Animal Abuse!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJGRtQz4TLo&feature=youtu.be

I caught wind of this story yesterday, and commented on Facebook about it.  I woke up thinking about it.  I spoke to Matt, the founder about it this morning.  It seems everyone is turning a blind eye and I can't understand it.

This property location is 39 Dana Street in the city of Rochester.  I won't implicate anyone by printing their name, but this is a horrific crime happening right under the noses of all law enforcement, and they are all aware, and not doing a thing about it. 

I just don't understand the mentality and politics of the Humane Society, Animal Control Services, and most police officers, when it comes to blatant animal abuse, and turning a blind eye.  If someone can set me straight, I would love to hear.  Am going to try to post the story here, and I hope you are able to view the video that PAWS (Providing Animal Welfare Services) took.  They are a group that goes around the city trying to make a dogs life a little more comfortable by providing it shelter in its own yard, and trying to educate the owners on responsiblity ownership of an animal.

Here is the story on PAWS facebook page:

Many people have no idea of the state of animal welfare in our community. PAWS was founded on the basis of changing our community through helping people become responsible pet owners. We realize we cannot help everyone and certain situati...ons require the assistance of law enforcement. Unfortunately, we felt the need to bring this particular case, and this story, presented in the video, forward. We will tell you the facts about what happened on 1/14/2013 at a residence we were called about in the City of Rochester.


Matt was contacted by a concerned resident about possible severe neglect at this residence and an opportunity to provide assistance. After contacting the dog’s owner and offering assistance, the owner decided he did not want any assistance from PAWS. Matt felt without outside assistance, the dogs at this location, were in severe jeopardy.

So Matt contacted 911. Both Rochester Animal Control and the Head of Law Enforcement for the Humane Society arrived to investigate;

What happened next is deeply disturbing to us. After a brief cursory check, the owner was given a week to make corrections to the situation. We are deeply concerned as the current situation these dogs are in requires immediate action.

1. The first thing you notice in the video is the condition of the dogs’ living area. It is obvious the dogs live in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

2. There is dangerous trash and debris that numerous puppies are living in.

3. A severely tight chain is around the one female’s neck, which can very easily become embedded.

4. Concerning the body condition of the female, it is clear she is severely underweight. You can see all her vertebrae and bones. You can also see she is provided bread to eat and there is no water available for her or the puppies. This is in no way proper nutrition to keep herself, let alone her puppies, alive. It is also evident she is nursing, and she and her puppies are kept outside in these conditions.

5. There is no adequate shelter, per NYS law, at the location. The dogs are living under a pickup truck canopy on the dirt. This provides no means for the dog or puppies, who appear to be about six weeks old, to stay warm. The temperature at 1:00 pm yesterday was 34 degrees. Certainly, this was not an acceptable temperature for puppies to be out without proper shelter.

6. There is also another dog in the back of the yard who has no shelter at all and is lying on the cold, muddy ground.

7. Over the next five days the fore casted lows for Rochester is 29(Tuesday) 28(Wednesday) 21 (Thursday with snow) 31(Friday with snow) and 28(Saturday)

To PAWS, this is a case of severe neglect, one of which we work hard to stop on a daily basis. Are these dogs and pups in danger? Yes. Is this abuse and neglect? Yes.

The video attached was taken the previous day, Sunday 01/13/2013. Please watch and decide for yourself.

What makes this all the more disturbing is the fact when a call was placed to 911, by one of PAWS representatives, two of PAWS representatives waited for 40 minutes for anyone to arrive. During that time, they watched from another location a vast amount of activity take place involving the puppies, in which they were being shuffled and carted off the property into neighboring houses by means of duffle bags, backpacks, and a stroller. Even during the time Law Enforcement was there, it was blatantly being done. After our one representative had to leave the scene, our other representative stayed on and pointed this out to an RPD officer. Nothing was done. Unfortunately, we were also informed by a neighbor, after Law Enforcement left, the owner began to hand out the puppies to people on the street. What further worsens the situation is not only by the fact when giving away puppies too young and without any veterinary care,you are endangering not only their lives, but the lives of other animals in which they come into contact with by being put back into the community. The ones who survive will most likely contribute to the overpopulation and vast amount of unaltered dogs this community is already facing. Also, it is putting the mother at risk of mastitis from not being able to nurse the puppies.

So the dogs continue to live as they do in the video. More dogs are on the streets. No license checks, no tickets, no accountability.

Matt did leave straw on Sunday, in hopes the owner would use it to help keep his dogs warm and dry. We were recently informed the owner did use it and put it out, as we are being updated on the situation regularly. This is due to our strong connections rooted deep into our city.

Many people want to know the true nature of animal welfare in our community. This is just one case that shows what is really going on. PAWS continues to work in order to change our community. We will be assisting neighbors in this area with both spaying and neutering, vaccinations, alongside proper education.

Matt wanted to express the following:

“I have been informed by a neighbor, this activity of litters being constantly produced at this property has been going on for two years, and nothing has ever been done. I have seen hundreds upon hundreds of situations like this and worse, and for 11 years, outside of one former SPCA officer, nothing was often done. It’s sad to say I came to a point in which I had the utmost confidence when I placed calls on every situation I came across, often such as the one in the video, and often times worse, nothing would be done. I have been around animals my entire life, and in this video you can see the one female dog is desperately trying to direct us to look under the canopy.”

“This entire scene is what I’ve endured countless times, only to be let down with local law enforcement designed to protect the animals and their welfare. This city’s animal welfare is only going to continue to spiral out of control, if we don’t get the community behind us and make a change. I am really sorry if I am offending anyone, but it is what it is. I have endured seeing this for many years and nothing has changed. It is beyond critical, at this time, to put a stop to it immediately and change the face of animal welfare in our city.”

We are and will always be "boots on".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJGRtQz4TLo&feature=youtu.be