|
November 2012
Skeeter
is Found!
November 2012
$3,800
Reward for Carjacked Victim's Return of Dog Skeeter
August 2012
24
Singles Auctioned off for Charity !!!!
June 2012
Deputies
Seize Three Neglected Horses. Marksville City Official
Charged with Cruelty
February 2012
Community
Pet Watch Program Launched in New Orleans
January 2012
Puppy
Finds New Home After Visiting Church
January 2012
Metairie
Resident Pleads Guilty to Cruelty to Animals. Attempt
to Poison Next Door Neighbor's Cats Is Foiled. Act Caught
on Video Tape
January 2012
Humane
Society Thanks Hammond Resident. Good Samaritan Helps
Injured Cat
January 2012
Humane
Society Asks Festival Organizers to Change Policy
December 2012
Humane
Society Launches Pet Holiday Food Drive to Aid Animals
in Need
July 2011
COYOTE
CO-EXISTENCE MEETING
December 2010
Deficiencies
Found in Shelter Inspection Humane Society Asks to Tour
Facility
November 8, 2010
FORMER
POLICE LIAISON REVEALS ILLEGAL OPERATIONS OF THE ROICY
DUHON ANIMAL SHELTER
October 2010
Inaugural
Oak Street Pelican Block Party Celebrating All Things
Pelican!
October 2010
Canine
Deaths Raise Concerns Humane Society Requests Formation
of K-9 Oversight Committee
September 2010
Pit
Bull Barely Survives Street Fight - Canine Found with
Multiple Bite Wounds
July 2010
Activist
Files Police Report - Alleges BP Criminally Abused Animals
June 2010
"Renate"
Named Humane Society of Louisiana's "Dog of the
Year," German Shepherd Survives Neglect and Abandonment
May 2010
Local
Humane Society Combats Widespread Animal Abuse (Acadia)
April 2010
NOLA
Veggie Fest Press Release (download .pdf flyer)
April 2010
Medical
Reports Confirm Public's Suspicions: Primo, Former NOPD
Canine, Died From Heat Exhaustion.
April 2010
Sheriff
Deputies Shoot and Kill Owner's Dog Without Cause. Anguished
Owner Plans to File Suit against Jefferson Parish Sheriff's
Office
April 2010
Humane
Society of Louisiana Coordinates Supply Drive, Asks
Community to Support Parish Animal Shelter
February 2010
Humane
Society of Louisiana Recognizes Fire Station #24. Firemen
Save Blind Walker Hound.
February 2010
Humane
Society 'Top Dogs' in Indy, New Orleans Support Their
Teams with 'Shelter Bowl' Challenge
January 4, 2010
Acadia
Caretaker Cited for Starving Three Horses
2009
-2007 Press Releases >>
11/11/2012 10: 32 pm
Skeeter found in Uptown area on
Monroe Street, near S. Carrollton today at 3: 00pm.
Details at tomorrow's press conference.
Fox News Story Here: http://www.fox8live.com/story/20068441/dog-stolen-in-carjacking-is-found
News Update: For immediate Use
Contact Persons: Jeff Dorson, HSL Director, 901-268-4432
Meg Hall, 504-232-6922
Abducted Canine Found on Monroe Street, Uptown
Rescuer to Receive $4000 Reward
What: Skeeter meets the press!
The abducted dog whose plight was mentioned on social
networking sites around the city and country is back
home and will be introduced to the press and public
tomorrow at a news conference.
When: Monday, November 12th,
noon to 1 pm
Where: Poet's Gallery, 3113
Magazine Street, New Orleans
(New Orleans, LA) - Skeeter, the dog who was abducted
during a recent carjacking, is back home with his mom,
Meg Hall. The dog was the subject of an intense city-wide
search that included door-to-door canvassing by humane
society volunteers and a reward fund that increased
from $1000 to $4000 within one week.
An uptown resident recognized a stray dog in her neighborhood
as the dog mentioned on TV. The resident caught the
dog and called the number that was engraved on the dog's
ID tag, which was Meg's cell phone. Meg got the call
around 2: 30 on Sunday, November 11th, and was reunited
with Skeeter a half hour later.
"I am overjoyed by being reunited with my beloved
Skeeter and remain forever grateful to the hundreds
of people who sent me their prayers and well-wishes
and stayed in touch with me through this difficult ordeal,"
Meg Hall says. "I look forward to putting this
tragedy behind me and moving on with my life with Skeeter
by my side," Hall adds.
A check for $4,000 will be presented to the rescuer
who found Skeeter later this week. The rescuer wishes
to remain anonymous at this time.
Meg and the Humane Society will also host a Welcome
Back Skeeter Party at the Bridge Lounge,1201 Magazine
Street, this Wednesday, November 14, from 7-8:30 pm.
All are welcome to attend and meet Skeeter in person.
The Humane Society of Louisiana is one of the state's
largest animal advocacy organizations with chapters
in 12 parishes. For more information, visit them at
www.humanela.org or call 1-888-6-humane.
News Release: For Immediate Use
Contact Persons: Jeff Dorson, HSL Director, 901-268-4432
Meg Hall, owner of Skeeter, 504-232-9622
Car
Jack Victim Begs for Return of Stolen Dog - $3,800 Reward
Offered for Safe Return of Skeeter
(New Orleans, LA) - After visiting the home of a good
friend, Meg Hall put her beloved 11 year old Chihuahua/Jack
Russell mix dog into her car, a tan older model Lincoln
Navigator. Meg was in the process of pulling out the
driveway, when a young black male on a bike pulled up
along side her, pointed a gun at her head, and demanded
her car. Meg got out our of her car, yelled at and kicked
the attacker, in full view of Ms. Carla Demtsey, her
good friend, who was still on the porch with her own
dogs. The attacker proceeded to punch Ms. Hall in the
face and got into the car. Skeeter was sitting on the
front seat just a few feet away from the carjacker,
and Ms. Hall begged the perpetrator to return her dog.
Ignoring her pleas, the attacker drove away and the
dog has yet to be found or returned.
UPDATE: New Orleans, LA) - The reward for the
safe return of Skeeter, the canine victim of a recent
carjacking, has been increased to $3,800. Several
concerned citizens and business leaders contacted the
Humane Society of Louisiana over the weekend and donated
additional funds to ensure the dog's safe and immediate
return. Skeeter, an 8 lb Chihuaha/Jack Russell mix,
was last seen in the front seat of a tan Lincoln Navigator
in the driveway of 2336 Burdette, in New Orleans. The
vehicle was recently recovered in Jefferson Parish,
but the perpetrator is still at large. Anyone with information
on Skeeter's whereabouts are encouraged to contact the
Humane Society at 1-888-6-humane. Pictures of Skeeter
can be found on the group's website, www.humanela.org
Established in 1988, the Humane Society of Louisiana
is one of the state's largest animal advocacy organizations.
August 2012
News
Release: For Immediate Use
Contact Persons: Jeff Dorson, HSL Director, 901-268-4432
24 Singles
Auctioned off for Charity !!!!
2nd Annual Singles Charity Auction ( Bow Wow Luau) to
Benefit Humane Society of Louisiana
(New Orleans, LA) - The Humane Society of Louisiana
has teamed up with Mary West, former Mrs. Louisiana
and the city's premiere Matchmaker, to create one of
the most anticipated social events of the summer - the
Bow Wow Luau!!! Twenty-four of the city's most eligible
singles will be auctioned off to the highest bidder
on Saturday, August 25th, at the Eiffel Society, 2040
St. Charles Avenue. Proceeds will benefit the Humane
Society of Louisiana and its cruelty investigation and
prevention programs. Tickets are $20.00 per person at
the door or may be purchased online at www.humanela.org.
Dress code is tropical.
"Mary West has done it again. Using her many years
experience as a Pageant titleholder, National Event
Planner, and garnering a spot in the Guinness Book of
World Records, Mary has put together a line-up of some
of the most exciting singles ever to grace a stage in
New Orleans," says Jeff Dorson, HSL Director. Twelve
women and twelve men will be auctioned off on the night
of August 25th during a charity event that promises
to be exciting and memorable. Some of the contestants
include Voodoo 104's popular afternoon disc jockey Nikki
Landry and WGNO's weatherman Hank "I'm never wrong"
Allen. Other notables are Jeff Courere of Politics With
A Punch, Rachel Fleetwood of VieuxCarre Band, two of
the New Orleans Firefighter Calendar guys, and Lisa
Lloyd, local inventor who's been seen on such shows
as Dr. Phil and Good Morning America.
WWL TV's co-host of the Morning Show, Eric Paulson,
will be the event's Master of Ceremonies. Mary West
and some of the show's singles are available for interviews
and guest appearances. To contact Mary directly, please
call 504-941-7301.
Established in 1988, the Humane Society of Louisiana
is one of the state's largest animal advocacy organizations,
with 13 chapters, a humane education program, and a
sanctuary in Tylertown, Mississippi that is home to
more than 150 formerly abused and orphaned animals.
For more information on this event, please visit the
Humane Society's Facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/events/452999111400090/
or their website at www.humanela.org.
JUNE 2012
News
Release: For Immediate Use
Contact Persons: Jeff Dorson, HSL Director, 901-268-4432
Angela Carmouche, Complainant, 318-744-5514
Deputies Seize Three Neglected Horses.
Marksville City Official Charged with Cruelty.
(Marksville, LA) -- Deputies from the Avoyelles Parish
Sheriff's Department recently seized three malnourished
horses belonging to Marksville City Council member Elliot
Jordan. A neighbor reported that the horses were not
adequately fed or supervised and were underweight. Deputy
Casey Erwin visited Mr. Jordan's property along with
veterinarian Dr. Troy Spencer on May 19, 2012, and determined
that three of the six horses were suffering from malnutrition.
Dr. Spencer rated their body scores a 2 out of 5 points;
most horses in good condition register a 4. The pasture
was bare, and no feed was present on Mr. Jordan's property
during the surprise inspection.
That same day, Deputy Erwin issued Mr. Jordan a misdemeanor
summons for cruelty to animals. Mr. Jordan however,
refused to cooperate and walked away from Deputy Erwin
during their conversation. After being ordered to stop
by Deputy Erwin, Mr. Jordan locked his arms and declared
that he was a member of the Marksville City Council.
At this point, Deputies Allen Jackson and Erwin placed
Mr. Jordan in handcuffs and escorted him to the Avoyelles
Parish Detention Center, where he was booked with cruelty
to animals, public intimation, and resisting an officer.
A few days after Mr. Jordan's arrest, a search warrant
was executed, and three of his six horses were seized
and turned over to the Humane Society of Louisiana,
a statewide animal protection organization. The horses
remain in protective custody until the courts rule on
their final disposition. The horses, according to their
custodians, are doing well and appear to be gaining
weight. In addition to the several citations given to
Mr. Jordan, he was also given notice that he has 15
days to post a $1,000 bond to retain ownership of the
horses and that he must re-post a similar bond each
consecutive 30 days. The judge also signed a "Stay-Away"
order, which prohibits Mr. Jordan from making contact
with any of the court-approved custodians of the horses.
Photos of two of the three horse seized are attached.
One of the horses named Sweet Pea, an American Paint,
can be viewed by contacting Ms. Angela Carmourche, one
of the complainants and current custodian.
"During the seizure of the horses, we worked closely
with Mr. Charles Riddle III, the Avoyelles Parish District
Attorney, who spent many hours researching the law and
drawing up the necessary documents. We appreciate the
work Mr. Riddle and the investigating officers did on
this case, and we are glad that the horses are finally
getting the care they need," says Jeff Dorson,
HSL Director.
The humane organization has seen a dramatic uptick
in the number of equine abuse and neglect cases during
the past 24 months.
"There is a surplus of horses in Louisiana. One
can buy one for less than $50.00 at a sale barn. Unfortunately,
to properly care for a horse takes thousands of dollars
a year, and most people refuse to pay for their upkeep;
so, we get a lot of calls about abandoned, neglected,
and underweight horses," adds Dorson.
To help pay for the care of these and other horses under
the humane society's care, the group has established
a special "Horse Rescue Fund" and is seeking
donations from the public and private businesses. Contributions
may be sent to the Humane Society of Louisiana, P.O.
Box 740321, New Orleans, LA 70174 or made online on
the group's website at www.humanela.org. When making
a donation via check, please write "Horse Rescue
Fund" in the check memo line. All donations are
tax deductible. To contact the humane society, please
call 1-888-6-humane.
FEBRUARY
2012
Community Pet Watch Program Launched in New Orleans
(New Orleans, LA) –The Humane Society of Louisiana
is launching its ‘Community Pet Watch’ program
in New Orleans on February 1st. The program aims to
more effectively aid animals and build humane communities
citywide.
Based on other successful community crime prevention
programs, the initiative will 1) better identify neglect
and cruelty situations and 2) resolve complaints at
the grassroots level. The program will rely on volunteer
support for its operation. Community Team Captains and
Neighborhood Leaders will monitor their communities
and canvass local residents for information about animal
abuse and neglect.
The charity developed its New Orleans program after
20 years of field work in the city. Two of the first
Community Team Captains are local residents, who were
frustrated that their animal abuse complaints to local
authorities were never successfully resolved.
“Local agencies are often overwhelmed, unable
or unwilling to address problems ranging from issues
of simple neglect or serious cruelty,” says Executive
Director, Jeff Dorson. “To support their efforts,
we are recruiting volunteers to be our eyes and ears
on the streets. These concerned citizens will be forge
close working partnerships with local police officers,
law enforcement officers, council members and neighbors
to collectively resolve issues of neglect and abuse.”
The Humane Society says that the program will have
a broader community impact. “Issues of animal abuse
and neglect are intimately linked to other crimes and
social problems,” says Dorson. “When animal
abuse is documented, spousal, child or elder abuse is
often found to be taking place in the same family. With
this expanded volunteer program, we will be in a better
position to involve human service agencies in these
matters when appropriate.”
He notes that cases of animal neglect are intimately
linked to other social problems, like poverty and lack
of education. ”In such cases, our volunteers will
be able to assess the situation in the field and
recommend the best course of action. We will reach
out to local businesses and supporters to contribute
funds for veterinary care, dog houses or other forms
of practical assistance in these instances.”
“In serious cases of criminal neglect or abuse,
however, we will work in partnership with the appropriate
law enforcement agencies. We hope to create active community
networks that can help bring animal abusers to justice,”
adds Dorson.
The Community Pet Watch program will be launched at
a news conference on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012.
A few of the first enlisted Community Captains will
be in attendance, along with community outreach volunteers.
This is an important and exciting new program, and
all media representatives are invited and encouraged
to attend.
Interested local residents can apply to serve as Community
Captains and Neighborhood coordinators online at www.HumaneLA.org.
If the pilot program is successful, the organization
aims to expand it to other Louisiana cities.
WHAT: Launch of the Community Pet Watch Program in New
Orleans
WHERE: The residence of Mollie McCoy, 701 Evelina Street,
Algiers 70114. Mollie has registered to be one of the
group's Community Captains.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 - 11:45am
to 12:30pm
JANUARY
2012
Puppy Finds New Home After Visiting Church
(Winnsboro, LA) -- Many people believe going to church
makes them feel good and brings them extra blessings.
One lucky puppy would probably agree with that sentiment.
Approximately two months, Alice Crawford was attending
a Wednesday night prayer service at the New Zion Baptist
Church in Winnsboro, when she noticed a puppy approaching
some of the members of the congregation. The puppy looked
thin, but happy to see everyone. The following Sunday,
Alice saw the puppy again and reasoned the puppy was
probably homeless, since no one was paying attention
to her. Alice decided to take the puppy home with her
and find her a good home. The puppy, a Dalmatian, Cur
and Australian Sheep dog mix, turned out to be deaf
and visually-impaired in one eye.
A few days ago, the puppy stopped eating and drinking
and appeared to be ill. Knowing that she needed medical
attention, Alice contacted the Humane Society of Louisiana,
a statewide animal protection group. "We have a
chapter in Franklin Parish, but I didn't want to burden
them with this call, so I decided that we would step
in and help," said Jeff Dorson, HSL Executive Director.
"I listened to Alice explain how she came into
possession of the puppy, who appears to be about five
months old, and I knew that we could chip in and help,"
he went on to explain. "I told Alice that we would
pay for half the vet bill and help raise the other half
by soliciting for help through the local newspaper.
I also asked Alice if she had chosen a name yet for
this lucky puppy, and she said she hadn't. Since the
puppy was found at a church, I proposed picking a suitable
name from the bible. A quick search led me to Asher,
which means happy or blessed. Asher was the 8th son
of Jacob and is named in Genesis 30: 13. So, I proposedthat
Alice name the puppy Asher."
A recent medical exam showed that Asher had a distended
stomach caused by parasitic infestation. Luckily, it
is highly treatable. Asher will also soon be vaccinated
and sterilized, to reduce him from producing more bibically-based
offspring.
The Humane Society is currently looking for additional
donations for Asher. Those willing to donate can send
contributions to the Humane Society of Louisiana, P.O.
Box 740321, New Orleans, LA 70174. All donation are
tax-deductible.
For more information, please contact us at the Humane
Society of LA at 1-888-6HUMANE.
If the Franklin Sun would like to get a photograph of
Ms. Crawford please contact her at 318-433136
JANUARY
2012
Metairie Resident Pleads Guilty to Cruelty to Animals.
Attempt to Poison Next Door Neighbor's Cats Is Foiled.
Act Caught on Video Tape
When: Friday, January 27th, from noon to 1 pm
Where: 6813 Asher Ave., Metairie
What: Discussion on the attempt to poison neighborhood
cats
(Metairie, LA) - Diane Marino works the night shift
at the local Sysco Food Processing plant and usually
comes home in the early morning to feed her outside
cats. In May of last year, Diane came home during a
break in her shift and noticed a strong smell of gasoline
or some other chemical on her front porch. She noticed
that the chemical had also been poured into her cat
feeding bowls. Alarmed, Ms. Marino contacted the Jefferson
Parish Sheriff's Office to report the incident. At the
time, neither Ms. Marino nor the sheriff's department
could identify any suspects.
Approximately, two weeks later, Ms. Marino came home
again only to notice the same strong smell. This time,
however, Ms. Marino checked her video camera monitor,
which had been installed a few days prior. On the tape,
Ms. Marino saw her neighbor, Mr. David Rossi, appear
on her porch with a can of Raid insect repellent. The
video showed Mr. Rossi spray her porch and the cats'
food and water bowls with the can of Raid.
Ms. Marino contacted the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's
Office which quickly dispatched officers to the scene.
After viewing the tape, deputies met with Mr. Rossi,
read him his Miranda Rights and arrested him. When asked
what he sprayed on Ms. Marino's porch, Mr. Rossi showed
them a Raid aerosol can used to kill ants and insects.
If ingested, the poison can also kill household pets,
by causing organ failure.
Mr. Rossi was originally charged with cruelty to animals,
but additional charges of criminal mischief and criminal
trespassing were added at the urging of the Humane Society
of Louisiana, which took an active interest in the case
after being contacted by Ms. Marino.
On January 11 of this year, Mr. Rossi changed his original
plea of not guilty to guilty and accepted a plea deal
offered by the Jefferson District Attorney's office.
In exchange for dropping the criminal mischief and trespassing
charges, Mr. Rossi agreed to plea guilty to cruelty
to animals. By agreeing to the charge, Mr. Rossi was
ordered to pay $360.00 in fines and court costs.
"We applaud Ms. Marino for installing the video
camera on her porch which led to Mr. Rossi's conviction.
Surveillance equipment is an important investigation
tool that is helping prosecutions win more cases,"
says Jeff Dorson, HSL Director. "We are also glad
that none of Ms. Marino's cats was harmed or killed
by Mr. Rossi's criminal actions. While we don't agree
with the modest fine imposed by the courts, we are glad
that Mr. Rossi was caught and had to answer for his
actions," Dorson adds.
The group has filed a public records request to take
custody of the video tape. As soon as the District Attorney's
office releases the tape, the group will distribute
the tape to the media. The tape is not expected to be
distributed in time for today's press conference.
The Humane Society will hold a press conference today,
January 27th from noon to 1 pm to discuss the case and
walk through what transpired. A copy of the police report
is attached.
The Humane Society of Louisiana is one of the state's
largest animal advocacy organizations with more than
10,000 supporters and 12 active chapters. For more information,
please visitwww.humanela.org or call 1-888-6-humane.
JANUARY
2012
Humane Society Thanks Hammond Resident. Good Samaritan
Helps Injured Cat
(Hammnd, La) - Lots of people help stray animals and
do good deeds, but few are willing to spend their last
dollar on a stray cat. That was the case recently with
Mr. John Ross, who has been out of work for several
months and was down to his last twenty or so dollars
in his account. As Mr. Ross recently told the Humane
Society,
"I saw this nice black and white cat in my neighborhood
(Mr. Ross lives at 112 N. Laurel Street) and knew she
didn't belong to anyone. I also saw that she was limping
and had probably injured her leg. I couldn't let her
just suffer, so I decided to take her to the local vet
and see what I could do, even though I really would
have to maybe miss a meal, because I was almost totally
out of funds. As a last resort, I also called the Humane
Society of Louisiana to inform them of the situation."
"After listening to Mr. Ross and his genuine concern
for this stray cat, I knew we had to help. When he told
me he was going to take the cat to the vet, even though
he was unemployed, I was hooked. There was no way we
were going to let Mr. Ross pay the medical care for
a stray cat when he was out of work. I told him we would
pick up the bill and send him a framed Certificate of
Appreciation. Which we did. We also paid for the cat
to be fixed and vaccinated," says Jeff Dorson,
Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana.
"I also promised to send Mr. Ross a twenty-dollar
bill from my next pay check, to double what he had in
his checking account and to let him know that all deeds,
no matter how small, are valuable," adds Dorson.
Mr. Ross has subsequently adopted the short-haired domestic
feline and named him Pavarotti, because of his propensity
to sing. Mr. Ross can be reached by calling 985-345-1314.
The Humane Society of Louisiana was established in 1988
and is one of the state's largest animal advocacy organizations.
For more information, please visit their website at
www.humanela.org.
JANUARY
2012
Humane Society Asks Festival Organizers to Change
Policy
(Ponchatoula, LA) - The Humane Society of Louisiana,
one of the state's largest animal advocacy organizations,
has formally asked the organizers of the Ponchatoula
Strawberry Festival to stop vendors from giving away
fish, birds, reptiles, and rabbits as prizes at its
three-day event, which is held each April. The Humane
Society objects to this type of practice for multiple
reasons, which were outlined in a letter recently sent
to Ms.Lanelle Arceneaux, Chairperson of the Strawberry
Festival, and Mr. John Albrecht, Booth Chairperson.
The objections raised by the Humane Society range from
the poor treatment of the animals to the added expense
of caring for a new, unexpected pet to the burden placed
on local animal sheltering agencies which care for some
of the surplus animals.
A copy of the letter appears below. Humane Society representatives
were informed that the letter was read to festival committee
leaders at a recent meeting, but no action was taken
or voted upon. Calls to Ms. Arceneaux (985-634-5137)
have not been returned.
"I recently spoke to Mr. John Albrecht, and he
did confirm that vendors have given rabbits away in
the past. He wasn't aware of other animals being used
as prizes, although we have received reports that iguanas
were given away one year," says Jeff Dorson, HSL
Executive Director.
"The directors of several humane organizations
and concerned citizens have called Ms. Arceneaux during
the past two weeks, but she had not spoken to anyone
to clarify the Festival's position. I am hoping to hear
from her very soon; if we don't, we will just have to
assume they are not interested in hearing comments from
the public, and we will ramp up our public awareness
campaign through our social media outlets. We believe
that giving away live animals as prizes sets a poor
example and needs to be discouraged by the caring public,"
adds Dorson.
January 9, 2012
Ms. Lenelle Arceneaux
Chairman
Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival
P.O. Box 446
Ponchatoula, LA 70454
RE: Use of live animals as prizes
Dear Ms. Arceneaux,
As the Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana,
I am writing to you on behalf of our 10,000 members.
We have received several calls and complaints pertaining
to the use of bunnies, rabbits, iguanas, baby chicks,
fish, and baby ducks as prizes at one or more of your
vendor booths at the annual Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival.
While using live animals as prizes may seem a harmless
practice, in truth it creates many problems on several
different levels. First, many individuals or families
who win a rabbit, duck or iguana as a prize are not
equipped to properly care for them, and it becomes an
immediate added expense to the family budget. To adequately
house a domesticated rabbit one has to purchase a cage,
water bottle, hay, and pellets. The average set-up cost
is generally between $50 - $100.00and many individuals
and families refuse or object to paying for this new
and unexpected expense. Rabbits also require toys, enrichments
and certain feed, such as timothy hay - more additional
expenses. Iguanas are far more difficult to house. They
require an aquarium, certain foliage and rocks, a heat
lamp, and a special diet, which few individuals can
afford to buy; moreover, few individuals have the knowledge
to provide long-term care for iguanas. Also, every pet
requires daily feeding and cleaning, and annual veterinary
exams, which may become a burden to some owners.
When individuals or families object to these new costs
and inconveniences, they often release these newly acquired
pets into nearby parks or fields, which often ends in
the death of the animals and birds, since they often
die from exposure to the elements or become prey. Domestic
animals cannot be released into the wild, but unsuspecting
new pet owners are often unaware of this long-established
and well-documented fact.
Second, these rabbits, ducks and chicks also become
an added expense borne by local humane societies. After
each Strawberry Festival, many humane societies and
animal control agencies report an increase in the number
of these surrendered pets, usually attributed to the
unexpected cost of caring for the pets by the new owners.
Local humane societies are often confronted with the
expense of housing and feeding a surplus of these special
pets, who may end up being euthanized because of lack
of space.
Third, many of these animals are sometimes mistreated
and/or treated cruelly by their new owners, many of
whom are youngsters. We have received reports of rabbits
and baby birds having their limbs broken at the festival
by careless young boys and girls, who play with them
as if they were toys or dolls. Clearly, offering pets
as prizes is not an idea worthy of your fine festival.
There are many alternatives that can avoid all of these
issues: simply require the vendors to offer plush toys
or stuffed animals as prizes. This alternative would
solve all the issues at once and make our jobs much
easier.
I am more than willing to attend your next committee
meeting, so that I can address your board as a whole
and make a brief, formal presentation. The facts and
ideas presented in this correspondence are also supported
by almost all veterinarians in our area, especially
Dr. Gregory Rich, whose practice is limited to birds,
reptiles and exotics.
I request that you kindly make copies of my letter
and distribute it to each member of your committee so
that you may discuss and vote on this issue as soon
as possible. I can be reached by phone at 901-268-4432
or by email at stopcruelty11@gmail.com.
The Humane Society of Louisiana, based in New Orleans,
is one of the largest animal advocacy organizations
in the state, with 12 chapters throughout the region.
For more information, please call 1-888-6-humane or
visit their website at www.humanela.org.
DECEMBER
2012
Humane Society Launches Pet Holiday Food
Drive to Aid Animals in Need
(New Orleans, LA) -- The Humane Society of Louisiana
is seeking donations of pet food to help feed less fortunate
animals in need during the holiday season. The group
is seeking donations of dry and canned food for both
dogs and cats, toys, treats, blankets, and plastic pet
carriers in time for the upcoming holidays. The items
will be used to support the operations of the group's
animal sanctuary, located in Tylertown, Mississippi,
which is home to more than 200 formerly abused or orphaned
animals. The group is currently caring for dogs, cats,
donkeys, horses, ferrets, ducks, and geese. Donated
items can be dropped off at the Dog Day Afternoon boarding
salon, located at 4734 Magazine Street, New Orleans
during normal business hours. Monetary contributions
and gift certificates to pet stores or Wal-mart are
also welcome. Donated items will also be distributed
to low-income pet owners over the holidays. The pet
food drive will last through the first week of January.
For more information, please call the humane society
at 1-888-6-humane. The Humane Society of Louisiana was
founded in 1988 and is one of the largest animal advocacy
organizations in the state. Please visit their website
at www.humanela.org for more ways to help.
July
2011
Witness Sees Kittens Thrown out of Moving Vehicle
in New Orleans East;
Second Witness Finds Other Kitten Carcasses on Ames
Blvd. Humane Society Seeks Assistance From the Public
and Police
(New Orleans, LA) -- James McAllister was driving on
I-10, traveling from Mississippi to New Orleans near
the Bullard exit on July 9th, when he saw an arm outstretched
and then kittens being tossed on to the interstate.
Horrified, James followed two trucks, which appeared
to be traveling in tandem, and whose occupants appeared
to involved in the crime and called in their license
tag numbers to 911. All of the kittens were immediately
run over by moving vehicles.
To follow up on his 911 call, Mr. McAllister visited
the 2nd District to inquire about the status of his
complaint. The desk officer reviewed his complaint and
responded that the report was marked as "unfounded."
When informed of this development, Mr. McAllister immediately
called the 7th District, whose jurisdiction includes
Bullard Ave, to determine why no action was taken on
his complaint. However, none of Mr. McAllister's calls
has been returned at the time of this writing.
"We are deeply disturbed to hear that the police
have apparently not acted on this information in a timely
manner. At no time was Mr. McAllister contacted or asked
to give a statement, even though he clearly was a witness
to a commission of a crime, and a felony at that,"
says Jeff Dorson, HSL Director. "We intend to bring
this matter up with the Commander of the 7th District
and Superintendent Serpas within the next 34 hours.
It is important to act on this information quickly,
so that the trail does not go cold. We want to hold
the officers responsible for apparently not acting on
this time-sensitive information," adds Dorson.
In a second case involving additional cats and kittens
thrown from moving vehicles, Ms. Juliana Ackil, a Jefferson
Parish teacher, found the carcasses of two kittens in
the middle of Ames Blvd, near LaPalco, and rescued another
young cat who is suspected of being hit by a car and
suffered nerve damage to her front leg. Now named "Hoppy,"
the cat is expected to have her leg amputated.
"All of these cats were found in the middle of
the road. In my experience of raising and caring for
cats for many years, I know that cats are afraid of
loud noises and passing cars. They would not attempt
to cross a busy intersection. I suspect that they were
all thrown into traffic from one or more moving vehicles,"
says Juliana, who is now nursing Hoppy back to health.
Both Juliana and James will be available to speak to
the media on Monday, July 11th at 2 pm in the parking
lot of Burger King on the corner of LaPalco and Ames
Blvd. Hoppy will also be present.
What: Interview with Mr. James McAllister who witnessed
kittens thrown into moving traffic and Ms. Juliana Ackil
whose rescued cat is also suspected of being tossed
into traffic.
When: Monday, July 11th, 2-3 pm
Where: parking lot of Burger King, corner of Lapalco
and Ames Blvd - a busy intersection where cat carcasses
have been found in the recent past.
July 2011
COYOTOE CO-EXISTENCE MEETING
Baton Rouge, LA - The Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators
Association (LAWRA) will be holding multiple public
informational meetings across South Louisiana on citizen
coyote co-existence over the next few weeks. LAWRA has
become increasingly concerned about the use of coyote
management techniques that have proven ineffective in
other communities across the United States. "These
meetings will be open to and designed for the public
to have an open discussion on ways for residents to
minimize their contact and deal with their new coyote
neighbors," said LAWRA Vice-President Beau Gast.
"The current management of the population by gunshot
has been scientifically proven through extensive study
to be ineffective and in many cases results in an increase
in the coyote population. It's expensive and simply
doesn't work."
The first public meeting, co-hosted with the Humane
Society of Louisiana, will be held at the Harahan City
Hall on Monday July 11, 2011 at 5:30 PM. The meeting
is free and open to anyone with an interest in co-existing
with coyotes or wanting more information on minimizing
their interactions with coyote. "We are working
with our partners at the Humane Society of Louisiana,
Project Coyote and the Humane Society of the United
States to educate the public and government officials
about coyote biology and the best available sound management
and co-existence policies and techniques," said
Gast.
LAWRA is also working with Project Coyote to create
a comprehensive "co-existing with coyotes"
plan to present to local government officials. LAWRA
will have copies of similar successful plans available
to the public at the meetings. "In other communities
an effective co-existence plan enacted and followed
in cooperation with all the agencies involved resulted
in the coyote population remaining wild and very wary
of people and their pets. In many areas sightings greatly
decreased." Media Availability: Beau Gast, Vice-President
of the Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators Association,
can be reached at 985-789-1061 or bgast@lawraonline.com.
About LAWRA: The Louisiana Wildlife Rehabilitators
Association (LAWRA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is Louisiana's
largest wildlife protection organization providing resources
for Louisiana's Wildlife Rehabilitators and safeguarding
the future of Louisiana's wildlife through the support
of sound wildlife management. Our members take in all
of Louisiana's injured and orphaned wildlife, including
coyotes, for rehabilitation and release and are directly
involved in humane nuisance wildlife management counseling
on a daily basis.
About Project Coyote: Project Coyote is a national
non-profit organization of scientists and educators
promoting coexistence between people and coyotes and
advocating on behalf of North America’s native
Song Dog and other wildlife.
More information: http://www.ProjectCoyote.org
About the Humane Society of Louisiana: The Humane Society
of Louisiana is one of the largest animal protection
groups in the state, with more than 10,000 supporters.
December 2010
Deficiencies Found in Shelter
Inspection Humane Society Asks to Tour Facility
(Lafayette, LA) -- In May of this year, an assessment
report conducted by a representative of the Louisiana
Animal Welfare Commission (LAWC), Dr. Gary Balsamo,
documented several deficiencies pursuant to the operation
of the Roicy Duhon Animal Shelter in a report that was
recently made available to the Humane Society of Louisiana.
The report, among other findings, noted that cats were
housed in less than adequate space and there were too
few shelter workers to efficiently operate the shelter.
Overcrowding conditions have been an ongoing problem
at this facility. Former police officer John Bergeron
who was the police liaison to the shelter from 2004
to 2006 has informed the Humane Society of Louisiana
of serious operational problems at the time of his employment
as well. Officer Bergeron also observed cats housed
in overcrowded conditions, several housed in a single
cage, kept in an unheated and unventilated space, the
shelter garage, which was once described as "an
ugly scene" by employees. Few of the employees,
in Bergeron's opinion, received adequate training or
supervision. The humane society, therefore, is concerned
that these housing conditions constituted criminal activity
committed by shelter personnel, which has never been
properly investigated or addressed.
The Roicey Duhon Animal Shelter has been the center
of controversy for the past several years. More than
three years ago, the shelter and the parish administration
were the subject of a lawsuit filed by several plaintiffs,
Garo Alexanian and a total of thirteen citizens, who
sued to obtain copies of shelter records under the Louisiana
Public Records Act. It is believed that a shift level
investigation report identified to the Humane Society
of Louisiana was improperly withheld from the Alexanian
plaintiffs. Two additional suits have since been filed
against the parish. One petition, filed by Thomas Angers,
a local resident and attorney, seeks damages for the
loss of his cat who was euthanized at the shelter several
years ago, in spite of aggressive attempts to rescue
it because he was not allowed to see the illegal holding
areas thereby revealing further criminal activity.
A new suit, which the Humane Society of Louisiana has
joined with Angers, Edna R. Perkins and Cindy F. North,
also seeks disclosure of public records under the Louisiana
Public Records Act and mandamus and injunctive relief.
The most recent audit filed on behalf of LAWC and dated
May 18 of this year, noted several areas of concern,
among them:
- lack of a written protocol for euthanasia procedures
- both for routine and emergency occurrences
- lack of shelter standards as legislated by parish
ordinance
- failure to perform semi-annual inspections by an authorized
parish official, which is mandated under state law
- lack of signage that informs the public of hours of
operation and emergency phone number, which is also
mandated under state law
- lack of daily observation/report writing for all animals
- lack of moisture prevention safe-guards around electrical
outlets
- lack of sufficient number of sinks to wash food/water
bowls and other equipment
- lack of sufficient room to store supplies and food
and lack of tracking system for food use
- lack of sufficient room (4 square feet) per cat. Cat
area was described as "congested."
- lack of all enclosures that are easily sanitized
- lack of disease control of external parasites for
incoming animals
- need for better response to minimize intestinal parasites,
canine distemper, canine cough, feline upper respiratory
disease, and canine heartworm disease
- lack of temperament testing of canines and lack of
pre-admission vaccination program
- lack of secure area when animals are handled outside
of facility
- lack of an isolation area
- insufficient lighting in some areas
Other problems noted in the report are as follows:
- soiled towels were stored adjacent to food supplies,
which could lead to cross-contamination of infectious
organisms
- accumulation of hair and dirt observed on the ventilation
fans
- use of some plastic, instead of stainless steel bowls
The report also noted that the shelter was understaffed
for the number of animals it housed and the number of
residents served by the parish.
"The shelter report compiled by LAWC shows that
this facility and administration are still lax in their
compliance with state mandated requirements. Fifteen
separate problems were identified in LAWC's May report,
which is fifteen problems too many," says Jeff
Dorson, HSL Director. This shelter has red flags all
around it - and yet the administration pretends that
all is well. We are here to say otherwise. This administration
is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars defending
itself in lawsuits, when it should simply be spending
public funds on addressing the problems that were exposed
by the lawsuits," adds Dorson.
The shelters past history of storing animals in overcrowded
and inhumane conditions constitutes crimes by public
employees and creates civil violations and citizens
who believe they were victims of the operation should
contact their attorneys to explore their legal rights.
To make his own assessment of the shelter operations,
Dorson has filed a request with Ms. Virginia Lee, the
shelter director, to tour the facility within the next
fifteen days. "I am sure that the mayor hopes that
I and other concerned citizens will simply move on to
other issues. But until these problems are resolved
to our satisfaction, our flag will remain planted in
front of this shelter," Dorson says.
November
8, 2010
FORMER POLICE LIAISON REVEALS ILLEGAL OPERATIONS OF
THE ROICY DUHON ANIMAL SHELTER
(Lafayette, LA) -- The Humane Society of Louisiana
(HSL) has learned that the Lafayette Consolidated Government's
Roicy Duhon Animal Shelter operated for years in violation
of Title 3 of the La. Revised Statutes on minimal standards
for animal shelters and routinely killed animals because
of overcrowding and improper storage space.
Capturing, holding and killing animals in spite of inadequate
space and inhumane conditions appears to involve multiple
crimes under the animal cruelty statute because it is
a crime to capture an animal without sufficient space
to hold it, to hold it in overcrowding conditions or
kill it because of overcrowding. It appears therefore
that thousands of civil violations and thousands of
crimes were committed by public employees while on taxpayer
paid payrolls.
The Humane Society urges any citizen who believes his
animal was captured, held or killed illegally to contact
his or her attorney and the Humane Society of Louisiana
at 901-268-4432. The Humane Society of Louisiana interviewed
Officer John Bergeron, longtime Lafayette Police Department
liaison to the shelter.
Officer Bergeron observed many problems during the course
of his tenure associated with the care, housing and
treatment of the sheltered animals and eventually prepared
a shift level report which was turned in to his ranking
officers. The report noted the over-crowded and inhumane
conditions and the lack of sanitation and improper control.
Cats, for example, were denied their legal space requirements
and were grouped often with too many to a cage. The
kennel floors were not sealed, leading the animals exposed
to germs and diseases. Kennel workers, furthermore,
were inadequate in number and not properly trained.
Impounded cats, for example, not properly identified
or separated. In fact, those deemed feral, or wild,
were housed in cages in the unheated and unventilated
garage which is clearly illegal.
In a recent conversation with Mr. Jeff Dorson, Director
of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Mr. Bergeron said
that animals were routinely kept in overcrowded conditions
and put to death because of lack of space during his
tenure - conditions which violate both the state cruelty
statutes and Title 3, section 2463. Officer Bergeron
recommended that a new shelter be built. However, Officer
Bergeron's report and recommendations were dismissed
by his superiors. Officer Bergeron resigned in 2006,citing
the poor conditions at the shelter.
"Overall, we are deeply disturbed by the actions
of LCG and its shelter personnel. There appears to be
a great effort to shield the public from knowing about
the internal affairs of this holding facility, and the
picture that has been painted for us is far from adequate.
It appears that animals were improperly housed in overcrowded,
inhumane and therefore illegal conditions, paperwork
destroyed,and family pets killed. And at the end of
the day, the parish has spent approximately $200,000
in tax payers dollars to defend the very practices we
find unacceptable. Family pets are killed illegally,
remedies and recommendations are not acted upon, suspected
criminal activity is sanctioned and overlooked, paperwork
is destroyed or not made available to the public, and
sheltered animals are subjected to harsh conditions.
Obviously, change has to come to this parish and soon,"
says Dorson.
HSL is also a party to a suit which compels LCG to produce
copies of public documents and reports. "Lafayette
Consolidated Government has spent about $200,000 in
taxpayer money fighting taxpayer and citizen attempts
to gain information, documents and access in order to
review the operations of the shelter. What a tragic
waste of public funds that could have been spent on
the new shelter deemed necessary by the police officer
in charge and ignored by the administration," adds
Dorson.
The Humane Society of Louisiana is one of the largest
animal protection groups in the state, with more than
10,000 supporters. For more information, please visit
their website atwww.humanela.org or call 1-888-6-humane.
October 2010
Inaugural Oak Street Pelican Block Party
Celebrating All Things Pelican!
(New Orleans, LA) -- To keep the attention on the wonderful
world of our coastal marine and wildlife, the Humane
Society of Louisiana is coordinating the inaugural Oak
Street Pelican Block Party with various Oak Street merchants.
Participating stores will be decorating their businesses
with pelicans and other examples of marine life and
offering specials to commemorate the event. Participating
businesses will also donate a percentage of all sales
to the HSL, which was very active in protecting the
environment and the wildlife during the recent Deepwater
Horizon BP oil spill. The group also operates a no-kill
sanctuary in Tylertown, Mississippi, which is home to
more than 200 animals.
Participating stores include The Curry Corner, The
Body Bistro, Blue Cypress Books, Salon Alphonse, Oak
Street Cafe, Oak, Lil' Dave's Alterations, Skip and
Whistle, Scissorman's Paws and Claws, Glue, and Jacques-Imo's.
For every purchase made at these participating stores,
buyers will receive a "pelican sweepstakes card,"
which will be entered into drawings for prizes held
throughout the day. Skip and Whistle has designed and
will sell the official pelican block party t-shirt and
specialty drinks and food will be offered at Oak and
Jacques-Imo's throughout the day.
There will also be a large grooming area. Six area
pet groomers have volunteered to donate their services
and will provide grooming services for a minimum fee
that will be given to the humane society. For a minimum
donation of $10.00, dogs can get a light hair-cut, a
nail trim, and an ear cleaning. The grooming station
will be held on the corner of Dante and Oak Street.
October
2010
Canine Deaths Raise Concerns Humane
Society Requests Formation of K-9 Oversight Committee
(New Orleans, LA) -- In a letter recently sent to Superintendent
Ronal Serpas, the Humane Society of Louisiana has outlined
its reasons to form a citizen's K-9 oversight committee.
If sanctioned by Serpas, committee members would be
allowed to review canine medical reports and inspect
their living quarters. The humane society is requesting
the formation of the committee, in light of the high
number of canine deaths attributed to police officers.
Three trained police dogs, members of the K-9 unit,
died while in officer's care during the past 24 months.
A fourth dog, a family pet, died from malnutrition caused
by his owner, who was a New Orleans police officer at
the time.
According to the humane society, each of the deaths
could have been prevented with better care, sensitivity
and supervision. According to reports compiled by the
humane society and other watchdog agencies, all the
dogs died from simple neglect. For example, Carlos died
from advanced heart worm disease. Phantom died after
falling down an elevator shaft at Charity Hospital.
A third dog, Primo died from heat stroke.
All the dogs' owners eventually faced legal consequences
for their actions. Sergeant Randy Lewis was charged
with malfeasance associated with Phantom's death, charges
which were later withdrawn by the Orleans District Attorney's
Office. Officer Jason Lewis, (no relation to Randy),
recently pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals for allowing
his dog, Primo, to die from cardiac arrest, after being
locked in his vehicle last May. Former officer Nakia
Adams, a ten-year veteran, resigned from the department
earlier this year, after pleading guilty to cruelty
to animals. Ms. Adams was charged with cruelty when
one of her two dogs was found dead from starvation.
Her other dog was severely underweight when picked up
by St. John Animal Control workers.
"Obviously, there has been some gross oversight
on the part of these officers, and their actions have
led to the unnecessary suffering and death of animals,
which does not reflect well on NOPD. Their deaths have
become a serious concern both to our humane organization
and citizens from around the country and world. Shortly
after the story of Primo's death was broadcast, we heard
from angered and concerned citizens from the U.S., Europe
and Japan. We promised those citizens and our residents
that we would not stand by and allow these deaths to
go unnoticed. We collected signatures and sent a petition
signed by more than 1,100 people to the Orleans District
Attorney's office to investigate these alleged crimes,
which they did. The district attorney's efforts secured
the admission of guilt from officer Jason Lewis. However,
we want to follow up with these legal proceeding by
forming an effective "watchdog" committee
whose job it will be to monitor the medical care, housing
and treatment of all police service dogs," said
HSL Director Dorson.
The group is awaiting a response from Superintendent
Serpas.
September
2010
Pit Bull Barely Survives Street Fight
- Canine Found with Multiple Bite Wounds
(New Orleans, LA) -- Cheri Deatsch, a local
attorney and animal rescuer, recently came upon a friendly
2-year old male pit bull, who was living on the streets
in the Eighth Ward. Cheri fed and watered the young
dog for a few days and later made arrangements to get
"Marigny," named after the street he lived
on, in to a foster home.
However, the day before Marigny was scheduled to go
to his new home, the friendly canine was found staggering
the streets, barely able to walk - the victim, according
to the Humane Society of Louisiana, - of a brutal dog
fight. "We suspect that poor Marigny was used in
several practice fights for long periods of time on
either Friday or Saturday night. He was last seen Friday
afternoon and then found with multiple bite wounds,
infected lacerations, and serious injuries late Sunday.
After coaxing the injured and ailing Marigny into her
car, Cheri contacted the Humane Society of Louisiana
which arranged for him to be seen by Dr. Antoine Saaks,
Director of the Animal Medical, located at 4800 Magazine
Street. Marigny was examined and found to have multiple
lacerations on the face (muzzle) and bite and puncture
wounds on the front limbs and pelvic area. Marigny is
also suffering from multiple intestinal and heart parasites.
"We hear that late night street fights are still
a popular past-time in our city's high-crime areas.
Based on the information we are receiving, it appears
that illegal pit bull fighting, which was very popular
before Katrina, is steadily returning to our city. We
are encouraging residents to report all fighting activity
to the proper authorities and call us to try and tend
to the victims of the crime," says Jeff Dorson,
Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana.
The group will showcase Marigny at their anti-dog-fighting
press conference, which will be held on Thursday, September
16th, starting at 2: 30 pm at the Animal Medical Center,
located at 4800 Magazine Street. The Humane Society
of Louisiana is also seeking donations to pay for the
medical care of Marigny. Contributions, which are tax-deductible
can be sent to P.O. Box 740321, New Orleans, LA 70174.
What: Discussion on resurgence of dog fighting in
New Orleans
When: Thursday, September 16th, from 2: 30 to 3:
30 pm
Where: Animal Medical Center, 4800 Magazine Street,
New Orleans
July 9, 2010
Contact Person: Jeff Dorson, HSL Director, 901-268-4432
Activist Files Police Report -
Alleges BP Criminally Abused Animals
(New Orleans, LA) –The Executive Director
of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson, filed
a police report yesterday with the Jefferson Parish
Sheriff's Department, alleging that BP violated several
Parish ordinances hundreds of times since the April
20th blowout of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig. The report
alleges that BP violated the parish animal cruelty codes
and the ordinances that specifically prohibit the exposure
of poisonous materials, the avoidance of mistreatment
of animals, and the littering of waterways.
"I realize this is a modest legal action in light
of the crisis, but I hope it has a significant impact.”
Dorson says. “Every time we see an oil-covered
animal and contaminants in the water we are witnessing
a crime and it should be reported."
Dorson backed his claims with information he gathered
on three visits to the barrier islands in Barataria
Bay off Grand Isle. His photos of oiled birds and oil
globs bobbing in the water, along with statistical counts
of captured animals injured by oil and the number that
subsequently died are included in the police report.
The claim will be reviewed by the Jefferson Parish District
Attorney's Office where the decision on whether to prosecute
will be made. If the matter is tried in court, hundreds
of residents could be called to testify. Dorson says:
“I hope they prosecute and allow us to testify
in open court. We need to stand up for the tens of thousands
of birds and animals who have been in harmed, killed,
or displaced by this criminal activity," Dorson
adds.
Established in 1988, The Humane Society of Louisiana
is one of the state's largest animal protection agencies,
with over 10,000 members and supporters. To tackle many
of the issues surrounding the BP Deep Horizon oil spill,
the group launched Operation Here to Help, which can
be found on Facebook. For more information, please call
1-888-6-humane or visit www.humanela.org.
June 2010
"Renate" Named
Humane Society of Louisiana's "Dog of the Year,"
German Shepherd Survives Neglect and Abandonment
(Crowley, LA) -- The Humane Society of Louisiana has
named Renate, a three-year-old German Shepherd who almost
died from neglect, the organization's 'Dog of the Year.'
Renate, which means "reborn" in German, was
found earlier this year locked inside her kennel at
1803 Albert Venable Road in Church Point, Louisiana.
Her kennel mate, another German Shepherd, was found
dead of starvation and dehydration next to her. Renate
was extremely thin and barely alive when discovered
by Janet Lyons, President of the Acadia Chapter of the
Humane Society of Louisiana and the group's full-time
volunteer investigator. Renate's previous owners, Mark
and Cindy Wingate, abandoned their residence and their
two dogs. Neighbors, alerted by the dogs' deteriorating
condition, finally called the authorities, who discovered
the scene. Local officials contacted Janet Lyons to
help with their investigation.
After removing Renate from her kennel, Ms. Lyons immediately
took the sickly canine to an animal clinic, where she
was examined by a vet. Tests showed that besides being
severely malnourished, Renate was also suffering from
advanced heartworm disease. Renate had to be boarded
at the veterinary clinic for several months, before
she was healthy enough to undergo the heartworm treatment.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Mark and Cindy
Wingate, and Renate is enjoying her new life on a 14-acre
farm. "We wish to thank Janet Lyons for her quick
response, and we wish to put the spotlight on Renate
for all the suffering she and her kennel mate endured
at the hands of her owners. This tragedy could easily
have been prevented by making a simple phone call to
the local animal shelter or by contacting any number
of humane agencies. Instead, the owners simply locked
the kennel doors and drove away, causing their dogs
to endure weeks of suffering and the eventual death
of one of their pets," says Jeff Dorson, HSL Executive
Director. "For all that Renate endured and overcame,
we are naming this special German Shepherd our Dog of
the Year!' Renate will soon be sent a large ribbon,
a basket-full of toys and treats, and a framed certificate.
The Acadia Chapter of the Humane Society, to help pay
for Renate's medical care, has also opened up a special
community anti-cruelty fund and is seeking monetary
donations. Contributions, which are tax deductible,
can be sent to the Humane Society of Louisiana, P.O.
Box 697, Church Point, LA 70525. In the check memo space,
please write "Renate's Fund."
News Release:
May 18, 2010
Contact Information: Janet Lyons (HSL Acadia President)
- 337-654-4392
Jeff Dorson, (HSL Director) 901-268-4432
Local Humane Society Combats Widespread
Animal Abuse
The Acadia Chapter of the Humane Society of Louisiana
has been working non-stop for several months, responding
to reports of animal abuse in a tri-parish area: Acadia,
St. Landry, and Evangeline Parishes. The group was established
more than eight years ago and has investigated thousands
of calls; however, in recent weeks, there has been a
noticeable increase in the number of calls the agency
has received. The group is very small, with only a handful
of volunteers who respond to the calls and care for
the surrendered or confiscated animals. Janet Lyons,
a mother of five and who has received awards for her
volunteer work in the past, heads up the local chapter
and acts as the group's principle cruelty investigator.
Ms. Lyons often works closely with law and code enforcement
agencies to help enforce and uphold the local and state
anti-cruelty ordinances and also has housed and nursed
back to health thousands of injured and abandoned animals.
Ms. Lyons recently responded to two calls, which left
an indelible impression, even on this seasoned investigator.
First, Ms. Lyons responded to a call involving two German
Shepherds who were abandoned by their previous owners.
The dogs were left in their locked kennels at 1803 Albert
Venable Rd, in Church Point, to fend for themselves.
The previous owners, Mark and Cindy Wingate, simply
abandoned the property and failed to relocate the animals
or make any provisions for their future care. By the
time a neighbor contacted an agency, it was almost too
late. One of the confined canines was found dead in
his cage, and the other was barely alive when found.
Now named "Renate," which means "reborn"
in German, the sweet female German Shepherd weighed
only 53 pounds, about 2/3 her normal body weight, when
found. Renate apparently had not eaten in several weeks
and was on death's door, when rescued. Renate was immediately
transported to a veterinary clinic to begin her lengthly
rehabilitation. Renate was also found to be suffering
from advanced heartworm disease. During her stay at
the vet clinic, Renate regained most of her weight,
has begun her heartworm treatment, and is available
for adoption to a loving and understanding home.
More recently, the group was asked to work with the
Acadia Animal Control department, which responded to
a complaint involving more than one dozen cats living
in deplorable conditions. Upon inspection, 18 cats were
found stuffed and living in rabbit cages at 336 1st
Street, in a yard overgrown with weeds and next to a
house full of trash and debris. Piles of feces of up
to eight inches were found under each rabbit cage, and
four to five cats were crammed into the cages, which
space so tight that some of them could not even turn
around.
The group vowed to save as many of the cats as they
could, since they survived such horrible living conditions
for so long. They felt that they owed the cats as much.
Once removed, the 18 cats were bathed and examined by
a local vet, who deemed them all savable. All were sterilized
and some were treated for dental problems and respiratory
diseases. The group has spent more than $1,000 on the
cats to date. Eight of the cats have since been adopted,
with the remaining cats still looking for homes.
The group has established an animal cruelty investigation
community fund and is hopeful that caring individuals
and businesses will help to replenish their empty coffers.
All donations are tax deductible and contributions may
be sent to P.O. Box 697, Church Point, Louisiana 70525.
Checks and money orders should be made out to The Humane
Society of Louisiana. In the check memo space, please
write in "Acadia Chapter."
The Humane Society of Louisiana is the sponsoring agency
of the Acadia Chapter, and is one of the largest animal
protection agencies in the the state. The group is headquartered
in New Orleans, operates a sanctuary in Tylertown, Mississippi,
and oversees seven chapters throughout the state. For
more information, please call 1-888-6-humane or visit
www.humanela.org.
April 2010
Sheriff Deputies Shoot and Kill Owner's
Dog Without Cause. Anguished Owner Plans to File Suit
against Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office
(Metairie, La) - After watching a video on Youtube,
explaining how to make a potato gun, 22 year-old Jordan
Reimer and his friend, Josh DiMaggio, put one together
and tested it. The first attempt on Thursday, March
25th, failed to fire. On Friday, March 26th,around 5:
00 pm they went outside again to test their contraption.
They set up a target on their property, aimed, and fired
the potato gun, which made a large bang. After the successful
firing, Jordan and his friend went back inside.
Twenty minutes later, they heard another large bang
and then another. There in Jordan's yard was a Jefferson
Parish Sheriff's deputy standing in front of his dog,
Sandy, a red-nosed pit bull, which was about three feet
in front of him with his sidearm drawn. Neighbors apparently
had called the police after hearing the discharge from
the potato gun. The first two shots fired by the officer
missed Sandy. Jordan yelled at the officer not to shoot
his dog. He cried that his dog was harmless and wouldn't
bite. The officer looked at Jordan and then looked back
at the dog and proceeded to shoot him as the dog was
turning to run away. The shot caused the dog to collapse
in the yard. The bullet entered into Sandy's back, near
her spine. The dog sat down, turned and looked at her
shooter.
Sobbing, Jordan ran toward this dog, who was now bleeding
profusely, and he cradled her in his arms. Sandy gasped
three to four times and expired in his arms. Jordan
cradled Sandy for the next 30 minutes, sobbing, holding
her in his arms next to his chest. Jordan yelled for
his mom and his friend Josh to get the badge names of
the deputies involved in the shooting. All of them turned
away or covered up their name tags. Josh, meanwhile,
began to hyperventilate and suffered a debilitating
panic attack, with his pulse raising to more than 270.
Josh then had a seizure and blacked out. An ambulance
was dispatched and Josh was taken to the hospital for
treatment.
Jordan was asked by one of the deputies if he wanted
to have the SPCA come over and take away the dog's body.
Jordan said that he just wanted to bury his dog in his
own backyard. He was told that he couldn't do that until
everyone had left. A crime lab technician entered the
property and took photos of the bloody and dead dog,
flopping his body around, in order to take photos.
Before leaving, an officer said that he would be charged
with a noise abatement violation and that the names
of the investigating officers would be listed on his
citation. With that, all the officers left the scene.
No investigation was ever done, no questions were asked.
A young man was simply left in his own yard holding
his lifeless dog in his lap. Jordan was later told that
Officer Shane Rivolo had answered the call and shot
his dog to death.
"This is the epitome of a callous deputy and his
fellow officers, poorly trained in dealing with barking
dogs and the public. 50% of all households have pets,
and dogs will bark at anyone entering their property,
no exception. And, yet, we receive countless calls,
just like this one, where police don't ask any questions,
don't try to ask the owner to restrain their dogs, don't
take any non-lethal, easy-to-use methods of calming
down a barking dog, they simply draw they pistol, and
kill family pets, leaving in their wake a nightmare
for the family to deal with," says Jeff Dorson,
Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana.
The group intends to file a complaint with the internal
affairs division of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office
and will help Jordan prepare a lawsuit against Jefferson
Parish Sheriff's Office for the wrongful death of his
dog and for the subsequent emotional distress and suffering
caused to both Jordan and his friend Josh.
"I never thought that something this terrible would
happen to me in my own home. I am devastated by all
of this: how my wonderful and loving dog was shot to
death in front of me, the course treatment of me and
my family and friends by the police, and their total
lack of sensitivity on every level. I still see Sandy's
face as she lay dying when I wake up each morning,"
says Jordan.
What: Step-by-step review of the shooting of Sandy by
Jordan Reimer, witness and Sandy's owner
When: Monday, April 5th, noon to 1: 00 pm
Where: A residence where shooting occurred, 2521 Elise,
Metairie (near W. Napoleon)
April 2010
Humane Society
of Louisiana Coordinates Supply Drive, Asks Community
to Support Parish Animal Shelter
(St. Martinville, LA) -- The Humane Society of Louisiana
is urging pet lovers and local residents to donate supplies
such as pet food, stainless steel dog and cat bowls,
cat litter, and pet treats and toys to their local shelter
on Saturday, April 10th. The parish-wide collection
drive is part of the Humane Society's Shelter Support
and Appreciation Day, and the group intends to coordinate
the supply drive four times a year.
"The St. Martin Animal Shelter provides a wide
variety of programs and services on a shoestring budget,"
says Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Humane Society
of Louisiana. "The annual operational budget barely
covers their food bill, leaving very little room for
additional purchases. But if community members start
donating food, litter, and toys a few times a year,
it will lower their costs and keep their high level
of services intact. In fact, we probably will use this
as a model to create a statewide Shelter Support and
Appreciation Day, which will benefit all of our sheltering
facilities throughout Louisiana. Therefore, I am hoping,
that St. Martin leads the way in the development of
this new and much-needed community-outreach program."
"We are pleased to support the fine work of the
St.Martin Animal Shelter and the opportunity to work
directly with Parish President Cormier, who recently
toured the shelter with humane society representatives
in December of 2009," adds Dorson.
Just recently the Humane Society of Louisiana was able
to coordinate the delivery of an examination table from
a hospital in LaPlace, purchased a mini-frig for the
facility, and intends to present the parish with a check
for $200.00, to be used for shelter improvements. The
shelter also needs stainless steel cat cages, plastic
dog houses, and outside kennels. Residents can drop
off supplies from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. or call to make
different arrangements for the delivery of donated items.
Schools and civic associations also are encouraged to
collect or purchase items. Monetary gifts also can be
given to the St.Martin shelter. To receive a tax deduction
for financial contributions, checks or money orders
must be made out to the Humane Society of Louisiana.
In the check memo, please write "to support the
St. Martin Shelter."
For more information, please call Monique Louiver at
(337) 394-1220 or the Humane Society of Louisiana at
1-888-6-humane. For additional information on the Humane
Society of Louisiana, please visit their website at
www.humanela.org.
What: Shelter Support and Appreciation Day
When: St. Martin Animal Shelter, 1004 Industrial Park,
St. Martinville
When: Saturday, April 10, 2010, 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.
April 2010
Medical Reports Confirm Public's Suspicions:
Primo, Former NOPD Canine, Died From Heat Exhaustion.
What: Review of medical reports of Primo,
confirming cause of death to be from heat stroke
Where: 816 Baronne Street, New Orleans
When: Wednesday, April 7th, noon to
1:00 pm
(New Orleans, LA) -- In mid-July of last year, the
Metropolitan Crime Commission contacted the Orleans
Parish District Attorney's Office and informed them
that they had received confidential information pertaining
to the death of Primo, a six- year-old Belgian Malinois,
a member of the NOPD K-9 unit. According to MCC's sources,
Officer Jason M. Lewis, Primo's handler, left the dog
unattended in his police car on May 27, 2009, while
Lewis was inside his Algiers home. Upon returning to
his vehicle, Officer Lewis found Primo in severe distress.
Primo had torn up the vehicle's seats and chewed the
armrest trying to escape.
According to the internal reports gathered by the District
Attorney's Office, Officer Lewis drove Primo to the
Algiers Animal Clinic, located on General DeGaulle Avenue.
While en route, Officer Lewis called the clinic and
said that his dog was suffering from "heat stroke."
According to the DA report, Officer Lewis told Dr. Gutter,
"I left him too long."
According to the medical reports prepared by Algiers
Animal Clinic, Primo arrived at their clinic with a
109+ temperature and, severe dehydration, and he was
laterally recumbent and in respiratory distress with
dilated pupils. After reaching a cooler temperature
of 105, Primo was transported to Southeast Veterinary
Specialists for further treatment and evaluation.
Notes taken at Southeast record that Primo was "left
unattended in a vehicle earlier today." Primo suffered
three seizures and finally died of cardiac arrest. Diagnosis
by Dr. Heidi Cobb, the attending veterinarian, noted
that Primo suffered and died from heat stroke.
Other medical reports reached the same conclusion.
According to the LSU Vet School, dogs’ organs fail
if their body temperatures exceeded 108.00 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dr. Marci Miranov , formerly of the Jefferson Animal
Shelter, also reviewed the medical reports and concluded:
"I can tell you that, without a doubt, Primo died
of DIC brought on by heat stroke." The same determination
was also made by the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic
Laboratory, which performed a necropsy and examined
Primo's tissues. All the medical reports ruled out other
causes of death.
An internal administrative investigation, conducted
by NOPD, however, classified Officer Taylor' s actions
as "NON SUSTAINED." This means that their
investigation showed that the above-discussed findings
could not be proved. It was noted by the District Attorney's
Office that the vehicle used by Officer Taylor was never
made available for inspection, which was supposed to
have a backup system to keep the air conditioning unit
running, but only if the ignition was in the "on"
position.
Several months ago, Office Taylor was summoned to appear
and give testimony before a Grand Jury. The jury, however,
failed to indict Taylor, who remains on the force.
In light of the evidence, however, the Humane Society
of Louisiana believes that Office Taylor's actions led
directly to the suffering and subsequent death of Primo
by overheating and that the criminal justice system
and NOPD's Department of Internal Affairs have failed
to adequately address this criminal act. To make the
proper amends for the death of Primo, we are asking
Officer Taylor to voluntarily repay the city for the
cost of treating Primo at Southeast Veterinary Specialists
the amount of $1,259.35, the cost of replacing Primo
with another trained K-9 unit member ($5,000 - $8,.000),
and pay for the damage to his police vehicle caused
by Primo trying to escape ($1,500 estimate). Finally,
the group asks that Officer Taylor requests for an immediate
transfer to a different department. HSL believes that
Officer Taylor is unfit to serve in the K-9 Unit.
Unfortunately, Primo is not the only K-9 unit member
recently to have perished in the last few years while
in custody of NOPD.
Below is a list of three known victims and their cause
of death, from reports compiled by the Metropolitan
Crime Commission:
1. May 27, 2009 Death of Primo by heat stroke
2. June 22, 2009 Death of "Fanthom" from
falling down elevator shaft
3. 2 1/2 years ago (estimated time) Death of "Carlos"
from heart worm disease
February 2010
Humane Society of Louisiana Recognizes
Fire Station #24. Firemen Save Blind Walker Hound.
(New Orleans) - Last year, Lynn Moore and her husband
Brian Budzinsi were walking their dogs and enjoying
the sights near the Mississippi River, by the Industrial
Canal locks. Upon returning home, the dogs were let
off their leashes temporarily to run around the levees.
Moments later, Lynn and Brian heard a splash and some
whimpering. They counted their dogs and noticed that
Huck was missing. Huck is an elderly blind Walker Hound,
who has been a constant companion of Lynn and Brian
for many years. They followed the sounds of the whimpering
and peered down an open drainage pipe, whose cover had
been removed and placed to one side. 10 feet down, they
saw Huck, curled up and dazed by the fall.
In an email to the Humane Society of Louisiana, Lynn
explains what happened next: " My husband called
911 while I joined all of the leashes together and,
on my hands and knees, fished them to the bottom and
lassoed him. I talked to him continuously so he wouldn’t
try to wander off through an adjoining culvert."
Lynn adds, "Firemen from Engine #24 in the Bywater
neighborhood responded within minutes. They couldn’t
have been more professional or serious about the situation.
Their teamwork was astounding, and they knew exactly
what to do. Our dog came through the ordeal with only
minor scrapes, thanks to them."
Soon Huck was rescued, safe, and comforted by Lynn.
"We are so grateful to members of Fire Station
#24 and we wanted to show our appreciation. We contacted
the Humane Society of Louisiana, who, after hearing
of Huck's rescue, immediately agreed to confer a special
plaque-- the group's Golden Heart Award, to members
of the fire station. "We love hearing happy endings
to these type of stories," says Jeff Dorson, Executive
Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, "and
it was easy to see why Lynn and Brian wanted to honor
these firemen. We are honored to be part of this award
ceremony."
Besides presenting members of Station #24 with a plaque
from the Humane Society of Louisiana, Lynn and Brian
will also be presenting the firemen with a special cake.
What: Awards Ceremony Recognizing the Rescue of Huck
by members of Fire Station #24.
Where: Fire Station #24, located at 1040 Poland Ave,
New Orleans
Where: Saturday, February 27th, from 1 - 2: 00 pm
News Release:
For Immediate Use
February, 2010
Humane Society 'Top Dogs' in Indy,
New Orleans Support Their Teams with 'Shelter Bowl'
Challenge
Contact persons: John Aleshire, CEO, Indianapolis
Humane Society - 317.872.5650ext. 104
Jeff Dorson, Executive Director, Humane Society of Louisiana
- 901.268.4432
(Miami, Florida) - The competition between New Orleans
Saints and Indianapolis Colts has both cities eagerly
awaiting the outcome of Superbowl Sunday, and it has
also spurned a newly developed rivalry between the cities’
animal shelters.
Jeff Dorson, Executive Director of the Humane Society
of Louisiana, based in New Orleans, gamely visited the
Indianapolis Humane Society and met with its CEO, John
Aleshire, on Monday, February 1st to discuss general
shelter operations and protocol. However, the discussions
quickly turned to the larger question of which team
would win the Big Game. To underscore the growing rivalry,
Aleshire gave Dorson a present of a package of sugar
cookies, decorated with the Indy logos. To show his
gratitude, Dorson has given Aleshire a copy of the DVD
The Crying Game, to remind him that the outcome of Sunday's
game will probably disappoint him and his staff.
As the upcoming championship football game was discussed,
the two shelter directors envisioned a second contest:
this one played between both shelters. The resulting
Super Shelter Bowl pits the two humane societies against
each other in a race to raise the most funds by midnight
Sunday, February 14th, Valentines' Day The contest is
simple: society supporters and those wishing to show
their support for their favorite football team can make
a donation to either humane society on their websites
or by sending in a contribution by mail. To count in
the tally of the Super Shelter Bowl, donations sent
by mail must be postmarked no later than Saturday, February
14th
The contest has already divided family loyalties within
the Dorson family, which, like the Manning family, has
ties to both New Orleans and Indianapolis. Having been
born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, Jeff Dorson
moved to New Orleans in 1988, where he started the Humane
Society of Louisiana and remains as its Executive Director.
Roland Dorson, Jeff's brother, is the CEO and President
of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, a business
acquaintance of Mr. Aleshire, and has rumored to have
already pledged a contribution to the Indianapolis Humane
Society.
"Having heard that my brother will be giving a
donation to the opposing 'team', I did what any other
sibling would do in such a situation, I ran and told
my Mother," confessed Jeff, younger brother of
Roland. "Unfortunately, my Mom is also a resident
of Indianapolis, and was knitting a "Go Colts"
scarf when I told her, so I am not sure if that will
change the outcome. However, I am preparing myself for
a good fight in this upcoming contest. Hurricane Katrina
tossed us around a little in New Orleans, so I am confident
that we can also take the Humane Society of Indianapolis'
hot air," says Dorson, alluding to Mr. Aleshire
boasts of performing well in this contest.
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