January 6, 2012
Injured dogs, dead snakes pulled from woman’s home
APL rescues 14 emaciated pitbulls from defunct animal rescue center
By MARGIE NETZEL - mnetzel@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
KINGSVILLE TOWNSHIP — The Ashtabula County Animal Protective League has taken 14 dogs, many wounded or severely emaciated, from a Conneaut woman who claimed she was running a rescue shelter for homeless animals, APL animal advocate Tammy Dondorfer confirmed Thursday.
Shelter workers responded to a Conneaut woman’s call for help with “as many as 40 dogs and just as many pet snakes,” Dondorfer said, as the woman is seriously ill with cancer.
“When we got there, we realized that this was a dire situation and that we were the only ones who could help these animals,” she said.
The dogs — 13 pitbulls and one Great Dane — are in various stages of starvation and dehydration, Dondorfer said, and nearly all have either wounds or severe skin conditions.
The snakes were all found dead in the woman’s home, Dondorfer said. Because there is no exotic animal rescue or shelter in Ashtabula County, the reptiles would have been taken by Edgewood Pet Store and local exotic animal entertainer Jungle Terry.
Dondorfer said the Great Dane was immediately placed with a certified rescue and the pitbulls are all behaviorally sound. All were immediately examined by a veterinarian as they entered the shelter on Green Road and all are on medication.
“The problems we face are massive right now,” she said. “First of all, these are all pitbulls and we have a hard time placing pitbulls almost no matter what the circumstances. Secondly, the veterinarian costs and the cost of medication and rehabilitation for these dogs will be astronomical — just astronomical.”
Dondorfer said the dogs were mostly kept tied up outside and shelter workers’ video recorded two of the dogs as they lapped fresh water for nearly 10 minutes.
“To see dogs so desperate for water – just fresh water — was so sad,” she said.
Dondorfer said the 13 pitbulls will need individualized care and will have to be observed for any food aggression or aggression toward other dogs.
“Right now they are all really friendly given the situation,” she said.
Aside from the added work at the shelter, APL volunteers and employees are working with county Dog Warden Donna Yan and local law enforcement agencies to compel the former owner of the dogs to surrender any other pets she may have in her home, Dondorfer said.
“Right now this lady is not giving us any more access,” she said. “She told us there were as many as 40 dogs in that house and we have 14 of them. But that leaves the question, what happened to the other dogs?”
Dondorfer said the woman claimed to be an open dog rescue center, meaning that she took in dogs of all breeds and sizes.
“But all we got were the 13 pitbulls and the one Great Dane. There could be other pets in there that need help and this woman has just shut down on us,” she said. “We hope she will let us in to help the other animals she has in that house.”
Injured dogs, dead snakes pulled from woman’s home
APL rescues 14 emaciated pitbulls from defunct animal rescue center
By MARGIE NETZEL - mnetzel@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
KINGSVILLE TOWNSHIP — The Ashtabula County Animal Protective League has taken 14 dogs, many wounded or severely emaciated, from a Conneaut woman who claimed she was running a rescue shelter for homeless animals, APL animal advocate Tammy Dondorfer confirmed Thursday.
Shelter workers responded to a Conneaut woman’s call for help with “as many as 40 dogs and just as many pet snakes,” Dondorfer said, as the woman is seriously ill with cancer.
“When we got there, we realized that this was a dire situation and that we were the only ones who could help these animals,” she said.
The dogs — 13 pitbulls and one Great Dane — are in various stages of starvation and dehydration, Dondorfer said, and nearly all have either wounds or severe skin conditions.
The snakes were all found dead in the woman’s home, Dondorfer said. Because there is no exotic animal rescue or shelter in Ashtabula County, the reptiles would have been taken by Edgewood Pet Store and local exotic animal entertainer Jungle Terry.
Dondorfer said the Great Dane was immediately placed with a certified rescue and the pitbulls are all behaviorally sound. All were immediately examined by a veterinarian as they entered the shelter on Green Road and all are on medication.
“The problems we face are massive right now,” she said. “First of all, these are all pitbulls and we have a hard time placing pitbulls almost no matter what the circumstances. Secondly, the veterinarian costs and the cost of medication and rehabilitation for these dogs will be astronomical — just astronomical.”
Dondorfer said the dogs were mostly kept tied up outside and shelter workers’ video recorded two of the dogs as they lapped fresh water for nearly 10 minutes.
“To see dogs so desperate for water – just fresh water — was so sad,” she said.
Dondorfer said the 13 pitbulls will need individualized care and will have to be observed for any food aggression or aggression toward other dogs.
“Right now they are all really friendly given the situation,” she said.
Aside from the added work at the shelter, APL volunteers and employees are working with county Dog Warden Donna Yan and local law enforcement agencies to compel the former owner of the dogs to surrender any other pets she may have in her home, Dondorfer said.
“Right now this lady is not giving us any more access,” she said. “She told us there were as many as 40 dogs in that house and we have 14 of them. But that leaves the question, what happened to the other dogs?”
Dondorfer said the woman claimed to be an open dog rescue center, meaning that she took in dogs of all breeds and sizes.
“But all we got were the 13 pitbulls and the one Great Dane. There could be other pets in there that need help and this woman has just shut down on us,” she said. “We hope she will let us in to help the other animals she has in that house.”
APL swamped with injured, abused dogs
Myra the mottled pitbull looks up from her crate with sad eyes. She enjoys human affection, but winces when someone runs a hand down her back.
Each vertebra of Myra’s spine protrudes from under her taut skin. She sniffs for food everywhere she goes.
“It is a miracle this dog is still alive,” Animal Protective League animal advocate Tammy Dondorfer said. “She will need so much care.”
Myra isn’t the only one. Cedar the mixed breed dog may lose an eye after he was beaten with a shovel. Heath the terrier mix has just a few patches of fur across his skin — the rest is gone due to mange.
“Many of the animals we have right now need serious medical care,” Dondorfer said. “Many of these animals need one-on-one care.”
Dondorfer said the shelter needs foster homes so some of the dogs can recover outside of the noisy shelter environment.
To foster a dog, email Justin Sartori at fosteracapl@gmail.com.
Donations of medical supplies, latex gloves, cleaning solution, any brand of canned dog food and Purina brand dry dog food is needed. Donations can be dropped off at the APL shelter on Green Road or at the adoption center at the Ashtabula Towne Square on Saturdays.
Go to www.acapl.org to print out a flier for the Bob Evans community fundraiser for the APL. The restaurant will donate 15 percent of sales to the shelter on Jan. 15 if you have the flier.
Adoption prices are $20.12 in January for all spayed or neutered dogs and cats. Puppies under six months old are excluded from the sale.
Myra the mottled pitbull looks up from her crate with sad eyes. She enjoys human affection, but winces when someone runs a hand down her back.
Each vertebra of Myra’s spine protrudes from under her taut skin. She sniffs for food everywhere she goes.
“It is a miracle this dog is still alive,” Animal Protective League animal advocate Tammy Dondorfer said. “She will need so much care.”
Myra isn’t the only one. Cedar the mixed breed dog may lose an eye after he was beaten with a shovel. Heath the terrier mix has just a few patches of fur across his skin — the rest is gone due to mange.
“Many of the animals we have right now need serious medical care,” Dondorfer said. “Many of these animals need one-on-one care.”
Dondorfer said the shelter needs foster homes so some of the dogs can recover outside of the noisy shelter environment.
To foster a dog, email Justin Sartori at fosteracapl@gmail.com.
Donations of medical supplies, latex gloves, cleaning solution, any brand of canned dog food and Purina brand dry dog food is needed. Donations can be dropped off at the APL shelter on Green Road or at the adoption center at the Ashtabula Towne Square on Saturdays.
Go to www.acapl.org to print out a flier for the Bob Evans community fundraiser for the APL. The restaurant will donate 15 percent of sales to the shelter on Jan. 15 if you have the flier.
Adoption prices are $20.12 in January for all spayed or neutered dogs and cats. Puppies under six months old are excluded from the sale.
