Rehabilitation
Begins
August 11, 2009
The six rescued dogs got to spend a relaxing
weekend in 24-hour care. They are recovering
from the obviously stressful ordeal they've just
been through.
The three Shih Tzus who were in the worst shape
are now much more active and even wagging their
tails when you talk to them. Volunteers have
been here simply to give these dogs the love
they've been missing. The other three Westies
are enjoying walks in the sanctuary and cuddles
from volunteers as well. Today they visited our
onsite Pasado's Safe Haven Veterinarian...
Pasado's Safe Haven's onsite Veterinarian, Dr. V.,
has given all six dogs a thorough examination
today at the sanctuary clinic (image right).
The prognosis is improving, however Dr. V. is
sure that long term rehabilitation will be
needed for these little ones. They have several
medical issues including, but not limited to: previous broken bones in their feet, toenails growing in different directions, ongoing infections, sores, skin irritations, and rotting teeth.
These dogs also need to learn how to act like normal dogs. From our understanding, they have not been outside or potty trained, or taught how to walk on a leash. But the most surprising thing we found is how loving these dogs are after all they've been through.
It is a joy to see these sweet souls exploring their world on their own feet (which are now free from being encased in solid mats) for the first time in who knows how long.
We are awaiting blood test results. Please keep checking back for more updates.
Only the goodness of supporters like you make
these miracles possible. Help us continue to do
this amazing work for the animals. A donation,
small or large, will mean so much.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to Sergeant Morris
from King County Animal Control and all other King County officials that were
there that day working with Pasado's Safe Haven on this heartbreaking case.
Thanks to Edmonds Westgate Veterinary Hospital and staff: Dr. Carol E. and Vet Techs Christina and Melissa. And thanks to VCA Sno-Wood Veterinary Hospital and staff: Dr. Amy R. and Vet Techs Louise, Karen, Carla, and Dragana for all your help with the
care of these sweet beings.
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Update
August 9, 2009
Three Shih Tzus and three West Highland white terriers are now on their way to recovery; but it will be a long haul for them.
After rescue on Friday (see below for history of the rescue), PasadoRescuers swiftly shuttled the animals they could barely identify as dogs, to veterinarians.
And everyone got to work.
The animals could barely move. Their feet were so swollen with years of matted fur
that their pads never touched the ground. Their
nails so long that they grew in a curve and back into their
paws. Their teeth were rotted; some of them had gums
that were “like mush” as one volunteer described. As the veterinary staff shaved filth-encrusted mats, they literally found garbage that had collected in the mats.
“The vet techs had a hard time trying to shave an enormous mat from under one of the dog’s necks,” Vicki G. recounted. Vicki, a PasadoRescuer this day, typically volunteers at Pasado’s sanctuary as a dedicated weekly dog caretaker. “They struggled to get the matt free and finally, they were successful. That’s when one of the vet techs started scratching the dog’s neck – the dog was in heaven – there is no way to describe how happy she looked. It was the first time in
who knows how long that this dog felt fresh air on her skin. We all cried.”
NO HUMAN TOUCH
As pounds of rotted fur dropped to the floor, PasadoRescuers and vet staff all wondered if the dogs were never given human touch or if, as they suspected, they simply couldn’t feel the touch of a human hand. From the time they were handed off at the scene of the rescue, placed gently into carriers for their quick trip to veterinarians, through the exams, they didn’t seem to react. But it was because they couldn’t; of all of the veteran rescuers and vet staff, no one had witnessed such horrendous neglect.
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WHAT
HAPPENS NEXT
The woman responsible for the condition of the
dogs now awaits her fate. In the meantime, Pasado’s Safe
Haven was given full responsibility for all
veterinary care and long-term rehabilitation.
The rescued dogs are considered "evidence" for now and,
until the disposition of their guardian is
decided, they will remain at Pasado’s sanctuary.
Thanks to the generous support of people like
you, animals like these can be rescued from
criminal seizures and become "whole" again as
they are rehabbed. Like animals who have come
before them, they are provided 24-hour care and
never, ever live in a cage or kennel. Except for
those animals in immediate isolation following
rescue, or following surgical procedures,
recovering dogs, cats, and factory-farmed
animals, can spread their wings. And in this
case, learn to walk again, on 80 acres in the
foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
Animals seized in a sheriff’s raid
nearly two years ago still live at Pasado’s
Safe Haven. Their guardian was convicted of 11
counts of felony animal cruelty; his sentencing
is later this week. We won’t know how long the wheels
of justice might take for these little miracles,
but they’ll be able to wag their way to health,
and learn to trust, in that time. Keep an eye on
this website for updates, and when they may be
available for adoption.
A special thanks to the heroic volunteers who
assisted on Friday; they will play a vital role
in the coming months as these innocents recover.
And thank you to the amazing Pasado’s Safe Haven staff –
who save lives, every day.
We are so grateful to the veterinary staff
(images above) who
helped groom these souls upon rescue. But
animals like these may well require dental,
orthopedic, and other specialty medical help.
Please help us continue this vital work. The county doesn’t pay Pasado’s for rescue efforts. Only the goodness of supporters like you make these miracles possible.
A
donation, small or large, will mean so much.
Ari T., (image right) Pasado’s Safe Haven’s Outreach Manager, after the end of the day of rescue. She sent a message to Pasado’s Founder, that touched our souls…
"Rescuing these poor dogs from those horrible conditions and then being able to see and photograph them today when picking them up from the vet is something I will NEVER forget. I will be forever grateful to Pasado’s Safe Haven for being here to allow me to have such an experience.”
And we, Ari, are forever grateful for your good heart. You are a gift to these souls, and so many more.
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Worst case of dog neglect in Pasado's Safe
Haven's history
Haz mat teams, the Department of Health, King County Animal Control, the Fire Department, Department of Public Health and the Mental Health Department - with Pasado's Safe Haven's rescuers converged; six dogs, matted beyond recognition, were saved.
We had never heard Pasado's Safe Haven's cruelty
investigator, Angel Ray, cry. She has seen
everything. And she's tough. But this time, it
was too much. After hours of climbing through
garbage in gut-retching stench, she wept. "I
couldn't even tell what I was saving. I couldn't
tell they were dogs. I didn't know which end was
which."
This morning capped off over a week of wrangling
to make this rescue happen. In fact, it actually
started years ago. But recent reports, first
made to local authorities, and then to Pasado's
Safe Haven, started an effort that ended up
requiring a task force to take control. For
neighbors who had worried about the dogs they
could hear inside the house, and for Pasado's,
there was no time to wait for a "task force;"
the dogs needed help faster than government
bureaucracy would allow.
After talking with King County Animal Control, the owner agreed to surrender the dogs. The first dog to be handed off
to authorities was the hardest. "I couldn't even tell it was a dog.
It was moving, but there were no legs. No paws.
No pads. I have never seen anything like this."
Five more dogs were then to follow, all in
terrible shape.
HOUSE OF HORRORS
After the six dogs were removed,
Pasado's cruelty investigator along with a
haz-mat team and Sergeant Morris from King
County Animal Control struggled to make their way
through the house and could barely tolerate the
stench. Rat and animal feces covered what you
could see of the floor. Piles of boxes were stacked
all throughout the house. "I suspected I'd find
more animals dead or dying. I didn't want to
miss a thing. I climbed and searched through everything
I could,"
Angel reported. Hours later, the six animals
would be all that she could find.
THE TRUE HEROES
Special thanks to the neighbors who wouldn't be
silenced. It is because of you that these sweet
innocent souls, who suffered in silence, were
given a voice. And now they can begin their
journey to recovery.
Apart from the efforts of King County Animal Control and supportive agencies, and Angel, Pasado's Safe Haven's
staff and volunteers made this heroic day happen. According to Vicki G., a PasadoRescuer, "The feces was so matted
on the dogs that they smelled like they were rotting. We tried to give them water and the first dog tried to find the
water through her mats, which fell into the water. When the dog lifted her head, the water was
filthy."
TIP COMES IN
It started with a call that came into Pasado's Safe Haven on Sunday evening, August 2nd. Stacey, Pasado's astute Admin Assistant, promptly found Angel. Within 24 hours, Angel secured a signed cruelty report by the reporting party and was on her way to the scene just outside
of Seattle.
The house was typical of any suburban neighborhood; at first glance, no one would suspect what a house of horrors lurked behind
those closed doors. But Angel had learned that in 2001-02, dead cats had been allegedly found and other
cats had been rescued. Neighbors who Angel interviewed had reported that the woman who owned the house had
allegedly been a hoarder. One neighbor allowed Angel to use their backyard, which was next door to the house in question.
Angel climbed a ladder and viewed the backyard
which was so neglected that she couldn't get a
good view of it. The smells, sounds and sight of
the house raised several red flags. A photo a neighbor supplied showed what appeared to be a rat walking on a windowsill inside.
Every week, Pasado’s Safe Haven receives reports
from citizens regarding alleged animal neglect
or abuse. They call our organization when little
or no action is taken by the law enforcement
entities responsible for responding to these
cases; or when delays may endanger the lives of
animals.
We take great care to vet the reports and
require reporting parties to sign statements of
fact that can be used in a court of law. We do
not act on rumors. Angel, Pasado’s Safe Haven’s
cruelty investigator and a former animal control
officer, personally investigates credible
cases.
In this case,
the reporting party had called local authorities
on July 30th, but feared actions would not occur
in a timely manner. That's when they called
Pasado's to follow-up.
Despite daily
prompting by Angel, a search warrant still
hadn't been served after eight days. Yesterday,
frustrated and worried about the dogs, Pasado's
Safe Haven asked the media to push the issue. It
is Pasado's position to only rely on media
coverage when action, in our opinion, is not
taking place quickly enough and may endanger the
lives of animals involved.
Pasado's - the only Northwest animal
org that provides rescue and cruelty
investigations
As you've read for nearly two years on
this website, Pasado's was involved in a
sheriff's seizure of animals from Jake
Rider, a man who was finally convicted of 11
counts of felony animal cruelty. As in this
case, Pasado's Safe Haven assumed
responsibility for all of the animals.
Read Jake Rider Story
Here
PLEASE
DONATE TO HELP
These dogs suffered for years and we fully
expect to have to treat the effects of long-term
neglect. Whether it is a cat or a cow, or six
dogs who had no voice until today, we need you
to support what we do. Please make a generous
donation today. And thank you, so very much.
NEWS COVERAGE
CBS Network Affiliate KIRO 7 |
ABC Network Affiliate KOMO 4 |
NBC Network Affiliate KING5
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Seattle Times
MyNorthwest.com
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Care2 News Blog
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King5 Pet Dish Blog
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Seattle Examiner
(don't forget
to ask your employer
to match your donation)
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