Hearts for Hounds

I'm not sure this has made national new (yet) but I thought I'd share a few links about a local rescue that was transporting dogs to VA and was stopped in TN. It is a terrible story and is a giant mess on so many levels. (And, es, I knew the rescue people.)

Today's updated story.


Video (there's a pug).

OMG What a hot mess!!! Thank God they were helped! The place should get rid of those 2 women or they should never be allowed to be involved with animals again!

It did make national news. I didn't realize they were from CA. What a horrible situation. There always needs to be checks and balances in rescue.

You know, awhile back, there was a law called Oreo's Law. It basically proposed that anyone calling themselves a rescue would be able to pull dogs off death row in NY. Best Friends opposed it and got a LOT of flack from people about it. People were calling them all sorts of horrible names, but this story proved their point-anyone can SAY they are a rescue. There wasn't a way, as the law was written to do any sort of follow up or have any guidelines on what constitues a "good" rescue. These people may even have started out with the best of intentions, I don't know. I have a hard time believing how it gets to the point where you say you love animals but then you torture them like this.

I saw this on FB. Just awful. Lisa, if you've known these woman, what do you think is the truth behind all of this?

I've worked with HfH many times over the past many years. Bonnie was always amazing. I think what happened is that she couldn't say no and just kept taking in dogs. She only dealt with small dogs and dogs were dumped on her rescue regularly. When the economy went south and more dogs were dumped (and no one was adopting) she found herself with too many dogs. I think her long term plans were along the lines of Best Friends, but that's not going to happen.

I think there's a fine line between rescue and hoarder (says the woman with 9 cats). It is really difficult to actually see the line when you're crossing it. Bonnie probably crossed it a while ago.

The sad thing is that, AC - that supervised the truck loading and sent them off - is now over compensating for their F-U. (My FB status also reflects that.)

OMG I didn't know you knew these women...wow that's close to home, so to speak...isn't there a law that says a rescue can only 'safely' keep so many?

As for your 9 cats....if they are cared for than who is to say how many you can have & I am sure they have the absolute best, although NC has some laws about that that seem a little lenient as everyone in out neighborhood has several pets...plus the strays are crazy here in NC

There are rescue laws and permits needed for that type of thing. I do know that last summer a law was passed that you cannot keep your dog outside in NC on a leash in the heat for long and that is a federal crime.

I do wish those women did it the right way that way they wouldn't of lost everything....such a sad story!

Not Afraid wrote:I've worked with HfH many times over the past many years. Bonnie was always amazing. I think what happened is that she couldn't say no and just kept taking in dogs. She only dealt with small dogs and dogs were dumped on her rescue regularly. When the economy went south and more dogs were dumped (and no one was adopting) she found herself with too many dogs. I think her long term plans were along the lines of Best Friends, but that's not going to happen.

I think there's a fine line between rescue and hoarder (says the woman with 9 cats). It is really difficult to actually see the line when you're crossing it. Bonnie probably crossed it a while ago.

The sad thing is that, AC - that supervised the truck loading and sent them off - is now over compensating for their F-U. (My FB status also reflects that.)

I think you are right. There is a very fine line sometimes between hoarder and rescuer. One reason why housechecks are important to make sure everyone can take care of the animals they have, and I think it's a lot tougher when it's a one or two person show.

I didn't realize the AC supervised! Ugh! Double ugh!

AC is in a lot of hot water at the moment because of this. I don't know Bonnie well, and certainly not well enough to even TRY and figure out what she was thinking. I do believe they were driving straight through so the dogs had minimum time in the crate - but they obviously were not walked (really, how do you walk 140 dogs every 6 hours?). How do you even transport 140 dogs? The pug in the film clip keeps breaking my heart. I don't know WHY she didn't go to a breed rescue with the pug.

And, yes, my 9 cats (and 2 pugs) are VERY well cared for. But, I'm more than full.