Inside the home, “[t]hey saw cages stacked two stories high which each had anywhere from one to five cats, and most had more feces than kitty litter inside. As the officials passed several cages, the cats inside thrashed around the cages and climbed up on the cage walls—something [an investigator] said meant the cats were experiencing starvation.” During an initial search of the garage, “[t]hey determined there were 76 cats contained within the cages, and approximately half of them had conjunctivitis, infections, leukemia, ulcers and upper respiratory infections. Through their search, they also found 15 dead cats, some in white styrofoam boxes that had been put on top of cages with live cats.” During a second search that included the home, investigators “found 74 live cats, 59 dead cats, two dogs and one bird. Some of the dead cats were found in the kitchen freezer. Some of the cats were caged, while others roamed free in the home, the report said. Officers describe[d] feces smeared across furniture, along with garbage[.]” Owners Garriott Cox and Pamela Arrington were facing multiple counts of cruelty to animals and were out on bond. They were reportedly suing police to regain custody of the animals.

Grinnell, Iowa

TheSandB.com reported that surveillance cameras had captured footage of a resident driving up to a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Poweshiek Animal League Shelter with a dog in the backseat. He could reportedly be seen getting out of the vehicle and trying to open the facility’s door. In the footage, when it became apparent that the facility was closed, he then “tie[d] the dog to a pet carrier in the cold, and then [drove] off.” Authorities identified the man, who reportedly “defended himself by saying that ‘since his rifle wasn’t working, this was the dog’s best option.’” The dog was found after spending hours outdoors and was described as scared and underweight. The facility reportedly has a waiting list and turns animals away when it’s full.

Niagara Falls, New York

WKBW.com reported that three board members, an executive director, and a veterinary technician had resigned from a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as Niagara SPCA. A total of seven board members had reportedly “resigned since September 2018, claiming they can no longer be connected to the organization.” Those who had recently resigned were reportedly alleging “mismanagement and animal neglect” at the facility run by the group. The report said, “In one case, according to documents, a cat went untreated for four months with painful mouth and dental issues. SPCA volunteers finally pooled their own money to take the cat for help at a local vet. In a separate case, board members and volunteers say a cat’s eye infection went untreated for so long, the eye needed to be removed.” The current executive director, Tim Brennan, reportedly said that eyes were surgically removed from at least 13 kittens at the facility because of severe infections.

Tustin, California

LosAngeles.CBSLocal.com reported that its investigation into a public shelter that was trying to operate as a “no-kill” facility doing business as Orange County Animal Care “found some of the dogs up for adoption … had a dangerous past and, in some cases, the shelter wasn’t telling people who want to adopt.” One dog, named Bubba, had reportedly attacked an adopter’s roommate: “He just [ran] at his feet and [was] just biting at his feet, and that’s when my roommate had to jump on the counter,” the adopter said. The report revealed that “CBS2 obtained the shelter’s own records about Bubba and his previous owner, which stated the dog had to be impounded and put in quarantine after Bubba grabbed on to a woman’s hand and her daughter and wouldn’t let go.” The dog was eventually returned to the facility, which transferred him to an adoption group. The outlet reported that it had “obtained internal records which show 32 dogs with bite histories at the shelter. Twenty-three had no warnings or any information about biting previous owners on their kennel cards.” When asked on camera about the appearance of hiding bite histories from adopters, the facility’s director, Mike Kaviani, said, “When you’re dating, on the first date do you say all the things that you’re really trying to work on as a human being? No, you’re not airing that on the first date. Are you lying about that? Absolutely not.” The investigation “also found the shelter drugged dozens of dogs. In internal records CBS2 obtained, some dogs were treated with the anti-depressant Trazodone.”

Hampton, Virginia

DailyPress.com reported that a dog had been confined for more than 10 years at a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Animal Aid Society, Inc. He was described by a volunteer as having “a biting problem.” The facility reportedly fails to comply with state regulations established to ensure the adequate care of animals at shelters and adoption groups and could face “thousands of dollars in potential fines.” Those currently seeking to adopt were reportedly not allowed to “go into the maze of kennels to see the dogs.” The group was trying to raise funds to make the improvements needed to comply with the minimum standards required by state law.

Moses Lake, Washington

ColumbiaBasinHerald.com reported that two homeless kittens had been found “starving and filthy” at a homeless camp. They were picked up by a resident who tried to get them help at area animal shelters. The resident called a publicly funded facility doing business as Grant County Animal Outreach, but said he was told the facility was full and would not accept the kittens. He then called a self-professed “rescue,” which is partially funded with public monies, doing business as Adams County Pet Rescue. He was told that the facility was full and would not accept the animals. He said he was put on a waiting list but had not received a call after six weeks. During that time, one of the kittens died because of a lack of needed medical care. The other was still alive at the time of the report.

 Greenwood, Mississippi

MagnoliaStateLive.com reported that a nonprofit facility (partially funded with public monies) doing business as Leflore County Humane Society had “been over capacity for months” and had stopped “taking in any animals brought in by the public.” The facility’s interim director reportedly said that “the shelter turns away at least 10 animals daily.” The group’s board president reportedly said that she “doesn’t remember ever turning away so many animals for so long.” A new facility was reportedly “in the works,” but “the shelter’s capacity will stay the same despite the increased shelter size.”

Coronado, California

10News.com reported that a resident had found a plastic travel carrier containing a cat and five kittens abandoned on a roadside. Another resident reportedly claimed that he or she had also found an abandoned carrier containing cats alongside a busy road. According to their websites, two area animal shelters (doing business as San Diego Humane Society and Coronado Animal Care Facility) both require appointments and charge fees to accept animals, common “no-kill” policies designed to discourage people from taking animals to sheltering facilities.

Sahuarita, Arizona

GVNews.com reported that just days after he was taken home, a pit bull adopted from a public facility doing business as Pima Animal Care Center attacked and killed the adopter’s Chihuahua. The adopter reportedly told responding officers that the Chihuahua was lying on the couch when the pit bull attacked her. The adopter sustained bruises to her hands trying to pry the pit bull’s jaws open, but he would not let go of the smaller dog until she was dead. The adopted dog was euthanized after a quarantine period.

New Carlisle, Ohio

WHIO.com reported that three people had been transported to the hospital, one of whom was in critical condition, after they were attacked by a pit bull at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Pawsitive Warriors Rescue. The dog, named Mayhem, had allegedly “show[n] no signs of aggression before Monday night’s attack.” After the attack, he was reportedly “being taken to a veterinarian to be euthanized.” No additional information was available.

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in October 2019

Cheatham County, Tennessee

WKRN.com reported that a resident had been seen on surveillance footage abandoning two kittens in a plastic storage container at a Dollar General store after being turned away from a public facility doing business as Cheatham County Animal Control. The facility reportedly requires appointments before it will accept animals. According to the report, an animal control officer said that “a man found the kittens in bad shape and contacted their agency. ‘They were hungry, a little dehydrated, covered in feces and urine, and they were really hot inside the container.’”

Donora, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh.CBSLocal.com reported that authorities had seized approximately 175 animals from a home and an abandoned church next to it. More animals were seized from another home in Monessen in connection to the case. According to a spokesperson for a group assisting with the seizure, “the animals appear[ed] to lack veterinary care and were living in filth. ‘The conditions are truly filthy, really horrific conditions that we’re seeing right now,’” she said. Many of the cats found were reportedly in the church, which was described as “dilapidated” by first responders. They were found “in crates that were allegedly overflowing with feces, and rescuers couldn’t see any food or water.” The report said that “[a]uthorities arrested Christie Harr, though that arrest was based on a 2018 case of alleged animal cruelty.” She was later released on bond. Harr is the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Animal Orphans Animal Rescue & Pet Sanctuary, Inc. Two neighbors interviewed by the outlet reportedly said “that Harr considered her home a ‘sanctuary for animals’ and that she tried to adopt them out.”

Raytown, Missouri

FOX4KC.com reported that after being turned away from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Midwest Animal ResQ, which was reportedly “at capacity for cats,” a couple abandoned a cat in the facility’s parking lot. They reportedly claimed to have found the cat, but an implanted microchip pointed to a self-professed “no-kill” animal adoption group doing business as Wayside Waifs, Inc., which had adopted the cat out to the couple. The animal was to be returned to that group, and plans were reportedly made to notify authorities.

Norwich, New York

WBNG.com reported that five cats had been left in the parking lot of a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Chenango SPCA. They were found in a crate between two cars in the lot. According to the report, “[t]he shelter was planning on taking in several cats from their waiting list before the five were dropped off, leaving it now out of room. The Chenango SPCA works primarily to take care of strays, but also takes in other cases. If [it doesn’t] have room, [it’ll] place animal owners on a waiting list.” A spokesperson for the group reportedly said that “when there are too many cats, they’re forced to make dire decisions like putting animals in hallways.” The group also charges fees to accept animals, according to its website.

Southfield, Michigan

WXYZ.com reported that the city of Southfield had ended its contract with a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as Almost Home Animal Rescue, which had been operating the city’s animal shelter. In a news release, the city reportedly listed “ongoing issues which led to severed ties,” including the following:

• Failure to accept animals brought in by Southfield Police Department and animal control officers as required
• Failure to accept animals surrendered by Southfield residents
• Failure to adhere to safety protocols and procedures resulting in several serious injuries to Almost Home employees, volunteers, and others from vicious dog attacks

“The organization has repeatedly failed to adhere to the terms of the contract with the city of Southfield,” the release said. The city was apparently taking animals to the county’s animal shelter while working on a permanent solution.

Jonestown, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia.CBSLocal.com reported that authorities had seized 98 animals from a self-professed animal “rescue.” The animals included 83 cats and 10 dogs who were “found with untreated medical conditions and living in unsanitary conditions.” Five dead cats were also removed. Authorities reportedly said that most of the surviving cats were suffering from eye conditions and respiratory infections and many of the dogs were “extremely thin.” WGAL.com reported that Greta Rank was the owner of the “rescue.” An investigation was reportedly undertaken after “one of Rank’s volunteers sent the SPCA photos and videos showing two deceased cats and others roaming freely. According to [authorities], the animals were living in unsanitary conditions, with many of them in enclosures with accumulated feces and urine.” Charges were reportedly pending the outcome of the investigation. In 2015, LDNews.com reported that Rank operated a group called Grrs and Purrs. The report said that “people, including state police, have been dropping off stray cats and dogs [at Rank’s] for years,” and that “many programs and shelters have worked with her.”

Grand Junction, Colorado

NBC11News.com reported that “[f]ormer volunteers at the Grand Valley Pit Bull Rescue Center are making serious accusations of dog neglect against the owner. … [They] claim the man has thirty pit bulls inside his home. They say only a select few of the dogs are allowed to go outside each day, for about 45 minutes a day. Other than that they claim the dogs have to stay in the kennels. They add that during the seven months of working there, no dogs we[re] bathed or groomed.” They also alleged that dogs would often escape enclosures, leading to fights and injuries. The former volunteers said they had alerted authorities.

AustinMonitor.com reported that Austin City Council members had “approved a set of controversial amendments to city code” regarding “no-kill” policies at the city’s animal services center, despite opposition from shelter volunteers, veterinarians, residents, animal advocates, and business owners, who warned that such policies can have inhumane and dangerous consequences. One resident reportedly said the city shelter’s statistics “are misleading as they indicate only an animal’s condition upon leaving the shelter, ignoring health and life span from that point forward.” A local business owner and shelter volunteer was reportedly concerned because “the numbers are particularly deceptive in relation” to a program that sterilizes and abandons homeless cats, including at “high-traffic intersections or commercial sites.” According to the report, “[s]everal residents also took exception to a section of the ordinance that prohibits performing euthanasia” except under certain circumstances. An animal advocate “said the language could be interpreted to mean that the city is dictating what veterinarians can do and when, putting them in the position of choosing between their professional code of ethics or city code.” A veterinarian at the Central Texas Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital, which had reportedly treated more than 800 shelter animals in 2019, “said that if the city wishes to impose such restrictions, it will also need to choose where to send those animals in the future. ‘If we as veterinarians do not have the right to make those decisions on site and we have to watch patients suffer unduly because of a ‘no kill clause,’ then we will no longer be able to provide services for the city of Austin or the Austin Animal Center.’” Another animal advocate reportedly criticized a section of the code regarding dangerous dogs, saying, “Reserving euthanasia only for dogs who have already caused a ‘severe’ injury … allows dogs with bite histories back into the community where they may do further harm.”

Wanette, Oklahoma

KXII.com reported that a 9-year-old girl had been attacked by three dogs while outside riding her bike. The dogs had reportedly escaped from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Forgotten Treasures Animal Rescue. The report said that “[t]he dogs reportedly [had] never shown any signs of aggression. They broke out of their pen when no one was around.” The girl sustained “‘dog bites and several severe lacerations,’ according to court documents. Investigators [said she’d] likely need dozens of stitches, and she could have lasting nerve damage that could affect her mobility.” The “rescue’s” owner allegedly said that the dogs would be euthanized.

ABC15.com reported that a former volunteer at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Woofs, Wiggles n Wags alleged that “[f]our years after ABC15 uncovered questionable conditions inside the animal rescue Woofs, Wiggles N Wags,” no improvements had been made. She reportedly said that “she stayed at [“rescue” operator Melanie] Murphy’s home for about four months last spring. During her stay, she says she saw blood on the floor, dogs sitting in their own feces, rat feces in cages, and underfed dogs. ‘I counted 40 to 50 dogs,’ she said. ‘Animals will sit in their cages for 20-23 hours a day.’” Authorities reportedly confirmed that there was an open investigation into the allegations.

Houston, Texas

ABC30.com reported that a resident had “been arrested after authorities say she threw a malnourished dog out of her car window.” She reportedly told authorities that “an old roommate left the puppy behind. [She] told deputies she couldn’t find a place to take the dog so she decided to leave the puppy on the side of the road.” The dog was found barely able to stand, “severely underweight,” and with overgrown nails. Authorities believed that “it likely took months of neglect for her to get to this condition.” According to the city’s website, the public animal shelter, doing business as BARC Animal Shelter and Adoptions, only accepts animals after two separate visits, seven days apart, and has other restrictions.

New London, North Carolina

TheSNAPOnline.com reported that the Veterinary Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services had “opened an investigation into the potential operation of [two] unregistered animal shelters” being operated by a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Project Pawz. In a letter to the group, the agency had reportedly directed it to “cease operating as an animal shelter at both locations and find suitable accommodations for any animals currently in the care and custody of these facilities, until you have obtained a certificate of registration.” The letter reportedly said that owner Wendy Laney “was in violation of a state statute for running an animal shelter without the certificate of registration and could face a civil penalty of up to $5,000.” According to the report, “Stanly County Manager Andy Lucas said the county has attempted to work with Project Pawz. ‘Ms. Laney has not complied with our regulations that in order to adopt animals you have to provide evidence of spaying and neutering them,’ Lucas said. ‘And the whole purpose of that, obviously, is so that you’re not just taking the animals and just sort of exacerbating the problem, and they’re out there repopulating again … She hasn’t complied with that for a long period of time.’”

Cobb County, Georgia

WSBTV.com reported that state authorities had suspended the license of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Half the Way Home after a former volunteer filed a complaint. An adoption group reportedly removed 88 of the 108 cats found at the property. A spokesperson for the group said that “some cats had broken bones and runny eyes.” The former volunteer said she contacted authorities after observing animals at the “rescue”: “They were all laying in their own vomit and diarrhea, screaming. There’s a lot of cats that need medical care,” she said. The report stated, “The attorney for Half the Way Home said the rescue plans to fundraise over the next two years and return with more structure.”

Middlebrook, Virginia

WHSV.com reported that a woman who admitted to shooting “a litter of puppies and then dumping them over an embankment,” would not serve any jail time. According to the report, “Betsy Hemp, of Middlebrook, was convicted of six misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty on Sept. 24. She also pleaded guilty to six charges of illegal dumping in connection with her disposal of the puppies’ bodies.” During testimony, Hemp reportedly “said she was angry and frustrated that even though she tried to do the right thing, she wasn’t able to find a place for the animals. … Hemp advertised the litter of puppies for sale and contacted the SPCA and the Shenandoah Valley Regional Animal Services Center. The SPCA was full and unable to take the dogs and since they belonged to her son, SVASC would not take them without his permission. After that, Hemp said she was frustrated and angry, so she took the puppies out back, shot them to death, and disposed of the bodies.” As part of Hemp’s sentence, she was required “to complete 500 hours … of community service and pay a $1,500 fine for the charges of illegal dumping …. She’ll also have to carry out 60 hours of litter abatement.”

Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee

NewsChannel5.com reported that the Clay County sheriff had “been desperately calling various organizations for help” in housing cats from a hoarding situation after their owner was admitted to hospice care and the animals had been surrendered. However, he reported that “most places aren’t taking cats right now.” A resident who was trying to help said, “Dead cats are everywhere. There’s dead pigs out in the field. It’s horrible. I mean it’s so deplorable in there. … There’s feces everywhere, the ammonia smell in the house is through the roof.” Sixteen cats were taken to a veterinary hospital. It wasn’t known how many cats remained at the property or what ultimately happened to them.

Josephine County, Oregon

FOX26Medford.com reported that a wire crate containing 14 cats, two ferrets, and a dog had been left outside, apparently overnight, at a public turn-away facility doing business as Josephine County Animal Shelter. The facility explains on its website that it charges fees to accept animals ($15 per cat and $50 per dog), requires appointments, and will only accept two socialized cats per day.

Pell City, Alabama

CBS42.com reported that a resident, who neighbors said “was trying to help … stray cats,” and her husband had been charged with cruelty to animals after authorities found 47 cats and three dogs, along with an unspecified number of dead animals, confined in conditions described as “deplorable” at their home. A press release issued by the Pell City Police Department reportedly stated: “‘This home was covered in roaches and did not have water. There was feces covering the floors and it was difficult to breath[e].’ Officers found that many of the animals were malnourished and flea-infested while others were missing eyes and appeared abused. ‘This was the worst scene where people were living that I have seen in my entire career in law enforcement or in the Marine [Corps],’ Chief Paul Irwin of the Pell City Police Department said in a written statement.” City officials were reportedly working to condemn the home.

Forney, Alabama

GadsdenTimes.com reported that authorities had seized 41 dogs, three cats, two turtles, and one rabbit, along with three dead animals, from a residence where they had been hoarded. The owner, Ruth Pauline Staggs, reportedly “operated an animal rescue at some point, and hosted pet adoption events” at a local store. The animals were found confined in inhumane conditions. Dogs were malnourished, and some were described as being “in extremely bad shape.” According to the report, “The Department of Human Resources was contacted regarding the older woman—Staggs’ mother—who was living there.” Staggs was charged with 47 counts of cruelty to animals, and the investigation was ongoing.

Atascosa County, Texas

GoSanAngelo.com reported that authorities had charged two self-professed animal “rescuers” with four counts each of cruelty to animals and were continuing to investigate after more than 120 dogs given to them by the Atascosa County Animal Control (ACAC) shelter had been found abandoned along a highway in three counties. At least one dog was found dead after he or she was hit by a car. Authorities began conducting surveillance on Katreena and Wayne Martin after photos of abandoned dogs that were posted online were matched up with photos of dogs who had apparently been advertised at ACAC before being given to the Martins. According to the report: “The surveillance revealed that at roughly 5:35 p.m. Sept. 29, the couple picked up several dogs in a Dodge minivan from the Atascosa shelter. Law enforcement followed the van for hours and saw it exit I-10 onto an access road. Minutes later, the van returned to I-10, and officers discovered the dogs were let loose on Farm to Market Road 3130, according to court documents. Eight affidavits, totaling nearly 40 pages, showed that three of the four dogs dumped in late September were from Atascosa County Animal Control. . . . In an affidavit, Katreena Martin told officers she had transported thousands of dogs through the years.” The couple reportedly “had a working arrangement with animal control, according to the Atascosa County judge, but details about that arrangement were not provided because of the ongoing investigations.” The county attorney’s office had reportedly launched its own investigation into the case.

Tawas City, Michigan

IoscoNews.com reported that state authorities had ordered a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Iosco County Humane Society to reduce the number of cats it was hoarding. According to the report: “There is a sign in front of the building, advising that the facility is not accepting cats at this time. However, staff are put in a difficult position, as people continue to unload their unwanted animals regardless of the cramped quarters.” An employee reportedly “said a woman recently drove up with a box of kittens who were four days old. When she was informed that the shelter wasn’t accepting cats, the woman threatened to throw the animals into a river.” Cats had also been found abandoned at roadsides and in wooded areas of the community. Recently, a resident reportedly “brought in three cats he had contained within a live trap. The animals had gone to the bathroom in the cage, and they were soaking wet when they were brought to the shelter because the man had hosed down the trap while the cats were inside. … [W]hen the man was told that the facility couldn’t take any more cats, he asked if they wanted him to ‘drop them in the woods then.’” It wasn’t reported what happened to the cats.

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in September 2019

Ola, Arkansas

KARK.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as NovaStar Animal Rescue had been operating in violation of city code. Neighbors had reportedly been filing complaints about the property, where, according to a spokesperson for the group, approximately 30 dogs were being kept, even though a maximum of four dogs was allowed under city code. Authorities reportedly planned to crack down.

KXAN.com reported that it had “received reports that claim the Austin Animal Center is not properly evaluating and disclosing dogs’ aggressive behaviors before adopting them out to the public.” A resident said that a dog adopted from the facility had attacked his small dog while out on a walk. His dog “suffered severe lacerations and puncture wounds to his neck, resulting in more than 10 staples from a veterinarian.” He said the dog gave “[n]o warning, nothing, and immediately [went] for the neck and start[ed] biting him and dragging him away …. He was going to kill my dog. He had him by the throat.” The report said, “In another case, J.D. Mathison said his girlfriend’s dog, Bailey, was attacked and killed by a pit bull mix, Daisy, who they had recently adopted from the shelter. Mathison said staff provided very limited information about Daisy’s social skills and it was difficult to return Daisy to the shelter after they realized it wasn’t a good fit. J.D. came home from work one day to find Bailey dead. ‘It was like a crime scene in there,’ Mathison said. ‘Our home is kind of tainted now. My girlfriend still sees blood here and there. She’s definitely going to have to see somebody for the traumatic things she saw.’” A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said she couldn’t comment on the attacks.

Waterville, New York

CNYHomepage.com reported that authorities had seized more than 60 animals from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Whispering Pines Animal Rescue. Authorities revealed that three people, Brenda, Horst, and Joseph Kunze, “were charged with housing animals in unsanitary conditions. Brenda Kunze was also charged with selling sick or diseased animals.” Sixty dogs, four cats, and a bird were reportedly removed. A warrant had reportedly been served after authorities received complaints about sick puppies adopted from the group, six of whom had died of parvovirus, coccidiosis, and/or pneumonia. Authorities said they had “also charged Brenda and Horst Kunze with illegal weapons charges after searching the home where the rescue is located.”

Los Fresnos, Texas

BrownsvilleHerald.com reported that authorities had seized 270 dogs and a cat who were found hoarded in a warehouse by a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as All Accounted For. Two men, Mark Anthony Trevino and Stephen Clark Woodington, had been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. KFOXTV.com reported that the sheriff said that “some of the animals were in various stages of malnutrition and in need of medical attention. Some animals were found in feces and urine. Some animals were found in cages, some were three to four together in a kennel.” At a news conference, he said, “Never in my lifetime have I seen anything like this. According to the officers, the conditions were terrible. It would make anybody sick.” According to the report, because of the seizure, “the Cameron County Animal Shelter will be closed until further notice. According to a release, the shelter will also not be accepting animals from the public for placement until further notice.” Bond for both men had reportedly been set at $20,000. ValleyCentral.com reported that neighbors told the outlet that “they heard dogs barking for hours endlessly and all times of the day and night.” According to the county health administrator, “There were cages on top of each other, piled on top, some of the cages had not been cleaned for a while and the warehouse had two garage doors that I imagine were closed during the day. With this heat, it must have been unbearable, limited water, limited food.”

Cole Camp, Missouri

USAToday.com reported that Benton County authorities had found more than 120 dead dogs, one dead cat, 38 live dogs, and one live cat at a property that was part of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as All Accounted For (see the September 2019/Los Fresnos, Texas, entry above). According to the report, “Tiffany and Steven Woodington operated All Accounted For, which brought animals from Texas to Missouri, the Benton County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post Monday. Authorities said they found nearly 300 animals living at the operations in Texas and Missouri, but that many of the animals had to be euthanized because of poor health. … The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said Steven Woodington was transporting the animals to Cole Camp, Missouri, which is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) southeast of Kansas City. Law enforcement went to a property there, where Tiffany Woodington led them to an old school bus, a barn and a house. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said it found about 120 dead dogs and a dead cat in ‘various stages of decay, some were just bones’ on Sept. 12. … Authorities also found 38 dogs and one cat ‘alive but in unimaginable conditions.’” The surviving animals were described as “[having] matted [fur] and [being] skinny.” Tiffany Woodington was “charged in Missouri with 10 counts of felony animal abuse and two misdemeanor counts of animal abuse.” Steven Woodington, her husband, was “charged in Texas with 19 counts of animal cruelty. A second man described as the caretaker also was charged in Texas with animal cruelty.”

St. Lucie County, Florida

WPTV.com reported that a publicly funded facility doing business as the Humane Society of St. Lucie County had been turning away animals. A spokesperson for an area adoption group reportedly said that members of the public had been taking animals to its facility and saying that they “were told to do so by staff at the Humane Society of St. Lucie County. … She said she was given no communication from the Humane Society of St. Lucie County that more animals would be referred to them. ‘We’ve got a lady bringing in a dog with a massive ear infection and the humane society won’t take [him or her],’” she said, adding, “I think we’re going to see a lot more abandonment, a lot of people that are just letting them go.” The report said that the facility’s contract with the county and two municipalities was ending. (See the August 2019/Fort Pierce, Florida entry for more information.)

Ashland, Virginia

WTVR.com reported that a “[d]og with [a] known history of biting [and] causing serious injury [was] continually listed for adoption” by a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Bandit’s Adoption and Rescue of K-9’s (BARK). The dog, named Duke, was being fostered by Kim Newcomb three years before the report, when, according to her, “he just snapped, and went after my sister’s dog Jambo … I thought he was going to kill him.” She said that after she and her sister finally managed to pull Duke away, “we got quite a few steps away, and Duke turned and bit down on my leg and didn’t let go.” The injuries she sustained “left her unable to fully walk for two months.” She and her family were traveling in another state at the time. Authorities were called and picked up the dog, who attacked an officer so seriously that “she had to be hospitalized, and was out of work for a while.” The report said, “Now, three years later, Duke is once again up for adoption at [BARK].” Newcomb said she was “nervous about him going to a home that doesn’t know this story.”

Indianapolis, Indiana

TheIndyChannel.com reported that “Indianapolis Animal Care Services announced Monday they could not house any more cats as they are entirely out of space. As a result, adoptions will be free til Sunday, Sept. 15. Currently, IACS has 70 more cats than they have cages for and are housing two cats per pen. Over the next two days they have appointments for 35 more cats to be surrendered to the shelter—which does not include the average of ten to 20 stray cats that show up at their doors each day.” Residents who needed to surrender a cat were told to make an appointment.

Peru, New York

WCAX.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Elmore SPCA (which is partly funded with public monies) had refused to accept three kittens who had been found on the side of a road by a resident. The facility was reportedly the only animal shelter in the county. A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said that the animals were turned away because it was “at capacity.” Residents were advised to find “another shelter in another county” or could be put on a waiting list. The facility was reportedly receiving criticism for its turn-away policy, and some people were calling for an end to its public funding.

Wynne, Arkansas

WREG.com reported that “[t]he City of Wynne has canceled its contract with the operators of the Wynne Animal Rescue Shelter, saying the owners failed to provide adequate animal control.” The facility is operated by a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as Wynne Friends of Animals, which says on its website, “We keep an average of 125–150 dogs in house at all times, are ‘ALWAYS’ full, and ‘ALWAYS’ have a waiting list of dogs for intake.” Wynne Mayor Jennifer Hobbs explained the city’s decision to end its contract with the group: “We were not getting the service we were contracted for. We had numerous complaints that people weren’t answering their phones, they weren’t responding to the calls, and that was something we addressed a couple of times through the year.”

Lake Forest, California

ABC7.com reported that authorities had seized approximately 200 animals from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Reptile Rescue Orange County. The seizure was conducted “following weeks of complaints from nearby businesses of a foul odor coming from the building.” One woman reportedly said that “the smell can only be described as one thing: ‘Dead animals. Animals that have been dead a long time.’” A former volunteer told the outlet that “he observed terrible conditions inside the business, including animals too big for their cages.” OCRegister.com reported that an investigation was ongoing.

Montgomery, New York

RecordOnline.com reported that authorities had removed 89 dead cats and kittens from the home of a self-professed animal “rescuer.” More dead cats had reportedly been found “buried outside in small cardboard boxes that doubled as caskets.” They were working to capture five to seven surviving animals at the property. Patrick Rhodes, who lived at the home, reportedly “said he’s been rescuing cats for years, taking in strays and cats whose owners were losing their homes, and cats that may have been dumped at nearby farms. He talked about feeding strays when he worked as a field technician for cellular phone companies, carrying a container of food in his truck.” He said he also took in cats brought to him by the city’s animal control officer, Anne Ilkiw, who reportedly admitted that was true. The investigation was ongoing.

Kingston, Pennsylvania

CitizensVoice.com reported that a Kingston man had been “charged with a felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals and misdemeanor counts of cruelty to and neglect of animals” after he allegedly strangled his dog to death. He reportedly “told police he ‘choked the dog out’ and buried [the body] in the backyard of a Wilkes-Barre home, according to a criminal complaint.” The report noted that he “said the dog, a 3-year-old Husky mix, had no appetite, had stopped eating and was suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. He said he took the dog to the SPCA, where the dog vomited in the office. [The accused] said he was told to take the dog to a veterinary hospital for treatment, but he did not have the money to do so, the complaint states. A necropsy found bruising encircling the dog’s neck, which indicated strangulation as the cause of death.”

New Braunfels, Texas

KENS5.com reported that a turn-away facility with “no-kill” policies (which is partly funded with public monies) doing business as the Humane Society of the New Braunfels Area was over capacity to such an extent that a volunteer said that “they had hallways with kennels stacked with dogs and cats.” The facility’s executive director, Sarah Hammond, reportedly said that “her facility is dancing with inhumane overcrowding.”

KOAA.com reported that authorities had seized “several dozen cats” from a self-professed “no-kill” animal “rescue” doing business as Steel City Alley Cats Coalition. The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region’s (HSPPR) Animal Law Enforcement division had reportedly seized approximately “48 cats from the Steel City Alley Cats Coalition so far and believe up to 50 cats could still be inside the facility. In a Facebook post, HSPPR said 31 have been taken back to Colorado Springs, while the other 17 in need of immediate medical attention are kept in Pueblo …. Investigators said at least 4 cats have died at the facility since Sept. 4. The shelter failed three consecutive reports from the Department of Agriculture’s Pet Animal Care Facility Act (PACFA) due to unsafe conditions, including not quarantining diseased cats and not providing proper medical attention to cats in need.” Animal law-enforcement captain Lindsey Vigna explained, “Sometimes, when people are trying to save every animal, actually it’s a cruel act.” The investigation was ongoing. Chieftain.com reported that the warrant had been executed in response to concerns from residents who reported “that basically some cats within the rescue were showing some signs of typical cat illness, like upper respiratory infections and ringworm,” according to Vigna.

Warren, Ohio: TribToday.com reported that a pit bull who was being fostered for a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Pitbull Advocates of Armstrong County in Pennsylvania had attacked a dog groomer who was trimming his nails. The attack didn’t end “until the dog’s adoptive owner stabbed [him with a kitchen knife] when both a Taser and pepper spray failed,” according to a sheriff’s office report. The groomer reportedly will “need plastic surgery on her face and left ear, has compound fractures to both bones in her left arm and may have broken bones in her right hand, according to the report.” The dog reportedly “had a history of biting people.” He was transferred back into the custody of the “rescue.”

Morganton, North Carolina

Morganton.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Friends for Animals—the Humane Society of Burke County was “in trouble with the state again after more noncompliance issues were found at its facility.” (See the September 2018/Morganton, North Carolina, entry for more information.) According to the report, during a follow-up inspection by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture in August, it was noted that there “was a pungent odor in the main lobby that is consistent throughout the entire indoor spaces of the facility. … [T]he primary enclosures housing adult dogs are heavily soiled with feces. … [And i]n almost all of the enclosures the animals did not have room to lie down without coming into contact with feces.” The facility’s license had reportedly been reinstated in January after a 60-day suspension that was the result of the group having “willfully disregarded and violated the N.C. Animal Welfare Act and rules issued.”

Atascosa County, Texas

MySanAntonio.com reported that a resident had seen a white pickup truck speeding away from the site where a dog had been left “on the side of a lonely country road” with two buckets of water. The report explained: “The cost of surrendering a dog at Atascosa County Animal Control is $40.” Authorities were investigating.

Peyton, Colorado

HuffPost.com reported that state authorities had ordered a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as National Mill Dog Rescue to pay a fine of $15,000, “$7,000 of which is due immediately and another $8,000 of which the state can collect should National Mill fail an inspection or violate [the state’s Pet Animal Care Facility Act] rules during a one-year probationary period.” According to the report, the state filed the order against the “multimillion-dollar nonprofit … after HuffPost published a lengthy investigation into National Mill’s business activities.” The order reportedly “cites 15 regulatory violations, including importing dogs into Colorado without the required vaccinations and paperwork, failing to produce medical records, failing to produce a complete origin record for one dog, and transporting dogs and cats without a license. The order also describes two dogs, named Oscar and Jubilee, being ‘severely injured’ in dogfights at the facility. … State documents also verify HuffPost’s reporting that cast doubt on the description of a number of dogs supposedly rescued by National Mill. While the nonprofit tells supporters that its dogs are saved from ‘puppy mills,’ the government investigators determined that sometimes [Theresa Strader, the group’s founder and executive director] has no idea who is handing over dogs to her—let alone whether they are breeders or how their kennels might be run.” A spokesperson at the state’s department of agriculture reportedly explained that “some of the so-called rescue organizations are really just ‘dog flipping’ as a way to make quick cash … [and] regulations have not kept pace with the evolution of the marketplace. ‘What we see with a lot of these rescue groups is that it’s an easy way to make money,’ he said. ‘You throw up a website, you’re in business, you go to another state and get dogs, and you adopt them out. They don’t have to put a lot of money into them if they get them from a shelter … that just gives them a dog, and then here, they adopt them out for a $400 or $500 fee.’ Part of the problem is the halo effect around dog rescue, he added.” The Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine had reportedly also “issued a cease-and-desist order to Strader for the unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine. Strader, through an attorney, denied the charges.” A hearing was scheduled in that case.

Farmington, Utah

Standard.net reported that Davis County had “adopted a ‘socially conscious’ animal shelter posture intended to inhibit instances of inhumane hoarding in the no-kill movement. County commissioners passed a resolution … endorsing Davis County Animal Care and Control’s adoption of the socially conscious animal sheltering philosophy.” The agency’s director explained that managing statistics “by an arbitrary number can cause a shelter pressured to meet the goal to avoid ‘looking at each animal as an individual’ …. People sometimes hold onto animals when possibly the best outcome is euthanasia. … [S]ometimes good intentions lead to unintended suffering for the very pets that people are trying to protect.” According to the report, the tenets of Socially Conscious Sheltering were defined as follows:

• Ensure every unwanted or homeless pet has a safe place to go for shelter and care.
• Make every healthy and safe animal available for adoption.
• Assess the medical and behavioral needs of homeless animals and ensure these needs are thoughtfully addressed.
• Alleviate suffering and make appropriate euthanasia decisions.
• Consider the health and wellness of animals for each community when transferring animals.
• Enhance the human-animal bond through thoughtful placements and post-adoption support.
• Foster a culture of transparency, ethical decision making, mutual respect, continual learning, and collaboration.

Tyaskin, Maryland

WMDT.com reported that authorities had charged Madison Schultz with nearly 80 counts of cruelty to animals after they found “12 dogs, along with cats and reptiles all living in feces, urine, trash, and fleas with no food or water. They also found two dogs dead and rotting in the backyard, who according to Schultz had been killed by another dog in the house. Schultz herself was covered in flea bites and her toes and [the] bottoms of her feet [were] covered in dog feces.” A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department said, “I’m told it takes your breath away, the odor, the overwhelming odor—it’s the smell of nothing but feces and urine in that house.” A neighbor reportedly said of Schultz and another woman, Hannah Bowes: “They wanted to try to rescue the dogs, but they didn’t have an area for the dogs or funding for that many dogs.” 

Lincoln, Nebraska

1011Now.com reported that authorities had charged Kandice Bremer, the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as All Hounds on Deck, with cruelty to animals. She was reportedly “accused of letting dogs live in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Now the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office says it’s located eight dogs under the group’s care that sustained severe medical problems.” A spokesperson for the sheriff’s department reportedly said that “it’s taken months to locate the dogs and put together what happened, as many were moved to other organizations for care.” The dogs’ medical conditions “consisted of bites, lacerations, some skin infections, a pregnancy and some other malnutrition and nutritional neglect that were visible to the eye,” he said. The report noted, “Pictures obtained through a Department of Agriculture open records request shows piles of feces, trash and rats in the kennels.” A hearing date was set.

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

FDLReporter.com reported that the manager of a turn-away facility doing business as Fond du Lac Humane Society had announced that there had been an increase in the number of animal-abandonment cases in the community. On its website, the group mentions that it requires appointments and fees to accept animals, common “no-kill” policies that discourage people from using shelter facilities. In one case, a cat and “an emaciated pit bull that could barely stand and appeared to be left there to die” had reportedly been found in an abandoned apartment where the power had been shut off for more than two months. In another, a cat had been “found deceased and decomposed after having been left without food or water,” apparently after renters moved from an apartment.

Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

WJACTV.com reported that authorities had seized more than 60 cats from a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as Rose Cottage Cat Sanctuary Inc. Twenty-two live cats and one dead cat were found in a home described as “unlivable between the urine, feces and flies, maggots and fleas. As soon as you pulled up in front of it, the smell hit you.” A spokesperson for an animal adoption group who was at the scene said, “Those poor cats had been breathing that for months or even years.” Three cats were found dead in a rented moving van, which housed 38 live cats. Another spokesperson for the group said, “When they loaded the van onto the bed, we observed large piles of maggots on the pavement under it and they were falling from the crevices of the doors. …When we started removing the cats, feces covered almost all of the interior surfaces of the van and it was soaked in urine. Some of the cats were in crates. The only food was in a bag with maggots all through it and there were no litter boxes or water.” The scene was so horrific that the group planned to provide its employees with grief counseling. The report said that “[a]lmost half of the cats were in critical condition, and officials say 22 needed to be euthanized—a veterinarian [said] that was the only humane course of action. Two of the cats died Sunday night into Monday and one of the females rescued gave birth to four kittens after arriving at the shelter.” Cats removed from inside the home were reportedly “malnourished, dehydrated, [and] anemic and had severe respiratory issues. They had chemical burns on their skin from the urine and feces.” Authorities reportedly said that charges were pending in the case. 

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in August 2019

Logan, Utah

KUTV.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as Cache Humane Society was experiencing an “uptick” in the number of people who abandoned animals outside its facility. The facility was reportedly full, and the group had a waiting list and charged between $25 and $50 to accept animals. Recently, two kittens had been left in the parking lot, one of whom reportedly had “special needs.” Surveillance footage had also captured a man leaving a dog in a wire crate in the lot, and a woman had reportedly “left a senior dog overnight the same week.”

Volusia County, Florida

News-JournalOnline.com reported that authorities had given a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as Journey’s End Animal Sanctuary “about a month to show it is making serious effort to improve conditions for its animals before Volusia County officials consider taking action.” According to the report, “[t]wo veterinarians, who visited the property after volunteers expressed concerns, say Journey’s End has too many animals and not enough staff. The facility ‘has dangerously exceeded its capacity for care, resulting in undue animal pain and suffering,’ wrote Rachel Barton, the lead shelter veterinarian with Tallahassee Animal Services, in a forensic veterinary statement after her visit to Florence Thuot’s property at 1899 Mercers Fernery Road on Aug. 5. ‘Staffing is inadequate to meet the basic needs of the animals each day, let alone their advanced medical needs,’ Barton wrote. … Barton indicated in her report that Journey’s End was lacking in: a clearly defined mission, an adequate level of staff, monitoring and daily checks of every animal, written policies and protocols, proper veterinary oversight and input, a management plan, proper training for staff and sufficient record keeping.” The group’s owner reportedly “disagrees with much of what the veterinarians reported from their visits.” The report noted, “If the county doesn’t see enough progress over the next month, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has offered to help, for free, in reducing the number of animals, specifically cats, at the property … Animals that no longer have quality of life may be euthanized.”

Roy, Utah

FOX13Now.com reported that Destiny Collins, who was operating an unlicensed self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Animal Haven out of her home, had been “accused of mistreating ‘rescue’ dogs to the point where puppies are being eaten alive.” A person who inquired about puppies she was selling said, “Collins admitted that at least three puppies were eaten alive by other dogs” at the home. Collins reportedly “told FOX13 the litters were accidental. She later admitted some dogs are bred once every couple of years. The online ad shows dogs being sold for $300 to $400. Collins said she did not know how many dogs were living in the home.” City code reportedly prohibits residents from keeping more than two dogs at a property. Authorities were investigating.

Watertown, New York

WWNYTV.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Jefferson County SPCA had stopped accepting cats who were found homeless or whose owners could no longer care for them. The group’s executive director said, “We currently have 75 cats in the shelter, we only have 81 cages, we have 145 cats and kittens in our foster care program, and we also have a pre-vax, a waiting list, of 50 waiting to come into the shelter.” She admitted that the facility receives calls “probably 20–30 times a day, [from] people saying, ‘I found a stray cat, I’ve got a momma [who’s] got ten kittens, can you take [her].’” The news outlet reported that out of a litter of kittens at the facility, only one survived: “The kittens were sick when they came in and overcrowding made things worse, despite [the] best efforts of vets.”

Butler County, Ohio

WashingtonPost.com reported that the owner of a dog named Dani told authorities that she was a stray who was found on the side of a road with her throat cut and her nose and mouth duct-taped shut. The dog had been adopted from a group doing business as Homeless Animal Rescue Team, which claims to save animals “from euthanization, abandonment, and abuse.” An investigation reportedly found that Dani “had actually had a cut on her neck after running into a barbed-wire fence. Since the owner couldn’t afford to take the dog to the vet, the person pretended to ‘find’ the abused dog on the side of the road and make up a horrible story. The red marks around Dani’s snout came not from duct tape but from the owner making the dog wear a muzzle several hours a day because Dani was ‘chewing up items in their residence and being aggressive towards their other canine.’” The adoption group reportedly paid for the surgery that the dog needed, but it wasn’t clear what happened to her afterward.

August 2019/Chickamauga, Georgia: TimesFreePress.com reported that a publicly funded facility doing business as Walker County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, which was trying not to euthanize animals, had become so crowded that it had “made the decision to close its doors.” One day later, a state inspection revealed “that the shelter had failed in eight categories, including not having enough water for animals in certain parts of the shelter, failing to have appropriate ventilation, [and] unsatisfactory humane care and sanitation.” The inspector also “found that animals were being kept in bathrooms, hallways and shelter offices, and noted things like exposed electric wire from where a dog had chewed through a wall.” A reported 142 animals were found “living in 75 stalls and enclosures, including 106 dogs in 65 spots.” Three dogs were found to be infected with parvovirus, while “about 36 cats and one litter of kittens” and two dogs were found crammed into “the main office, main office room and the hallway.” The building reportedly “smelled like urine and feces.” One dog was found “housed in a hallway between the main office area and the employee break room with feces and urine in the enclosure. Dead flies were on the floor near the office entrance and [the inspector] found that the bathroom was also used to house animals. In the bathroom, the Sheetrock had been chewed through by a dog, exposing electrical wire.”

Jackson County, Michigan

WILX.com reported that a resident was “frustrated with the animal services because they wouldn’t take in the kittens that she found” in a tub on the side of a road. She told the outlet that “she reached out to Jackson County Animal Shelters to help her take the kittens and they say they are both at full capacity. This was … during the same time as their puppy adoption event …. [For that event,] the Jackson County Animal Shelter transported over 20 puppies from Mississippi to their facility.” A local adoption group reportedly set up an appointment for the kittens at a veterinary hospital, which told the outlet that “this is a very common problem in Jackson County.” The director of the county’s animal shelter reportedly said, “If we take in every single cat that comes to us and we don’t have space the alternative is to euthanize and we don’t want to do that, that’s why we practice managed intake, which means we don’t take in more than we can care for.”

Cocoa, Florida

ClickOrlando.com reported that after a woman tried to surrender a malnourished dog to a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Brevard Humane Society but was turned away, she became angry and shoved the dog into the trunk of her car before driving off. According to a spokesperson for the facility, after the woman was told that it was full—reportedly housing 42 dogs in 29 kennels—she asked whether the dog could be euthanized there and was told “to go to another shelter.” Surveillance footage that was apparently viewed subsequently showed that she had transported the dog in the trunk of her car both to and from the facility. Authorities were called, and they found the dog at the woman’s residence, where she was evidently arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. The report said that during the “investigation a veterinarian determine[d] the dog was malnourished.”

Schenectady, New York

DailyGazette.com reported that an animal adoption group doing business as Voice for the Voiceless was operating in violation of city ordinances. Neighbors of the home-based group were reportedly “fuming” because of the stench of the property, where cats were hoarded, and city officials had made “repeated requests asking the shelter to cease operations at the site.” The report said, “A police log filed on Aug. 1 noted the responding officer reported a ‘strong’ smell of urine that could be identified from several houses away. … The city’s Zoning Office previously issued a violation in 2018 and ordered the occupants to immediately discontinue using the location as an adoption center. A second batch of violations issued that November ordered occupants to remove portable garages from the yard . . . . On Aug. 12, the same day [a neighbor] aired his concerns to City Council, the shelter posted it had taken in 29 kittens during the past three days and ‘desperately need donations.’” A summons was issued to the property’s owner. The case was ongoing.

Franklin Township, Pennsylvania

WNEP.com reported that a pit bull mix had been shot to death at a self-professed “no-kill” shelter doing business as Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge after he attacked a volunteer. A spokesperson for the group reportedly said, “[O]ne of its senior volunteers now has more than 200 stitches on her arm after being attacked by a dog during a game of fetch.” The dog had reportedly been taken in by the group despite having a history of dangerous behavior. According to a community service worker who was at the facility when the attack happened, “Nobody tried to attempt to calm down the dog …. they just pretty much out of anger went down there and killed the dog.” He told FOX56.com that the dog was shot approximately 45 minutes after the attack ended and that he saw no efforts made to provide him with peaceful euthanasia by injection. Authorities were investigating.

KTNV.com reported that authorities were investigating complaints about poor conditions at the home of self-professed animal “rescuer” Gia Fowler. According to the report, “In April and May, Animal Control records show at least 3 dogs were examined by vets, ‘appearing emaciated … with open wounds crawling with maggots … and matted fur smelling like feces.’ Gia’s history with Animal Control goes as far back as 2011. County records paint a troubling picture of hiding dogs to avoid authorities, evading questions and permitting requirements and citations for too many dogs.” It was alleged that she had kept an aggressive dog named Loki “muzzled day and night for about two years.” Another dog was reportedly euthanized after suffering from severe, chronic seizures. Fowler was reportedly charged with “having too many dogs and unsanitary conditions” in 2016, but the charges were dropped. The recent investigation was ongoing. A local animal advocate told the outlet that “there are more than 80 self-titled rescue groups in Las Vegas, adding that social media could be making the process too easy. ‘Anyone can put their name out there and say, “I rescued a dog. Look at this poor dog. Give us money to help this dog.”‘”

Chesterfield County, Virginia

WRIC.com reported that 24 cats had been abandoned at an animal adoption group’s facility by someone who then drove away. The group’s director said that the abandonment of cats at the facility and on the roadways “is an everyday occurrence.” A spokesperson for the county’s publicly funded animal shelter, doing business as Chesterfield County Animal Services, reportedly said that the facility “doesn’t take in owner surrenders because of the high volume of strays, sick and injured cats already in the shelter.”

Tavares, Florida

DailyCommercial.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Lake County Animal Shelter was holding 169 dogs at the facility, which can “comfortably … house” 125 dogs. Other animals hoarded there reportedly included “148 cats, two pigs, a horse, five fish and a crawfish.” The facility’s director said, “I have four dogs in my office, two dogs in the vet’s office. I have a dog in each one of my tech’s offices. A dog behind the front desk, three dogs in the lobby. It’s literally anywhere we can pop up a kennel to make space for the dogs.”

Berkeley County, South Carolina

OurGazette.com reported that a public facility doing business as Berkeley County Animal Shelter was full and wasn’t “accepting any additional owner surrenders.”

Mitchell County, Georgia

WALB.com reported that a group doing business as Stitches for Mitchell County, Inc., which contracts to offer animal sheltering services for Mitchell County residents, was overcrowded. The group’s vice president reportedly said that “if the influx gets out of hand, it could cause the shelter to shut down.”

Lebanon, Connecticut

NorwichBulletin.com reported that the owners of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Roadside Ranch Rescue and Sanctuary LLC had received “a notice of violation and cease and desist order from the town’s zoning enforcement officer.” According to the report, co-owners Kaitlyn LaPointe and Oliver Manning were advised that codes that were being violated, included the following: “structures related to ‘commercial kennels’ must be at least 100 feet from all property lines; a special permit must be obtained from the Planning and Zoning Commission to operate a commercial kennel; and accessory farm buildings used to house livestock must be at least 100 feet from any lot line.” LaPointe told the outlet that “[s]ome of the dogs, which she has pulled from the Hartford Animal Shelter and from South Carolina, have been at the sanctuary for six months to a year with no interest.” The owners reportedly “ha[d] until Aug. 31 … to stop using their residence as an animal rescue and sanctuary and as a ‘commercial kennel,’ and to stop housing livestock within 100 feet of the property line, or face possible legal action, ‘including a request to the court that [they] reimburse the Town for legal expenses related to this violation.’”

Lane County, Oregon

KEZI.com reported that public facilities doing business as Lane County Animal Services and Greenhill Humane Society had both refused to help or accept “hundreds of cats” who had been abandoned at a property after their elderly owner was hospitalized. A neighbor who was feeding the cats said that “many” had “died over the years” and that some were “sick.” Many were also unsterilized. She said she had “reached out to Greenhill Humane Society and Lane County Animal Services to help get rid of the cats, but they told her they can’t help. Officials at Greenhill said because many of the cats are feral, they can’t bring them to their shelter.”

Ravenna, Ohio

Record-Courier.com reported that a box containing cats and kittens had been found outside a turn-away facility run by a group doing business as Portage Animal Protective League. The animals reportedly had “broken legs, injured eyes, [and] upper respiratory infections,” and some kittens apparently were not with their mothers. The facility was reportedly full and had a waiting list to accept animals. Its executive director said, “People call us every day asking us to take their cat or a stray cat they found …. We try to help as many as possible but there are 90-plus cats on our waiting list. We have an average of 50–70 cats in our care on a regular basis, and when you include cats in foster care and the newest rescues, we are talking about well over 100 cats. Two cats have needed leg amputations, some are sickly, [and] some need [to be] bottle fed.”

Grand Traverse County, Michigan

9And10News.com reported that a resident who was dropping off items at a recycling center “heard soft meowing coming from inside” one of the containers there. He found a sick, dirty kitten and took her to a veterinary hospital, where she was diagnosed with an upper respiratory condition. A spokesperson for a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Cherryland Humane Society reportedly said that this was not an isolated case: “Earlier this year, we had kittens [left] by a dumpster out in the Fife Lake recycling center … and there was recently another report that another box was dumped by those same recycling dumpsters on Lafranier Road. This is something that’s becoming more and more common because shelters are becoming overrun with kittens due to overpopulation in the pet community. … [W]e have no room at the inn. … We cannot take any additional cats.” The facility reportedly “has more than 60 cats right now, and doesn’t have any more space for more to come in.”

Hardin County, Tennessee

JacksonSun.com reported that the owner of a self-professed “cat sanctuary” had surrendered 88 cats she couldn’t care for. According to a spokesperson for a nonprofit working to remove the animals, many of them were “diagnosed with respiratory or eye infections, and some suffered from parasites, anemia or other conditions. One cat was rushed to a veterinarian’s office for an emergency blood transfusion …. Two had broken legs. Most will require extensive vet care.” It wasn’t reported whether criminal charges were being considered. 

Maryville, Tennessee

WBIR.com reported that the publicly funded Blount County Animal Shelter was full and had temporarily stopped accepting animals from owners who couldn’t—or wouldn’t—care for them any longer. On its website, the facility reported that even when it did accept these animals, the hours were extremely limited: Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (when most people are unavailable owing to work schedules).

Helena, Montana

KTVH.com reported that a resident had found a cardboard box that contained three dead kittens and one kitten who was “barely alive” on the side of a road. The surviving animal was taken to a veterinary hospital, where a veterinarian said that “she couldn’t raise her head or eat. Her heart rate was very low, and her temperature was too low to measure.” She required days of “intensive treatment,” including intravenous fluids. She was apparently expected to survive. The veterinarian reportedly said that the hospital “has had a number of cats come to them this summer and they have done the best they can, but their resources are limited.” She said that the local publicly funded animal shelter and adoption groups in the community were “often at their capacity.” According to an earlier news report about the abandonment of cats outside the Lewis and Clark Humane Society (which is partly funded with public monies), “There is a $25 surrender fee for each animal brought to the shelter.”

Metuchen, New Jersey

NewYork.CBSLocal.com reported that two kittens had been found in an onion bag left in front of a grocery store with a note that read, “Please take free baby cat to your home.” Authorities reportedly “believe the woman has done this at least four times in the last year. On Thursday morning, four kittens were left inside a plastic bin outside the ShopRite in Edison. Animal shelter officials are still trying to figure out if it was the same woman who left them.” A spokesperson for the public animal shelter said that appointments are needed to surrender animals there. The facility’s website explains that it also charges surrender fees, won’t accept animals with behavioral problems or without veterinary records, and won’t accept animals if the shelter is full.

Huntington, West Virginia

Herald-Dispatch.com reported that a publicly funded animal shelter doing business as Huntington Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter was full and had stopped accepting cats “[f]or the second time this kitten season.” An earlier report revealed that the shelter was trying to operate as a “no-kill” facility. Its director reportedly said, “We are just inundated, and we have so many people trying to bring in cats and we just don’t have the staff. We only have one person taking care of all the cats, and we have more than 80 cats here right now.”

Jersey City, New Jersey

NJ.com reported that a publicly funded adoption group doing business as Liberty Humane Society had allowed Joseph Mannino to adopt a dog named Maxina, who had been seized from him. He was reportedly facing cruelty-to-animals charges at the time. The dog had apparently been seized from him in late July by members of the city’s Quality of Life Task Force after she was found “tied up on the porch … during a weekend when temperatures soared toward 100 degrees.” The group had allegedly indicated that it had released the dog to her suspected abuser “because she is aggressive toward other animals and Mannino appears to be her best hope at adoption.” She had reportedly been “adopted” out by the group to Munther Asad in 2017, and Mannino was allegedly tasked with caring for her while, according to the report, Asad “was out of state for an extended period. Both men were cited for animal cruelty.” They were reportedly “scheduled to be arraigned in Jersey City Municipal Court on Aug. 27.” 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

PennRecord.com reported that a resident had been charged with “five counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals and 37 summary counts of cruelty to animals” after authorities seized 37 cats who had been hoarded at his home. In a lawsuit that he reportedly filed against authorities, he said that five of the animals seized had been “purchased” by him from a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as Animal Friends. No additional details were available. 

Van Zandt County, Texas

GrandSalineSun.com reported that authorities had arrested Cynthia Durham, the president of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Van Zandt County Humane Society, “for theft and a warrant [was] being issued for the arrest of a Wisconsin woman, alleging the duo [were] involved in a scheme called ‘Pet Flipping.’” The report said that Durham “allegedly confessed to the offense and has since been taken into custody for the theft of … two 9-month old blue heeler pups.” A neighbor of Jeremy Housden, the dogs’ owner, had reportedly “seen Durham’s vehicle around his house” and could see “the dogs at one moment, and the next they were nowhere in sight, but Durham’s car was still allegedly in the Housden driveway.” Housden contacted authorities, resulting in the arrest. 

Fort Pierce, Florida

WPTV.com reported that authorities had served a search warrant as part of a criminal investigation into a self-professed “no-kill” animal shelter doing business as Humane Society of St. Lucie County, Inc. Detectives reportedly said that “the search warrant was approved as part of a felony criminal investigation, though it is too soon for detectives to say which specific crime or potential criminal charge they are pursuing through the investigation. WPTV confirmed the investigation was prompted by a complaint from volunteer Dale Mutchler, who made headlines as the volunteer who found the body of Christine Liquori in May. Liquori was the volunteer mauled to death by a pit bull mix at the shelter” (see the May 2019/Fort Pierce, Florida, entry below). The report said, “The complaints ranged from operational, structural and safety concerns to animal neglect allegations. In [Mutchler’s] complaint, he details concerns about animals not being given adequate care, such as a dog passing out which he was able to ‘bring back’ by hosing [the animal] down with cold water. When he notified veterinary staff, he says the staff did not examine the dog for five days. The alleged neglect, he says, has also turned deadly for some animals, including puppies recently seized by law enforcement from an animal neglect case and placed at the Humane Society of St. Lucie County for temporary care. ‘There were quite a few animals that died due to the lack of care. Due to neglect. Absolute neglect,’ Mutchler said. Some puppies, he said, were killed by rats.” The investigation was ongoing. TCPalm.com reported that Fort Pierce city commissioners had voted to take over operations at the group’s facility located on property owned by the city on October 1. The vote came after “[t]he Humane Society objected to any oversight from the local governments to review its financial accounts. … The local governments requested an updated business plan and a projected budget, which the Humane Society rejected.” Poor conditions at the facility reportedly “became known in September after Fort Pierce and county staff members and animal activists conducted a walk-through inspection of the Savannah and Glades-Cut Off facilities. According to a TCPalm article, officials found animal cages full of feces; empty water bowls; temperatures hovering near 90 degrees; no air conditioning, and at the Glades Cut-Off shelter, no fans because of failed electrical outlets; and no veterinarian on the premises for days at a time.”

Lancaster, California

TMZ.com reported that singer Aaron Carter had posted a video on social media in which he said he was selling for $3,500 a dog he’d adopted from a public animal shelter. According to the report, “In the video, which Aaron appears to have acknowledged as authentic, he says … ‘This is my new buddy. So by the way, if I can’t keep him, I am going to be listing him.’ Aaron goes on to say, ‘He’s 10 months old, and he’s running for $3,500. So if anybody wants to give my English bulldog (a home), I rescue him and I find him homes.’” He allegedly “makes reference to another dog in the video that he ‘couldn’t keep.’” The shelter was reportedly looking into the allegation, and Carter “vehemently” denied that he “flip[s] dogs for quick cash.”

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

FOX43.com reported that a plastic bin containing seven kittens had been left outside a self-professed “no-kill” animal “rescue” doing business as Pet Pantry of Lancaster County after the facility refused to accept them. According to the report, a woman had entered the facility and “told workers she had already taken the kittens to other shelters in the area and was told they were all full and unable to accept new kittens for adoptions. After being told the Pet Pantry was also full and had a waiting list, the woman exited the building, leaving the kittens behind before she drove off.” No charges were being considered.

Tavares, Florida

DailyCommercial.com reported that a woman had been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals after allegedly “throwing her chihuahua over a 6-foot fence” after hours at a public “no-kill” facility doing business as Lake County Animal Shelter. She said that she was leaving the dog at the shelter because she was homeless. The dog reportedly escaped from the fenced area and was later found with “severe hind-end damage.” He or she was given pain medication. According to its website, the facility “is often near, at, or above capacity. Owned pets are only accepted as space and resources allow.” Animals are considered for acceptance only during scheduled appointments, and a $40 fee is required per animal. Before the facility will accept unvaccinated animals, two appointments must be made two weeks apart.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

FloridaBulldog.org reported that three longtime volunteers with a public facility doing business as Broward County Animal Care had been terminated. According to the report, this occurred after they “posted photos and videos of canines allegedly being mistreated at the shelter, a $16.5-million facility …. It’s the latest controversy to engulf [facility director Lauralei] Combs, who is under fire for overcrowding at the shelter after a drastic reduction in euthanizations since she was hired 18 months ago.” A local city commissioner reportedly said, “She is systematically letting go of volunteers who disclose what is taking place at the shelter. It leads me to believe we are back on the road to no transparency. They are getting rid of the people who talk.” The establishment was reportedly under a county “mandate” to operate as a “no-kill” facility. Videos shared with the outlet allegedly showed “dozens of dogs being kept in portable kennels inside a section of the shelter with no air conditioning. Several industrial fans can be seen blowing in the direction of the canines, some of which were sitting in their own urine and feces.” The report cited a WSVN.com June 2019 story that revealed that “the shelter was forced to close two hours early on a Friday because there was no more room.” According to a local resident, “animal services inspectors responding to animal-cruelty complaints are not taking abused dogs and cats to the shelter because of the over-capacity problem.” One of the dismissed volunteers reportedly told the outlet, “I am starting to see the lack of interest toward these dogs and cats that are sick or injured.” Combs reportedly admitted to the outlet that after a fight broke out between two dogs who’d been placed together in a kennel at the crowded facility, both of them were so badly injured that they had to be euthanized.

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in July 2019

Taos, New Mexico

TaosNews.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Stray Hearts Animal Shelter was “full and [could not] accept dogs dropped off by the general public.” The facility, with a capacity of 90 animals, was reportedly “the county’s only shelter for dogs” and was “housing 116 canines.” Adoption groups that the facility regularly transferred animals to, both “in other counties and out of state in places such as Denver,” were also reportedly full. The shelter allegedly asked residents “to hold onto stray dogs they pick up for as long as they can and to keep calling Stray Hearts every couple of days to see if room has opened up.”

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

WQAD.com reported that a small, elderly dog had been left outside a turn-away, “no-kill shelter” doing business as Pennsylvania SPCA “in a plastic container with the lid on while outside temperatures were around 90 degrees.” She was reportedly malnourished and “flea-bitten” and might not have been found if not for an “attentive volunteer [who] saw the container and opened it up.” On its website, the group states that it will only accept animals who “meet certain criteria as space in our shelter becomes available,” and it charges a $50 fee per animal before it will accept them. 

Joplin, Missouri

JoplinGlobe.com reported that a spokesperson for a self-professed “no-kill rescue shelter” doing business as Golden Paw Animal Sanctuary and Rescue said that the group “had to turn away 50 to 60 requests each week from folks who discovered dumped pets—mostly dogs—on their property.” She said, “We’re getting calls all the time.” Reportedly, “a property owner told her that somebody had dumped two dogs in her front yard sometime during the night. In another call, a heartless owner tied their cowering pooch to a property owner’s fence post, though they’d left an unopened 25-pound bag of dog food next to the poor thing, perhaps to help cope with their own guilt. These types of situations and worse are happening all across the Joplin metro area.” The facility, with a capacity of around 100 dogs and 20 cats, had apparently crowded 120 dogs and 52 cats into it.

New York, New York

NYPost.com reported that a dog who was being transported from a Brooklyn public animal shelter doing business as Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) to a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Rescue Dogs Rescue Soldiers had been found dead in a cage in the back of the vehicle being used. A spokesperson for the “rescue” reportedly said that when he was found, “the body was really hard, it was very stiff.” Apparently, he’d “been ‘in distress’ before his death because the cage was covered in feces and his mouth was ‘wide open like an alligator.’” He had allegedly been in the vehicle for a “four-hour ride in the midst of the worst heat wave the city has seen since 2011, with heat indexes as high as 110 degrees.” Another dog in the same vehicle was reportedly “also in bad shape when the transporter arrived and was showing signs of dehydration.” That dog received treatment. The report said that the “cause of death was ruled inconclusive by the ACC,” adding that the agency was “facing a probe from the state Attorney General over animal cruelty allegations.”

Escondido, California

NBCSanDiego.com reported that an animal adoption group doing business as San Diego Humane Society had given two cats to Joshua Boyer before investigators found “several cat carcasses and more chained live cats” at his property. Prosecutors reportedly “described the scene on Boyer’s property as ‘quite disturbing.’ Ten deceased cats were found near a locked shed on the property. Boyer was the only one with access to it and told his family to stay away from it, prosecutors said. Inside the shed were firearms, a crossbow with arrows, bats and knives. Several of the weapons had blood or fur on them when they were discovered by investigators. Prosecutors said some of the dead cats had their legs zip-tied to cages, some had metal BB’s and bullet fragments in them, and some were burned. All but one had an empty stomach. … Prosecutors said one of the cats he got from the shelter was found dead on the property.” The second cat given to Boyer by the group had apparently not been found. Boyer reportedly said he’d also acquired cats through Craigslist advertisements, and it was suspected that he’d picked up at least one cat, who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision by his owner, off the street. He was arrested and charged with “multiple felony counts of cruelty to animals.”

Gainesboro, Virginia

WinchesterStar.com reported that authorities had charged the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Oreo’s Legacy Rescue with 21 counts of cruelty to animals. The report said that the charges were filed against Tammy Smith Barr after authorities had to rescue 20 dogs hoarded at her home when a fire broke out. According to a criminal complaint, “[t]here were hoarding conditions all through the house as well as dog urine and feces covering the floor all over the house …. The odor of urine and feces overpowered the odor of the house fire.” An assistant fire marshal reportedly said that “‘hoarding conditions’ in the basement hampered firefighting efforts.” And a building official reportedly said that “the house was declared uninhabitable due to the fire and the house being filled with feces and urine.” One of the dogs rescued “had matted hair that had to be shaved off, and many of the 13 puppies rescued suffered from smoke inhalation.” According to the report, Barr had been “convicted in November of inadequate animal care and three counts of dogs running at large.”

Mitchell, South Dakota

GrandForksHerald.com reported that authorities had seized 31 cats from two homes where they were found hoarded by Brandy Smith and her son, Michael Smith. According to the report, “Brandy Smith reportedly either lived in or maintained the two residences, and she reportedly solicited money to care for cats on a Facebook page called ‘Heart and Soul Kitty Sanctuary.’” Officials reportedly said that the two were each facing “10 counts of cruelty to animals, a Class 6 felony.” The report said, “Twenty cats ‘in various apparent degrees of sickness’” had been found at one home, and another sick cat was seized from a second address. One cat found allegedly “appeared near death” and was transported directly to a veterinary hospital. A public safety official apparently said that nine more sick cats and one dead cat were found at one of the homes the next day. Both locations “reportedly had cat feces and garbage throughout.” ArgusLeader.com later reported that a total of 37 cats, including the dead one, had been removed from the two homes. Authorities apparently said that the floor of a trailer at one of the properties “was covered in piles of cat feces and empty cat food cans, and that the smell was so pungent it could be smelled through their respirators. Multiple cats were found in the home, many of them sick and lying in piles of feces, the affidavit read. Police said it was ‘obvious that the cats had been left to live in this environment for quite some time.’” 

Dayton, Ohio

ABC6OnYourSide.com reported that in a 24-hour period, 20 cats had been left outside a turn-away facility doing business as Humane Society of Greater Dayton. According to the report, staff “found two litters of kittens left at the front entrance of the organization. One of the litters found had six very sick kittens … covered in fleas.” A lawn-care company reported later that day that workers had “found a cat and six 4-week-old kittens loose in the [organization’s] dog park. Those kittens were also covered in fleas [and] in need of additional medical care.” The next day, a note was found at the facility “about two cats being left at the dog park next door. The writer of the note was worried about [them] …. A veterinarian was able to find one of the cats, but the second cat still has not been found.” According to its website, the facility only accepts animals by appointment if there is space and if the animals are deemed adoptable. The county animal “shelter” had recently announced that it would no longer handle cats at all. (See the April 2019/Dayton, Ohio, entry below.) 

Wolcott, Connecticut

NBCConnecticut.com reported that authorities were investigating a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Tails of Courage after a puppy adopted from the group died of parvovirus. It was believed that a second puppy died at the group’s facility and that the litter had been shipped to the group from Texas. An adopter reportedly told authorities “that she had the puppy for seven hours, had to rush the puppy to [an emergency veterinary hospital] doing CPR on the puppy the entire route, only for the puppy to expire.” Preliminary testing suggested that the animal had suffered from “parvo, dehydration, and emaciation.” A police spokesperson said that when investigators visited the facility, one of them “heard a puppy screaming and went to research where the puppy was and found a back room that they consider their isolation room … and that’s where they found the sick puppies.” Two were rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital. The report said that “[a]dopted sick litter-mates continue to be discovered and cared for at other vets around the state.” Authorities reportedly said that there were “red flags when the animal rescue organization moved to town. The land owner of the property says ‘Tails of Courage’ set up shop about two months ago. He says they told him they will be leaving his property by the end of the week. Danbury filed a lawsuit for health and zoning violations in 2018. It was withdrawn this spring when they promised to no longer conduct business in Danbury.” (See the July 2018/Danbury, Connecticut, entry below for more details.) ConnecticutNews12.com later reported that three of the eight sick puppies removed by authorities had died. 

West Chicago, Illinois

ChicagoTribune.com reported that after a six-month investigation into a fire at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as The Bully Life Animal Services, authorities had arrested operator Garrett Mercado. He was reportedly “charged with 14 counts of animal cruelty, along with 14 counts of violating his duties as an animal owner. Mercado had 58 dogs in his care, with many stacked on top of one another in crates not intended to hold an animal for a long period of time, State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said at a Thursday news conference. ‘These dogs lived in cruel and inhumane conditions, and they died a horrible death,’ Berlin said.” According to a press release issued by Berlin’s office, “Following an investigation that revealed that twenty-nine dogs died in the blaze, it is alleged that numerous other dogs were mistreated suffering puncture wounds, lacerations, abrasions, weight loss, muscle wasting and dehydration. It is also alleged that there was a foul odor throughout the facility and that urine stains, fresh and old feces and empty water bowls were found in the kennel. It is further alleged that the kennel runs were not sanitary and that dogs were kept in cages stacked upon one another. It is alleged that dogs were placed in cages or crates too small for them, dogs were inappropriately tethered and that one dog was tethered to a bar in a bathtub in a fashion that would restrict or prevent movement. It is further alleged that Garrett abandoned the dogs at which time a fire erupted resulting in the dogs’ deaths.” Patch.com reported that “Berlin said some charges stem from the treatment of two dogs in particular. One dog, named Magoo, was returned to his owner prior to the fire but was severely underweight, with ribs showing and wasted muscles, as well as hookworms, Berlin said. Another dog, Coco, perished in the fire after being tethered to a bar on the second floor of the kennel building. Berlin said Coco was tethered so tightly it’s unlikely he would have been able to lie down or move. His body was found under a pile of debris after the fire, according to authorities.” A court date had been set. (See the January 2019/West Chicago, Illinois, entry below for more details.)

San Antonio, Texas

KSAT.com reported that after a public turn-away facility doing business as City of San Antonio Animal Care Services refused to accept two dogs from a woman who’d tried to surrender them, video surveillance footage showed her leaving the animals in front of the facility and driving away. The small dogs were frantic and “nearly run over.” When they were found, the facility admitted them. They required treatment “for heat stress.” Authorities reportedly had the woman’s contact information.

Chico, California

OrovilleMR.com reported that authorities had received “[m]any complaints … about cleanliness or concerns about dogs being vaccinated or examined before being adopted” from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Wags and Whiskers Pet Rescue. The group had reportedly “recently [come] under scrutiny for an outbreak of canine distemper,” and authorities expressed concern about “high numbers of animals” being taken in by the group “from many different areas … with unknown amounts of screening.” The report said that, “while Wags and Whiskers is not breaking laws by keeping animals in stacked wire cages, with only some runs available, [the director of the city’s animal services department] said the illness can spread much more quickly” in those conditions.

Jamesville, New York

Syracuse.com reported that a lawsuit had been filed against Onondaga County and its animal adoption facility doing business as Second Chance Canine Adoption Shelter in response to a dog attack that occurred there. The suit alleged that a 10-year-old girl visiting the facility had been left “bloodied and scarred and [requiring] multiple costly hospital visits” after she was attacked by a pit bull or mix with a history of aggression. The dog had reportedly been adopted approximately eight months before the attack and was returned after biting three people and growling at and acting aggressively toward the adopter’s wife. The report said that it wasn’t the only lawsuit pending against the facility: “An inmate named Brian Howe sued in January. He said a pit bull attacked him and tore up both his arms while he was assigned to work the shelter. He needed stitches on both arms.”

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in June 2019

Statesman.com reported that the Austin Animal Center had “been full since December 2017 when 40 or 50 kennels were added in the building’s most recent expansion,” according to a spokesperson for the facility. She reportedly said that the “center has only 345 kennels available for the 800 animals it is currently housing .… Cats and dogs have overflowed into the center’s meeting and conference rooms, and pets have doubled up in kennels.” Animals were being given away for free and, “the center begged the community to adopt an animal over the weekend because it is out of kennels.” 

Palmer, Massachusetts

MassLive.com reported that the state’s attorney general had filed a lawsuit against the founder and president of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Destiny’s Road Animal Rescue, Inc., alleging that she had “used money donated to the rescue to pay for personal expenses, including online dating apps, hair and nail salon visits and purchases at vaping stores.” The lawsuit reportedly says that Dawn Cardinal “spent animal rescue money on the online dating websites eharmony and Christian Mingle; rideshare services Uber and Lyft; iTunes and Netflix; the New England Aquarium; an oxygen bar; and vaping stores. She paid for hair salon, massage, nail and beautician services; gas and car repairs; telephone and heating bills; and fast food and restaurant bills. She made online purchases from Toys R Us, Victoria’s Secret, and Bed Bath & Beyond.” The lawsuit “charges Cardinal with breach of fiduciary duty, unfair and deceptive acts, making false statements in annual registration statements, misappropriating charitable assets, failure to properly account for the charity’s funds and failure to file financial statements and reports.” The attorney general was “asking a judge to require Cardinal to pay restitution to Destiny’s Road, give up any money that was raised illegally and bar Cardinal from acting as a fiduciary for any public charity in the future and from conducting any future business in Massachusetts.” 

LasVegasNow.com reported that authorities had removed more than 40 dogs from a residence where they were found in filthy pens, some suffering from symptoms of parvovirus. At least six puppies were “in need of medical attention.” Four of them were in such bad shape that they had to be euthanized. The owner said that she had acquired the dogs from people who didn’t want them and sold them for profit. She voluntarily surrendered the animals and was fined $2,200. Four dogs were left at the residence “with a requirement that [the owner] get medical treatment for one dog with an abdominal mass and seek a fancier permit if she wants to keep the four dogs who have not been neutered or spayed.” 

Camp County, Texas

KLTV.com reported that authorities had seized more than 150 horses from “an equine rescue facility.” Many of them were reportedly “emaciated, had damage to their hooves and a meager food supply.” The owner of the “rescue” was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. No additional details were available.

Greensboro, North Carolina

MyFOX8.com reported that a 2-year-old child had sustained injuries when he was bitten by a dog at a public turn-away facility doing business as Guilford County Animal Shelter. The child’s family was considering adopting the dog when the attack occurred. MyFOX8.com later reported that another visitor saw the mother running with the child, who had sustained a severe bite. “It was a big wound. The only part of that poor child’s ear was his earlobe left on him,” the other visitor said. No additional details were available.

Citrus County, Florida

ChronicleOnline.com reported that county officials had “asked the sheriff’s office to issue a trespass warning to Robert Schweickert Jr., president of Out of the Box Animal Rescue Inc.,” ordering him to stay away from the Citrus County Animal Shelter, after he allegedly “threatened to shoot the animal shelter director and her staff.” According to the news report, “Schweickert and Out of the Box have been evicted three times since January.” The county animal shelter stopped providing him with dogs earlier this year. He “also has two cases pending in court over three dogs being held at the animal shelter for attacks on humans or other animals.” (See the February 2019/Citrus County, Florida, entry.) During a telephone conversation, Schweickert reportedly told a volunteer “that if he had a firearm he would shoot [the shelter director] and the staff.”

KOAA.com reported that authorities were pursuing cruelty-to-animals charges against a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as PAWS for Life Animal Welfare and Protection Society in relation to inhumane conditions and animal deaths at the city animal shelter that it had been contracted to operate. (See the March 2019/Pueblo, Colorado, entry.) During its short tenure at the facility, a state “investigation revealed animals were neglected in some cases for days, as a result, 14 animals died while under the shelter’s watch.” Local authorities were preparing a criminal case for the district attorney’s review. A spokesperson for the Pueblo Police Department said, “When we refer charges, obviously we have a case, we believe these people committed these crimes.”

Huntington, West Virginia

Herald-Dispatch.com reported that a turn-away facility partly funded by tax dollars and doing business as Huntington Cabell-Wayne Animal Shelter was “40 cats over capacity and cannot properly care for any more,” according to the director. The facility had stopped accepting cats “until further notice” because it was working “toward becoming a no-kill shelter.” 

Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania

FOX6Now.com reported that authorities had seized 50 cats and kittens from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Faery’s Felines. Officials reportedly said that the animals were “found living in filth with untreated medical conditions.” PennLive.com reported that just eight cats in the worst condition were initially seized. A spokesperson for an adoption group involved in the seizure said that one of the cats had a “severely ulcerated eye” that would likely require removal and another had an eye injury that was seeping bloody fluid. The other cats suffered from untreated “severe respiratory infections.” A kitten’s temperature was reportedly “so low that it did not register on the thermometer.” Authorities later returned and removed the remaining animals. Criminal charges were reportedly pending.

South Bend, Indiana

WSBT.com reported that authorities had ordered a dog-boarding facility to remove all animals from the property within two weeks. During an inspection, they reportedly found 168 dogs and two cats hoarded at the facility, the majority of whom belonged to a self-professed “no-kill rescue” doing business as Homeward Bound Animal Welfare Group. The inspection report “concludes the kennel meets the county’s definition of an animal hoarding situation” and said that the facility “failed to ensure animals have appropriate housing, heating, ventilation and light.” It further stated that “it appears that Homeward Bound does as they please with no regard to [the boarding facility’s owner], the staff … or the animals themselves.” A former volunteer for the “rescue” said, “I would see dogs that had been there for years .… [S]ome of the dogs that had been there years actually had turned feral.” She also said, “There is a closet at the end and you’re going to open it up and it is pitch dark and there are dogs living in there!” 

Mobile, Alabama

FOX10TV.com reported that six small puppies had been left in a box at the door of a public turn-away facility doing business as the Mobile County Animal Shelter. They reportedly “spent about an hour outside in the rain before they” were found, “getting soaked.” The video news report showed a sign on the facility door that read, “We’re Sorry, We Are Unable To Accept Any Drop Offs At This Time.” A spokesperson for the facility reportedly “said this happens all too often at their shelter.” The report revealed that “authorities said this is a continued problem.” MyNBC15.com later reported that a second litter of four young puppies had been left outside the facility “in a sealed container, with no food, no water, and no fresh oxygen for over 9 hours.” It wasn’t reported whether they had sustained permanent injuries.

Richmond, Virginia

WTVR.com reported that a man who had been arrested on charges of cruelty to animals claimed that area animal shelters had refused to accept a dog he no longer wanted. He was arrested after tying the animal to a fence at a park, dousing him with lighter fluid, and setting him on fire. The report said, “The suspect stated he tried to give the dog away to various shelters, but no one would take [him] in because the dog was deemed too vicious.” The suspect reportedly said that he’d had the dog for several months, during which time he “had attacked several of his family members.” The man said that he “snapped” and was trying to protect his family when he tortured the animal. He was facing felony cruelty-to-animals charges, and a judge reportedly denied his bond.

ABC15.com reported that Angi Hopson, the founder of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as AZ Dog Adoptions, was facing 80 counts of cruelty to animals. Authorities had seized 45 animals from the “rescue” the previous December (see the December 2018/Phoenix, Arizona, entry) and reportedly seized another dog in April. A spokesperson for a local humane society said, “There was a dog who was severely matted to the point of having maggots, flies, and feces encrusted into the fur.” She said that most of the seized animals had recovered and been adopted but that some were in such bad shape that they apparently had to be euthanized. A woman interviewed said that she adopted a dog from the “rescue” who was seriously ill. Her family spent $10,000 in treatments before he had to be euthanized because of the severity of his condition.

Killeen, Texas

KWTX.com reported that authorities had seized approximately 200 live and 40 dead cats and kittens from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Spark of Life Kitten Foster and Rescue. Authorities conducted a search and seizure at the property after receiving complaints from residents. Live cats were reportedly “found living in stacked crates and cages” without access to potable water. Litterboxes were overflowing, and many of the animals suffered from upper respiratory diseases and conditions. Ten dogs were also found at the property. It wasn’t reported whether they were removed or whether criminal charges were being considered.

Craven County, North Carolina

JDNews.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Hounds of Grace Rescue Inc., had left 22 dogs at a boarding kennel for months and had an unpaid bill of $7,000. Before boarding the dogs, the group left them at an animal control shelter, which had seized them from criminal conditions, for approximately four months. An investigator reportedly “said the shelter worked for months trying to get Hounds of Grace to remove the dogs as promised but [the group’s director, Brenda Wells] ‘kept pushing back.’” The investigator said that the shelter had to euthanize other dogs daily to make room to board the dogs. One of the owners of the boarding facility said that Wells was “‘playing a shell game,’ moving the dogs from kennel to kennel and not paying their upkeep.”

Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada

MSN.com reported that a day after he was adopted from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Homeless and Injured Animal Rescue of Canada, Inc., a dog described as a Mastiff mix attacked a child at home. The dog was advertised as being “submissive and very friendly, he is great with kids and dogs.” The adopters reportedly said that a volunteer with the “rescue” told the family that he had been imported from the U.S. and “had been abused and kept in a kennel for long hours, and was saved from being put down.” The adopters told a reporter that they “also noticed the dog’s teeth were damaged, and appeared worn or filed down.” The report said, “As he was leaving for school, [the] 11-year-old son reached out to pet Griz goodbye.” The dog then growled at him. “Before he even had time to retract his hand, Griz lunged forward, grabbed him by the neck, and his lunge forward actually knocked my 11-year-old son down the stairs,” his mother said. “I’m pulling on the dog, trying to get him out the back door, and he turns and growls at me.” Upon the advice of a veterinarian, the family had the dog euthanized. They then received his records from a veterinary hospital in Minneapolis. “All throughout his records [were words] like, ‘aggressive, aggressive aggressive,’” she said. She reportedly provided the Canadian Broadcasting System with the medical records that she had received. “‘Has a lot of anxiety,’ is noted in the records, along with ‘at home and around other dogs—severe dog aggression.’ The records also show a history of visits to adjust the dog’s medication, and an incident where Griz attempted to chew through a metal kennel and ‘broke a few teeth in the process.’” The boy’s father was reportedly “shocked to learn there are no regulations around operating a dog rescue.” He said, “It made me mad. Like, I can go out and start a dog rescue right now, and I could be the worst person in the world and just want money.”

Jacksonville, Florida

IBTimes.com reported that a “dog mauled a child and the mother” at a public turn-away facility doing business as Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services. The 7-year-old child was reportedly “viciously bitten on the thigh,” and the mother’s injuries weren’t known. An ambulance rushed the child to the hospital. No additional details were available.

Windsor, Ontario

WindsorStar.com reported that authorities had charged the founder of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Royals Animal Rescue Services with “two counts of permitting an animal to be in distress, two counts of failing to provide adequate and appropriate veterinary care, and one count of failing to comply with orders under the Ontario SPCA Act.” A court date was set for July 15. A spokesperson for a local humane society said, “The concerns initially raised were about several animals who had passed away in the care of the rescue, and that’s what led to the investigation.” She said that “it’s really important to remember that there really isn’t a registry of rescues .… [I]t is easy to call yourself a rescue— you can put up a Facebook page and a website and say that you’re a rescue, and there’s nobody that really regulates that in the province.” The report revealed that in May, the “rescue” had “posted a request for donations as an ’emergency fundraiser’ for a dog that escaped ‘and got hit by a car.’” No additional details were available.

Ruskin, Florida

Patch.com reported that after she was turned away from a self-professed “no-kill animal shelter” doing business as Critter Adoption & Rescue Effort, Inc., a woman had allegedly driven “a short distance away” and abandoned 10 cats and a dog described as elderly on the roadside. She was facing animal abandonment charges. At the time of the report, the cats had been found and retrieved, but the dog was still missing. According to the report, self-professed “no-kill” shelters in the area were all full and the public turn-away facility doing business as Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center has a lengthy intake process and charges fees before it will consider accepting animals. It was revealed that “the county places restrictions on surrendered pets. Owners must provide proof of residency in Hillsborough County and complete an in-take process, which requires downloading and completing a form, showing a valid photo ID, providing veterinary records and paying a surrender fee. That fee is $20 per pet with valid pet registration; $40 per pet with no valid pet registration; and $60 for a litter of pets less than 4 months old. If pet owners do not follow this procedure, which takes two weeks, they are charged $125 for testing, vaccination and possible isolation in addition to the surrender fee.”

Memphis, Tennessee

WREG.com reported that authorities had seized 40 dogs found hoarded in the home of a woman who was involved with a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Save Our Shepherds. A neighbor reportedly said that he’d never seen any dogs at the home but had “heard them barking and whimpering and crying.” The director of Memphis Animal Services said, “This is the worst I’ve ever seen …. I walked in last night and saw animals in conditions that you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.” Bonnie Maher-Hazel was reportedly “arrested and charged with neglecting 40 dogs.” Another report revealed that the dogs were “were kept in individual kennels with layers of feces. In one case it was up to a dog’s elbow. Other issues include kennel stress, which typically means the dogs were left in these kennels for extremely long periods of time. Sadly, one dog appears to have chewed off his own tail.” Authorities investigated after a neighbor filed a complaint. It wasn’t known “how long the abuse has been going on.”

Indialantic, Florida

FloridaToday.com reported that a “shootout that resulted in the death of the gunman and left a sheriff’s deputy in critical but stable condition … began as a dispute between neighbors about feeding feral cats.” A resident said, “The cats have been a problem for a while.” The report said that “[f]eeding outdoor cats and programs that ‘fix’ and release unwanted cats—like Brevard County Sheriff’s Office’s animal shelter does—anger some in this neighborhood, as well as some animal advocates. While those practices deter euthanasia, they can result in short, harsh lives for the cats, the critics say. And biologists say maintaining outdoor cat colonies also raises risk of rabies and other diseases that threaten humans and wildlife. Countless birds, amphibians and small mammals pay the ultimate price, they say, in the zeal to reach ‘no-kill’ status for animal shelters.” The county sheriff’s department had reportedly abandoned approximately 2,000 cats in neighborhoods in the community over a three-year period. A resident said, “The return to field policy is just not working,” and another “noted there were especially a lot of cats on the block where the shooting occurred.” LawEnforcementToday.com reported that “the deputy was called to a neighborhood dispute over the feeding of feral cats when one of the men became upset.” He opened fire, hitting the deputy several times. The deputy returned fire, killing the resident.

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in May 2019

Summerville, South Carolina

JournalScene.com reported that two cats had been found in carriers apparently left by a member of the public inside a shed at a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Dorchester Paws. Temperatures in the area were high, at times soaring into triple digits. A volunteer reportedly found the cats after she followed their cries. The group, which receives public funding, requires that an appointment be made at least two weeks in advance and that a $125 surrender fee per animal is paid before it will consider accepting them from the public.

Bemidji, Minnesota

BemidjiPioneer.com reported that “[t]wo sets of cats” had recently been left after closing time outside a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Great River Rescue. One of the cats, who was pregnant, was found in a crate that also contained two apparently stillborn kittens. The group reportedly has a waiting list to accept animals. Its website advises that there is a $50 surrender fee required per animal and that there could be a wait of two months or more before they may be accepted.

Cass County, Indiana

WSBTV.com reported that three cardboard boxes full of cats and kittens had been found sealed shut with duct tape and left outside a turn-away facility doing business as the Cass County Humane Society. Temperatures were warm, and the animals were reportedly “all scared, very hot and panting.” WTHR.com reported that a couple of days later, a dog and cat inside a crate covered with a sheet were found outside the same facility, which was full and charges a $35 fee per animal before it will consider accepting them.

Adams County, Mississippi

MagnoliaStateLive.com reported that a man had been arrested on cruelty-to-animals charges after a kitten was found “beaten and decapitated” outside a turn-away facility doing business as Natchez–Adams County Humane Society. Surveillance footage reportedly “showed a man, believed to be [the suspect], exiting the vehicle and … [apparently] reading the business hours on the door outside of the humane society before returning to his vehicle and pulling it to the side of the driveway. The man reportedly exited the vehicle again with piece of wood that looked like a [two-by-four] and walked to the passenger side and started beating something on the ground next to the vehicle.” A spokesperson for the group said in a 2017 interview that the facility, which is partly funded by tax dollars, uses a waiting list to accept animals and that it becomes backlogged.

Utica, New York

WKTV.com reported that authorities were investigating after video footage showing the conditions at a self-professed “rescue” doing business as Road to Home Rescue Support was shared on social media. The video showed “dozens of dogs, in cages, barking nonstop” in a rented warehouse. The district attorney reportedly said, “Housing 115–118 dogs in cages to me is a problem. But the issue is, there’s no law that prohibits that.” He said that he’d “encourage people who feel there’s a void to contact their lawmakers at every level of government and demand tougher laws, more specific to companion animals.” A later report revealed that the property owner “had no idea [about] the amount of dogs currently being sheltered in the building” and planned to start eviction proceedings against operator Kim Strong. BigFrog104.com reported that authorities had toured the building. The town’s mayor reportedly called what he saw “beyond deplorable conditions” and said that it “brought him to tears.” He reportedly “had to compose himself” before talking to a reporter and saying, “It’s mind boggling that a person who portrayed herself as caring for animals like Kim Strong is even allowed to be around them.” After touring the building, the chief of police reportedly said, “No animal should have to live like this.” Investigators with the district attorney’s office reportedly planned “to visit the facility as well to take video of the conditions for their investigation.” Volunteers were trying to care for approximately 59 dogs who’d been left at the building when Strong had apparently abandoned the property days earlier.

Woodhaven, Michigan

WXYZ.com reported that surveillance footage showed a woman abandoning a cat “in a dark plastic box meant for donations of … supplies” at a turn-away facility doing business as the Woodhaven and Trenton Animal Shelter. The facility advises on its website that a $40 fee is required before it will consider accepting animals from residents.

Romoland, California

DesertSun.com reported that a 7-year-old girl “required 1,000 stitches to reconstruct her face after she was attacked by a Japanese fighting dog” named Tux at a self-professed “no-kill” animal “rescue” doing business as A Passion for Paws Rescue, Inc. She reportedly sustained puncture wounds and “the injuries required three hours of surgery,” according to officials. Potential adopters with children had been encouraged to visit the dog with the following advertisement: “Tux wants to know if you have a kid he can play with? Or, are you a big kid?” An animal services news release reportedly said that the agency was investigating and that a database search found that since 2013, “at least five other serious bites involving dogs at or from this kennel” had been reported. Two of them occurred in 2018. The news release went on to say, “The investigation includes looking into a handful of other serious bites (that) involved dogs from the kennel.” The owner of the “rescue” group reportedly said that Tux “is not aggressive, nor had [he] illustrated any aggressive behavior in the past.” Authorities were seeking a court order to allow for euthanasia of the animal.

Cumberland County, Virginia

NBC12.com reported that an elderly Cumberland County resident had been feeding dozens of homeless cats—he believes the number to be “between high 40s or low 50s”—and was unable to care for them adequately. He said that he’d “called animal control, local vets and other groups but was told their shelters were all full.” Most of the cats had evidently not been sterilized and were breeding, and many appeared ill or injured in the video news report. The man reportedly said that “taking care of all these animals takes up about 60 percent of his day.”

Cañon City, Colorado

TheDenverChannel.com reported that “[m]ore than a half-dozen insiders, including former employees and current and former volunteers,” had alleged cruel treatment of animals at a “no-kill” facility doing business as the Humane Society of Fremont County. Allegations included “warehousing dogs [which] creates unnecessary suffering … and poorly managing dogs [who] go crazy from prolonged stays in a caged environment.” A former employee said, “I worked there for seven months. … I saw the most horrible things. I saw dogs go crazy in their kennels.” Another said that dogs were “being warehoused. … Kept sometimes two years and being hurt in the process.” Video footage showed a dog named Cracker “circling and circling in the kennel and the floor apparently blood-stained from his paws.” One of the former employees said, “He spins and spins in the kennel. He jumps on the chain link fence … he has no nails on the front of his paws, because he rips them out. It’s cruel and inhumane.” Many of those bringing concerns to the public’s attention reportedly said that “the heart of the issue is the shelter’s focus on [its] ‘no kill’ philosophy. They said, at times, that philosophy creates an environment that is inhumane and dangerous for animals.” Colorado’s Department of Agriculture reportedly performed “a surprise inspection” that “confirmed all the accusations raised by the insiders. The inspection uncovered more than a half dozen violations.” TheIndyChannel.com reported that the group’s executive director, Doug Rae, was the former director of Indianapolis Animal Care and Control. He had reportedly been “a polarizing figure in Indianapolis and was fired eight months [after he was hired] …. During his tenure, the Indianapolis city animal shelter experienced slower response times, an increase in overtime pay, and fewer animals impounded, records show.”

Mississippi to Wisconsin

NYPost.com reported that 20 dogs had been found dead in a truck that apparently belonged to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), which “was transporting them from a site in Mississippi to one in Wisconsin, a spokesperson said.” It wasn’t clear where the dogs died or how, but a spokesperson reportedly said that the deaths were “not the result of a car crash.” It wasn’t reported whether authorities were investigating. No additional details were available.

Beryl, Utah

KSL.com reported that “[a]n unknown number of animals” had died in a fire at a residence that was allegedly operating as an animal “rescue.” Cats and dogs were killed in the blaze, which “started in a patio attached to the home,” according to a spokesperson for the sheriff’s department, who also said that the “house is a total loss.” No additional details were available.

Mineola, New York

NYPost.com reported that nine days after he was adopted, a dog acquired from a self-professed “no-kill” organization doing business as North Shore Animal League America died after he was beaten by the adopters. He reportedly died “from a kidney rupture” as a result of blunt force trauma, according to prosecutors. After his death, the couple who adopted him, Jessica Kuncman and Ellie Knoller, reportedly purchased two dogs from a breeder. One was beaten to death three days after he was purchased, and the other sustained serious injuries, including “broken ribs, a forearm fractured in two places and a pulmonary contusion,” according to another adoption group that was providing her with medical treatment. The couple was charged “with over-driving, torturing and injuring animals. Knoller also faces a felony charge of aggravated cruelty to animals.”

Hollywood, Florida

MiamiHerald.com reported that authorities had seized 25 cats and four dogs from a man who said that “he was rescuing the animals from winding up at the Humane Society.” The animals were found on a hot day, “in cages or crates in the back of a U-Haul.” In a report, a police officer reportedly wrote, “I observed four dogs in three cages, two of which were in one cage and did not appear to have room to turn around or comfortably move about …. I observed no water or food accessible to two out of the three cages. Behind the dogs were several cages, which housed several cats and kittens …. I observed one black and white cat in a small carrier with yellow liquid throughout the floor of its carrier and covering the animal head to tail. (Animal Control advised it was a mix of urine, feces, food and water…).” The owner was charged with “29 counts of unlawful animal confinement, 29 counts of causing an animal cruel pain and suffering and 29 county ordinance violations for none of the animals having rabies vaccinations.”

Pasco County, Florida

ABCActionNews.com reported that authorities had seized “nearly 40 dogs and cats” from a self-professed “no kill animal rescue” doing business as the Humane Society of West Florida. The animals had been found in a warehouse that lacked ventilation and air conditioning, according to a witness who assisted with the seizure and said, “That smell was a knockout punch.” He told the outlet that “several animals were being neglected; suffering from cancer, sores, fleas, infections and left in their own feces.” The executive director of the “rescue,” Sharon McReynolds, was reportedly facing “several citations including failure to vaccinate and failure to obtain animal license tags.” The facility had also been operating without a required license for approximately nine months. The owner of the warehouse where the animals were found said that he would not renew a lease with the group. The investigation was ongoing, with possible additional charges to come.

New York, New York

ABC7NY.com reported that a pit bull mix who was adopted from the Animal Care Centers of New York had attacked and badly injured the adopter’s adult son the day after he was brought home to Staten Island. The mother said that “the ACC had told her the dog was not violent in any way.” The animal reportedly “made him fall and that’s when he started attacking him. He went actually for his face.” The man was hospitalized and scheduled for surgery. The dog “was taken to a 24-hour shelter in Manhattan.”

De Soto, Iowa

DelawareOnline.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport had announced that it had “purchased 32 dogs at an auction” who had been bred at “a commercial small-dog breeding facility in Marion County, Iowa.” The state veterinarian had reportedly “confirmed several cases” of a zoonotic disease called canine brucellosis in dogs purchased from the breeder. The dogs bought by the facility were reportedly under quarantine.

El Dorado, Arkansas

ElDoradoNews.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” adoption group doing business as Union County Animal Protection Society was full and not accepting any animals. The facility reportedly had 350 animals crammed into a building with a capacity of only 300 animals. “Imagine walking 350 dogs with only six people (UCAPS staff) every week, or every day,” a volunteer said. “It stresses the animals out … and then that makes them less adoptable.”

Columbia, Maryland

McCall.com reported that authorities had seized 165 animals from a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as the Animal Welfare Society of Howard County. They reportedly “found the animals in poor health and ‘in unacceptable conditions’” after a “citizen had reported a foul odor, overcrowding and ‘a lack of cleanliness’” at the facility. Animals seized included cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds. It wasn’t reported whether criminal charges were being considered.

Fort Pierce, Florida

CBS12.com reported that a volunteer with an animal adoption group doing business as the Humane Society of St. Lucie County had been found “dead in the play area” at its facility. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was blood loss from a dog attack. A pit bull mix was reportedly euthanized after the attack.

Covington, Georgia

AJC.com reported that the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Paws for Hope Rescue/TNR had been “charged with 73 misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty after authorities accused her of keeping scores of animals in unsanitary conditions and running a shelter without a license.” Elizabeth Warbington “surrendered 74 cats and one squirrel to Animal Control inspectors” after they were found living in “conditions with large amounts of accumulated excrement,” according to authorities. Inspectors found that “there was a ‘strong stench’ in the building” and that “food and water was contaminated,” according to the director of animal control. Warbington was reportedly “operating without a Department of Agriculture license or a Newton County business license” and had “previously been issued an order to stop selling cats and kittens by the Department of Agriculture.”

Eastlake, Ohio

Cleveland19.com reported that authorities had seized 63 cats and 34 dogs from a self-professed “no-kill” animal “rescue” doing business as Animal Rescue Center after they were found in conditions described as “deplorable.” Many of the dogs were reportedly “limping on the way out of the building,” and others had to be carried. According to a police report, “Some of these cats were observed to have what appeared to be respiratory issues. The cats would breath[e] through their mouths instead of their nostrils as they would normally do when they are healthy. There were cats [who] had what appeared to be green [pus] surrounding the eyes.” Authorities had reportedly “received several complaints about the conditions at the Animal Rescue Center dating back to 2011, according to a police report. Every time they would do an inspection it had to be announced, which they claim in the report, gave the owner time to ‘clean the establishment or move sick animals.’” An informant reportedly gathered the evidence needed for a search and seizure warrant. The facility’s owner, Nadine Betchel, said that animals were denied food and water during business hours “because we know the animals will be taken in and out of the cages and they will spill it and we have a mess to clean up.” She also said, “You can clean them [cages], but 10 minutes later they’re dirty again. We can’t put corks in their butts.” News-Herald.com reported that a news release issued by authorities said that “there were animals at the rescue center with open wounds, skin conditions, upper respiratory virus, parvovirus, fleas, oral lesions, emaciation and dehydration.” The release said, “It was estimated that 75% of the population was dehydrated, with many of the cages lacking water bowls or having empty water bowls.” The case was ongoing.

Seguin, Texas

DailyMail.co.uk reported that video surveillance footage showed two men “take a dog from the back of their car and push the frightened animal over a 6ft wall” at the Seguin Animal Services Shelter. It was reportedly “believed the dog’s owner may have tried to avoid paying admin fees for leaving [the animal] at the shelter legally during opening hours.” The Seguin Police Department said in a statement, “The Seguin Animal Services does accept owner surrender animals but there is a process to do so. … You are required to reside in the city to owner surrender and there are fees associated with it.” The dog wasn’t believed to have sustained permanent physical injuries.

Shingle Springs, California

TahoeDailyTribune.com reported that authorities had seized nearly 300 animals from a couple who “claimed they were running a sanctuary for unwanted animals.” The animals included “more than 100 dogs and numerous cats, birds, horses, pigeons, ducks, roosters, hens and goats.” In addition, “another 22 dead animals were reportedly found in freezers at the location.” Some animals were reportedly in need of medical care, “especially the dogs.” The residence and a mobile home at the property were “deemed uninhabitable by the county after having been turned into kennels. … Besides the two homes, scattered around the property were numerous tents that held animals, along with pens, sheds, corrals and other structures.” The seized animals were taken to local shelters that became full as a result and had to close temporarily. It wasn’t reported whether criminal charges were being considered. Sacramento.CBSLocal.com reported that hundreds of dogs had been found “stacked in cages with even more outside.” Neighbors told the station that they’d “been complaining about noise, feces, and overall funk for years.” One said, “This has been going on as long as I have been here since 2011.” The owner of the property had reportedly been trying to evict the renters.

Denver, Colorado

KDVR.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Colorado Rescue Tails had surrendered its license to operate after “a state inspector found 12 violations at the rescue involving a lack of paperwork on the dogs’ health, adoptions and foster homes.” State inspectors reportedly said that owner Brianna Stephens “was fined $500 and voluntarily turned in her license.” Two people who had adopted dogs from the group said that the animals hadn’t received veterinary care and treatments that were allegedly included in adoption fees. One of them lacked a microchip and tested positive for heartworm. The group had reportedly imported 32 dogs from Texas before surrendering its license.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

CBC.ca reported that a cat who’d been adopted from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Saving Animals From Euthanasia Team had been beaten and drowned by the adopter’s boyfriend, James Ng. He allegedly told her that “he’d wanted to pet Picasso but the cat had hissed at him. Ng said that made him angry, so he repeatedly hit the cat on the head. Eventually, he took the animal to the bathtub, turned on the tap, held the cat around the neck and forced [Picasso] underwater.” He then tried to drown a second cat, named DaVinci, but the cat “put up a good fight” and escaped from the man. He also admitted to drowning a third cat. DaVinci was returned to the “rescue,” and Ng “pleaded guilty to killing two animals and willfully causing unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to those cats plus one other.” A sentencing hearing was scheduled.

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in April 2019

Flagler County, Florida

FlaglerLive.com reported that authorities had seized 10 dogs and eight cats from a home where they were found in “poor living conditions for any human or animals.” One of the owners, Mackenzi Steele, reportedly worked at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Safehaven Pet Rescue. Cats were found without access to water, and dogs were roaming the neighborhood and in and out of the home. A sheriff’s deputy reported that “fecal matter, urine, and dog food covered across the floors and walls.” According to authorities, “The amount of feces and urine did not happen over several hours. This is several days’ worth of being shut in this home.” Steele and her mother, Staci, were reportedly “served summonses” to respond within 20 days to a civil action “to determine whether they are fit to have custody of the animals, whether they ‘neglected and cruelly treated the animal(s),’ and whether they should pay for the care of the animals while they are being held.”

Dayton, Ohio

WDTN.com reported that a public animal shelter doing business as Montgomery County Animal Resource Center had announced that it would “no longer handle cats effective immediately.” The new policy was apparently implemented to reduce the need to euthanize animals at the facility, which is funded with tax dollars. The report explained that “now the community lacks a quick place to drop cats off.” Private adoption groups in the area would reportedly “have to step up, by appointment only.” A spokesperson for one of them said, “We are a no-kill facility ourselves. So when people have an immediate need, there can be a waiting period, which is frustrating.” The interim director of the public shelter said, “The number one thing people need to understand about the Animal Resource Center is that it is no place for animals.”

Jefferson County, Missouri

KSDK.com reported that a big-box store had suspended an agreement that it had with a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as Open Door Animal Sanctuary to display animals for adoption because it had “‘serious concerns’ about the well-being and care of the shelter’s animals.” According to the report, “Last year, the Missouri Department of Agriculture, which oversees and regulates animal shelters, investigated Open Door and conducted multiple site visits.” The group was reportedly “found to have committed a number of violations pertaining to animal care and record keeping,” including “housing cats and kittens in storage areas [and] a kitten dying without a vet exam.” The group had also reportedly illegally sold an opioid medication to an individual. KMOV.com reported that a “former veterinarian at the facility” had told state investigators that “some of the animals had gone years without a vaccination or veterinary examination” and that “some shelter animals went days without veterinary care.” One cat had reportedly been confined at the “sanctuary” for seven years and wasn’t given a veterinary examination or vaccinations during that time. Additional allegations included workers forging rabies certificates and giving medication obtained for animals to workers after they were attacked by dogs at the facility, which a former employee said “happen[s] all the time.”

Joshua Tree, California

Z1077FM.com reported that authorities had cited the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Moonlight Animal Rescue after they found 100 animals hoarded at her residence. They were reportedly called to the address “for a civil disturbance between roommates. Deputies found 20 to 30 cats in the main living area, as well as cages and animal feces.” The mother of an 18-month-old child at the property “was cited and released at the scene for child endangerment.” The investigation was apparently ongoing.

Port Aransas, Texas

KZTV10.com reported that a dog who had been adopted from a publicly funded selective-admission facility doing business as Corpus Christi Animal Care Services had attacked and injured a woman who was walking on a beach. The dog was reportedly on a leash but managed to cause a “deep bite” that required “several staples to close the wounds.” The report revealed that “[p]aperwork provided by the Corpus Christi Animal Care Services shows that the dog has [a] history of aggressive behavior, as well as biting. . . . Despite the history of aggression, the dog was adopted out once again.” After the recent attack, he or she was reportedly euthanized.

Mineral Wells, Texas

MineralWellsIndex.com reported that authorities had seized “52 dogs and four cats from their wire-caged confines inside a large industrial building” at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as A Pet’s Wish. The animals were found “living in poor conditions. With no electricity or air, the building’s interior had a strong smell one would expect from having a large number of animals inside,” according to a veterinarian who helped with the seizure. The animals had recently been moved to the location from Del Rio (see the February 2019/Del Rio, Texas, entry below), after the “rescue” was evicted amid neighbor complaints about “the stench and noise. When officials investigated, they found dead animals placed in freezers and a litany of unsanitary and poor conditions.” In Mineral Wells, “rescue” operator Katrina Dennis was found to be in violation of city codes, including “occupying a building without an occupancy permit and operating a large kennel without a permit.” After an inspection revealed “a strong smell, too many dogs confined in some cages and enclosures too small for some of the dogs kept in them,” the animals were seized.

Tucson, Arizona

Tucson.com reported that the Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) lacked adoption standards to protect animals released from the agency. The report said the following:

The lack of a firm policy on adopting dogs to homeless people became a hot-button issue after a community member shared her concerns over a situation in which a dog with a medical condition was adopted to a homeless man. The dog was later “saved” by someone, returned to PACC and the homeless man was allowed to adopt another dog, [who] was also returned to the shelter.

At a recent PACC Advisory Committee meeting, “a similar story was shared … detailing a homeless man who wasn’t able to care for his dogs, despite PACC’s outreach efforts.” According to a letter written by a PACC volunteer, “Not everyone is as responsible as the feel-good stories we are told.” It “went on to say that PACC needs to consider the risks to pets, including inadequate medical care or being hit by a car, when deciding whether it’s appropriate to adopt to homeless people.”

Wilmington, Delaware

DelawareOnline.com reported that the remains of an unspecified number of dead cats had been removed from the home of a woman who “lived alone with stray cats she had taken in.” The woman had reportedly been hospitalized in January, after which time the cats had apparently been left without care. The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services was reportedly unable to “determine the number of cats found, due to the condition of the animals.” Neighbors said that they’d been “plagued” by the odor from the home “for months,” and at least one had brought it up at a neighborhood meeting with authorities in February. In 2010, a bill modeled after legislation promoted by “no-kill” extremists, deceptively called the Companion Animal Protection Act, was passed in Delaware. In 2014, a volunteer with an adoption group in the state said, “Delaware law changed several years ago concerning animals, so a lot of the shelters just completely shut down as far as accepting cats.”

Denver, Colorado

The Colorado Veterinary Medical Association released a statement “opposing the no-kill movement” and explaining the following:

Protecting animal health and welfare, preventing and relieving animal suffering, and promoting public health are causes every veterinarian supports. Policies and legislation that remove professional judgement and knowledge in animal welfare and public health are counter to those causes; we cannot and will not support them. . . . The no-kill movement increases animal suffering and threatens public health with unintended consequences:

• Animals in need are turned away from shelters because shelters are not able to meet required live release rates if they are admitted.
• Animals live in cages until they die so shelters can avoid euthanizing them.
• Dangerous dogs are placed in the community or remain indefinitely in shelters because of release requirements.
• Shelters can no longer accept lost or homeless animals from the community because cages are full of behaviorally or medically-challenged animals who cannot be placed in homes.
• Animal welfare is at risk because shelters are beyond capacity-of-care.

Charlotte County, Florida

WINKNews.com reported that authorities had seized 72 animals from a self-professed animal “rescuer” who said that she “was operating an animal rescue organization out of her home.” The animals were “found living inside a home in deplorable conditions. The floors of the house were covered in urine and feces. Cats, pigs, reptiles, hamsters, rats, mice and a dog were seized. The [animals’] health issues range from significant to critical.” The majority of approximately 30 cats found were reportedly sick with a contagious condition. The owner, Elizabeth Smock, had been charged with cruelty to animals in 2015 while operating a self-professed “rescue” doing business as Every Creature’s Salvation (see the August 2015/Port Charlotte, Florida, entry below) but was reportedly found not guilty. It wasn’t reported whether charges would be pursued in the recent case.

Montgomery County, Tennessee

TheLeafChronicle.com reported that a judge had dismissed a lawsuit brought against the county and three individuals by a self-professed animal “rescuer” after 15 dogs were removed from her residence. The plaintiff, Cindy Leeann King, had reportedly been “a volunteer working with Chinese Shar-Pei Rescue Inc.” and “also volunteered at the Montgomery County Animal Control shelter” when she was arrested on an outstanding bench warrant after she was stopped for speeding. She reportedly called and asked someone to check on 15 dogs at her residence. The individual said, “When I opened the back door to the residence, my husband and I immediately gagged, and we recoiled from the pungent smell of decaying feces and urine emanating from inside the residence.” Court documents reportedly revealed that “[i]nside, the house was in disarray, and it was impossible to walk without stepping on animal waste .… The dogs had no access to food, and several had no access to water. One was in a cage, and one was later found trapped in an upstairs bedroom with no water.” Authorities were called, and it was “determined the dogs were in need of medical attention and were living in a ‘biohazard environment.’” The animals were seized, and King was reportedly told later that she could reclaim them after paying the cost of their care, which she said that she couldn’t afford. The report said, “U.S. District Judge William Campbell Jr. found that the officers were justified in entering the home and taking custody of the dogs. The court also found that animal control acted properly in holding the dogs and later adopting them out. The case was dismissed.”

Dover, North Carolina

WCTI12.com reported that authorities had seized nearly 300 animals from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as I Will Carry You Animal Sanctuary. “Dogs, goats, pigs, birds, roosters, horses, snakes and more” had reportedly been seized from conditions described as “disgusting.” At least one dead animal was found on the property. The county sheriff reportedly said “that some of the puppies sold by the nonprofit had died from the parvovirus” and that horses at the property had been found in “bad shape.” “Rescue” owners Deborah and Cori Hall faced misdemeanor charges, and additional charges were reportedly pending. USNews.com reported that the sheriff “said the animals had no water and hadn’t been vaccinated” and that “most of the dogs were living in barrel-shaped shelters with no straw or bedding.”

Ulster, New York

DailyFreeman.com reported that a man was attacked by a pit bull two days after adopting her from a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as Ulster County SPCA. The 71-year-old was reportedly outside his residence when it happened and was taken by ambulance to a medical center. The dog was returned to the group. A spokesperson said that “[t]his is an example of a dog being a dog” and that the group may put the animal up for adoption again.

Cleveland, Ohio

WKYC.com reported that authorities had seized “approximately 18 or 19 dogs” from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Live, Love, Rescue. A former volunteer for the “rescue” reportedly “described as many as 30 dogs, at one point, living in cages stacked on top of each other in the small home, and not let out to use the bathroom. She says dogs were constantly barking and exhibiting high stress. Windows were blocked to keep people from seeing the dogs if they heard barking.” A neighbor reportedly said that “she had complained about the smell and sanitary concerns to police and the health department, but nothing was ever done.” Another was concerned because no one ever saw the dogs outside being walked. The investigation was reportedly “in its initial stages,” and no additional details were available.

KTNV.com reported that the Nevada attorney general was investigating a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) for a “massive misuse of money [that] was meant for the animals, but instead … [had] been used for personal expenses by board president Kathy Jung.” Jung reportedly “had an NSPCA debit card and used it to spend more than $148,000 in 2018 alone at places like the PGA store, Pier One, Cost Plus, Michael Kors, Ulta, and Sketchers, among others.” According to the complaint, she “also made ATM withdrawals and got cash back on a number of purchases. She wrote $14,300 in checks from the petty cash account in 2018—all payable to cash and all signed and endorsed by her with no receipts or backup documentation.” In addition, “more than $26,000 was spent in 2018 for meals, travel, and entertainment—an increase of over 3,000 percent from the previous year.” Financial records from the shelter “also prove Jung wrote multiple checks to her boyfriend, Scott Reber—who works at a local car dealership .… In total, Jung’s boyfriend received more than $52,000 with almost every check signed only by Jung and no backup invoices.” After the group’s board of directors had been made aware of the “escalating non-animal related spending,” five members reportedly “allowed Jung to remain on the board.”

Warren, Ohio

Vindy.com reported that a 5-year-old girl required hospitalization and plastic surgery after she was attacked by a 90-pound American bulldog mix her family had adopted the previous day from a public animal shelter doing business as Trumbull County Dog Warden and Kennel. The girl’s father reportedly said that the family “thought we were doing a good deed to rescue the dog from the Trumbull County Dog Pound, and they told us on the paperwork he was great with everyone. The next day, he just mauled her.” The dog was reportedly placed under a 10-day quarantine and scheduled to be euthanized after that.

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in March 2019

Cordova, Tennessee

WMCActionNews5.com reported that authorities had seized more than two dozen animals from the home of a self-professed animal “rescuer.” They included 17 cats, one of whom was found dead, and a dog from inside a single-family home and eight cats found in a shed. According to an affidavit, “many of the animals appeared to be suffering from respiratory, skin, and eye infections” and the animals in the shed “had no heat, air or ventilation.” An animal services spokesperson said of the home, “Pretty much every surface was covered in feces or urine .… In some places the feces was up to about an inch thick.” The homeowner, Charlotte Creasy, was charged with 26 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals. In 2014, she was reportedly “cited for animal abuse and neglect after Tipton County animal control seized nearly 100 cats from inside a former deli on Highway 70. Investigators said she claimed to be running a rescue organization. WMC5 uncovered court documents that show she plead guilty and was found guilty on three counts of cruelty to animals in the case. The charges were suspended under special conditions—Creasy could not manage or supervise any animal rescue, but she could volunteer and own pets.”

Mount Clemens, Michigan

Freep.com reported that authorities had seized 88 cats, a dog, and a fish found hoarded at the home of a woman who “claimed to be running a sanctuary.” The animals were reportedly “found during an eviction process.” An animal control spokesperson said that “a lot of the cats need medical attention .… Some were very thin and may have upper respiratory infections and intestinal parasites.” Following the seizure, the public shelter was reportedly full of cats and wouldn’t accept any more. The investigation was ongoing.

Niceville, Florida

WEARTV.com reported that authorities had seized more than 100 animals from a self-professed animal “rescue shelter” in Niceville, doing business as Danny’s DogHouse. “Dogs, cats, squirrels, and a possum” were reportedly seized after they were found “in a dark room squished together in cramped quarters.” A spokesperson for a group assisting with the seizure said, “It was very dark back there, even at two o’clock in the afternoon . . . . Most of them are underweight. We’ve got one dog that has a very large tumor on [his or her] side. We’ve got another dog that is urinating blood. We’ve got some body injuries on them.” Reportedly, “the room was filled with cobwebs and the dogs were lying in urine and feces.” Many of the dogs were reportedly “matted and had skin or eye conditions.” NewsHerald.com reported that “[s]ome of the dogs … showed signs of malnutrition, and some had mites on their skin. … [A] couple were urinating blood, one had a noticeable tumor and another was unable to stand up.” A veterinarian at an animal hospital next to the property reportedly “said she had not seen the owner bring the dogs outside in weeks.” She said, “We’ve known from some time there were serious abuses happening here .… We tried to report him anonymously several times, and that didn’t work.” A week before the raid, NWFDailyNews.com reported that 21 dead animals had been found at an associated property in Crestview. The report revealed that “[n]ine dogs, six cats and two rabbits were found in a garbage can in various stages of decomposition. Another four dead dogs were found wrapped in blankets in the treeline. . . . The man who was at the house said he is moving the Danny’s Dog House shelter to the [Niceville] address.” The discovery led to the search and seizure at the Niceville property.

Statesman.com reported that the Austin Animal Center had “reached critical capacity and is running out of space to hold animals.” A spokesperson for the facility said that it had “taken in nearly 100 animals in the past two days and has had to convert a conference room into kennel space to house a surplus of medium-sized and large dogs over the past six months. Staff members also are holding dogs in offices and were preparing to turn another conference room into kennel space.”

Dallas, Texas

WFAA.com reported that former UFC Middleweight Champion Frank Shamrock was under investigation after allegedly tying a dog to a truck and abandoning her at an airport. She was found five days later. Shamrock said that he had traveled to the area to help his ailing mother move and that she was unable to take her two dogs with her. He found a home for one of them but “claimed he tried to find a shelter or someone to take” the second dog but was unsuccessful. After she was found, she was taken to a public animal shelter. KSAT.com reported that Shamrock said he had called “every shelter and no kill pet center within 200 miles” but that none would accept the older dog. She had reportedly since been adopted.

KKTV.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as PAWS for Life had “relinquished its license to operate the city and county animal shelter amid a state investigation into shelter conditions and high number of animal deaths.” State inspectors had reportedly found repeated violations of animal-protection regulations at the public facility doing business as Community Animal Services of Pueblo, including the following:

• Overcrowded living areas for cats . . .
• Untimely care for animals (Commissioners specifically referenced a case where a dog was hit by a car, did not receive care for several days, and died on the fifth day.) . . .
• Staff was not cleaning and disinfecting enclosures and cages as required.
• Healthy animals were sharing living spaces with animals being treated for/or suspected to have communicable illnesses. . . .
• Several animals appeared to be neglected, in that they need veterinary care and had not been seen. Some were in poor condition/distress due to their ailments, yet records showed they had gone days or weeks without care.

Fourteen animals had reportedly died at the facility in the less than the two months that PAWS had been contracted to operate it. Chieftain.com reported that it had received confirmation from the facility that during the contract, PAWS had also turned away “at least one resident with a severely injured cat.”

Manatee County, Florida

ABCActionNews.com reported that a 6-week-old kitten was in critical condition after a publicly funded animal shelter turned him away. A spokesperson for the Manatee County Animal Services facility said, “For owner surrender, we require an appointment to take those.” Surveillance footage showed that after they were turned away, the couple who had taken him to the shelter left the kitten in the parking lot. He was found hours later with severe injuries sustained when he was run over in the lot. “He basically has a crushed skull,” said the spokesperson. He was “under 24-hour care” and would require “surgeries and rehabilitation” if he survived. MySuncoast.com later reported that the kitten “had trouble maintaining his body temperature over the weekend” and died inside a cage.

Cape Coral, Florida

NBC-2.com reported that it wasn’t known what had happened to four pit bulls who were given to a woman who allegedly agreed to drive them to Iowa for a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Helping Paws 22. The group had reportedly obtained the dogs from area open-admission animal shelters and paid a woman $1,250 to drive them to an adoption group in Iowa. The group’s president said, “She basically took the funds, took the four dogs, and refused to give their location or return them.” The president “said the dogs are microchipped and have been marked as stolen.” The woman who allegedly agreed to transport the dogs had reportedly been arrested before and had previously been “charged with credit card theft, grand theft in the 2nd degree and organized fraud.”

Elk Grove, California

SacBee.com reported that authorities had seized 58 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Elk Grove Animal Rescue, which reportedly “also operates under the names Davis Rescue and Rehabilitation and Davis Animal Rescue.” Authorities said the animals had been “left … without proper care for 48 hours” and that “[s]everal puppies at the site tested positive for parvovirus.” When animal services workers entered a barn at the property the previous month, they reportedly found that “it had a strong odor of urine and feces, dogs of both sexes and various ages were not separated, and the animals had gone without food or water for 24 hours.” The report stated, “The dogs immediately rushed to the water bowls and drank excessively for approximately two minutes .… “[Authorities] observed a large Pit Bull dog inside a plastic crate that was not large enough for the … dog to turn around in, [his or her] head was crouched inside, and [the dog] was unable to extend [his or her] tail.” Puppies found appeared sick and dehydrated. “At least one died before receiving treatment, and at least one puppy had to be euthanized after not responding to treatment and continuing to suffer with parvovirus,” according to the report. The group’s owner, Krista Mitchell, had reportedly been “served a temporary restraining order by her landlord … [after she] failed to pay rent and did not clean up after her dogs.” Eviction proceedings were reportedly ongoing. It wasn’t reported whether criminal charges were being considered.

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

PoconoRecord.com reported that an injured dog had been left outside in freezing temperatures overnight at a turn-away adoption facility doing business as Camp Papillon Animal Shelter. The dog was found in the morning “frigid and frightened” and tied to a bench, which had been turned over. The kennel manager said, “He was really distressed, and we discovered he had a really bad head wound. We weren’t sure what happened, but there was really pronounced swelling, and it looked possibly infected.” He was taken to a veterinary hospital, where “veterinarians were able to clean and treat the puss-filled [sic] abscess found above the dog’s right eye.” The manager said that the group only accepts animals after an appointment has been made and the facility has determined that they’re considered “safe and placeable.”

Pompano Beach, Florida

PointPubs.com reported that a pit bull mix who had been adopted from a “humane society” had escaped from his home and attacked and killed a cat who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision. According to a police report, the dog, acquired approximately one year before, had also recently attacked and injured or killed an opossum. When the cat’s owners heard her screaming, one of them ran outside and tried to stop the attack but said she was “almost severed in half.” The dog had reportedly been returned to the group twice before the current owner adopted him or her. Authorities fined the owner $250. 

Virginia Beach, Virginia

PilotOnline.com reported that authorities had seized 100 dead and 25 live cats from the home of a self-professed animal “rescuer” and that criminal charges were pending against her. In 2009, 60 dead and 60 live cats had been removed from the custody of the same woman, Lisa D. Ross. At that time, her attorney reportedly “told reporters [his client] ran a cat rescue and was licensed to keep a large number of felines.”

Becker County, Minnesota

ValleyNewsLive.com reported that four kittens had been found abandoned in the snow, taped inside a plastic tote outside a turn-away facility doing business as Humane Society of the Lakes. They were reportedly showing “signs of distress” and “were shivering and scared.” An adult female cat was later found in the snow nearby and appeared to be the kittens’ mother. The limited-admission facility was reportedly full and had a waiting list before it would consider assisting homeless and unwanted animals.

Gratiot County, Michigan

TheMorningSun.com reported that the Gratiot County Animal Control Shelter was scheduled to “go from an ‘open admission’ facility to ‘limited admission,’ which means not all animals will be accepted by staff.” The county facility would reportedly stop accepting many animals beginning April 1, including “feral cats, kittens and puppies that weigh less than two pounds or are eight weeks old or younger, pot belly pigs, gravely ill or injured animals, birds and water fowl.” Workers would also reportedly “have the discretion to refuse any animal, other than dogs.” The policy change was aimed at “reduc[ing] the number of animals that have to be euthanized.”

Olancha, California

KIBSKBOV.com reported that authorities had seized approximately 160 animals from a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as Wild Burro Rescue and Preservation Project. Animals included “burros, mules, horses and other livestock suffering from varying degrees of long-term neglect. Several animals had hooves so overgrown that they curled under and continued to grow backwards toward the hind legs; many were unable to stand, and reaching food and water was difficult.” Six burros were in such bad shape that they had to be euthanized. Owner Diane Chonto “was taken into custody and booked for felony animal cruelty.”

Des Moines, Iowa

DesMoinesRegister.com reported that the state’s attorney general had filed a lawsuit against “four Iowans masquerading puppy-mill puppies as rescue animals and selling them for as much as $3,600 each.” The four were accused of “violat[ing] the state’s consumer fraud act, among other abuses.” Reportedly, “[t]he state seeks to shut down their operations, Hobo K9 Rescue and JAK’s Puppies … and Rescue Pets Iowa. … The state also seeks $40,000 in fines for each violation of the state’s consumer fraud act.”

Los Angeles, California

TheEpochTimes.com reported that authorities were investigating after a dog who had been adopted from an unnamed animal shelter was found six months later. The animal was “starving, had multiple infections, was missing his lower jaw, had broken and missing teeth, and had maggots in his chest area. His fur was matted and caked with feces and dried urine.” A spokesperson for an adoption group that took him in said, “When we shaved him, maggots were found crawling all through and over his chest and belly, and he had scalded urine stains.” Records apparently obtained from the shelter that adopted him out showed “that in September 2018, he had an intake exam that listed severe dental disease, ear infections, and multiple cysts, but was then given an exit exam that same day. It is unknown what happened to him.” He was being treated.

Roseville, Michigan

DetroitNews.com reported that authorities had seized 33 dogs from a garage at a cemetery where they had been warehoused in cages by a self-professed animal “rescuer.” A police spokesperson reportedly “said the dogs were being held in bad conditions and were in need of immediate attention.” Authorities were told by the “rescuer” that “she was running a rescue in Oakland County.” WXYZ.com later reported that an additional 10 dogs had been found and seized from the woman. Before and after photos of one of the dogs were published, and a veterinary hospital where he was treated wrote the following on its Facebook page:

Photos could not even do justice for how bad this little guy looked and smelled. He was covered in feces and urine from his ears, to his eyes, to his entire body. … [H]e was so bad that we had to put him under sedation to begin removing all his hair. He was dehydrated, loaded with hook worms, and just plain sick from being so filthy. He is missing a foot and we do not know how that occurred.

A police spokesperson reportedly said that a citation would be issued “concerning unlicensed kennels.” It wasn’t reported whether criminal charges were being considered.

Temperance, Michigan

WTOL.com reported that at least six puppies had died and “[d]ozens of other dogs have endured painful—and expensive—bouts with [parvo] or infestation with worms or other parasites” after they were adopted from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Northbound Hound. The deaths and illnesses had occurred “since the shelter opened in May.” One adopted puppy had been kept in a cage at the adopter’s home. The adopter said that when she “opened up the garage door to come in the house, I knew something wasn’t right.” She said, “There was an awful smell .… I opened up the crate, and she was covered with her diarrhea and vomit.” The puppy was reportedly diagnosed with “an extreme strain of parvo and spent a week in the hospital, racking up close to $10,000 in bills.” Another dog began vomiting so violently when she was taken home that the adopter said it seemed like she “was on the verge of vomiting up her intestines.” The dog was returned to the “rescue” and died days later. Concerned residents reportedly told the outlet that “Michigan should be doing more, including holding shelters accountable for selling sick dogs or educating the public about the risks of buying a ‘rescue’ puppy.”

Jacksonville, Florida

FirstCoastNews.com reported that a pit bull mix who was being fostered for a self-professed “no-kill” adoption group doing business as Jacksonville Humane Society had attacked and killed a Chihuahua named Peanut who was being walked on a leash at a condominium complex. Peanut’s guardian said, “She was crying, she was in so much pain, I can only imagine because I [can] feel [pain from] some [of the] bites on me, but I wasn’t the one ripped wide open.” A neighbor reportedly tried to help stop the attack by “jump[ing] on top of the dog while another person punched the dog in the face.” Peanut was rushed to a veterinary hospital, where she died. The foster dog was returned to the adoption group for a required quarantine period. The condominium complex reportedly didn’t allow dogs weighing more than 20 pounds at the property and “the homeowner’s association says they are cracking down on their pet policy and that could mean evictions.”

Sumter, South Carolina

Live5News.com reported that four Chihuahuas had been thrown over a 9-foot-high fence after hours at the Sumter SPCA, which states on its website, “Financial contributions are requested from individuals who bring the animals to the shelter to help defray operational expenses.” Two of the dogs escaped the fenced area and were hit and killed by cars. The other two were being treated. One had sustained “a few scratches from being thrown over the fence,” and the other tested positive for heartworm. The survivors were reportedly “extremely frightened from the ordeal.”

Moline, Illinois

WQAD.com reported that the operations coordinator of Rock Island County Animal Care & Control had said that animals adopted from the shelter were routinely found on social media sites “for sale a few days later.” It was described as “an ongoing problem.

Kansas City, Missouri

KMBC.com reported that a puppy had been left after hours tied to a fence post in freezing temperatures at a turn-away facility doing business as KC Pet Project. The report said, “The problem of animals being dumped outside the shelter has been happening over and over again. One puppy was left under a bench and out of sight.” The facility requires fees and appointments, among other requirements, before animals will be considered for admittance.

Sharonville, Ohio

WCPO.com reported that a woman had been arrested and charged with cruelty to animals after a dog she adopted from a self-professed animal “rescue” group doing business as Peppermint Pig Animal Rescue was found abandoned in a cage behind an animal shelter. When he was found, he was reportedly “malnourished and dying” and covered with sores. The adopter “admitted to leaving him in his cage most of the day.” In response to the case, the group was allegedly “now requiring a more detailed veterinary history and background check for applicants, asking new questions and checking with even more personal references.” The dog was being treated.

Lubbock, Texas

LubbockOnline.com reported that the owner of six pit bull mixes who attacked and killed an elderly woman named Johnnie Garner had tried to surrender them to a publicly funded animal shelter doing business as Lubbock Animal Services (LAS) days before the attack. The owner “reportedly showed investigators his call logs that showed he called the service two days before the attack on Garner to arrange a time for him to drop off the animals.  … He was told he needed to make an appointment to drop off the animals and the earliest time would have been the morning of March 1.” Garner was attacked on February 27 in her backyard: “The dogs tore portions of her leg, exposing various tissue, tendons and bones .… She also suffered puncture wounds all over both of her arms, on the back of her left leg near her thigh and puncture wounds to the back of her neck,” according to an arrest warrant. The dogs had also attacked a neighbor and killed a dog in the neighborhood before the day they attacked Garner. When the owner called LAS, he reportedly explained to the agency that “he could not care for them and keep them secure.” The dogs were euthanized after the attack, and the owner was arrested and “faces a count of attack by dog causing serious bodily injury, a second-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 20 years in prison. However, prosecutors plan to use a previous conviction to enhance White’s punishment range, if he is convicted, according to the arrest warrant.”

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in February 2019

Helena, Montana

KTVQ.com reported that two cats had been abandoned during business hours in the snow outside a turn-away facility doing business as Lewis and Clark Humane Society. It was reportedly 17 degrees outside at the time. The cats were found within 10 minutes and didn’t sustain any injuries. The facility reportedly charges an admission fee of $25 per animal.

Leawood, Kansas

FOX4KC.com reported that authorities were searching for a dog who had escaped from a home where he or she was being fostered for a self-professed animal “rescue” group doing business as Unleashed Pet Rescue and Adoption. The dog was one of a group of 26 who had been imported by the group from Egypt, one of whom had since tested positive for rabies. State health officials were trying to locate all the dogs in order to quarantine them.

San Antonio, Texas

KSAT.com reported that authorities had seized at least 23 animals from a self-professed dog “rescuer” after they were found in “deplorable conditions” at her home. Investigators reportedly “found dogs of varying ages, including 15 puppies … kept without food, water or shelter.” Some dogs were kept outdoors without access to shelter when the weather had been cold and rainy. Others were found in filthy conditions inside the home. One dog was discovered in a cage “along with what [investigators] believe are the remains of a small dead animal.” The “rescuer” was arrested on unrelated outstanding warrants and was facing charges of cruelty to animals. MySanAntonio.com reported that the suspect “fosters dogs for a rescue organization.” The organization’s name wasn’t reported.

Jacksonville, North Carolina

JDNews.com reported that state authorities had denied a facility license to a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Ruby’s Misfits Animal Rescue. The group’s codirectors reportedly said that “[t]hey were given a list of upgrades, repairs, and other specifics” but hadn’t made any improvements to the building. A spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture said, “We basically told them that they are not allowed to operate a shelter.” Later, the agency was alerted by local officials “that a large shipment of animals was coming in from out of state” and was going to be housed at the unlicensed building. When state inspectors visited, “they found animals inside the building in crates and without water, with heaters set up nearby.” One of the group’s codirectors said that the dogs would be farmed out to foster homes and that all the “dogs are housed this way until they are adopted.”

Norwalk, Iowa

WHOTV.com reported that three pregnant goats and two cats had died in a fire at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Shangrala Horse & Animal Rescue. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Fort Worth, Texas

DFW.CBSLocal.com reported that a 5-month-old puppy who’d been adopted in November from the Fort Worth Animal Shelter (which “has been focused on increasing its animal shelter live release rate,” according to the city’s website) had been returned in February emaciated, bleeding, and unable to walk. He was so starved that he had to be “given food every four hours and has an IV.” In addition, he “was covered in mange and his eyes were so infected he couldn’t open them.” He was infested with internal and external parasites, and the adopter reportedly told shelter staff that she hadn’t provided the animal with any care since the adoption. An investigation was undertaken.

Citrus County, Florida

ChronicleOnline.com reported that two dogs who had escaped from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Out of the Box Animal Rescue had attacked and killed eight goats at a neighboring property. The goats’ owner said, “It was like a killing field.” Authorities were called and reportedly had to sedate one of the dogs in order to contain him or her. The dogs had been released to the “rescue” by the county-run animal shelter after they’d been “in and out of the system” for years. According to the facility’s director, before being released to the “rescue,” they had been adopted and returned to the county shelter at least three times, the final time after biting someone and exhibiting “aggressive tendencies.” The “rescue” and its owner, Robert Schweickert Jr., has a long list of run-ins with law enforcement and the courts, according to the report, and had allegedly chained another dog released by the county shelter to a wall, where she hanged and choked to death. (See the May 2018/Citrus County, Florida, and the January 2018/Citrus County, Florida, entries below.)

Cokato, Minnesota

FOX9.com reported that 14 hours after he’d been adopted, a dog from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as K9 Rescue and Rehoming died of parvo. Two additional complaints had reportedly been filed against the “rescue” and its operator, Mandy DuChaine, alleging that “dogs adopted were ‘underweight’, ‘unhealthy’ and that DuChaine had ‘misrepresented the health’ of one of the animals.” A woman told a reporter that she was fostering a dog for the group who had been given to her in a parking lot and was pregnant, which hadn’t been disclosed. According to a humane society investigator, “[T]here are some 500 animal rescues in Minnesota, and generally, while many are good, there’s no regulation or oversight.” He said, “[A]t some point the money, the profit from the puppy sales starts creeping in. They start sacrificing environmental conditions for profit margin and things go downhill from here. They hide behind the guise of they’re a rescue, how can they be doing anything bad.” According to the report, K9 Rescue and Rehoming had claimed on its website and brochures that it was a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, “but FOX 9 checked with the IRS and discovered the group’s non-profit status was revoked two years ago.” After a reporter questioned DuChaine, the claims were reportedly removed.

AustinChronicle.com reported that in a bid to proclaim that it’s “no-kill,” the Austin Animal Center “is always filled to capacity.” The article said that because of “a shortage of kennel space and a surplus of dogs, shelter staff has been forced to find any and all ways to house the animals left over. In addition to playrooms and conference areas, dogs can also sometimes be found in staff offices or left waiting in animal control trucks.” Work had reportedly begun on yet another expansion of the facility. Longtime volunteers had filed complaints with city officials, including allegations that “[c]onditions at the shelter, for both humans and animals, continued to deteriorate, as volunteers began to report being suspended or terminated, sometimes after years of service, in what they viewed as retribution for speaking out.” The article stated that they’ve “raised questions about troubling adoptions, kennel conditions, and shelter practices, including a perceived failure to appropriately enforce the department’s spay/neuter requirements.” Dogs were reportedly “not getting regular exercise (a major stressor) … [and] some weren’t even getting appropriate bathroom breaks.” A volunteer testified that “[l]eaving dogs isolated in those conditions leads to longer stays … thus forcing the shelter to get creative and perhaps cut corners in its adoption tactics, with dogs and cats being placed in homes quickly and at a reduced or waived fee.” A volunteer said that “overcrowding does create the impetus for what I would consider ‘cleaning house’ events, zero-cost adoptions that do have recidivism as it relates to returns of dogs.” Such “cleaning house” events included “the recent, cringe-worthy ‘$5 Footlong Adoption Day’ for animals at least 12 inches long.” Former Interim Assistant City Manager Sara Hensley reportedly “acknowledged that the $12 million Austin Animal Center was never designed to sustain no-kill. Often, every single available kennel is full, some containing two (compatible) dogs.”

Middletown, Connecticut

MiddletownPress.com reported that after a resident had been turned away from the Waterford branch of the Connecticut Humane Society (CHS), a surveillance camera had captured him abandoning the animal in a cage at a sports complex. Police began investigating after a parks and recreation employee found the cat and reviewed video surveillance footage from the previous night. The animal had been outside overnight when temperatures dipped to 20 degrees. After stills from the footage were publicized, a witness came forward “to report that [the resident] had unsuccessfully tried to surrender the cat” to CHS before abandoning the animal. He was charged with cruelty to animals.

Del Rio, Texas

SanAngeloLive.com reported that authorities had found 78 dogs and 23 cats hoarded at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as A Pet’s Wish. Two months after purchasing a building and leasing it to the group, the owner said that he “began receiving calls from concerned Del Rioans about the poor conditions at the shelter.” A neighbor said that she’d complained to city officials in 2017, expressing concerns “about the animals’ health and safety,” parasite infestations created by the horde of animals, and a malodor at the property that “permeates our residences and vehicles parked nearby.” She also “observed multiple dogs caged in kennels that were too small and in metal cages vulnerable to lightning strikes.” The group was evicted from the property, where the owner said that he found dogs “‘housed’ in enclosures measuring 4’x4′.” The man “produced photos of three dogs in this size enclosure.” He said that “[a]nimals were not being cared for. Some were caged for up to three years.” An unspecified number of dead puppies were found in a freezer that “had been unplugged for days before the discovery.” Many animals were sent to other adoption groups. It wasn’t reported whether criminal charges were being considered.

Astatula, Florida

DailyCommercial.com reported that a resident was allowed to adopt a Tosa (a dog bred for fighting) from a publicly funded, self-professed “no-kill” shelter doing business as the Lake County Animal Shelter to be used as a guard. The adopter said that when she got the dog home, she chained him “on a steel chain in her yard.” She then let another dog she owned, a Chihuahua, into the yard, where the Tosa attacked and killed him. The adopted dog then escaped from the yard and attacked another dog who was being walked on a leash. That dog’s owner said that he was knocked down and that his dog was “like a folded rag” in the Tosa’s mouth: “He was just squealing; it was the worst sound in the world.” He reportedly “tried to fight the dog off with a citrus wood walking stick, which snapped in the process.” Then “a neighbor came out and started hitting the attacking dog with a shovel.” Because he was badly injured and dangerous, he was euthanized. The adopted dog’s “bio provided by the shelter said he ‘should not be around cats at all,’ though it didn’t mention small dogs. That document described him as ‘friendly on intake and seeking attention from staff,’ ‘easy to handle,’ and ‘has a happy demeanor and appears to be soft and wiggly.’” The surviving dog required emergency surgery and “now has stitches and a drain in his neck. He’s on a pain killer, which renders him aloof. To avoid infection, he’s also on two antibiotics.”

Clinton, New York

WKTV.com reported that a resident had seen two kittens thrown from the window of a car behind a store. He was able to capture one of them, but the other one ran off. He took the kitten to an animal hospital and adoption group, and a trap was set for the missing kitten. The group’s director said that another cat had recently been admitted after a resident had seen the animal thrown from the window of a vehicle in front of her apartment. She said that area shelters were full. “People are getting desperate. They don’t know what to do with cats and they’re just disposing of them,” she said. Authorities had been notified.

Wahkiakum County, Washington

TDN.com reported that authorities had seized approximately 65 animals, including cats, chickens, dogs, goats, and two horses from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Angel Wings Rescue. Many of the animals were reportedly “skinny and appeared to have been neglected.” A sheriff’s department spokesperson said that the agency had “received videos and photos from potential adopters who witnessed animals in poor conditions” at the property, resulting in the seizure. The prosecutor’s office was reportedly “involved in the ongoing investigation.”

Desert Hot Springs, California

KESQ.com reported that federal authorities were investigating suspected financial mismanagement by the former president of a group that professes to be “Southern California’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary,” doing business as Humane Society of the Desert. Former President Malinda Bustos was accused of using the group’s credit cards and bank accounts for luxury items, including “charges made to the Omni Rancho las Palmas, Riviera Palm Springs, Miramonte Resort and La Quinta Resort. Plus St. John, Sunglass Hut Gucci, Planet Beauty, Sephora and Hot Spot Tanning.” Funds were also allegedly spent on cosmetic surgery, and statements reportedly showed “tens of thousands of dollars spent at luxury resorts, stores and restaurants over the course of two or more years.” Evidence reportedly showed “Humane Society funds going toward sushi dinners, and TrueCare cosmetic surgery in Chino Hills to the tune of several thousand dollars a month.” Bustos and her husband, who was also on the group’s board, reportedly “own a $1.3 million, 4.86 acre property north of Phoenix.”

Orange County, Florida

WFTV.com reported that more than 30 animals, including dogs, parrots, snakes, and four giant tortoises, had died in a fire at a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as Second Chance Wildlife Sanctuary. The property reportedly housed “as many as 300 to 350 animals, ranging from dogs and cats to pigs and swans” at any given time, according to firefighters. The cause of the fire wasn’t reported.

Langdon, New Hampshire

NECN.com reported that authorities had seized 26 horses from a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as St. Francis Farm Sanctuary & Rescue. Its owner, Olexandra Beck, had previously voluntarily surrendered nine horses “after state agricultural officials conducted a search warrant at St. Francis and found conditions that were detrimental to the animals’ health.” State and local police responded to continuing complaints by securing a second search warrant and “discovered the remaining horses were receiving inadequate care.” Beck was charged with four counts of cruelty to animals.

New Bloomfield, Missouri

KRCGTV.com reported that residents had staged a protest to bring attention to what they said were inhumane conditions at a self-professed “no-kill” shelter doing business as Callaway Hills Animal Shelter. A former volunteer of nine years at the facility said that “the animals lacked human interaction and socialization.” “Many of them rarely left their cages,” she said. “They would spend their whole lives in a cage.” Another protester said that “the shelter is overpopulated with dogs.” “The real thing that brought us out were the frigid temperatures,” she said. “[I]t took an outside concerned citizen to bring hay or straw in to help prepare them for that.” The owner of the shelter reportedly refused to allow the news crew to film conditions at the property.

Rising Sun, Maryland

CecilDaily.com reported that authorities had seized 34 cats, 26 dogs, two turtles, and a raccoon from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Eden Rehab and Rescue. According to county officials, the animals had reportedly been found at two locations, “living in ‘deplorable conditions,’” including “limited access to fresh water, unkept litter boxes, strong ammonia fumes, and kennels saturated in feces and urine.” The article stated that “[m]any of the animals were found to be emaciated and suffering from hair loss and open sores on their bodies.” A spokesperson for Cecil County Animal Services said, “These animals were in grave need of care. We are anxious to rehabilitate these innocent victims and are committed to protecting them from any future suffering at the hands of a rescue organization that failed them.” The investigation was ongoing, but officials said that “charges of animal neglect are pending against” the founder of the organization, Crystal Romine.

Scappoose, Oregon

KOIN.com reported that the Oregon Department of Justice was seeking the dissolution of two self-professed animal “rescue” groups “for breach of fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment.” State investigators alleged that that the operators of All Terrier Rescue Hunters Crossing, Inc. (ATR), and Rescue Strong Oregon —Samantha Miller and her mother, Jeri Miller—“used adoption fees for personal use, provided false information on state records, and failed to report millions in revenue to the IRS, while misleading adopters.” ATR reportedly “never had a kennel license in Columbia County and rarely complied with record keeping or regulatory requirements.” According to the complaint, “Based on its published reports of its activities, ATR has generated over $7 million in revenue since 1999, but has reported a little over $1 million in revenue in its annual financial reports to the DOJ.” The article states that “[r]ecords show ATR and Rescue Strong agents misrepresent themselves as licensed animal behavior experts or veterinarians and misstate the condition and medical history of the dogs they adopt out.”

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in January 2019

Nashville, Tennessee

WKRN.com reported that “an estimated 20 animals, both personal and foster” had died in a fire at the home of a member of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Nashville Cat Rescue. Fire officials reportedly “believe the fire started near a space heater.” The homeowner said that she also “[h]ad a kerosene heater and a five-gallon jug of kerosene on the porch, and it just exploded like a bomb.” She said all animals at the home had died.

Ocala, Florida

RunnersWorld.com reported that a resident had found a homeless dog along an isolated running trail. She took the animal to a local “humane society” and was told that her owner had been there five or six hours earlier trying to surrender her. Workers speculated that she had then been abandoned on the trail. The woman called another shelter and was told that it was “overflowing” and couldn’t take the dog, who wasn’t spayed. The resident kept her, even though she hadn’t been looking to adopt a dog.

AZFamily.com reported that a pit bull—who had been confined at the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control shelter for approximately one month, was up for adoption, and had “passed all their behavioral testing”—had attacked and badly injured a shelter supervisor. The worker “was bitten on her hand, ankle, side, and thigh,” and another employee had to intervene “to get the dog off of her.” She required surgery, and the dog was reportedly scheduled to be euthanized.

El Paso, Texas

KFOXTV.com reported that four dogs had died during extremely low temperatures after they had been moved to outdoor kennels and a barn built by the city’s Animal Services shelter in an attempt to “save more lives.” Records reportedly showed that one dog had been so sick that he or she had been scheduled for euthanasia but that the director had “held off to see if the medicine the dog was on would take its course.” The shelter director said that in the facility’s “goal of becoming no-kill, [it’s] providing care longer than ever before.” Evidence was apparently not gathered to determine how the other three dogs had died.

Mesa, Arizona

AZFamily.com reported that authorities had seized “12 live dogs and five live cats, all in various health conditions and needing treatment,” from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Tiggy Town Rescue. Investigators also reportedly “found two animal skulls in a bedroom and the skeletal remains of a dog on the living room couch. In addition, six dead dogs were found in a kitchen trash can.” Conditions at the “rescue” were described as “extremely unsanitary,” and the building was condemned by authorities. The owner of the “rescue,” Theresa Deanne Finneren, was facing “27 charges, which include animal cruelty, neglect and intentional cruel mistreatment.” She reportedly told authorities that the dead animals had “died from different causes” and that “a couple of them had died from fighting.” ABC15.com reported that “Finneren reportedly told police that she put the dead dogs in the trash can, but ‘other dogs got into the trash can (and) must have eaten them.’” The stench from the property could reportedly be smelled from the sidewalk.

Orange County, California

VoiceOfOC.org published a column alleging that the publicly funded OC Animal Care shelter had been turning away animals in a bid to increase its adoption statistics. The writer, the founder of a local self-professed animal “rescue” group, said that her group had “received an alarming number of text messages and emails from OC Residents that went to OC Animal Care to surrender their animals recently and were told by OC Animal Care they were not currently accepting owner surrenders.” She claimed that the “new shelter Director Mike Kaviani is attempting to implement … managed intake, where OC Animal Care will schedule all owner surrenders on a wait list.”

Titusville, Florida

WFTV.com reported that authorities had seized three starving horses from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Horse Sisters and Associates, Inc. One of the animals had to be euthanized, and one was in such bad shape that he or she was unable to stand. A veterinarian who examined the two surviving horses reportedly “determined that the horses were suffering from extreme starvation, the worst case she had ever encountered.” “Rescue” owner Clairese Marie Austin was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals.

West Chicago, Illinois

Chicago.SunTimes.com reported that “at least 31 dogs” died in a fire at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as The Bully Life Animal Services. According to Carol Stream Fire District Chief Robert Hoff, many dogs were confined to cages. “Some were tied up, and [it was] just a very, very sad scene,” he said. Three firefighters reportedly had to be “treated for dog bites; two suffered puncture wounds to the hands[;] and another was bitten on the lip.” Hoff also said, “The dogs were fighting each other trying to bite the firemen.” The building, which had reportedly been housing more than “50 pit-bulls along with other breeds,” was “deemed uninhabitable and boarded up.” Twenty-three dogs who were rescued alive were suffering from “a variety of injuries, mostly burns, cuts and bites.” Six dogs escaped. All but one had been found by nightfall.

Georgetown, Delaware

SussexCountian.com reported that 22 cats had been left behind a companion-animal supply store. “A mother cat and her four kittens … were found in a cardboard box. Seventeen adult felines of varying ages were found in a wire crate.” The article noted, “Cat lovers often resort to desperate measures in Delaware, where cats are not afforded the same protections as dogs. According to [the] state’s Animal Services website, only dogs are provided for in animal control contracts with the counties.” A note had reportedly been taped to the store’s front door that read, “Out back is all the babies I can’t find homes for and I have run out of time. I couldn’t just let them go on the street.” A store employee was reportedly working with adoption groups to find homes for the cats.

Highlands County, Florida

BayNews9.com reported that authorities had seized 42 dogs, six cats, and a bird from an abandoned home where they had been hoarded by a volunteer with a self-professed animal “rescue” group doing business as Hardee Animal Rescue Team. Twenty-three dead animals were also found at the home, some “in such advanced states of decomposition that it’s been difficult to determine whether they were cats or dogs.” Some of the animals were reportedly found “in crates stacked three-high in the house’s living room. Others were roaming free in the house, which had no running water,” according to authorities. The volunteer, Jinece Elizabeth Loughry, was charged with 72 counts of cruelty to animals.

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