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Hoarding - about 200 animals
Dewy Rose, GA (US)Incident Date: Thursday, Jul 28, 2005
County: Elbert
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Sue Wells
» Lynette Rowe
Case Updates: 7 update(s) available
The founder and the president of an Elbert County animal rescue group face a charge of animal cruelty after a dog at their Dewy Rose facility died as an animal control officer was transporting it to be euthanized, the officer said on Aug 9.
Sue Wells, founder of Canine Angels Rescue and Referrals Inc., and Lynette Rowe, the organization's president, each were charged with a single count of cruelty to animals, Elbert County animal control officer Spanky Reed said.
The two were arrested on Aug 4 on the animal cruelty charge and bonded out of the Elbert County Jail the same day, Reed said.
On Feb. 19, 2004, state officials asked the animal rescue to stop taking in animals and reduce their current population to under 100, Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin said. However, he suspects the rescue continued to take in dogs after his office asked the group to stop.
After a routine inspection July 28, the state Department of Agriculture asked that Reed go to Canine Angels, located at 2179 Pulliam Mill Road in Dewy Rose, because of a dog that was possibly in danger, the officer said.
When she arrived at the rescue center, Reed found a red male Pomeranian that could not stand up and was not responsive to her.
Amber Polvere, an area veterinarian who also was called to Canine Angels, estimated the animal would die within four to six hours, Reed said. The dog died that day as Reed was transporting him from Canine Angels.
"It shocked me," Reed said. "I have never known them to have a death on their property."
The following day, the dog was sent to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine for an autopsy. Reed said she expects the results within days.
Wells and Rowe have more than 200 animals on their property. The canines' futures rest with the court system and the agriculture department, Reed said.
Agriculture department spokesman Arty Schronce did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment about the investigation.
The rescue center is not currently taking in any dogs, according to the organization's voice mail message.
Canine Angels is a non-profit organization started in January 1999 out of an Athens home. Because of space constraints, the group relocated in August 2001 to its present site on a 19-acre farm in the Dewy Rose community, located along Georgia Highway 17 between Bowman and Elberton, according to the Canine Angels' Web page.
The group's mission is "to rescue the stray and unwanted dogs, puppies, and other animals in need found throughout our communities," according to its Web page. The rescue is a "no-kill" organization, meaning it does not euthanize animals it cannot adopt out, according to the Web page.
Rowe worked for some years as an animal control officer in Athens-Clarke County, said Patrick Rives, superintendent of the county's animal control department.
In Georgia, cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor. A court date has not been set in the case.
"They both ... appeared to care very deeply about animal rescue," Rives said of Rowe and Wells.
Case UpdatesThe former directors of Northeast Georgia Canine Angels Rescue and Referral have pleaded not guilty to 13 counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty in the State Court of Elbert County.
Sue Wells, 47, and Lynette Rowe, 42, were arraigned Friday on the charges, which stem from an incident in July when they left more than 110 dogs unattended at their Dewy Rose animal sanctuary in July 2006.
The two turned themselves in to the Elbert County Sheriff's Office on July 24, 2006, after state Department of Agriculture officials and Elbert County sheriff's deputies found nine dogs locked inside their home at the shelter and more than 110 dogs in outdoor pens.
Some shelter volunteers knew the women were leaving and took care of the outdoor dogs, but could not reach the nine indoor dogs to give them food or water. Eight of the nine dogs had to be taken for immediate veterinary care, as did four of the outside dogs.
KAT5 is collecting donations through two area vets - Athens Animal Health Center and Good Hope Animal Hospital - and searching for volunteers to help socialize the dogs and help maintain the facility. Potential adopters or volunteers can call Cassandra Koster at (740) 972-6754.
The agriculture department's Animal Protection Division had worked since 2004 with Rowe and Wells to pare down the number of dogs at the 19-acre shelter, which at one time housed 250 dogs.
Canine Angels racked up 62 citations and more than $15,000 in fines from the agriculture department before Wells agreed in May to find homes for all but 15 of the 150 dogs.
Two months later, they left the dogs, and volunteers from KAT5, an organization founded to aid pets left homeless by Hurricane Katrina, came to care for the dogs at the Dewy Rose shelter.
Fifty dogs were transported to the Connecticut Humane Society in early August 2006, but officials there returned about two dozen of them because they weren't used to being around people, KAT5 co-founder Cassandra Koster said.
About 70 dogs remain at the Dewy Rose facility. | Source: Online Athens - September 26, 2006
Update posted on Jan 14, 2008 - 7:38PM |
Two caretakers of a dog sanctuary in Elbert County are wanted on numerous counts of animal cruelty.
Lynette Rowe and Sue Wells, the former caretakers of Canine Angels on Pulliam Mill Road, are each wanted for 13 counts of cruelty to animals, a press release from the Elbert County Sheriff's Department said.
The Elbert County Sheriff's Office, the Elbert County Animal Control Officer and the Department of Agriculture responded to the location out of concerns for animals on the property, the press release said.
Canine Angels has had ongoing issues dating back approximately two years, which has prompted various visits to the facility.
Problems such as overcrowding, poor conditions and lack of life sustaining necessities have been a few of the issues, the sheriff's release said.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture started to monitor the situation in an effort to get Canine Angels back into compliance, but conditions got worse instead of better, the release said.
Approximately four weeks ago, the Department of Agriculture came to the location and pulled Canine Angels's license and was prepared to remove the animals.
After Rowe and Wells were notified of this, they turned ownership of the dogs over to Jim Willis of Tiergarten Sanctuary Trust.
At one point Larry Roberts with KAT 5 Rescue was contacted and got involved with the Department of Agriculture to assist in removing the animals, the release said.
A volunteer of KAT 5 Rescue, Cassandra Coster, was asked to assist with the animals at Canine Angels.
On July 17, Coster was asked to leave the property by Wells and Rowe, the release said.
Wells and Rowe sent a message to Don Hill, an acquaintance of theirs, telling him that they were leaving and not to try and contact or find them, the release said. They also stated that they would not leave a forwarding address.
This prompted a response from Elbert County Sheriff's Office, Elbert County Animal Control and the Department Of Agriculture to the location.
Upon arrival, officials found four animals in urgent need of immediate veterinarian care, the release said. An officer of Elbert County Animal Control took these animals to the local veterinarian, where they were treated.
In the process of removing these animals, one of the animal control officers was taken to Elbert Memorial Hospital for treatment of a bite.
When investigators from the Elbert County Sheriff's Office arrived, it was determined that there were several animals inside of the locked residence, the release said.
Coster had been told by the caretakers to not enter the residence.
A search warrant was obtained by the Elbert County Sheriff's Office to enter the residence and determine the welfare of the animals.
After entering the residence, officials found "horrible" conditions, with a large amount of dog feces and the strong smell of urine, the release said.
There was also no food or water for the animasl found inside the residence.
A licensed veterinarian was called to the scene to assess the dogs and it was determined that eight of the nine dogs in the residence needed immediate care.
A total of 11 dogs were taken into the custody of Elbert County Animal Control for medical treatment, the release said.
Approximately 110 dogs, and 12 cats remain on the premises and are currently in the care of Kat 5 Rescue.
A total of 26 warrants have been taken by the Elbert County Sheriff's Office charging Rowe and Wells with 13 counts each of cruelty to animals. | Source: Best Friends Network - Sept 19, 2006
Update posted on Dec 10, 2006 - 3:21PM |
After months of work, a lot of sacrifice, and more than a few headaches, Kat 5 Animal Rescue is down to just a handful of dogs from the former Canine Angels sanctuary who still need homes.
Representatives of Kat 5 have now left the property of the closed Georgia sanctuary, as the former sanctuary operators, Sue Wells and Lynette Rowe, have returned to take possession of their land.
Over the past several months, Kat 5 has worked with volunteers and other organizations to place more than 130 dogs into homes, rescue groups, and sanctuaries around the country.
Kat 5 Executive Director Susan Meyer calls the outpouring of assistance and support in this effort "heartening."
"There is a lady in California who has donated towards almost every transport for these animals to a safe haven. Rescuers that we know from Katrina have taken time off of work and driven over 60 hours to transport some of these dogs. Local volunteers have dedicated themselves to socializing these dogs. . . . Shelters have opened their hearts to these animals," she says.
"We do this for the animals, the added benefit is seeing humanity at it's finest, people willing to go the extra mile to save the life of an animal."
Despite its success, Kat 5 is still struggling to help about 15 former Canine Angels dogs, many of whom are elderly, shy, or poorly socialized. Please visit http://semperfifarm.com/kat5/ to read about the dogs still in need of homes.
The organization is currently paying to board six of the dogs, while four others are staying at a volunteer's house. An additional five dogs were set loose upon Wells and Rowe's return to the property, and Kat 5 is working with local animal control to try to trap them.
"I want people to know that although we have left the property, we are not done," says Meyer. "We still have animals we are trying to help, and we still need help."
Meyer says the group is still in need of donations to fund the rescue effort, which continues to rack up costs for boarding, feeding, training, and vet care for the remaining animals. The leaders of Kat 5 have reportedly put tens of thousands of their own money into the rescue effort.
The organization is also in need of homes for the remaining dogs, as well as experienced trainers and foster homes to help train, socialize, and evaluate some of the animals.
Many of the dogs at the Canine Angels sanctuary had reportedly gone years with little human contact. After weeks of concentrated work, rescuers were able to turn many of the dogs around, but some were so fearful that volunteers were not able to successfully work with them. Some of these dogs had spent almost all of their lives at the Canine Angels facility.
According to the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Wells and Rowe were just unable to properly care for all the animals on their property � who at one time numbered over 250.
"Personally, from what I understand about hoarders and collectors, that is what they were in our book," says David Gunter, general counsel for the Georgia Department of Agriculture. "They tried to find excuses not to adopt animals out, the animals were dying from fighting one another, and there were terrible conditions for housing, especially during the winter time."
The state Department of Agriculture had cited Rowe and Wells for 62 violations of the animal welfare code, and they had racked up more than $15,000 in fines, before they signed a consent agreement to close the sanctuary in May. Wells and Rowe later reneged on the terms of the consent agreement, trying to prevent the Department of Agriculture from closing the sanctuary and seizing the dogs, and eventually signing over ownership of all the animals to North Carolina animal advocate Jim Willis.
After Kat 5 became involved to care for and place the animals, Rowe and Wells kicked Kat 5 off the property and then abandoned the property and the animals, leaving several animals locked in their trailer without food and water. They are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 22 on 13 counts of animal cruelty in relation to this abandonment.
"I think Kat 5 has done an outstanding job, especially considering the position they jumped into, they put a lot of time and effort into trying to get these animals adopted," Gunter says. "If it had not been for Kat 5, we would still be battling to get these animals adopted."
Gunter says that Rowe and Wells have tried to block the rescue effort from the start, and that they and their supporters made things very difficult for Kat 5.
"There were met with resistance at every turn," he says. "They were basically trying to thwart them at every step in adopting animals out."
In addition to the animal cruelty charges in local court, Gunter says, Rowe and Wells are also still facing an administrative action from the Department of Agriculture, since they violated the terms of the consent agreement.
Gunter says he wants to try to make sure that Rowe and Wells aren't allowed to operate an animal sanctuary in the state again. He also wants to try to figure out a better process to address similar situations in the future.
"We will be addressing it during this legislative session, to see if we can get some funding from the state, and to get agreements with some other organizations and rescue groups," he says. "The next time we have a large number of animals that we need to get away from where they are currently housed, maybe we can figure out a cooperative agreement to get it done."
Please help Kat 5 complete their mission and rescue the rest of the dogs from the former Canine Angels sanctuary. In order to help or get more information, please contact Kat 5 at 214-235-5530 or [email protected], or see their page on the Best Friends Network at style="background-color: #F0F0F0">Source: Best Friends Network - Dec 7, 2006
Update posted on Dec 10, 2006 - 3:03PM |
After two years of turmoil and pressure from the state Department of Agriculture, the Northeast Georgia Canine Angels shelter in Dewy Rose now is closed.
Over the past six months, more than 150 dogs and about a dozen cats were transferred from Canine Angels to shelters across the country, and many have found permanent homes. The last nine dogs were taken from the shelter last week - marking the end of an almost five-month effort to clear out a shelter that once held nearly 200 dogs.
"When I first got to the shelter, there were so many dogs and they were so unsocialized, I thought we had a major tragedy on our hands," said Cassandra Koster, who works as a volunteer with KAT5, a pet rescue group formed in 2005 to help animals left homeless after Hurricane Katrina. The group sent volunteers to the Dewy Rose shelter when the Department of Agriculture began to shut the shelter down over the summer.
"I just feel that we were extremely lucky."
The fact that none of the dogs - deemed unadoptable by many - were euthanized is miraculous to the volunteers, said Koster, who ran Canine Angels since its founders abandoned it in late July.
Sue Wells and Lynette Rowe, who opened the Canine Angels Rescue and Referral Shelter in 1999 in Athens and moved it to a 19-acre farm in Dewy Rose in 2001, were under state pressure since early 2004 to reduce the unwieldy number of animals at the shelter.
Over the past two years, they accumulated 62 citations from the Animal Protection Division of the Department of Agriculture for unhygienic and inhumane conditions at the shelter and had racked up nearly $15,000 in fines.
After missing several state-set deadlines to pare down the number of dogs on the farm, Wells and Rowe abandoned the embattled shelter in July - with nine dogs locked inside a mobile home on the property. The duo currently is facing 13 counts each of misdemeanor cruelty to animals stemming from that incident.
Officials who have worked to investigate possible wrongdoing at the shelter over the past two years say they've learned a lot from the Dewy Rose saga.
"We're glad it's over," said Jeff Simpson, assistant code enforcement officer for Elbert County. "We're glad that a place was found for each one of those dogs. The whole situation really opened our eyes to what is possible."
In response to complaints lodged at the Elbert County Animal Control Department about Canine Angels, the county instituted a kennel-licensing system, Simpson said. The program, started earlier this year, requires county residents who want to keep more than 15 dogs to register with the county.
"That's helped us monitor these types of situations to make sure they don't get out of control," Simpson said.
The local government also changed the policy on responding to reports of abuse; now, officers visit several times to check up on the dogs after their owners are warned. It's a much more serious matter now, Simpson said.
A public relations official with the agriculture department said the department could not comment on whether the department's Animal Protection Division has changed any of its policies on regulating animal shelters because a hearing on Rowe and Well's citations is scheduled in the near future. | Source: Online Athens - Nov 19, 2006
Update posted on Dec 10, 2006 - 2:40PM |
"How Could You?" Author Adopts All "Canine Angels" Dogs and Tells GA Dept. of Ag "No Thanks". Over 150 dogs of the Canine Angels Rescue in Dewy Rose, GA, were saved from an uncertain fate at the hands of the Georgia Department of Agriculture when best-selling author Jim Willis, founder of The Tiergarten Sanctuary Trust, adopted them, He wonders about the coincidence of Dept. of Ag Commissioner Tommy Irvin issuing a press release early this morning offering all of the dogs for adoption at no cost, "as is," beginning June 3, 2006. The DoA plans to shutdown the rescue facility in a move supporters call "unfair" and "persecution."
"I appreciate the State's interest in the future welfare of the dogs," Willis said, "but I and my agents, staff, volunteers, and attorneys will be making responsible decisions about the placement of my dogs."
Irvin's press release stated: "Interested persons should come with a portable kennel to transport the adopted dog. These animals are offered free of charge 'as-is' without warranty, or guarantee of condition on a first-come basis."
Willis said it is another example of a department of agriculture being inadequate to deal with the needs of companion animals. "Everyone in animal welfare and rescue knows what happens to 'free to good home' animals," he said. "They end up as training bait for illegal dogfighting, in laboratory experiments, imprisoned by animal hoarders, or as disposable property with no 'value.'" He said accepted standards of placement and an adoption contract will be used to rehome the dogs and that he and his agents welcome the assistance of other legitimate rescues and sanctuaries. He said Friends of Canine Angels has been communicating with a candidate for DoA commissioner, Gary Black, about his Companion Animal Coalition and proposed companion animal initiative.
"The State of Georgia should be grateful," Willis said "This removes from the State the responsibility of caring for and placing the animals. We have it in writing from the DoA legal services officer that Canine Angels is authorized to transfer ownership of the dogs to legitimate rescues and shelters. What was Canine Angels is now a satellite placement effort of Tiergarten Sanctuary Trust. The State also has more important matters to deal with. Questions about improper behavior of some state and county employees have been raised in the media. In addition to a copy of a petition with over 1,400 signatures in support of Canine Angels being delivered to the Governor today, a sworn affidavit by an eyewitness to some criminal behavior is going to the Governor and the Ag commissioner. We have photographic and other proof that we intend to give to the media. We have media there today and more scheduled to come throughout the week."
Willis is the best-selling author of the book "Pieces of My Heart" and his books have been published in seven countries. He is best known for an essay about an unwanted dog, "How Could You?" that has been translated into over 40 languages. When the story has been read on the radio in major cities such as Toronto, it has stopped traffic as drivers pulled off the road in tears, unable to drive. Whenever it has been published in newspapers, local shelters have seen a surge in adoptions. He founded Tiergarten in Germany in 1990 and has personally been responsible for placing several thousand animals.
"I've been in touch with some of the national animal protection organizations and have asked for their support in this placement effort," Willis said. "Randy Grim, the author known for his book about Quentin the Miracle Dog has written to Irvin and asked him to support this effort. We've got several of the media coming out this week and finally the truth is being told about the wonderful efforts of Canine Angels and its founders Sue Wells and Lynette Rowe. None of us understands why they have been persecuted and we wonder if their private relationship has anything to do with it.
"My story 'How Could You?' has an all too-true sad ending," Willis said. "But for the former dogs of Canine Angels, now my dogs, they can look forward to a future of love and good care as companion animals."
Wells and Rowe said the rescue action by Willis and a group of loyal supporters calling themselves Friends of Canine Angels is nothing short of a miracle.
"Our work isn't done yet," said Don Hill, a former animal control officer supervisor and former director of a Best Friends satellite sanctuary, and now an authorized agent of The Tiergarten Sanctuary Trust. "After we place the dogs in good homes we want Canine Angels' license restored so they can continue their much needed rescue efforts and we want the $15,000 in fines dropped that the DoA is forcing Sue and Lynette to pay. They don't need that. They did the animal welfare work that should have been done by the county for years with very little thanks or assistance."
"It would kill us and cancel out over six years of hardwork if anything bad were to happen to those dogs," Wells said. Wells suffers from multiple sclerosis and supporters say the ordeal of dealing with the DoA and trying to save her animals' lives has exhausted her.
Friends of Canine Angels invites all supporters to come for coffee and doughnuts early June 2, 2006, at the sanctuary. Irvin's press release stated that the DoA adoption effort would begin at 10 a.m.. Willis said adoption and other information will be placed on the Canine Angels website with a link for donations to care and transportation costs for the animals.
"About all the DoA can have then is a cup of coffee and a doughnut. They certainly can't have any of my dogs. They'll be met by friendly Canine Angels supporters and the legal documentation that those dogs are mine and I and my agents will be making all decisions about them. The DoA has no jurisdiction over a sanctuary and The Tiergarten Sanctuary Trust. If they aren't invited onto the property they will be trespassing."
Prospective adopters can come to the facility at 2179 Pulliam Mill Road, Dewy Rose by arrangement. Call 706-213-9001 or 706-296-4488 for more information, e-mail [email protected] and visit their website at http://www.negacanineangels.com/
Everyone is encouraged to sign the on-line petition in support of Canine Angels:
In the international effort to save one of Georgia's most necessary no-kill animal rescue and sanctuary efforts, "Canine Angels," perhaps signer number 915 of the on-line petition that will be presented this week to the Governor, the Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner, and others said it best: "Shame on Georgia!"
Messages of protest from as far away as England, Europe and Australia have circled the internet in an attempt to stop the State from shutting down a no-kill animal rescue effort that has placed over 1,200 animals in adoptive homes in a six-year period, and currently houses 154 dogs and over a dozen cats. Proponents say that the two founders of the animal rescue and sanctuary, one of whom suffers from multiple sclerosis, have been unfairly persecuted by local and state government and ask if officers of some agencies broke the law. Charges against the sanctuary founders were dropped for lack of evidence but they still face $15,000 in fines. The States seeks to shut down the facility on June 3, 2006, and confiscate the remaining dogs. Animal activists say they will block all efforts to do so, including with legal challenges. "We've got some of the biggest names in animal efforts supporting this campaign," said Jim Willis, animal advocate and author of the best-selling book Pieces of My Heart. "There remain several open questions about whether some local and state officials should be charged with animal cruelty. There remain questions about whether Dept. of Ag's Ray DeLuca has a personal vendetta against Canine Angels and a report by a neighbor that he was seen climbing over the sanctuary's fence, and whether a former county animal control officer who was relieved of her duties broke laws and is responsible for the campaign of harrassment conducted against Canine Angels. There are reports that a critically ill dog was planted on their property and 'discovered' by an animal control officer. We've seen the photographic evidence of 'animal control' practices in that county that included driving animals to remote locations, shooting them, covering their bodies in lime and burying them in mass graves. We have eyewitness accounts. You can't tell me that county and maybe state officials didn't know what was going on there. We think the State Attorney General should be asking questions. And meanwhile, there was Canine Angels taking in the animals and finding them homes - including for the two years when there was no public funded shelter."
An independent inspection of the Canine Angels facility and audit of their veterinary medical and adoption records conducted last week by an independent inspector, former animal control officer and Best Friends satellite sanctuary director Don Hills of Augusta, GA found the sanctuary to greatly exceed the level of care expected for such an animal facility. Hills said Canine Angels has struggled to operate in an "ungrateful community."
Willis and other animal advocates say the treatment of Canine Angels founders Sue Wells and Lynette Rowe is "criminal" and instead of being praised for their efforts they have been persecuted, possibly because of their alternative lifestyle. Although an e-mail message from the Dept. of Ag's legal officer was leaked last week that claims that all animals will be sent to other no-kill facilities and no animals will die, Willis said, "They have already proven themselves to be liars - why should we believe them now? Should those innocent animals be terrorized on June 3, 2006 by being hauled off from the only loving security they've probably ever known in their lives, we are asking the media to follow each and every one of them to report on their fate. We expect that fate in the State's hands to be one of Georgia's horrible gas chambers."
A group of animal rescuers and supporters calling themselves Friends of Canine Angels has made arrangements to move some animals to other qualified rescues and no-kill facilities and is actively pursuing those efforts now.
"We still need a lot of help," Willis said, "and updates about the needs will be posted on the Canine Angels website. Mostly, we need more time and with one phone call the Governor of Georgia can give us that. You only have to go to the Canine Angels website and the site created with some of the animals for adoption to see that the facilities are clean and that the animals are fat, healthy and happy."
Supporters of Canine Angels encourage animal lovers worldwide to sign the petition in support of Canine Angels, when it will be sent to state officials and others. "We're asking everybody to call Gov. Perdue at his office �404-656-1776 � Dept. of Ag. Commissioner Tommy Irvin at 404-656-3600 or 800-282-5852, the Animal Protection Division at 404-656-4914, and the Elbert County Commissioners at 706-283-2000 before June 2 and tell them to put a stop to this insanity," Willis said.
He added,"We've already been in touch with the candidate running against Irvin in his bid for re-election. The Governor is up for re-election, too. Animal lovers make up an important part of any constituency and they have economic might - they vote their conscience. We hope Irvin will not be re-elected and there won't be any such repeat of this travesty. Already people in other states and countries are writing to say that if Canine Angels is shut down, they won't be spending their tourist dollars in Georgia. We've tried to be reasonable, we've tried to get the State to listen to reason. I can tell you one thing - if they stress and terrorize one animal by removing them from Canine Angels's premises, then they are in for the fight of their political careers." | Source: Dogsters News - May 31, 2006
Update posted on Jun 1, 2006 - 10:55PM |
Georgia Department of Agriculture's threat to shutdown a well-known animal rescue and sanctuary near Athens draws international protest from animal advocates who call for a boycott of Georgia and Elbert County.
One of the most published animal advocates in the world is calling for Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to intervene and save a well-known no-kill animal sanctuary, Canine Angels in Dewy Rose near Athens from being shut down. Author Jim Willis whose essay "How Could You?" has been published in over 40 languages and whose best-selling book "Pieces of My Heart" has been published in seven countries says the State's treatment of Canine Angels and its founders Sue Wells and Lynette Rowe is "criminal."
Wells and Rowe ran into legal difficulties with Georgia's Department of Agriculture and were charged with animal cruelty. All charges were later dropped but in the plea bargaining Canine Angels will be forced to give up about 90 dogs and over a dozen cats by June 3, 2006 and faces fines of $15,000. Local animal welfare advocates say a former county animal control officer who was fired was instrumental in causing difficulty for Canine Angels. They have documented animal control abuses in the county that include shooting animals in remote locations and burying their bodies in pits. Animal advocates from as far away as Europe and Australia are gearing up for a protest action that could include asking animal-lovers everywhere to boycott the State of Georgia and Elbert County.
"The charges were totally unfounded and caused them to lose donors and volunteers and adopters," Willis said and stated he was flooded with information that included eyewitness accounts and photographs about the sanctuary and the excellent condition of the animals as well as suspicious actions of the authorities, especially the former animal control officer.
An independent investigation and audit of Canine Angels was conducted this week by the former director of a Best Friends satellite sanctuary and former animal control officer, Don Hill of Augusta, GA. His report states that the sanctuary is well above acceptable standards in the care and housing of animals. Hill said he can see no valid reason for the Dept. of Ag's persecution of Wells and Rowe or the treatment they have experienced in "an ungrateful community."
"I think they have a real basis to sue for damages," Willis said. "Sue and Lynette have driven themselves to exhaustion and the poorhouse saving those animals, restoring them to health, and basically taking over the responsibilities of the community and local government for animal care. Instead of being praised for their efforts and assisted, they've been persecuted. Worse, the authorities plan to seize the animals and banish them to kill shelters where their fate is certain. The State browbeat them into submission and forced them to accept a bad deal that Sue agreed to as the only chance to save her animals' lives. Meanwhile, there is illegal dogfighting going on down the road from Canine Angels and the authorities are ignoring that situation!"
Willis further said that the lifestyle orientation of some of the principals may have more to do with lack of cooperation from State officials than animal welfare issues. Animal advocates say if the State does not intervene and grant the sanctuary more time to reduce its animal population by adopting out animals and allow it to continue operating as a no-kill facility, and drop the fines imposed on Wells and Rowe, they will call for an economic boycott.
"Americans keep more pets and spend more money on their pets than any country in the world," Willis said. "We pour over $38 billion per year into the national economy. We vote our conscience and we have economic might. We've already heard from the political opponent of the Dept. of Ag commissioner. Canine Angels has been spending money locally, struggling for existence, and has been basically ignored, including by the media. The allegations about the improprieties committed by some officials, the lies and concerted effort to bring down such a fine animal rescue and placement effort are out there and should be investigated."
"It is nothing short of scandalous what the authorities in Georgia have done to these two women. And in the process they have put their animals in jeopardy. We know from reputable sources that the animals at Canine Angels are healthy and live in sanitary conditions. They are getting proper care, exercise, love, and are able to live without the threat of a premature death," wrote Mary Alice Pollard in Cornwall, England, to the international animal welfare community. Pollard represents the International Organization for Animal Protection, affiliated with the United Nations Department of Public Information, and founded Cornwall's Voice for Animals.
Willis, Pollard and other animal advocates are circulating contact information for county and state departments and the media and asking animal lovers worldwide to join the protest. He is confident the Governor will respond. An on-line petition in support of Canine Angels is gathering hundreds of signatures per day:
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"We're asking everybody to call Gov. Perdue at his office �404-656-1776 � Dept. of Ag. Commissioner Tommy Irvin at 404-656-3600 or 800-282-5852, the Animal Protection Division at 404-656-4914, and the Elbert County Commissioners at 706-283-2000," Willis said.
He added, "Georgia has a governor who is also a veterinarian, he is the father of a minister, he and the First Lady have been foster parents of children and she has volunteered for a children's youth ministry. These are compassionate, educated, sensible people of faith. Surely they can see that what Georgia's Dept. of Agriculture and Elbert County are trying to do to Canine Angels is criminal. Their actions are definitely sending a wrong message about Georgia."
In her appeal for support for Canine Angels, Mary Alice Pollard stated "Recently I've read increasingly more about animal shelters in the USA where the animals are abused by their 'caretakers' and killed in the most horrific ways � and this in public funded facilities. I think it is time the media demand that the authorities start cleaning up the real problems over there!" | Source: PR Web Newswire - May 29, 2006
Update posted on May 29, 2006 - 12:11AM |
A pair of Elbert County animal rescuers charged with animal cruelty have agreed to cut the number of dogs they keep at their farm.
Sue Wells said it was love for animals that led her and Lynette Rowe to take in about 200 animals.
Wells Rowe are the co-owners of Canine Angels Rescue and Referral. They have been under fire since late July, when state and local investigators found a dying Pomeranian dog at their farm.
The state Department of Agriculture notified Elbert County animal control officers who charged Wells and Rowe with animal cruelty. Agriculture department officials suspect internal and external parasites led to the death of the dog.
Although Wells and Rowe maintain their innocence, Wells says they tried to help too many animals.
Now, the pair are shipping off dogs to other rescues that can better handle the animals.
So far, Wells and Rowe have shipped 45 dogs to shelters in the Northeast.
They are scheduled to meet Wednesday with agriculture department officials. The officials originally wanted to revoke the facility's license, but now just want the rescue owners to reduce their number of dogs.
Wells and Rowe pleaded not guilty to the animal cruelty charge last month. The two are scheduled to appear in Elbert County Magistrate Court on November 14. | Source: Access North Georgia - Oct 10, 2005
Update posted on Oct 10, 2005 - 8:39AM |
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