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Some spend the holiday saving 261 dogs
By David S. Greene
June 1, 2010
Over the Memorial Day weekend, when people surely had all kinds of plans that didn’t include spending the day bathing, feeding and caring for couple hundred neglected dogs in central Florida, that’s precisely what they did. After the Polk County (Florida) Sheriff’s Animal Control office received an anonymous tip that hundreds of dogs were in need at Mid-Florida Retriever Rescue, outside Winter Haven, the call went out. A heartfelt thank-you to dozens of people who gave of their time and resources — including supplies such as dog food, towels, shampoo and ear wash. The Winter Haven News-Chief reports:
Richard Riga, president of Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, was one of the many volunteers who came Sunday to Animal Control headquarters on De Castro Road, west of Winter Haven.”We are here for the dogs,” Riga said. “We saw the plea for help and knew we could offer our assistance. The dogs needed us.”
[...]
Florida Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) volunteer Susan Voight said Sunday’s effort was all for the love of the dogs. “We had volunteers here yesterday, today, and we’ll be here tomorrow if necessary,” Voight said.
The DART group offered medical triage services for the dogs and provided two certified veterinary technicians to help assess the dogs’ conditions. “We work hard to prepare for animal emergencies such as with hurricanes,” Voight said. “And 261 dogs was an emergency.”
The couple who own the now-closed facility has been arrested, with bail set at $130,500. They’re each charged with 261 counts of animal cruelty. The Ledger reports this represents the largest such seizure in Polk County’s history. Let’s hope nothing ever eclipses it.
Want to get fit? Walk a shelter dog: One great thing about having a dog as an exercise partner is that unlike a human workout pal, a dog will never flake. And it doesn’t even have to be your dog. We love this creative program of the Washington Humane Society, which matches federal employees who want to get fit with shelter dogs who need to get out. Kudos to the Fido Blog for highlighting this innovative program.
Harness the power of the parrot: Best in Flock works on harness training a couple of parrots. Parrots are smarter than dogs, but that doesn’t mean they’re easier to train. You gotta go slow, be positive and convince them that what you want them to do isn’t going to hurt … much. Check it out.
Writing that will make you go “hmmm”: I think something may have been put into the water supply in the blogosphere recently, because even more good stuff than usual is turning up:
Pure gold from Kansas City: KCDogBlog has been on a serious roll recently, cranking out some outstanding work. This post is as good as I’ve ever read from him, delving into the growing movement to ban the sale of companion pets at pet stores. I won’t excerpt any of it, as it really needs to be read in its entirety.
Don’t blame the dog? From Carpe K-9, which I (and more importantly, you) should start reading more often.
My brilliant, inspiring, and astute friend Sarah Wilson is, among other things, an author, trainer, teacher, lecturer, student of the human/animal bond, and wise sage when it comes to dogs and people. Her definition for serious aggression is the most succinct way I’ve ever come across to express it.
“When normal life events cause offensive aggression with little or no warning, that dog is not a pet.” ~Sarah Wilson
So, when a dog bites without warning over normal life events, whose fault is it?
This gem is a classic example of a very good post, followed by comments that are even better.
Mr. Winograd’s at it again: First, a followup to a brief blurb I inserted in a newswrap a week ago. I mentioned a post from Nathan Winograd where he extolled the virtues of Rescue Chocolates. All the profits from their yummy products go to animal rescues. I mentioned that I wasn’t taking his word for the quality of the goodies. So I ordered some for myself, strictly for research purposes, of course. The order was placed last Monday morning. On Wednesday afternoon, the box arrived at my door. Nathan, I tip my cap to you. Two thumbs up as well to Rescue Chocolate for making teh yummeh treats that make a difference. Meanwhile, Nathan revisits the recent events that made Austin a no-kill city in his latest post The Real Elephant In the Room.
An unfortunate headline: The Associated Press must have allowed all the good headline writers to take the weekend off, which left us with this: NY man seeking help for stray dog arrested for DWI. Remind me again what the minimum blood alcohol level is for dogs in New York?
I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories. Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.
Photo credits: Polk County volunteers, Pierre DuCharme/NYT Regional Media Group, Looking up, carpek9.blogspot.com
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David- good coverage of the Polk Co. crisis.
Geez, living in FL puts bad taste in my mouth every time the news breaks about another dog cruelty situation.
Comment by ericka — June 1, 2010 @ 12:48 pm
Thanks, Ericka. Although I understand the urge to read this as “oh god, another horrible abuse story” I see this as an uplifting, heartwarming triumph. The reports indicate only 1 out of more than 260 dogs didn’t make it. That’s amazing. And literally dozens of volunteers took time out of their holiday weekends, not just to help but to bring supplies. It wasn’t left to state or local authorities to cope with the ridiculous magnitude of the situation. Regular people pitched in, people who had no stake at all. They didn’t know these dogs, they just heard there was a need. To me that speaks to the power of communities. And even more incredibly, volunteers appeared from as far away as West Palm, Daytona and even Tampa/St. Pete (now that is a hike). To me that’s incredible, and rather than trashing the arrested couple for what they didn’t do for the dogs (the law will handle them soon enough), I take comfort in the good souls who made sure that those dogs lived to see the month of June, and July, and I hope years to come.
Comment by David S. Greene — June 1, 2010 @ 2:00 pm
Thank you to Nathan Winograd and the so many others who have led the no kill movement.
A few years ago I blandly considered no kill shelters to be flop houses for unadoptable dogs.
Here in Des Moines Iowa the shelter still won’t release its kill rate. It is so tiring talking to “dog lovers” who blandly blame the public, which nonetheless gives the shelters several million dollars per year.
Comment by Erich Riesenberg — June 1, 2010 @ 6:47 pm
Know what would really have been humane? If these people would have stepped in to help the dogs and the humans at the same time. What I saw in the paper was that the dogs “were infested with” (could mean 1) flea, had hookworms and whipworms, were in need of dental care - how many owners have dogs with perfect teeth ALL THE TIME? Some were thin. Perhaps they had just come into rescue. The thing people seem to fail to understand about rescue is that dogs come in in bad shape. Were this couple in over their heads? Most likely, perhaps due to the economy, which last I heard had adoptions down across the country. Were they “cruel”? I don’t think so. They were RESCUERS who had placed “hundreds” of dogs all over Central Florida. There was even a letter of support from one of their fosters, which was conveniently left out here. What would have actually been humane would have been if the dogs were helped on site, with a huge adoptathon to reduce numbers, since it looks like there were MINOR problems with the dogs. But that doesn’t sell newspapers nor bring in tons of donations, I guess. Humane does include “human” and not just “dog” or “cat”.
Comment by Kelley — June 22, 2010 @ 8:27 am
“only 1 out of more than 260 dogs didn’t make it. That’s amazing.”
That would be a tribute to how well the original caretakers were actually doing; how AMAZING they were. Where were all these volunteer hands when that rescue shelter needed them? Why did they let a shelter get in such poor shape and then seize instead of working with them? Wouldn’t the volunteers show up JUST to help the rescue group; JUST to help the dogs? Are they only interested when it makes the news and they might get their pictures in the paper and some free PR for them or their groups?
What is heartwarming about volunteers sitting on their keesters until after a seizure before they get motivated to help? If the rescuers had gotten 25% of this help, these dogs would have been just fine where they were. Now there are 2 rescuers in jail who may never help another animal ever and others who will see this as a warning not to try unless you’re perfect which means fewer rescuers and fewer animals saved. This story isn’t heartwarming at all.
It is utterly tragic to see rescuers jumping on the bandwagon to vilify other rescuers who fell short of some ideal standard. Because of these rescuers (not in spite of them), there are 260 dogs still alive (had they gone to the already over crowded shelter straggling in 1 at a time, they would more than likely been PTS as they came in) but there are at least 2 fewer people to help place them or any in the future now.
The county shelter instantly became grossly overcrowded when they seized these dogs and they threatened to PTS dogs to make room for these. Did they? Were dogs at other facilities PTS to make room for any of these dogs or because the volunteers bailed on those dogs to tend these?
2 counties over from this seizure, a dog set up and awaiting transport to rescue was erroneously PTS the weekend volunteers from the area were abandoning their existing volunteer activities to rush to aid with these seized dogs. Do I think the lack of those volunteers could have contributed to that PTS? Darned sure do and probably to deaths of many other animals. Oh, goody, these dogs were “saved” when all they needed was a bit of help while others die so these can get glorified attention.
Tell me again how heartwarming it is when people allegedly trying to help animals cannibalize each other’s operations and the result is fewer rescuers and more animals dying.
Comment by PJBoosinger — June 22, 2010 @ 10:32 am
I think you overestimate the enthusiasm people have for getting on TV. And ain’t nothing selling newspapers these days.
These people volunteered to help because they found out there was a problem. They didn’t know there was a problem before. They weren’t “sitting on their keesters [sic]” ignoring the situation while a well-meaning but apparently not well-managed rescue operation failed.
How were these volunteers supposed to know there was a problem? Telepathy?
The typical response to a rescue that goes south is for AC to take the animals (and no, they’re not just dying to jump in and do so) and kill all but the most adoptable because of over-crowding at the municipal facility. That didn’t happen here. The AC folks asked for help and got it, and that’s a trend I’d like to see more of — tapping into the community of animal-lovers.
You seem to want to blame AC for sorting it all out and also trash people who didn’t volunteer when they didn’t know there was a problem. How about the rescuers who got into trouble? Don’t they have some responsibility here?
It’s easy for a rescue group to get overwhelmed. I know: I ran one.
I’m sorry you don’t see people stepping up to help as “heart-warming.” But I do.
Well-run rescues that are not in over their heads have volunteer support they work to get, train and keep. The rescues don’t run on “love” and “martyrdom” — their leaders manage the operation like a good non-profit community resource. If you cannot do this, you shouldn’t be running a rescue — you should be working as a volunteer for someone who CAN manage a group.
Your anger here is misplaced.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 22, 2010 @ 10:58 am
“The typical response to a rescue that goes south is for AC to take the animals “
You’re absolutely right that it is TYPICAL and they apparently are dying to do so are at least willing to kill to do so.
It IS AC’s job to help sort it out and try to get help to a rescue that finds itself in over it’s head; at least it is if the shelter is a “shelter” and not “the pound”. It is precisely because the only help AC (and many of the large NPOs) offers is “turn them over for execution [and that’s if they will take them at all] or we’ll seize them and the same may result” that rescues in over their heads hesitate to reach out for help, to even admit that they need it.
Why isn’t there a network where these people could put out a call for help? Why couldn’t AC have made the same plea without seizing them and risking the lives of animals already in their shelter and other shelters?
The rescue community is very divisive and practically runs on martyrdom and delusions of grandeur. If rescuers would work just a tiny bit on getting over themselves so more animals could be saved, that’d be kinda nice but I don’t expect to live to see it. Everyone has an agenda and it’s rarely saving animals. Even when it is to save animals, it’s “save them my way” or you’re a BAD person and probably an abuser and I think I’ll make an anonymous tip call. The animals who die as a result? Oh, well… I’ve seen it happen over and over and over again. It’s mostly the teen girls who were evil in high school and carry it right on into adulthood.
Gina, it’s sad and you should open your eyes to what is really going on out there.
Comment by PJBoosinger — June 22, 2010 @ 1:41 pm
“It’s mostly the teen girls who were evil in high school and carry it right on into adulthood.”
Comment by PJBoosinger — June 22, 2010 @ 1:41 pm
It’s odd, isn’t it, that totally uncalled for, unrelated, untruthful, hateful comments like this turn one’s entire comment into a whole bunch of “blah blah blah”.
Comment by K.B. — June 22, 2010 @ 2:57 pm
Gina, it’s sad and you should open your eyes to what is really going on out there.
Comment by PJBoosinger — June 22, 2010
Well, maybe you should open your eyes, frankly. While it’s very true that there are a lot of rescuers who badmouth other rescuers, rescuers who badmouth breeder, breeders who badmouth rescuers, shelters who trash other shelters, etc., etc. ….
There are also a LOT of people who stay out of all of the politics and are happy to help animals by fostering, transporting, screening new homes, whatever it takes.
And their ranks are growing, because they want to help and know they do.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — June 22, 2010 @ 4:49 pm
Saturday night, PJ, I watched Victoria Stilwell’s show on her time with PAWS Atlanta. They were overwhelmed, discouraged, struggling to keep going with no volunteers, too few adoptions, and too may people wanting to surrender animals. They could’t cope, and the shelter was on the verge of collapse, physically as well as organizationally.
VS’s first step was to spend a little time making phone calls to some of the more than a thousand volunteers PAWS Atlanta had in its database, whom they weren’t using because the shelter manager felt they were too busy trying to get everything done to spend any time orienting and training volunteers.
Do you see the problem here?
They were overwhelmed. They needed help. They had people available who had expressed a desire to help. And they weren’t using them.
It took VS about an hour to get a dozen volunteers in, and start getting nice, big, easy-to-read kennel cards on the kennels, have volunteers clean kennels instead of the trainer, etc.
But PAWS Atlanta did at least have the sense to call VS, even if they didn’t have the sense to call their local volunteers and use them, without her intervention.
People won’t know you need help unless you ask for it.
Comment by Lis — June 22, 2010 @ 5:39 pm
And their ranks are growing, because they want to help and know they do.
Comment by Gina Spadafori
I SO hope you’re right on that!
People won’t know you need help unless you ask for it.
Comment by Lis
Absolutely true but it has to be “safe” to ask for help. Most who take in too many animals seem to do so because the alternative is reaching out to a shelter that may have a 50% or higher kill rate. I can certainly understand why that isn’t who they want to reach out to.
Comment by PJBoosinger — June 23, 2010 @ 6:04 am
Thanks for this blog and truthful comments - AC’s have to help folks - people won’t ask for help if they don’t have trust and feel safe - even now if I see an AC truck my stomach hurts - …I volunteer with two rescues that are kind and do not put others down (harmful waste of time)- When AC becomes No Kill would love to work with them.
Comment by mary frances — June 23, 2010 @ 11:40 am
Want to add - when I did volunteer with a couple rescue groups that did have destructive habits of putting one another down - it generally was about power, money and who would be calling the shots - very negative stuff that only hurt the animals - made my head hurt and had to move on - I feel lucky to volunteer with the 2 groups I now work with.
Comment by mary frances — June 23, 2010 @ 1:12 pm