In My Own Back Yard

[animallady]

Authorities have made the first arrest in connection with the Jan 3 raid of a suspected dogfighting ring in northeast Saline County, AR. The only person arrested to date faces 27 counts of felony dogfighting and 27 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals. Six months ago the Saline Co. Sheriff's Dept. partnered with the Pulaski County Humane Society & the Humane Society of the US after receiving tips that illegal dogfighting was taking place in NE Saline Co. On Jan. 3 two houses were raided and 36 pit bull dogs were recovered. Jay Sabatucci, regional coordinator for the Humane Society of the US arrived Jan. 2 to help lawmen recover evidence and ID dogfighting sites. Items commonly used to train and fight dogs were found including a collapsible pit with bloodied carpet and beak or parking sticks with blood.:mad:

The dogs were "horribly scarred" "Their faces had dog bites and one dog had an eye taken out." Some were "sickly". According to the Sheriff "...we were able to get them treatment and get them back to their health." They believe that "this is just the tip of the iceberg and part of a larger ring extending beyond state borders. (Info from my local paper the "Courier". The raid was reported on local news last night.)

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[Noahs ARK]

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I hate people.

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[Roamer]

Please keep us updated, AL. I hope they get the toughest sentences possible. :mad:

Was it Andy Rooney who said (paraphrasing) "I like most animals better than most people I know."

Me, too.

[PatC]

What kind of a person is it who will take an animal whose every natural instinct is to love and protect you and abuse it so badly that you make it insane and vicious? There is something seriously wrong with the people who "train" and fight their dogs -- AND THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE AS SPECTATORS AND GAMBLE ON THIS DISGUSTING ''SPORT"!

[Buddeelove]

Thanks to the highly successful pet adoption program at Highland Village during the month of December- over 220 dogs and cats found homes and due to the generosity of Highland Village Management, we will reopen the weekend of January 18 and remain open on weekends until sometime in March! The location is 4030 Westheimer in the shopping center with Williams Sonoma and PF Changs, Zip code 77027. Look for the "Weekend Pet Adoptions" sign.



We are calling on volunteers to staff the adoption center for various tasks and shifts each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This project is staffed entirely by volunteers so we are depending on enough folks signing up for this project to keep the space open for adoptions.



Dogs from BARC will be delivered each Friday morning so that we can care for them during the day and get them settled and groomed as needed. Cats will arrive on both Friday and Saturday. See below in email for Foster instructions. We will be open Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 1-5 and will need help during those hours to walk the dogs, clean kennels, care for cats, assist customers and more. These animals will remain at Highland Village on Friday and Saturday nights so we need a shift of volunteers to walk and care for them each morning and night.



The remaining dogs not placed with fosters will go back to BARC each Sunday at 6 pm. They will be tagged for "Highland Village" and will be returned the following Friday.



Please see the scheduled located here, www.friendsofbarc.org/BARC_Schedule.pdf and let us know when you can help. You'll see hours and the number of folks we need per shift. The schedule will be posted as it is updated to this location so you can see which shifts need to be filled.



We would love to get regular commitments from volunteers so that we have consistency in the program but we are grateful for any time you are able to spend with us!



We ask volunteers to arrive 15 minutes prior to their shift to make sure they have signed a waiver form and can get oriented to a few new rules we have in place (no dogs to be walked out of the front door- must use the back door, and all poop to be picked up as any left threatens our property lease, adoption fees have changed to help cover the cost of insurance and supplied at HV- now $80 for dogs and cats and $50 for low or high antigen level dogs,etc.



We plan to have tee-shirts for sale that we would love volunteers to wear. These can be purchased at Highland Village when you come for your first shift. We expect the price to be in the neighborhood of $10.



If you are unable to donate time but are interested in making a contribution towards the care of the animals in our retail program please contact me. We also need the following supplies on a regular basis. These can be dropped off at the adoption Center during business hours.



Paper Towels

Clorox/409/Spic N Span

Antibacterial Hand Wipes

Purel

Printer Paper

Newspaper

Clorox

Red Leashes

Red Collars (Small, Medium, Large)

Dog Poop Bags (plastic grocery bags will do)

Lawn and Leaf bags

Towels/blankets for cages

Wire Kennels of all sizes



BARC Fosters are welcome to bring their dogs and cats! Dog Fosters are required to email Kathy Deffebach, 713-412-1693 or kdeffebach@sbcglobal.net and should arrive ideally between 9-9:45 a.m. so they can be secured in their kennel and receive maximum exposure without causing too much crazy activity during store hours. All cat fosters must coordinate with Heather at 832.641.6936 or Heather.Fields@coair.com to ensure adequate cage space is available. ALL cats and kittens must be healthy, current on flea prevention and sterilized. NO EXCEPTIONS!



We ask that you stay while your pet is at the adoption center. We feel fosters know the pets best and the volunteers there for each shift only include enough folks to care for the non-fostered BARC dogs and cats. If you have a wire kennel please bring it to ensure that your pet has a space. Otherwise, we will do our best to have a kennel for you. Your foster pet will need to go home with you at the end of the day and is welcome to come back the following day. We only have enough volunteers to walk and care for the BARC dogs overnight.



Please contact me at memmert@group-interactive.com or 214-641-6417 to let me know what shifts you can fill!


Thanks so much!



Millicent Gerdes

[animallady]

UPDATE ON DOGS RECOVERED DURING RAID ON DOGFIGHTING SITES

This morning I was told, by a spokesperson for the Sheriff's office, that the dogs were being held while the investigation continues. Lt Bill Frost is heading the investigation for the Sheriff's Office and would not elaborate except to say that "They're being well cared for." I followed-up with a call to Animal Control (city) and was told the same. She did opine that all of the dogs were "animal aggressive" and all probably would be euthanized eventually.
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UPDATE: SALINE CO. HUMANE SOCIETY TO REMAIN NO-KILL SHELTER

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Most Excellent News!!!:basic44::basic44: Animal control tells me that the Humane Society Shelter will remain a no-kill facility! :basic45:


The County will open & maintain it's own shelter for "drop offs". People will be encouraged to take strays there. The shelter will have an adoption program but will euthanize after so many days. She couldn't tell me how many days.:1187603408.CR.Mothe

The Humane Society has a good fostering program. Maybe a similar program can be organized for the County shelter. If the County will allow.

[animallady]

Dogfighting Ring-Investigation Continues
Update

Two more arrested & charged: One w/8 felony counts of dogfighting & 8 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals. One w/27 felony counts of dogfighting & 27 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals.

[Noahs ARK]

Excellent! Thanks for the update.