Devore Animal Shelter OUTED!

Recently on Craigslist, I was made aware of an animal shelter of horrors. Devore Animal Shelter of San Bernardino is yet another classic example of why so many people are hesitant to adopt.

A dog named Brownie was recently picked up as a stray and placed in Devore Animal Shelter, where he was found to have a microchip. The owners were alerted, but they couldn't afford to pay the $150 it costed to recover him. Instead of giving Brownie back, or even giving his owners a fair shot, they placed him for adoption. Despite the owners pleads, they refused to give Brownie back and instead euthanized him. I don't even pay $150 in two months to feed four dogs, so what gives DAS the right to charge that much? Ah, yes. Greed.

DAS was also found to have over $300,000 worth of security to ensure the safety of the animals. Instead, they decided to use it on something else, what I haven't found yet, but continued their lax security policies resulting in many animals being stolen from the shelter without so much as a second glance.

From nokillnow.com, there is a disheartening article...

"October 10, 2005 - Devore Animal Shelter
See Pictures Bottom of Page

October 10, 2005 at 12:32 p.m. I received a telephone message from a distressed female voice. She said she worked at the Devore Animal Shelter in San Bernardino and she had to talk to someone. She said the conditions there were "really bad". She read the petition on this website and read the law and said it is not being followed there. She said the animals aren't being treated right and she didn't know who to tell and she wanted advice what to do about it. She was concerned about retribution if anyone knew she was calling.

The same day at 3:45 p.m. I answered the phone and the same woman called back. She identified herself as Kathy Harper and said she was so upset about what she had just seen and now she didn't care anyone if her identity was revealed. She said there had just been a "Rodney King" style beating of a little dachshund-mix by a towering 6' 5" "officer". He was later identified as James Hensley, 'animal control officer' for San Bernardino County Animal Control Services.

She said the uniformed Hensley came in that day in what she characterized as "a horrible mood. It was obvious something was bothering him."

She described how she heard Hensley yelling and cursing while a dog was screaming. "The dogs in nearby cages were going crazy and were very upset". She said the noise was so deafening she couldn't ignore it.

Eric Foor filled in the details. He's a local San Bernardino baseball hero now playing for the Chicago Cubs. He was at Devore working off community service hours when he witnessed the beating. He was equally dismayed over the conditions at Devore and was eager to have someone to talk to.

"He [Hensley] was putting the dog in the cage. The dog was hesitating to go in the cage but a lot of them do that. They're scared. Then he went inside of the cage with the dog. He kicked him 5 or 6 times pretty hard. The dog was yelping. He was talking to the dog the whole time, cursing. Then he pulled a stick from his belt...like a baton but they call it something else."

Then Foor describes the blows. "He reached back way over his head each time and came down really hard. The dog was crying. He hit him about 10 times or so. He didn't have to. It was just a little dog." He saw the 17 pound dog cowering in the corner. He said he never saw the dog make any contact with Hensley.

Foor said, "I wiped off the dog afterward. There was a lot of blood, especially on the dog's head."

Harper describes the moments after the beating. "There was blood everywhere. There was blood on every wall of the cage and on the floor. There was blood on the outside and inside of the bars. Some of it was really thick. I took pictures."

She continued. "He [Hensely] came out of the cage. He walked about 15 feet, picked up something from the floor and then walked back to the cage and started cursing at the dog again. I couldn't see what he was doing but I heard him. About 10 minutes later he went up to the cage and was cussing at the dog. The dog was just laying there.

Foor added, "It was weird. He was talking to the dog. The dog wasn't moving or doing anything."

After I received the call from Harper I immediately drove to the Devore pound. I walked to cage 88 where I was told the dog was beaten. There he was. A little black dog, eyes open and breathing but laying motionless as if petrified and in shock. All of the other dogs were frenetic and exhibiting stress. I noted splatters and splotches of what appeared to be blood on each grey wall, on bars each side of the cage, on the ceiling and on the cage floor. I saw blood on the dog's head, neck, shoulders and back.

I immediately called the sheriff to make an animal cruelty complaint....

"Officer" Hensely has continued to be employed at this same job every day since. Apparently NO action was ever taken against him whatsoever. Reportedly he has refused to talk to the Sheriff and give his account of what happened. As a 'field officer' he is alone with animals all day long.

QUERY: Should someone who could be an animal abuser be employed as an "animal control officer"? Wouldn't a more just result -based on Devore worker statements- be the immediate firing of James Hensley, that he be brought to trial and if convicted, be prohibited from working with animals for life and receive the maximum mandatory jail time that the law allows? Shouldn't convicted abusers also receive mandatory long-term counseling so they don't victimize others throughout their lifetime?

And shouldn't Hensley's 'buddies', County employees and other animal enforcement 'officers' who attempt to cover up the real facts and give false information also be fired and brought to trial?"

You can visit The Devore Beating for more information and pictures. And as for a trial, not ONE of the select body decided to step up and fight for this dog. All attempts to get them to notice the petition failed because they simply ignored it. I guess these guys have more pressing matters to decide... Like which nice, new, big house to buy or which shiny new boat they'd like to own. While they wipe their asses with their hundred dollar bills, the rest of us continue to see that there are more important things that need to be addressed. It's just sickening to see the lack of empathy in the people who have the abilty to slam the gavel and decide a fate.

I've been fairly busy as of late, so I do apologize for the lack of posts. But I graduate soon, and oh yes, there will be more entries. :]

Glynn Johnson pleads NOT GUILTY!

NEW 2/6/08 ****: "The Judge scheduled a Felony Settlement Conference on February 20th at 1:30pm in Dept. 31 at The Riverside County Courthouse 4100 Main St. Riverside, 92501. This will be Glynn Johnson's next court appearance.

Glynn Johnson entered his plea of not guilty to all charges on Tuesday, January 13th. He also waived his right to a speedy trial. Glynn Johnson was ordered by the judge to return on any and all future hearing dates.

Thank you to everyone who came to the courthouse in support of Justice 4 Karley! We were not allowed in the courtroom because it was full but he had to face all of us on his way in and out of the courthouse. The Bailiff of the courtroom said our group was very calm and civilized and said that our group would be allowed at the courthouse anytime based on our respect for the court and peaceful demonstrations in support of Justice 4 Karley.

Our attorney filed a civil lawsuit against Glynn Johnson. He was served immediately following the arraignment. This is another way for our family to seek punishment and Justice 4 Karley."

See, it really DOES pay to act civil in public... I know there are some disgusting people out there, but remember: You're a better person than they are... Respond accordingly, be the bigger person, and you will be recognized as such.

Justice 4 Karley Update

Glynn Johnson, a Riverside Fire Department assisstant fire chief, plead not guilty to the brutal beating that ended in the humane destruction of Karley, a six month old Shepherd mix puppy. He tried snapping her jaws in half, resulting in her jaw breaking, punched her several times with closed fists, claiming that she was attacking, and proceeded to beat her about the head with a rock. She was so severely injured, she had to be PTS. Just how someone could proclaim innocence after having done something like this is beyond me. I haven't been able to find out if he was charged with anything, only that he pleaded innocence, and that's just not going to fly. A website (dailybulletin.com) protecting him and trying to make sense of what he did had this little story:

"Who is Glynn Johnson?
Neighbors and former co-workers said Johnson - who was recently charged with beating a puppy with a rock to the point where it had to be euthanized - is a rough man.

But lawyers for Johnson said he is a loving person, capable of staying calm in high-stress situations.

On Dec. 16, Johnson, 54, of Riverside was arrested for allegedly beating his neighbor's pet with a 12-pound rock.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office that day filed animal cruelty charges as well as felony charges for using a deadly weapon against Johnson.

He is due to be arraigned today in court in Riverside.

If convicted, Johnson could receive four years in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.

On Nov. 3, the 6-month-old puppy Karley had gotten out of her yard in the 17000 block of Armintrout Drive and walked to a nearby house.

A neighbor said he started to take the puppy back home when Johnson approached him and offered to return her instead.

Witnesses to the incident said Johnson beat Karley, according to an arrest declaration.

The Toole family, who owned Karley, said this is not the first time Johnson has harmed a family pet.

About eight years ago, Johnson shot their sheltie-mix Kaulua in the eye with a pellet gun, Jeff Toole said.

"Kahlua and my wife were outside when she heard a pellet shot and the dog yelp," Toole said. "Glynn Johnson was there, and she saw him run back into his house."
The dog survived, but lost her eye.

Johnson was not arrested or cited by police at that time.

Since then, the relationship between the neighbors has remained tense.

For one of Johnson's former co-workers, the news is not shocking.

Dennis Baca, a former employee with Johnson with the county Fire Department, called Johnson a bully, and said he was "always getting into arguments with captains, chiefs, engineers and firefighters."

The Toole family said a group of retired Los Angeles County firefighters recently put together a fund to help pay legal costs for the family when they file a civil case against Johnson.

Johnson - who has been claiming self-defense in the incident - said that the puppy bit him and he was merely trying to protect himself.

And, after reviewing the case, his legal counsel vouched for Johnson's character.

Based on job responsibilities, service recognition and supervisor's comments, Johnson is "someone who knows how to respond in very stressful times and knows how to keep his cool," said Angela Powell, one of his attorneys.

"This is a man who dedicated his life to animal rescue, rescuing individuals who are in peril and has to remain calm in situations of danger.

"This isn't a man who just for no reason would strike out at a dog."

Riverside County sheriff's deputies spoke with Johnson on Nov. 3 while he was being treated at a local hospital for injuries to his left forearm and right thumb, according to the arrest declaration.

Johnson told officials he was acting in self defense because the puppy "turned on him and latched on to his right hand" as he was walking her home.

"After talking to (Johnson), we are confident that he had a good self-defense," Powell said."

What the fuck? Someone who knows how to keep their cool? Didn't I just read that he shot a dog in the eye with a pellet gun for no probable cause, and beat a puppy to death with a 12 pound rock? Maybe we should use a 12-pound rock on the DA's head... Really, where do our morals lie today?




Here is their petition:

http://justice4karley.com/index.html

Please sign and help get Justice for Karley. He was posted with a $10,000 bail, and is currently FREE with a hearing on February 20th. Please, don't let this monster loose on the streets.

A few notes

I still haven't been able to get to the breeding farm and take pictures. In another unfortunate turn of events, I went through my school files and found that my BSL report was never saved. Go figure. Right now I'm sick and sweaty, and it's 80 degrees outside on this fine January afternoon. Damn California. But apparently someone is trying to brighten my spirits, as the Chargers are currently getting shit on by the Steelers. Woo hoo! I may not be a Steelers fan, but I'm always happy to watch the Chargers get a mudhole stomped in them. It doesn't happen all that often, so party it up! :-)

Tank is now very responsive to basic obedience commands. The family is thrilled and they work with him whenever he's out (looks like I've got my work cut out!).

To Monday... huzzah.

Some people need training...

Yesterday I came back from giving my friend her (very late) Christmas present, and my sister told me a story. A family friend came over today; a family friend mentioned a while back, and he was giving my stepdad advice on "training". Tank bolts to hide in his little corner to hide when something scares him, so to try and retrain him, he puts him on a "choke collar". He sits with Tank, and every time Tank tries to run, he gets jerked back. After a while, he let him go and Tank ran straight in his corner to hide and wouldn't come out for quite some time. "The collar is still around his neck", she said, so I went over to see it.

I couldn't see it at first, because it was in his layers of skin (you know, wrinkles), but when I moved them, I was shocked. It was a nylon rope with a sliding ring and metal clip... and I couldn't even fit a FINGER under it, without the dog struggling. It was literally so tight I'm surprised he hadn't died, or at least suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen. And to even think you would put something like this on an English Bulldog is beyond me, let alone recognize the fact that the collar was too small in the first place! I will get a picture of it with my camera phone when I get home.

And guess what? It only took me about an hour to teach him watch me, sit, lay, and get out of the kitchen, with gentle praise and lots of treats because he is a timid dog (until he sees another dog). Isn't it great what you can do when you actually understand an animal? I am constantly reminded that not all people out there can be so gifted as to know things such as "Thou shalt not strangle an animal", or "Thou shalt not overbreed", or even, "Thou shalt not pretend to be a trainer when you don't know SHIT!".

The end.

EDIT : Here are your pictures and again, I find myself banging my head on the desk. My stepdad is yelling at me for removing this horrible thing from around his neck. I have TINY fingers, size 4 1/2 ring, and I still couldn't get but a finger in. I know it goes behind the poll, but even there it is VERY tight and constricting. But "he'll take awesome trainer's word over mine". SWEET. Because I have no idea what I'm doing. Tried taking it off, but got in trouble and again it was put back on. With a little niggling I can fit an index finger through with a tiny bit of spare room, but still, not acceptable. This isn't a case that requires this kind of collar, and my stepdad doesn't seem to get that training collars are for training purposes, not everyday wear. I let Buddy wear his choke collar because it was loose fitted, rust-free, and had all his tags and registrations on it. This is a case that needs to be solved with a neutering, dedicated attention to the dog, focused and consistent training (sit stay leave it watch me lay down come), and, when the time is right, a fitted collar (in his situation a prong collar would be best for moments like walking, on the off-chance we do see another dog).

Updates and Craigslist Humor

First off, I'd like to apologize for the lack of updates. I should have pictures of the farm by Wednesday, but my schedule is stretched as I'm completing everything I need to graduate earlier. Wazzu vet program, here I come!

Here's something funny I found on CL after browsing for jobs. For your entertainment. ;)