TV, Facebook bring stolen dog home

When their beloved Pit Bull was stolen several weeks ago, his panicked owners were afraid that the happy, non-aggressive Griffin would be used as “bait” for fighting dogs. However, television reports and extensive social media efforts resulted in the dog being rescued safe and sound on Friday night.

On January 9 Gene Cuesta had stopped at the Safeway store on Alhambra Avenue and tied Griffin securely a few feet from the entrance; when he returned 5 minutes later the dog was gone. Cuesta and his wife Carissa immediately began a relentless search to find him, but had no success.

A Safeway surveillance video released later showed a man and woman untying the dog, pushing him into their car and speeding away.

When Rachele Salvarvidas, owner of Pawsitive Attention Pet Services and longtime Chako Pit Bull Rescue volunteer, learned that Griffin had been stolen, she knew there was a “one in a million chance he would ever be found”.  But she met with the Cuestas and was impressed by their devotion and love for Griffin; she then began an extensive search campaign that ultimately paid off.

Using Facebook, craigslist, Twitter and email, Salvarvidas rallied volunteers from the public, Chako and other area rescue groups. They forwarded the posts and Tweets to everyone they knew, canvassed neighborhoods, posted flyers and tried unsuccessfully to get the television media interested.

Finally Gina Knepp, acting manager of the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter, was notified and she was able to get television coverage on the situation from Fox 40. Gwendolyn Cusseaux saw the Fox news report when it aired Thursday night; she emailed the station on Friday morning to say that the stray dog she had found the previous week might just be Griffin.

Cusseaux stated that she had found a friendly Pit Bull matching Griffin’s description in front a convenience store off Gerber Road, some 10-15 miles away from the store where he was stolen. The owner of the convenience store verified that the dog had been hanging around for several days before Cusseaux rescued him.

She took the dog home and began posting flyers herself, knowing that a dog as friendly and outgoing had to belong to someone. When she saw photos of Griffin on Fox 40 she knew she had finally found the owners. The dog was picked up and transported to the City Animal Shelter until the Cuestas could be notified.

At the time Griffin was stolen, the family was in the midst of packing to move to South Dakota in three weeks. Gene Cuesta says they were terrified that they would have to leave California before their “goofy little boy” could be located. Then a death in the family forced the Cuestas to leave for South Dakota sooner than planned. When Griffin was found on Friday they were contacted; the couple was thrilled. They are currently working out how to get Griffin to his new home in South Dakota.

The Cuestas initial worry that Griffin might be used as “bait” was no idle concern; submissive canines are often used to hone the violent tendencies of fighting dogs. Essentially bait dogs are the living version of the punching bag a human fighter might train on.

Rachele Salvarvidas says that large, neutered dogs are less likely to be used as bait dogs; she believes that the good-looking dog was probably snatched by people wishing to breed him. Once they saw that he had been fixed, they likely dumped him off on the side of the road.

“Being neutered probably saved his life” says Salvarvidas.

After spending an hour with Griffin at the shelter yesterday, she understood why the Cuestas love him so much. She joked that so many people helped to get Griffin home that “he belongs to all of us now”, not just to the Cuestas.

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Two pets in desperate need; one missing, one abandoned

On Monday in different parts of the Sacramento Valley, one dog and one cat suddenly lost everything they’d ever known. They each need help from the public before things go very, very wrong.

Max is a handsome older gentleman, a warm and affectionate cat with gorgeous Havana Brown coloring. His loving owner of many years passed away; this broke his heart but at least he still had a home with the owner’s wife.

Until she abandoned Max at a vet’s office on Monday, saying that she’d never really liked the 12-year-old cat anyway. Now he’s lost his beloved owner and the only home he ever had.

Then there’s Atcher; this happy and bouncy little dog has big, soft eyes and a fawn and chocolate colored coat. He lives in Folsom with his family and their pet cat; Atcher is neutered, wears a collar with tags and weighs in at about ten pounds.

On Monday Atcher’s owner had to leave for a bit, but she wanted him to enjoy the sunshine. She left the sliding glass door to the fenced backyard open, with the screen door closed firmly. They live in a safe neighborhood so she didn’t worry.

But Atcher must have tried to catch up with her, because she came home to find the screen door open just enough for him to slip through. He’d somehow made it through the fence as well, and the frantic family hasn’t been able to find him since.

Both Max and Atcher need our help now.

Max desperately needs a new home with loving people who appreciate his good looks and loving personality. The vet checked him out and found he is diabetic, but that is easily controlled and he is a sweet, healthy boy otherwise.

Could you, or someone you know, give this deserving gentleman a chance?

Atcher gets a little nervous around strangers or loud noises, so being lost must be particularly scary for him. His family is searching all over and have posted notices in papers and online, but so far they haven’t located their sweet boy.

The public is asked to share this information about Max and Atcher with others; spreading the word is the best chance these two have for a happy ending.

• For information or sightings of Atcher, the missing dog in Folsom, call Molly at cell number 925-354-0470 or send an email to mallendo@gmail.com.

• To learn more about Max the handsome cat, call Tami at 916-765-0117 or email her at trc225@comcast.net.

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$1,000 reward offered for return of stolen dog – no questions asked

Like many other parts of the country, animal shelters in Sacramento are full of beautiful, loving pit bulls that no one wants to adopt. But one lucky dog did find a home several years ago, and his new family can’t imagine life without him. Unfortunately they may have to.

Last Monday someone stole their beloved dog Griffin.

Gene Cuesta had stopped at the Safeway store on Alhambra Avenue and tied Griffin securely a few feet from the entrance; when he returned 5 minutes later the dog was gone.

A witness recalled seeing a heavyset woman in a sweatshirt next to Griffin, but no other information has become available. Cuesta says that he uses a rather complex way of tying Griffin up that could only be undone intentionally; since the leash was also missing they know that he did not get away on his own.

Cuesta and his wife Carissa have been searching frantically since then, checking with local shelters and dog rescue groups daily, posting signs, requesting help on craigslist and Facebook and spending hours driving around searching the area.

The Cuestas are offering a $1,000 reward, no questions asked, for Griffin’s safe and healthy return.

They adopted the now 5-year-old Griffin from an animal shelter in Southern California when he was just a puppy. The neutered and healthy dog has a glossy black coat with a white bib and feet, and is the most joyful and cuddly creature they’ve ever known.

“Griffin is the antithesis of any pit bull stereotype” that the public may have, says Gene. Not at all aggressive, Griffin loves the two family cats and prefers snuggling up close to the Cuestas at night rather than in his comfy dog bed. The “goofy little boy” is obsessed with rocks, and barks gleefully while trying to dig them up.

He travels with them everywhere and licks and wiggles with excitement whenever he meets someone.

Cuesta says that this enthusiasm likely made him all too easy to steal, as the thief “took a dog that was willfully excited to go and play with this new stranger”.

The family is heartbroken and Carissa Cuesta says “our cats even miss him and keep sniffing his bed and looking around for him”.

To complicate matters, the Cuestas are moving to South Dakota in three weeks and will not be nearby to search further. A local rescue volunteer has offered to be a contact point if someone finds the dog after they leave.

If anyone has information that might lead to Griffin’s return home, they can reach Gene and Carissa Cuesta at 916-673-8959 or 916-673-8851. If they are not available the local volunteer can be reached by email at hartcats@live.com or by phone or text at 916-730-7814.

The family asked that the public share this information with others, in the hope that Griffin can return soon to the people that love and miss him very much.

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Teens facing felony charges for alleged cat killing

Residents of a South Sacramento neighborhood became concerned recently when the stray cats they had been feeding began to disappear. On Monday, two teenagers were charged with allegedly stabbing one of the cats multiple times until it died.

The male subjects, aged 14 and 16, were transported to juvenile hall after being arrested. Their names have not been released due to their ages.

Sacramento Police were contacted on Monday by a resident of the Greenridge Apartments on 47th Avenue stating that two juveniles were prowling around the complex wearing ski masks and hoodies. When officers arrived on the scene the suspects were carrying a box that appeared to have a number of knife punctures.

In the box, says Laura Peck of the Sacramento Police Department, the officers found the dead body of a cat with apparent knife wounds.

Peck says that the two teens were found to be carrying “multiple concealed knives”.

Each of the suspects is facing one count of felony animal cruelty, penal code 597, and an additional charge of penal code 12020(a)4 for procession of concealed weapons. The case has been referred to the office of the Sacramento District Attorney.

Residents of the apartment complex say they have been feeding the stray cats for a number of years and that the cats cause no problems and help keep rodents off the property.

When police were initially contacted, the complaint was not related to the cats at all, only to the  suspicious behavior and appearance of the suspects. It was while questioning the two males that officers discovered the dead cat in the box.

Sacramento Police and Animal Control officers have handled all too many disturbing animal cruelty investigations during 2011, including the case of Robert Deshields who was convicted recently for raping and attempting to strangle a 5-pound Chihuahua dog.

Convicted animal molester gets maximum sentence

A Sacramento man was in court today to learn his fate after a jury found him guilty of felony animal cruelty. Robert Edward De Shields was sentenced to 10 years in state prison and told to pay restitution and register as a sex offender.

Dispassionately stated, the basic fact is that Deshields was convicted by a jury of one count of felony animal cruelty and one related misdemeanor. But the details, consequences and emotional response to that fact go far beyond what is written on paper at the courthouse.

Deshields has been in a wheelchair for several years due to a degenerative health problem; however his history over the past 20 years in Sacramento is littered with crimes due to his equally deteriorated, or perhaps chronically ignored, sense of right and wrong.

The disturbing details of the current case are these. Deshields partially strangled and then anally raped a young, 5-pound Chihuahua dog named Shadow.

Deshields was renting a room in the garage of a local family that included two dogs and four children. One of the family members alerted authorities after finding Shadow with Deshields, unmoving and in shock and obvious pain.

Witnesses say that he had previously been observed with one of the family dogs under the bed covers between his legs and also sitting naked with a dog in his lap.

Shadow suffered severe injuries to his rectum and internal organs which required surgery. While he is physically healed now, the effects of the emotional trauma still remain. He has been in foster care for 9 months and continues to be terrified around most people, particularly men.

The woman fostering Shadow says that he will likely have life-long effects of his treatment by Deshields; she feels that he may not ever “recover from what he suffered”.  This is similar to the long-term impact on children and adults who have been raped and violently assaulted.

In this case, Shadow only survived his physical injuries due to the swift actions of Sacramento Animal Control and the VCA Sacramento Veterinarian Referral Center.

Deshields’ defense attorney Jennifer Stoneburner argued that while animal cruelty was “bad”, he should not be labeled a sex offender or be forced to register as one. She expressed her belief that his actions were motivated only by loneliness; another factor she cited in the argument against sex offender registration was that the dog had not died as a result of the rape and choking.

Animal rescuers observing in the courtroom visibly reacted to the supposition that a sexual predator should only be counted as such if the victim dies, and that loneliness is a sufficient reason to accept aberrant, violent behavior.

A report from defense-hired psychologist Dr. Jeffrey E. Miller included many strongly negative statements, including that Deshields has “schizoid and antisocial personality traits” and is likely to always behave in an “irresponsible and sociopathic manner”.

That his attorney used this report in his defense – probably because of the few less derogatory statements included in it – is perhaps a clue to how little she had to back up her claims that he deserved more sympathy and less sentencing.

In the end Superior Court Judge Tadd Blizzard sentenced Deshields much more strongly than Stoneburner had wished.

The maximum sentence for the charge of animal cruelty is three years in prison, but Judge Blizzard added on one year for each of Deshields’ seven prior felony convictions for a total of ten years. Deshields will get a credit of 404 days for time already served while awaiting this trial and sentencing, and for “good work time”.

He will have to register as a sex offender wherever he goes and will have to wear a court-ordered GPS unit for the rest of his life.

Deshields must pay $2,000.00 restitution to the Sacramento County Animal Shelter’s nonprofit affiliate TEAM (Teaching Everyone Animals Matters) for the surgery performed on Shadow; additional monies must be paid to the County shelter itself for Shadow’s subsequent care and to the County jail and court for various legal costs.

Among the County volunteers and staff present at the sentencing was Paula Shimnoski, an 11-year veteran of the County animal shelter’s volunteer program.

“This feels so good” said Shimnoski, echoing the sentiments of other observers who had dared to hope for such a strong sentence.

Comments from this reporter – As an animal rescue volunteer and journalist covering family and animal issues, I hear all too often about people treating children, adults and animals in cruel and inhumane ways. I believe that as a society we begin to feel less connected to these crimes as the number of reports of such violence escalates; in order to emotionally survive we must become a bit less reactive to them.

Occasionally however, a situation is so perverse that it reaches in to sicken and outrage even the numbest of hearts. Robert Deshields’ actions towards a small, defenseless dog is one such disturbing example of this.

Those of us observing at the sentencing broke into weary smiles and silent applause as Deshields was taken away to prison in handcuffs. The ruling by this fair-minded judge was a welcome gift, as were the exhaustive efforts of Deputy District Attorney Hilary Bagley-Franzoia. Sacramento County Animal Control Officer Rueben Hernandez is to be commended for his tireless work seeing this case from start to finish.

While there will likely continue to be disturbed individuals who commit crimes against the small and the helpless, we in this small corner of Sacramento are very grateful to have so many talented, motivated people working on the “side of the angels”.

I welcome your comments and responses to this case.

Holiday shopping; businesses that support what you believe in – Part 1

During the holidays people rush to crowded malls and mass retailers for gifts that often end up being pretty generic and uninspiring. But there are some great gifts available that fill the heart and soul in addition to filling those empty Christmas stockings.

The key is shopping at a place that supports the causes you believe in and that have special and really fun gift options. Suddenly the holiday season will become merrier for everyone involved.

While some mega-monster corporations have their paid staff give help to charities, they operate with multi-million dollar budgets to publicize and market their good works. By contrast, small businesses that help do so without the fanfare or the big money.

If you (or the person you are shopping for) love animals, here is some jolly holiday news.

• Sacramento-area animal shelters and rescue groups have identified small businesses that voluntarily go the extra mile to help them, and there are plenty of options for gift seekers.

This series of articles will profile some of the businesses that put their money where their heart is; part 1 begins with Ned Buratovich, owner of the busy one-man shop imagiNed Web Design

Buratovich is also the creator of the fun and inspirational 100-year “One of These Days” calendar poster.

One of Buratovich’s dearest childhood pals was his short-haired fox terrier named Lucky. When long-time friend Suna Kneisley needed assistance for her Sacramento nonprofit group C.A.T.S. (Cats about Town Society), Buratovich immediately jumped in and offered his talents for free.

Kneisley describes Buratovich as one of the most “boundlessly creative, dynamic and whimsical” people she knows, and is grateful for the large amount of time he has volunteered to create and maintain websites for animal rescue.

She encourages people to visit the sites he does for C.A.T.S. and for the nonprofit Spay It Forward to see just a few examples of his talents.

So what does his passion for the under-dog (or cat) have to do with holiday shopping? The 100 year calendar makes a perfect present and is available online – with no long lines, crowded parking lots or desperate shoppers – for only $15.00. And this gift is a lot more than a blank canvas with numbers on it.

Buratovich describes it as “a long-term project planner, a dream vacation scheduler, the ultimate bucket-list calendar, a lifetime timeline, an anniversary keeper and birthday reminder, a historical push-pin map, a chronological chart AND a work of conceptual art”.

The calendar is an entertaining way to help people appreciate every day of their lives, and comes with a 14-page user’s guide booklet.

Best of all, the calendar is a great present in more ways than one. In addition to being something special they can keep forever, the giver and receiver are partnering with someone who donates his time and talents to help needy animals.

Beats a box of reindeer-decorated socks from a mega-corporation any day.

• LifetimeCalendars.com (or its “evil twin” ProcrastinatorsCalendar.com)
• Both are the same item, created by Ned Buratovich, but “pitched with different spins.”

Barks or bites – changes to L.A. animal control law

For many dogs, barking is part of their job description; they bark to warn off intruders and to keep their human and animal family members safe. But spending a little too much time on the job can land the pet and their owner in the dog house, at least for some living in Southern California.

On Tuesday the Los Angeles City Council amended the city’s existing law about barking dogs. The original version, similar to statutes in Sacramento and other cities across the country, referred to “excessive barking” without explaining exactly how much is too much.

The amended version defines barking for ten minutes, or for 30 minutes during a three-hour period, to be excessive.

The first citation issued to the owner of an excessively barking dog in the city of L.A. now comes with a minimum penalty of $250.00; by the third citation the cost is up to a minimum of $1,000.00.

By contrast, L.A. County’s barking dog statute carries penalties for the owner of up to six months in jail on misdemeanor public nuisance charges.

Some complaints are true cases of disturbing the peace; other complaints appear to be made for the sole purpose of getting a disliked neighbor in trouble. Regardless, the complaint and resolution process requires a large amount of time on the part of an Animal Control Officer (ACO).

City of Sacramento Chief Animal Control Officer Dan Torres says that the staffing needed for such complaints locally is “a resource I don’t have”.

Torres leads a team of seven ACOs handling issues in the city, far below the 22 to 30 officers needed for the area according to a study done in 2000 by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The population of the city has grown by more than 60,000 residents since that determination was made.

Funding cut-backs have caused the low number of ACOs for the city, but the number of issues they need to handle has done nothing but grow.

Torres says that the most critical issue that City ACOs must respond to is dog or cat bites, due to the possibility of fatal rabies infections. Next are reports of “loose, aggressive strays at schools”, another immediate and serious safety concern.

Then there are sick and injured animals on the roadways, coyotes, raccoons and skunks in residential areas, potential abuse and cruelty cases, strays on the street, getting animals out of locked vehicles, transporting injured strays and wildlife for veterinary care, removing deceased animals and assisting the Police, Fire Department, Highway Patrol, SPCA and Sacramento County Animal Services with larger cases. Just to name a few.

Oh, and complaints about barking dogs. Many hours of an ACO’s time must be used for the investigation, follow-up and required paperwork of a barking dog complaint, particularly if an appeal is filed by the pet owner.

Each Sacramento City ACO is responsible for a specific area and each officer’s typical day starts with a list of 40-60 calls they must respond to. More issues and complaints come in throughout the day and night.

It is understandable then, why complaints about how much noise an animal is making had to be looked into after public health and safety issues are handled.

As of July 1, 2011 City complaints about barking dogs are routed to Sacramento Mediation Services; doing it in-house was simply a poor use of very limited resources.

Unless Los Angeles has a full contingent of Animal Control staff and a small number of issues to handle – which are highly unlikely – the newly amended barking dog law may not help solve any problems.

Click here for tips from the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter on how to help your dog bark less.

Oak Park residents offered reward for conviction of dog mutilator

A small group of people went door to door in Oak Park yesterday afternoon, speaking with residents about a horrific act of violence that had been committed in their neighborhood.

Volunteers and staff from the City Of Sacramento Animal Care Services spread the word about the crime and about a $2,500.00 reward being offered for information leading to the conviction of the perpetrator.

In September the owners of a small, deaf Jack Russell Terrier mix named Geezie contacted the City shelter, saying that their dog was injured and needed help. When Animal Control officers came to the scene, what they found shocked even the most seasoned professionals.

What was done to Geezie was particularly cruel and perverse; the following is graphic in nature and may make some readers uncomfortable.

Someone had put the metal clip from a dog leash directly around the base of the dog’s penis; a veterinarian later determined that it must have been clipped there while the dog was mating with a female.

Neither Geezie nor the two female dogs owned by the couple were spayed or neutered.

By the time officers were contacted the clip appeared to have been there for hours; Geezie was in intense pain and was unable to walk. The owners relinquished their rights to the dog and he was immediately taken in for veterinary care.

Surgery, anesthesia and a power saw were required to remove the metal clip that was imbedded around the dog’s penis.

Geezie survived and was taken on Tuesday to a foster home that specializes in caring for special needs dogs. While his physical wounds are healing, it may take time before Geezie feels safe around humans again.

Studies have repeatedly shown a link between animal abuse and extreme violence towards children and adults.

“Abusing an animal is a way for a human to find power/joy/fulfillment through the torture of a victim they know cannot defend itself“, according to a 1997 study done by the Massachusetts SPCA and Northeastern University.

In a case as severe as this one, the concerns for public safety are great.

Red Rover, a non-profit rescue group, has put up the $2,500.00 reward.  Tips can be called in to City of Sacramento Animal Care Services at (916) 808-7387.

Celebrate “less adoptable” pets part 3 – Survivors

 

This weekend’s airplane crash at the Reno air show killed ten people; thankfully 60 others are alive, although injured. Actor Christopher Reeve lived nine busy years after an accident caused him to be a paraplegic. Halle Berry, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Ella Fitzgerald and Drew Barrymore are just a few of the millions of people who have lived productive lives in spite of previous physical, sexual and emotional abuse.    

What do they all have in common? They are all survivors of tragedy, whether perpetrated by the hands of people, nature or pure chance. Look around Sacramento and you will find plenty of inspirational humans who have survived trauma, but what about animals? 

Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about pets that survive disastrous circumstances, but there are many of them out there. Long-term survival for them means finding someone kind to take care of them.

Caring for a survivor – human or animal – takes a person with a capacity for tremendous love. The rewards, however, are rich and lasting. 

This week Petfinder.com is celebrating “Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week”, encouraging the adoption of pets that a bit more challenging to find homes for.  View the slide show at http://tiny.cc/ljsp9  to see just a few of them in the Sacramento area.

For example, Chloe is a 3-year-old Lab mix currently living at the non-profit Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary.  She is a lovely playful young dog, but has a scar from an acid burn on her back. It likely occurred at the hand of a human; could yours be the human hand that pulls her up into a permanent, happy home? To learn more click here.

Then there is Lucy, at Born Free USA. The sweet Chihuahua is only one to two years old, but was literally thrown away by her owners after a spinal cord injury left her a paraplegic. Linda Wolfe with Born Free says that Lucy is very active anyway, adores people and loves playing with dogs and other cats. Lucy, she says, “has no idea that she has limitations” so she doesn’t let anything slow her down. For more information on Lucy, email Linda at linda@bornfreeusa.org.

Buster is a cream and milk chocolate Ragamuffin cat that is adoptable from SOCKS (Save Our Cats & Kittens-Sensibly); one of his gorgeous blue eyes is scarred. Does that make him less worthy of a good home? If you think so, send an email to save.r.cats@sbcglobal.net

What about Honey? She is a lovely tawny-colored blind terrier that “navigates, plays and explores using all of her other senses”, according to Gina Knepp with the City of Sacramento Animal Shelter. For more info, click here.

Or Myka, a stunning Tortoiseshell Point Siamese/Turkish Angora kitten, who lost a back foot to an infection? Foster-mom Laurel Fagan says that Mika does perfectly well on three feet, suggesting that she is “footless, but fancy free”. To learn more about Mika, visit here.

There are many other wonderful animals that could be your perfect pet; stay tuned for information on during “Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week”.

Celebrate “less adoptable” pets – Batu and Nix

 

Go to any playground or workplace from Sacramentoto Shanghaiand you’ll find at least one “golden child”, someone who shines in every way. They seem to get all of the best opportunities, are picked first for every team, invited to every party and appreciated for all of their efforts.

Then there are the rest of us “normal” people.

We are the fun, hardworking folks who keep the world operating; we are the sum total of our experiences, tend to get a bit creaky as we age and have some scars from a lifetime of, well, living.

Today is the first day of Petfinder’s “Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week”, a celebration of pets that are a bit more challenging for which to find homes. 

Some are a bit older or need a little extra assistance due to health issues, while others simply have fur that comes in a less popular color or have lived a difficult life. But they can be wonderful and loving additions to your family and Sacramento area animal shelters have plenty to choose from.

Meet Batu, a beautiful one year old terrier mix. Batu is something of a television star, although not in a way that the sweet, loving dog would have chosen. He was part of a hoarder case inLucerneValley where around 300 dogs were confiscated; the situation was chronicled on Animal Planet.

While being on television may have brought Batu fame, it unfortunately has not brought him a permanent, loving home. Batu is up for adoption from the Sacramento Independent Animal Rescuers, who note that he will need an understanding and patient adopter.

After the rough time he had at the hands of the hoarder, Batu is still a bit frightened and shy. For more information of Batu, click here.

Pets that are black or black and white are often difficult to find homes for, simply because of old wife’s tales and superstitions about being bad luck. But owners of ebony-hued cats and dogs praise them for their gorgeous glossy coats, great personalities and loving natures.

Nix, a young black cat with a very sweet and silly personality is up for adoption through C.A.T.S. (Cats about Town Society). Unfortunately Nix was also a victim of a hoarder, one of 100 cats removed from a home in deplorable conditions.

 In spite of this Nix is a happy little guy who adores people and other cats and dogs. He would love to have a permanent home that has another cat or two to play with.

For more information on Nix, click here.

Stay tuned for information on more local pets that are looking for homes during “Adopt-a-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week”.

 

Perceptive, therapeutic Great Pyrenees are more than working dogs

Max, a gorgeous, loving and snuggly dog, is currently the guest of an animal rescue group near Sacramento. With his lush white coat and bright eyes, it is difficult to grasp that his road has not always been an easy one.

This gentle giant is a Great Pyrenees, a breed traditionally used for guarding flocks in harsh weather on steep mountainous slopes. But “Pyres” have much to offer as personal family pets.

Pam Tobin, president of the Sierra Pacific Great Pyrenees Club (SPGPC), describes the dogs as very soulful and therapeutic.  Intelligent and loyal, Pyres are very tuned in to their people and are great with kids.

“They are truly like having a best friend” says Tobin.

Descriptions like that make it all the harder to understand the sad condition some of the dogs are in when they reach the rescue.  

Tobin says that some come in injured, hungry and abused, with very little life in their eyes. Although it often takes plenty of work and medical care, when they leave for their new homes they “look like happy little people”, Tobin laughs.

In Max’s case, he arrived with severe burns on his backside. His previous owner had literally set the dog on fire.

Now healing nicely, Max shows that he is very grateful to have been saved. Although he does not get along with other dogs, he adores people and will do anything you want. He is very cuddly and is ready to find his forever family.

Max would be an ideal companion for an older couple or anyone whose lifestyle is low-key.

With their gentle, perceptive natures Pyres are ideal for use in pet therapy, including visiting hospitals, working with needy children and more.

Through the SPGPC, Tobin leads therapy dog classes to get pets registered with Therapy Dogs, Inc.

Tobin says that the rescue club operates solely from donations, grants and fundraisers. One of their greatest expenses is veterinary care; this is especially true for dogs such as Smiley Miley, who Tobin said was so injured that the dog was “literally held together with duct tape”.

Tobin cared for Miley throughout the healing process and found that she couldn’t give up the sweet and gentle dog. Smiley Miley was the only foster dog that Tobin ever adopted herself.

SPGPC is dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, rehoming, loving and celebrating Great Pyrenees dogs.

Visit their website to meet some of the beautiful, loving and kind dogs that are currently available for adoption. The SPGPC site also has an events calendar, information on donating and gifts for sale that support the services they offer to dogs.

America, independence and animals

This weekend we celebrate the amazing achievements of those who brought liberty to this great country of ours. One thing our forefathers fought for was to provide us with the right “to pursue happiness” – and what makes a person happier than pure, true unconditional love?

Sacramento-area animal rescue groups know how you can celebrate that inalienable right. Pursue happiness by offering liberty to a needy animal and providing them with a life full of love.

Americans, Californians, Sacramentans are facing many challenges these days, and we often forget how lucky we are to live where we can exercise our free will.  When that free will is used in a positive, productive and community-affirming manner, our forefathers just have to be proud.

Many don’t have enough money to stretch beyond the basic, day-to-day care of their human families.  And many have been forced to give up their livelihoods, homes and beloved family pets because of the current economic situation.

Others have been able to hold on to at least some of those things, and may be able to stretch their resources just a little bit more.

One person can not fix the world, the economy or the cost of gas and groceries.  But one person can save the life of a loving animal.

And no, in the grand scheme of things, rescuing a needy, helpless animal may not be the most critical thing in the world. But if you are that one person who is willing and able to do it, you can make that one animal happy and receive much happiness yourself.

The pursuit of happiness. What an incredible opportunity, gift that is.

If you can share yourself and your life with a pet in need, you will have exercised one of the very rights that we are celebrating this weekend.

To find the cat, dog, rabbit, bird, lizard or other pet that is waiting for you, visit Petfinder.com. 

You can search by the type of animal, size, age and geographical location that you are interested in, and find the one who can bring you a good chunk of that hard-fought happiness.

Happy Independence Day. 

Investigators find 50 cats in home with animal rescuer – part 2

The president of Purrs For You, a Sacramento rescue group, is under investigation for a second case of alleged animal hoarding. Mary Klatt was given until May 20, 2011 to remove all but four of the approximately 50 cats kept in her rented home in Rancho Cordova.

Klatt received the compliance order both verbally and in writing, according to Rancho Cordova Animal Services Officer Justin Arnold. 

On May 20, Klatt reportedly admitted to Arnold that she had not complied and that the number of cats had not changed.

Klatt’s non-compliance has resulted in a citation and further contact with the owner of the home, Scott Slotterbeck, has been made.  The owner is being given time to address the situation with Klatt.

No charges have been filed against Klatt as of yet, but City of Rancho Cordova Animal Services is continuing their investigation.

The inquiry began after a witness complaint was filed with the city in early May.

Arnold received a separate complaint from a different person several weeks later; this witness had met with Klatt at the Dawes Street property on another issue and made similar allegations.

The current investigation is separate from one in January of this year when City of Sacramento Animal Control removed 85 cats and dogs from a house that Klatt owned and lived in.  Approximately 70 of the animals in that case had to be euthanized immediately due to serious and infectious diseases. 

Klatt was not charged in relation to that investigation or seizure.

In January, Klatt verbally distanced herself from her animal rescue group, repeatedly stating that she was responsible for the situation as an individual. She expressed hope that Purrs For You could continue to be effective at finding homes for adoptable cats and kittens.

Investigators find 50 cats in home with animal rescuer

As was recently reported, the president of Sacramento animal rescue group Purrs For You is under investigation for the second time since January. A complaint alleges that Mary Klatt is keeping approximately 50 cats in a Rancho Cordova home that she rents.

Rancho Cordova City Animal Services Officer Justin Arnold and another city employee reportedly went to the home at 2413 Dawes Street to investigate in early May. Klatt was present at the address at that time.

Arnold states that they observed 40 to 50 cats at that location, as had been reported in the complaint.  

Klatt was given a written notice which included details on violations at the home of licensing, rabies and zoning codes. According to Arnold, Klatt verbally agreed to bring the number of cats at the location down to the allowable number of four by the end of two weeks as required in the notice.

The two week period, ending on May 20, 2011, was identified in the written notice; further action to be taken by the City of Rancho Cordova if Klatt had not complied by that date.

A copy of the notice was also mailed to the owner of the home.

Volunteers from several other non-profits have stated that Klatt is the “go-to” person for unwanted cats and kittens in the area. Klatt reportedly takes in every cat given to her by individuals and rescue groups regardless of how many she already has or can care and find adopters for.

For more information and follow up, see part 2 of this story.

Dog adoption could ease woman’s cancer pain

True love is precious and hard to find. Last October two Sacramento residents learned the hard way that it doesn’t always last forever.

If you had asked Karen three or four years ago, she might not have even believed in true love.  Then an abused young dog zoomed into both her life and her heart like a speeding train.

Ranger, a handsome Chocolate Lab and German Shorthair mix, was in an animal shelter and was scared to death.  His former owners had hurt him and he probably expected the worst from all of the people he encountered.

But when Karen adopted him and took him home, Ranger learned that people can be kind, patient, caring and fun.  Karen and Ranger have been inseparable ever since, and they absolutely love one another.  The two found that life really can be beautiful.

Then in October Karen was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Now in the final stages of her terminal illness, Karen’s biggest worry is what will happen to her beloved Ranger.  He hasn’t left her side since she was diagnosed, but she knows their time together will be ending soon. 

The hope is to keep Ranger with Karen for as long as possible, but he will need a new owner soon. Could it be you?

Karen says he is the perfect housedog; he is housebroken, loves to watch the world through the screen door and never chews things up even when he is left at home alone.  Ranger loves to go to the dog park and gets along fine with other dogs.  He likes to chase squirrels in the backyard and play like the big, goofy dog that he is.

Ranger is a healthy boy; he is neutered and up to date on vaccinations. It takes him a little while to be comfortable with strangers since he was abused when he was younger, and he is more relaxed about woman at first than men.

But once he gets used to you, he’ll be your friend for life.

Losing his Karen will be hard for Ranger, and his broken heart will take a little time to mend.  But being loved and treated with kindness and patience by his new owner will help him get through it.  And knowing that he has a good home will help Karen immensely as she nears the end of her life.

So maybe true love really can last forever.

If you are interested in bringing this loving dog into your life, please call (916) 622-2744 or email gldnsvr@hotmail.com.

Leaving pets in a car isn’t cool – it’s HOT

Although this spring has been unseasonably cool in Sacramento, things have already gotten hot for two local residents. After leaving their pet dogs unattended in their cars, they each got in trouble with the law.

Justin Arnold, Animal Services Officer for the City of Rancho Cordova, says that his office had to intervene in both cases for the health and safety of the animals involved.

One of the dogs was taken to a Mather veterinary clinic to receive treatment including subcutaneous fluids for dehydration. The owner was cited and had to pay over $400.00 for the vet bill to get his animal back.

It may not seem like a big deal to leave your pet in the car while you are at the grocery store, for example, especially when it is overcast or not particularly hot. But the temperature in the car can change quickly, even when a window or two are cracked open.

If you like a steak or prime rib cooked rare, that generally means heating the meat to 120 degrees. According to Arnold, the inside of your car – with a window cracked – can reach that temperature within 20 minutes even when it is only 80 degrees outside.  

California penal code shows that it is a criminal offense to leave an animal unattended in a car in any situation that could possibly cause them to suffer, become debilitated or die.

In one of the recent cases, the Rancho Cordova police and animal services departments worked together to remove the dog from the car. Justin Arnold says that a slim jim may be used to unlock the door or when necessary they legally “have every right to break a window”. 

Citations can involve a $75.00 fee as well as any costs involved in the animal’s removal or care. 

Rescue group president in potential hoarding situation – again

A Sacramento animal rescue group may be part of a hoarding situation for the second time in five months. More than 50 cats are allegedly being housed in a home in Rancho Cordova by Mary Klatt, president of Purrs For You.

The home, on the 2000 block of Dawes Street, was visited last night by a Sacramento resident on the invitation of Klatt. According to the visitor the house had very few furnishings, only one interior light and no human residents.

The person states they contacted Klatt regarding a litter of un-weaned kittens that had been found.  Klatt reportedly agreed to meet the caller at the Dawes Street home so that the kittens could be left with a lactating mother cat that could nurse them. 

The Sacramento SPCA and the City of Rancho Cordova Animal Services were contacted after the witness reported seeing at least 50 cats in cages or roaming free inside the home. The litter of kittens was not left with Klatt as originally planned; another rescue option was found for them.

In January of this year police and Sacramento City Animal Care staff removed 85 cats and dogs from a College Glen house that Klatt owned and lived in.  Many of the animals were reportedly euthanized due to serious and infectious diseases. 

Klatt did not receive animal cruelty or other charges as a result of the College Glen raid. This was reportedly part of a deal negotiated with Klatt so that the animals could be surrendered and given veterinary care immediately. Klatt was ultimately allowed to get seven of the healthy animals back, the maximum number allowed by law.

Rancho Cordova Animal Services has not responded to inquiries regarding the Dawes Street complaint.

Kittens go from horror to happily ever after

With so many homeless animals in shelters and on the street, it seems like much of the news we hear about pets is depressing. But this tale is about a pair of Sacramento kittens whose story truly has a happy ending.

The two sisters first made headlines last December, when they were found dangling from nooses on a telephone pole.

The tiny kittens were only eight weeks old, and weighed about one pound each.

A woman spotted them and was able to cut them down before they choked to death.  She then contacted the non-profit rescue group HART (Helen’s Animal Rescue Team) and asked for assistance.

She couldn’t keep the kittens and knew that they needed medical care right away. HART volunteers took over and began to work on getting the small sisters the help they needed. Volunteer Joanie Toomire offered to foster the kittens and spent countless hours over the following two months caring for them.

To address the sisters’ injuries, veterinarian Dr. Jill Roberts-Wilson and other volunteers from HART and from the non-profit Cats about Town Society (C.A.T.S) stepped in. 

Veronica, a soft black kitten with wisps of white on her chest, had both of her hips partially dislocated as a result of the noose trauma.  Her beautiful tuxedo sister Maya was treated for infections in both eyes and for a serious upper respiratory virus.  

Once they were healthy, the girls were spayed, immunized and were ultimately ready to be adopted.  They had become happy, affectionate and very playful – just what kittens should be.

This is where their story becomes happily ever after…

Continue reading at http://tiny.cc/lani7

Sweet, lonely dog looked for love in all the wrong places

No matter where Rio went, it seemed that people didn’t have love or caring to spare for him. The sweet dog kept trying though, even though people kept breaking his heart.

He had a home once, but his people had too many other things to do. They didn’t have the time or interest to play with him, brush him, or just show whether they loved him or not.

He understood that they did not.

His owners decided that they didn’t want a dog, so they dumped him.  Luckily he was rescued by the Sacramento non-profit group Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue & Sanctuary.

Rio is only 7 years old, and hopes that he can find people who can love him forever. 

He has great leash manners and loves to be indoors, although he is…
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Sweet, lonely dog who looked for love in all the wrong places – Sacramento Pet Rescue | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/pet-rescue-in-sacramento/sweet-lonely-dog-looking-for-love-all-the-wrong-places#ixzz1F0T13B3n

700 dogs saved – and you can help save more

What happens to abused and abandoned dogs when overfilled shelters can’t keep them any more?  For some lucky canines, Scooter’s Pals comes to their rescue.

Scooter’s Pals is a non-profit rescue organization that helps dogs from local areas including Sacramento, Placer and Nevada counties. Since 2007 they have found homes for over 700 dogs that might otherwise have been euthanized.

This Saturday afternoon is your chance to help more loving dogs have long and happy lives. Come join Scooter’s Pals at “Dollars for Doggies”, a…

Continue reading at http://tiny.cc/ks4qq