Post by RealPitBull on Sept 24, 2010 7:50:52 GMT -5
Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:48:23 -0700 (PDT)
From: DEBBIE WELSCH <debbiewelsch@
.com>
Hello! This an urgent appeal to qualified organizations who may be able to help us rescue some of the 200+ dogs that were surrendered to the Jefferson County Humane Society (OH) in late August.
First some background information. On August 20th, JCHS was notifieded by local law enforcement that there were approximately 100 dogs on a property in the western part of our County that needed cared for. A search warrant had been executed and the owner was arrested on drug and gun charges. When our first Board Member arrived on scene, we discovered that it was not 100 dogs but over 200 dogs (almost all of whom were pit bulls) plus an estimated 347 other animals including snakes, iguanas, chickens, roosters, ducks, pheasants, quail, exotic birds, wild boars, hissing cockroaches, a turtle and one cat. Except for the dogs and wild boars, all of the other animals (birds, reptiles, etc.) have been placed in new homes.
We realized immediately that a small humane society such as ours would never be able to handle so many animals and we contacted the Humane Society of the United States for assistance. HSUS arrived less than 48 hours after we called and have been tremendous. They organized the removal of the dogs from the residence, set up a temporary shelter and have been able to get a lot of dogs out to rescue groups (mostly along the east coast). However, we just found out that the owner of the facility where the dogs have been housed will not be able to renew the lease which expires in five days on September 28th.
The problem? We still have nearly 70 dogs (all ages, sizes, shapes and colors!) that need rescued and a chance at a real life. You see, these dogs had no life at all. When we arrived at the property in August, all but about five dogs (that were in the front yard and house), were wearing 2-3" collars attached to huge logging chains (approximately 4' long) that were connected to axles pounded in the ground. The temperature was in the 90's. Some had small dog boxes in their "circle" (patches of dirt [or mud when in rained] that were formed from them standing in it night and day.) Others had 50 gallon drums with holes cut in them for "shelter". There was no grass, no bedding, no straw - just dirt and mud. When we arrived that first night, there was no dog food found on the property and no water for any of the dogs to drink! Unfortunately, some of the dogs had to be humanely euthanized due to medical reasons while a few others had severe aggression or were "shut down" both physically and emotionally.
The HSUS is continuing to work with all the remaining dogs. They are being treated for any medical conditions, have been immunized and rabies vaccinated and some have been altered. They have been evaluated for temperament and aggression. Some of them just need a little more time and one-on-one attention to reach their full potential - time that, sadly, we do not have.
Can you help? Please. We are in a desperate situation and just need a little help from a lot of people! Even if you can only help with one or two dogs, that is one or two less that we have to worry about losing.
Some of you who receive this e-mail may have already helped and, for that, you have our undying gratitude. For those of you who may be hearing about this for the first time, please know that we would be so grateful for any assistance you can give us. Even if you can't help, will you do us the favor of sending this on to your contacts? The more people we can reach in the next five days, the better chance we have of saving some of these beautiful babies.
I have attached a few pictures of the dogs that were taken before they were moved to the shelter just so you know I have not exaggerated the situation or the horrible conditions they were being kept in. By the way, although I can not speak specifically about the investigation into this matter, charges will hopefully be filed against the owner in the very near future. We are anxious to see justice for all of the animals.
If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me via e-mail or at (740) 266-2456 night or day.
Thank you for reading my plea for help and, of course, for all that you already do for the animals.
Sincerely,
Debbie Welsch
Jefferson County Humane Society
PO Box 233
Steubenville, OH 43952
Hello! This an urgent appeal to qualified organizations who may be able to help us rescue some of the 200+ dogs that were surrendered to the Jefferson County Humane Society (OH) in late August.
From: DEBBIE WELSCH <debbiewelsch@
.com> Hello! This an urgent appeal to qualified organizations who may be able to help us rescue some of the 200+ dogs that were surrendered to the Jefferson County Humane Society (OH) in late August.
First some background information. On August 20th, JCHS was notifieded by local law enforcement that there were approximately 100 dogs on a property in the western part of our County that needed cared for. A search warrant had been executed and the owner was arrested on drug and gun charges. When our first Board Member arrived on scene, we discovered that it was not 100 dogs but over 200 dogs (almost all of whom were pit bulls) plus an estimated 347 other animals including snakes, iguanas, chickens, roosters, ducks, pheasants, quail, exotic birds, wild boars, hissing cockroaches, a turtle and one cat. Except for the dogs and wild boars, all of the other animals (birds, reptiles, etc.) have been placed in new homes.
We realized immediately that a small humane society such as ours would never be able to handle so many animals and we contacted the Humane Society of the United States for assistance. HSUS arrived less than 48 hours after we called and have been tremendous. They organized the removal of the dogs from the residence, set up a temporary shelter and have been able to get a lot of dogs out to rescue groups (mostly along the east coast). However, we just found out that the owner of the facility where the dogs have been housed will not be able to renew the lease which expires in five days on September 28th.
The problem? We still have nearly 70 dogs (all ages, sizes, shapes and colors!) that need rescued and a chance at a real life. You see, these dogs had no life at all. When we arrived at the property in August, all but about five dogs (that were in the front yard and house), were wearing 2-3" collars attached to huge logging chains (approximately 4' long) that were connected to axles pounded in the ground. The temperature was in the 90's. Some had small dog boxes in their "circle" (patches of dirt [or mud when in rained] that were formed from them standing in it night and day.) Others had 50 gallon drums with holes cut in them for "shelter". There was no grass, no bedding, no straw - just dirt and mud. When we arrived that first night, there was no dog food found on the property and no water for any of the dogs to drink! Unfortunately, some of the dogs had to be humanely euthanized due to medical reasons while a few others had severe aggression or were "shut down" both physically and emotionally.
The HSUS is continuing to work with all the remaining dogs. They are being treated for any medical conditions, have been immunized and rabies vaccinated and some have been altered. They have been evaluated for temperament and aggression. Some of them just need a little more time and one-on-one attention to reach their full potential - time that, sadly, we do not have.
Can you help? Please. We are in a desperate situation and just need a little help from a lot of people! Even if you can only help with one or two dogs, that is one or two less that we have to worry about losing.
Some of you who receive this e-mail may have already helped and, for that, you have our undying gratitude. For those of you who may be hearing about this for the first time, please know that we would be so grateful for any assistance you can give us. Even if you can't help, will you do us the favor of sending this on to your contacts? The more people we can reach in the next five days, the better chance we have of saving some of these beautiful babies.
I have attached a few pictures of the dogs that were taken before they were moved to the shelter just so you know I have not exaggerated the situation or the horrible conditions they were being kept in. By the way, although I can not speak specifically about the investigation into this matter, charges will hopefully be filed against the owner in the very near future. We are anxious to see justice for all of the animals.
If you have any questions or need any further information, please feel free to contact me via e-mail or at (740) 266-2456 night or day.
Thank you for reading my plea for help and, of course, for all that you already do for the animals.
Sincerely,
Debbie Welsch
Jefferson County Humane Society
PO Box 233
Steubenville, OH 43952
Hello! This an urgent appeal to qualified organizations who may be able to help us rescue some of the 200+ dogs that were surrendered to the Jefferson County Humane Society (OH) in late August.
I look forward to learning much here