dmeyer123
Forums Enthusiast
Tami, Thank you so much for this info. I haven't seen this.
Update on California Rescued Shelties...
- Thread starter dmeyer123
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Judyg
Forums Enthusiast
That is so sad for those poor dogs. I just hope that they go to homes where the new owners will be able to socialize and pro properly care for them.
trini
Forums Sage
Tami, what a sad update. Thankfully the authorities and the shelter/rescues are taking charge and doing what is necessary to insure these dogs have a chance for a life of care and love. Unfortunately in rescue we have seen cases like this before...often a breeder who starts out being responsible and then gets totally overwhelmed...sometimes due to personal health issues. But the bottom line is that no matter the reason that things go wrong it is the little dogs who are the ones who pay the price when this happens...always heartbreaking.
Trini
Trini
dmeyer123
Forums Enthusiast
A friend of mine contacted the rescue to volunteer with the grooming efforts today. She was told that the grooming of all 61 shelties is complete!! What an effort!
The rescue posted pictures of the groomer volunteers. Among them we recognized, an AKC obedience/rally judge, and representatives from 4-5 local breeders. What a labor of love of shelties....way to go ladies!!!
The rescue posted pictures of the groomer volunteers. Among them we recognized, an AKC obedience/rally judge, and representatives from 4-5 local breeders. What a labor of love of shelties....way to go ladies!!!
Heartwarming to hear about all the wonderful volunteer effort. Like everyone here, I hope every one of these shelties finds a home where they will be loved and cared for for the rest of their lives.
As for the owner, she may be mentally ill as all hoarders are -no sane person who truly loves animals, keeps more than they can care for or afford. The responsible breeder/owner would put the dogs first and find the ones they weren't able to properly care for (for whatever reason) a good home. If she wasn't ill, then she just didn't care and is no better than any puppy mill owner and I hope they throw the book at her.
This story just makes me want to cry about all the years those dogs could have been in good homes and were warehoused instead.
As for the owner, she may be mentally ill as all hoarders are -no sane person who truly loves animals, keeps more than they can care for or afford. The responsible breeder/owner would put the dogs first and find the ones they weren't able to properly care for (for whatever reason) a good home. If she wasn't ill, then she just didn't care and is no better than any puppy mill owner and I hope they throw the book at her.
This story just makes me want to cry about all the years those dogs could have been in good homes and were warehoused instead.
Emmasmom
Forums Sage
Heartwarming to hear about all the wonderful volunteer effort. Like everyone here, I hope every one of these shelties finds a home where they will be loved and cared for for the rest of their lives.
As for the owner, she may be mentally ill as all hoarders are -no sane person who truly loves animals, keeps more than they can care for or afford. The responsible breeder/owner would put the dogs first and find the ones they weren't able to properly care for (for whatever reason) a good home. If she wasn't ill, then she just didn't care and is no better than any puppy mill owner and I hope they throw the book at her.
She got caught in a situation where the number of dogs allowed was changed to 5. Partially out of fear of radical AR groups, she did not rehome or place the dogs - I can only imagine what this groups would have done. At one point, she was suicidal and friends were concerned for her. I believe she is also a widow and has health issues. Once again it is not fair to judge a person without knowing the whole story, as horrified as one might be about the dogs. There are postings on FB where this can be verified.
Judyg
Forums Enthusiast
She had a permit from the county for up to 10 dogs and never had it increased. I'll be she could not afford to update it. She would have needed to have a lot of paperwork done including a plot plan through the planning dept.
It's easy to say it just got out of hand, but one does not have that many dogs without being able to care for them. What I don't understand is why there were never any complaints filed and acted on. The property was bordered on 3 sides by a trailer park. That many dogs must have been noisy and if she did not dispose of their waste, not pleasant to be around.
I don't know her and I'm really sorry she got out of control with the dogs, but if you have that many there is not any way one person could care for all of them properly.
It's easy to say it just got out of hand, but one does not have that many dogs without being able to care for them. What I don't understand is why there were never any complaints filed and acted on. The property was bordered on 3 sides by a trailer park. That many dogs must have been noisy and if she did not dispose of their waste, not pleasant to be around.
I don't know her and I'm really sorry she got out of control with the dogs, but if you have that many there is not any way one person could care for all of them properly.
I get that she had issues - but that does not excuse allowing this to happen, regardless of her fears. What was to stop her from placing ads and giving some of the dogs away long before she accumulated 61? How about getting help from a sheltie rescue organization. As is obvious from the response to this situation there is no lack of people willing to step forward and help out.
I can't believe that she got to even 10 dogs before being aware that she wasn't legal. As for her "friends" why didn't they intervene, by calling the authorities, before it got to this point? Someone should have blown the whistle, and helped out those dogs. Anyone who knew what was going on and ignored the situation was an accessory to animal abuse.
If the dog community will not hold itself accountable - then we are just as big a part of the problem as the puppy mills we all love to hate on..
I can't believe that she got to even 10 dogs before being aware that she wasn't legal. As for her "friends" why didn't they intervene, by calling the authorities, before it got to this point? Someone should have blown the whistle, and helped out those dogs. Anyone who knew what was going on and ignored the situation was an accessory to animal abuse.
If the dog community will not hold itself accountable - then we are just as big a part of the problem as the puppy mills we all love to hate on..
While I don't know the condition of the dogs by being there and seeing them myself, the article bothers me because it pretty much says they are charging her with animal cruelty because of poor dental care. Maybe that is just the article talking (I mean they did suggest sheltie people view collie people as rivals), but wouldn't you go with overall condition of the dogs mentally and physically along with being permitted wrong for your charges? I mean, dental care? I think that bothers me most. If my house burned down, would they take my three dogs and charge ME with animal cruelty because Shay has some tartar in the back and Melli is missing some teeth from before I got her? Is that all it is about? Dental care for dogs? I hope not. I hope the evaluation of the animals was way beyond just looking in their mouths and the media presented things too simply as they always do.
I understand she was permitted too low, she obviously was an animal hoarder, there were fleas and ticks apparently, and there's much much more I don't know because I haven't seen the animals in person. I also understand that a lady here in Squaw Valley CA who was running a "rescue" group for years was just convicted. She had dogs chained to trees with no food or water, the dogs had open sores all over their bodies, some were dead and still chained to trees, and there was a wading pool of human and dog feces just sitting there breeding insects. I didn't know she was around the corner from me, though I could hear a lot of dogs bark a lot of times. In fact, just a couple days before they were raided those dogs howled in such a way that my Shay panicked and came to me with a look begging me to help them. I found out a couple days later from the UPS guy that she was just right down the hill and across the road. Even he didn't know it was that bad as they were all behind the house. THAT is animal cruelty. I don't think I want to see this sheltie lady put in the same category as this local lady. If she belongs in that category, then so be it, but from the data I have it isn't. I am not saying this sheltie lady was right or any kind of model pet or breeder home, I just was really saddened and upset they are charging her with animal cruelty, specifically based on dental hygiene. Permit breach for sure, neglect definitely, but cruelty? I mean, if it is warranted in overall evaluation of the site and animals, then the media needs to explain that. It's the dental care bit being the crux of the charge that really bothers me -- how accurate that is, of course, is not certain from a press release.
Keep this thread updated, we would like to donate to whichever groups pull and help place the ones that don't so quickly find homes.
I understand she was permitted too low, she obviously was an animal hoarder, there were fleas and ticks apparently, and there's much much more I don't know because I haven't seen the animals in person. I also understand that a lady here in Squaw Valley CA who was running a "rescue" group for years was just convicted. She had dogs chained to trees with no food or water, the dogs had open sores all over their bodies, some were dead and still chained to trees, and there was a wading pool of human and dog feces just sitting there breeding insects. I didn't know she was around the corner from me, though I could hear a lot of dogs bark a lot of times. In fact, just a couple days before they were raided those dogs howled in such a way that my Shay panicked and came to me with a look begging me to help them. I found out a couple days later from the UPS guy that she was just right down the hill and across the road. Even he didn't know it was that bad as they were all behind the house. THAT is animal cruelty. I don't think I want to see this sheltie lady put in the same category as this local lady. If she belongs in that category, then so be it, but from the data I have it isn't. I am not saying this sheltie lady was right or any kind of model pet or breeder home, I just was really saddened and upset they are charging her with animal cruelty, specifically based on dental hygiene. Permit breach for sure, neglect definitely, but cruelty? I mean, if it is warranted in overall evaluation of the site and animals, then the media needs to explain that. It's the dental care bit being the crux of the charge that really bothers me -- how accurate that is, of course, is not certain from a press release.
Keep this thread updated, we would like to donate to whichever groups pull and help place the ones that don't so quickly find homes.
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Cara - the article basically said that the condition of the teeth ( some had more tartar than tooth left) was just one indication of years of neglect and lack of proper veterinary care. Almost all of the dogs were dirty, matted, tick & flea infested, from living in filth. From the FB page the volunteer groomers did an excellent job and were able to save all of the dogs coats but one ( just imagine how bad that had to be). Also from the rescue page it seems that many of the dogs had ear infections, and skin conditions to go along with the bad teeth, and nine of the dogs were not listed for adoption for being very old, or very ill (likely both) and having temperament issues.
We aren't talking about charges based on a little tartar or missing teeth in an otherwise well cared for & healthy animal. Seemed pretty clear to me from the press release, and then when you read the rescue page where they appear to be trying to keep the focus on the positive, you still get details that are very troubling. Personally, I can't see anything that would excuse anyone from keeping animals in that kind of condition. If she is not charged, then we are basically saying that what is cruelty varies according to the her personal circumstances or intentions of the owner. Because , she was a widow, a former respected breeder & conformation judge, and had mental health issues ... then she gets a pass???
Just think - if there hadn't been a fire, it's quite likely those dogs would still be living under those conditions. Really sad that this is what it took.
You can go read some of the updates for yourself:
https://www.facebook.com/adoptasheltie
We aren't talking about charges based on a little tartar or missing teeth in an otherwise well cared for & healthy animal. Seemed pretty clear to me from the press release, and then when you read the rescue page where they appear to be trying to keep the focus on the positive, you still get details that are very troubling. Personally, I can't see anything that would excuse anyone from keeping animals in that kind of condition. If she is not charged, then we are basically saying that what is cruelty varies according to the her personal circumstances or intentions of the owner. Because , she was a widow, a former respected breeder & conformation judge, and had mental health issues ... then she gets a pass???
Just think - if there hadn't been a fire, it's quite likely those dogs would still be living under those conditions. Really sad that this is what it took.
You can go read some of the updates for yourself:
https://www.facebook.com/adoptasheltie