Summary
DANVILLE Nearly 80 dogs have found refuge at the Boone County Fairground horse stables after being rescued from what witnesses are calling atrocious conditions at a privately run animal shelter. But the owner of that shelter, 53-year-old Trish Bragg, said the animals were being cared for and that there was no reason for the seizure. Boone County sheriffs deputies said they rescued 78 dogs, which are now in the care of the Humane Society of the United States and the sheriffs department. The animals also are being treated to a large donation from national pet supply retailer PetSmart. The dogs, as well as about 20-30 cats, were discovered earlier this week at Safe Haven Animal Rescue Effort, a private animal shelter that was being operated in a former school building in Ottawa, W.Va. But contrary to its name, officials said, the shelter was no sanctuary for the animals. Sheriff Rodney Miller said deputies discovered the animals in squalid conditions. Many were starving and all were living in their own excrement, he said. The stench was absolutely foul, he said. The shelter also lacked water, heat and electricity. It had no utilities at all, Miller said. But when reached for comment by telephone, Bragg said the sheriffs account of the story is totally false. She said all of the animals were well fed, and that she made the 12-mile trip from her home to the shelter twice each day, taking 40 jugs of water and 100 pounds of food with her. Operating a no- kill shelter is no easy task, especially in an economically depressed area like Boone County, she said. Im in an area where people just dont care. These people dump their kids just their animals, she said. She also disputes the number of animals seized. Although authorities say that 78 dogs were removed, she said there were actually 63. And I can tell each one of their names, she said. None of my animals were deprived of food or water. So far, only the dogs have been removed from the site. Miller said deputies plan to obtain warrants today to retrieve the cats. The sheriff said he hoped Bragg will simply sign over ownership of the cats, but will pursue warrants if she is uncooperative. Bragg, however, was shocked to learn that the cats had not been seized. She said she hadnt gone to the shelter at all on Thursday because she was told that all of the animals had been taken away. Miller said Bragg could face an animal cruelty charge for each animal that was rescued. This is being investigated as a criminal case, Miller said, adding that no charges have been filed yet. The animals arent being adopted yet either, said West Virginia Humane Society Director Summer Wyatt. Right now, the animals are considered evidence in a criminal investigation. Once the investigation is wrapped up, workers will start finding good homes for them, she said. They will not go to shelters, Wyatt said. Bragg said there were many success stories at the shelter. She said hundreds of dogs have been adopted out over the past three years. She also said a number of sick animals were made better under her care. Everything has been blown out of proportion, she said. Bragg admits that there were too many animals at the shelter. But she said she decided six months ago to close it down. Bragg contacted the Animal Law Coalition recently. She said the group was actively working to place each of the animals in a new home. She admitted some of the animals were suffering from mange. But she said she couldnt afford the vet bills. She also said that her repeated pleas for help with the shelter were largely ignored. She believes that area veterinarians also conspired to keep low- cost spay/neuter providers out of the area for fear they would have hurt their business. She said the seizure amounts to a publicity stunt by the Humane Association and Pet Smart. Where the hell was Pet Smart when I was asking for help? she said. The Humane Society does nothing to help rural areas. Some of the dogs were in decent shape, when they were found, Wyatt said. But most are suffering from a range of illnesses. A veterinarian brought in by the Humane Society found the animals were dehydrated and malnourished. Some were suffering from severe cataracts, parasites and mange, Wyatt said. According to its website, Safe Haven was started in order to save animals from being euthanized at county animal shelters. The organizations profile on PetFinder.com was updated Aug. 1 to announce that the shelter would no longer accept animals for adoption. Our Director of Operations has resigned and (Safe Haven) will be trying to move the current animals out to rescues in the next few weeks so we can shut the facility down, the update says. Due to constant dumping, overcrowding, a lack of resources and volunteers, we are no longer able to continue operations. The update also made a final plea for donations to help cover veterinary bills. Local resident Susan Ballard-Shreve said she briefly volunteered at the shelter about a year ago. She called conditions at Safe Haven atrocious. Ballard-Shreve was at the fairgrounds Thursday to help Humane Society workers walk dogs and organize supplies. A self- described animal lover, she said she often volunteers in animal shelters around the area. She said conditions at Safe Haven were some of the worst she had ever seen. The shelter apparently was suffering from a lack of funding and volunteers. They had good intentions, Ballard-Shreve said of Safe Haven. But they got in over their heads. Deputy Justin Dalton said that a guard would be on duty to watch over the animals through the night.
TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL PHOTOS A rescued dog peers out one of the horse stables at the Boone County Fairgrounds Thursday afternoon. Authorities rescued 78 dogs from the Safe Haven Animal Rescue Effort in Ottawa, W.Va., and plan to retrieve 20-30 cats today.See the full content of this document
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Deputies Rescue Scores of Dogs
Boone County Deputy Justin Dalton, l...
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