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Pasado's Story
Pasado Newsletter
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The rescue call came in
the middle of the night - a property manager checked up on a house she
managed and found the tenants gone, and the pets left behind.
When we arrived, we smelled decaying flesh from 50 yards away. Laying on the deck was a ball
of fur - we weren't sure what it was. At closer examination, we found a
cocker spaniel, covered in maggots. |
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Mark Steinway, Co-Founder
of Pasado's Safe Haven, left, gently picks up the dog in a towel - maggots dropped off in white
gobs. |
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Behind the house
we found a shed where a large dog lay. She wasn't moving, but
we could tell she was breathing.
It was the saddest thing we'd
ever seen in all our days
of rescue.
We drove the animals to the
emergency veterinarian. We found out there
was nothing we could do to save the cocker's life - the maggots had eaten
away at her tympanic membrane inside her ear, and were entering her brain. We humanely euthanized her that
night. She died in our arms.
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We returned to
the house and trapped multiple adult cats as well as kittens. No food or water was present
for any of the animals. |
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The owners had taken the time to let the post office know they moved - yet left all their
animals behind to die. |
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After weeks of rehab at
Pasado's Safe Haven, the
St. Bernard found in the shed (who we named Rosie) recovered, as did
the cats. They were placed in loving, wonderful homes.
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But that was just the beginning - we began an aggressive effort to bring the owner of these animals to justice.
We turned detailed reports over to the Sheriff's Animal Control Department
that included documents from the property
manager that stated the owner had owned the two dogs
and cats - no question about it - these were her animals. We submitted a
veterinarian's report that would make you weep. In all the years of the vet's
experience, she stated she had never seen such horrid neglect.
We were convinced the owner would be charged with First Degree Animal Cruelty -
she was not. According to the Sheriff's report, the owner stated the dog was a
stray and wasn't her responsibility. (Even though it was found curled up, barely alive, on
her deck. And was
noted as owned by her on an original rental application). There was no reference in the
Sheriff's report to the other dog who was left without food or water or to the cats.
The Sheriff refused to do anything.
We have faced many cases like this in this county - and it MUST end. If
you live in Snohomish County, Washington - make sure to make your voice
heard when Sheriff Rick Bart comes up for re-election.
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