pet connection

I was going to spend two days of the three-day Memorial Day weekend shaving some of the 315 severely matted dogs seized last week from a “sanctuary” in Richland County, Wisc.  However, the shelter called to cancel my Saturday shift because they needed more time for veterinary care, and they canceled my Monday shift because the Sunday crew somehow managed to shave all of the dogs who needed it. I was disappointed not to be able to help and relieved not to have to face the horrifying results of large-scale misery.

Authorities seized 374 animals from the Thyme and Sage Ranch in Cazenovia, Wisc.; as of last week the only animals still at the ranch were horses. A coordinated effort between various animal agencies, including the local sheriff’s department, Humane Society of the United States, the SPCA’s Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit, the American Humane Association, United Animal Nations, and others. My local shelter, the Dane County Humane Society, has taken in the animals. Of course the shelter doesn’t have room for this many animals, so they are housed in tents on the shelter’s parking lots to decrease the possibility of any spreading of disease.  The ASPCA is collecting evidence for prosecution. Many of the animals were in serious medical condition. You know the drill: matted, filthy animals covered with feces and urine, open wounds, broken bones, dog carcasses, horrendous housing conditions, only on a scale of hundreds. I nearly threw up when the first reports came in.

Owned and operated by Jennifer Petkus, the sanctuary had a contract with Richland County, which does not have its own shelter, to take in stray dogs. The sanctuary also took in rescues. Petkus now faces 16 charges of animal abuse and neglect in her criminal complaint (10 counts of mistreating animals, one count of improper shelter of animals and 5 counts of unlawful deposit of animal carcass) and is looking at $315,000 of fines and a possibility of eight years in jail. She was released on a $10,000 signature bond.

Rumors abound about what was really going on at the ranch. Some say Petkus was breeding puppies, some think she was buying them from Amish breeders, some think she took in every animal sent or given to her. Is she a large scale hoarder or just a commercial operation trying to make money? I hope the truth will come out. Petkus says she is innocent and will prove herself in court. I don’t know how it’s possible to see the miserable conditions of the animals that came out of there and still say with a straight face — much less believe –  that the animals were well cared for. Petkus is innocent until proven guilty. Meanwhile, the fetid fruits of her labor must be cared and paid for by others, both financially and in emotional and physical suffering.
 
I have offered to foster one of the dogs. None of them will be released for a while until some of the dust settles. Last week they told me it would take a couple of weeks before the fosters would be sent out, and needs could change every day. Many of the dogs will be sent to other local shelters and rescue groups, but given the sheer numbers of animals some dogs will go into foster care.  At this point how many foster homes will be needed is unclear.  It’s all I can do to not feel so helpless in the face of such misery.

***Update May 27, 2009*** (from the shelter)

At this time the caretaking of the animals continues to be provided by volunteers from United Animal Nations (UAN), HSUS, and DCHS. The animals being cared for include 315 dogs, 21 rabbits, 2 chinchillas, 1 cat, 1 ferret, 1 rooster, 14 birds, and 23 horses.  The horses are currently being kept at a separate location.  In addition to the regular care, many of the animals had and continue to have medical issues that needed immediate and extreme attention.

Hat tip to Craig Newmark of Craigslist, for sharing info on the Gustav Information Center, which has been pulled together by some Web-savvy folks to coordinate Web feeds and requests for help. Not much on animals there (yet?), but we have heard from many national, regional and local animal-advocacy groups already in the area, ready to help people with their animals. Many of these groups are updating media (traditional and new) as they go, as are governmental agencies.

We’ll continue to share what we can get, as we get it.

Update: Reuters details the evacuation of animals:

Many owners stayed in the city during the catastrophic 2005 hurricane because they could not take their pets to shelters and could not bear to leave without them.

“This city has been hit so badly, they’ve lost so much, and the last thing they have to hold on to is their animal,” said Laura Bergerol, a volunteer with Animal Rescue New Orleans.

The group stacked up boxes for residents who planned to carry their small pets with them as part of an evacuation on buses and trains through the Union Passenger terminal.

Pet owners stood in line to register their furry friends. Then they were given a machine readable band to tag on to their pet, in case they became separated.

Updates: Fugly Horse writes about her volunteer experiences after Katrina. … Stories of people  who stayed because of their pets. … Got stuff? Comment.

(Photo: Hat tip to Terrierman.)

The death toll in Myanmar may top 100,000. We don’t usually write about non-pet issues here, but … 100,000 dead, how can we not mention it?

Doctors Without Borders already had people in Myanmar, and that’s one possibility for your donations. Please feel free to add other links to relief groups you trust in the comments. Ilario says thank you, because he’s a caring kitten.

We’ll be adding to this post as we get more information.

– Iams has opened a hot line staffed with pet-health experts to answer common pet-related questions on topics such as smoke inhalation, evacuation/emergency pet preparedness, emergency pet feeding and hydration, superficial wound care or other injuries. Call (800) 508-9275. The company has also donated 18,000 pounds of pet food to the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

Drop us a note with your information, and please note Christie’s previous post on how you can help those in the fire zone.