Archives for November, 2008
Carrie and Baxter Update
It looks like we may have to give back Carrie and Baxter. Rob and Marisol Thomas have been trying to keep this from happening. Here is what they are doing, and how you can help!
Animal Updates
Since my last update on November 3rd the following dogs have been adopted: Cajun, Charlie, Cookie, Zoe, Jeb, Gustav, Thaddeux, Boomer, Tina (again), Delta, Butch, Sam, Craig, Maggie, Mallory, Hampton, Jill, Belle, Stayn, Miller, Buddy, Shiloh, Mitch, Mandy, Yody, Baby Girl, Buddy Boy, Eaton, Pharoah, Jada, Piper, Huckleberry, Steffi, Agassi, Dudley, Colonel Louie, Winnie, Raven and TWO cats!!! Junior, and Missi ! Wow. Forty animals in less than a month. Wow. Good luck our little four legged friends. Be good!
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Updates by kerry on Nov 27, 2008. There are comments.
A while back authorities seized 17 malnourished and neglected horses from the Black River Stable in Cherry Plain, Rensselaer County, in Albany, NY. Although the horses were in terrible condition, they were still in service for the owners to make money on their trail-riding business.
The Animal Control officers had been to this farm multiple times in the previous year trying to get Thelma and Mary Wadsworth (the owners) to care properly for these animals. The horses were standing in an open pasture with no grass left, no hay or grain. They had no shelter and only a filthy tub that collected water, which was all they had to drink.
Finally, they couldn’t tolerate it any more. After trying to get them to cooperate the Animal Control Officers went to court and were granted a warrant for seizure. They spent the day calling all local shelters and begging them to take horses if they could. Pets Alive was able to take two, Baxter and Carrie.
Baxter and Carrie were brought to Pets Alive filled with worms. Their bellies were swollen and their ribs were protruding. They were too emaciated to even stand. Carrie’s milk had dried up well before her baby Baxter should have stopped nursing, so he was stunted in his development and malnourished. Baxter’s fur was coming out in patches and his skin was showing through. And since they had been forced to live in a filthy environment where they stood knee high in feces, one side of his small body was covered in it. What’s even scarier is that Carrie and Baxter were actually better off than some of the other horses.
At Pets Alive they were cared for, and fed properly, with the staff going out five times a day to feed them. Immediately, Kerry, Matt and all the workers at Pets Alive began caring for the sick pair. Special hay and grain were bought for them. The vet came out to give them shots, vaccinations and de-worming. Carrie’s teeth were cleaned and her hooves trimmed and both she and Baxter enjoyed baths for the first time. Within three days Baxter went from dragging his head in the dirt to looking around and walking over to be pet and scratched. Mommy and baby were doing wonderfully.
Then, the most shocking and disturbing thing happened. Friday the case went to court and unbelievably the judges (who it should be noted, although well meaning, are not really judges or even lawyers for that matter, but rather elected officials who do whatever the prosecutors tell them to do) has awarded this woman her choice of six horses to take back.
She has chosen to take Baxter and Carrie back. Pets Alive offered her $2000 (that they frankly can’t afford), to buy them, and she countered with almost double the amount! Then, when they offered to pay the $4,000, she took the offer off of the table. WE HAVE SINCE OFFERED HER $10,OOO TO LEAVE THE HORSES WITH PETS ALIVE AND SHE HAS TURNED US DOWN REPEATEDLY. Brad Shear, Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society’s Executive Director, says that he can only suppose that she won’t accept the money because of hurt feelings over this situation and bad things written about her on the Internet.
We can’t imagine what kind of human being would sit by while this happened to another living creature because of a bruised ego and we cannot allow for these horses to be returned to her. We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of these beautiful creatures, but we need your help.
This kind of abuse must be made known and must be stopped. We must fight to put an end to “judges” who view animals merely as merchandise and property to make a living from, no matter what their treatment. These precious animals cannot speak for themselves and they need our help
Please do what you can to help us in this fight. Carrie and Baxter are now so happy and healthy, looking forward to the possibility of good homes rather than going back to the hellish nightmare that they came from with an inhumane proprietor that would not feel an ounce of remorse from starving her animals to death.
If you are as outraged as we are, please let your voices be heard by:
Writing to: www.blackriverstable.com
Contacting: Judge Rechen of Berlin Town Court
You can also contact Brad Shear, Mohawk & Hudson River Humane Society, Executive Director, 518-434-8128 x203, to find out what, if anything you can do to help.
Thanks for listening,
Marisol Thomas, Founder, President, SIDEWALK ANGELS FOUNDATION
Board member, PETS ALIVE
Rob Thomas, Vice President, SIDEWALK ANGELS FOUNDATION
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Updates by kerry on Nov 25, 2008. There are comments.
(Note: the below positions were both filled)
Pets Alive currently needs to fill two positions — a cat caretaker and a horse caretaker. If you are interested in working with animals and can start almost immediately, please email us your resume and a note on why you want this job to: info@petsalive.com.
Cat Caretaker
This position is 36 hours a week and the hours are somewhat flexible to help fit your schedule. The main job is really cleaning, and not playing with cats, so please recognize that. You MUST have no allergies to cats or cleaning products, and be able to work outside as we do have a feral cat area that also needs cleaning and care, even in the winter and the rain. The pay is $10 an hour and we offer corporate benefits only (you can pay for a discounted health plan if you choose to).
Position Summary:
Working within a team setting to oversee the health, well being, and general care of cats.
Essential Duties:
- Preparing food (including special diets; feeding, watering, and medicating cats.
- Socializing with cats, light grooming, watching behavioral issues, feeding patterns, and creating a positive living environment.
- Cleaning work areas and preserving physical appearance of cat buildings and grounds: litter box cleaning, sweeping, dusting, mopping, trash removal, scrubbing, etc.
- Working and interacting with visitors and volunteers: assigning work, answering questions, promoting Pets Alive’s mission, and assisting with their needs.
- Monitoring overall health and behavior of animals and reporting changes/concerns to manager.
- Other duties as assigned.
Experience / Requirements:
- Must work with a positive outlook, be upbeat, energetic, and take initiative.
- Strong desire to work with cats. Previous experience a plus.
- Experience in interacting with the general public.
- Ability to professionally advocate Pets Alive’s positions on issues.
- Basic computer skills helpful.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to routinely lift 40 to 50 pounds.
- Must be able to work in all weather conditions.
Horse Caretaker
Position Summary:
To feed and monitor horses and to ensure standards of care are adhered to.
Description of Duties:
- Attend meetings and provide staff with updates.
- Support company and department standards, procedures and strategic directives.
- Oversee the ordering of supplies, food and medication for the department.
- Perform caregiving duties, feeding, grooming, and maintain a clean working environment.
- Monitor, evaluate and document farrier work.
- Monitor overall health and behavior of animals and report changes/concerns to manager and appropriate individuals/systems.
- Create a healthy and positive living environment for the animals.
- Assist in transporting of animals as requested.
- Interact with volunteers, interns and visitors; answer questions and assist with their needs.
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications/Experience:
- A working knowledge of horses with proven ability to promote a positive, cooperative work environment.
- High level of interpersonal skills. The ideal person for this job is a team player, personable, professional, positive, energetic, proactive, tactful and diplomatic.
- Able to perform strenuous work in adverse and hot weather conditions.
- Able to lift 60 pounds.
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Uncategorized by kerry on Nov 11, 2008. There are comments.
The emails POURED in all day!
Whenever we get down or discouraged, the response from all of you makes this all worthwhile.
Offers of money to help fund the transport, people to drive different legs, ideas, links to places that might help us – were all sent!
We have such a great team and such great supporters.
People with no time or money, pressed for both, OFFERED both – and other resources – everyone pitched in.
They made suggestions, looked up old friends to try to get them to help, offered to fly down and drive the dog back, sent this out far and wide to other lists….
It was amazing.
Collectively – we did it!
This boxer mama and her future pups have been saved thanks to ALL of you!
Not only that but six ten week old puppies that were to be killed along with her – that were just 20 minutes away from being euthanized, are also being added to the transport. They will come to Pets Alive, be spayed and neutered and be placed in loving homes.
Anyone that would still care to make a donation to help cover costs of gas and other necessities – it is of course welcome, but the biggest part of this is done.
THANK YOU ANGEL DOGS for stepping up. You are TRUE ANGELS!
Thank you to EVERYONE who has helped us all day.
They are safe and will soon be in our caring arms.
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Updates by kerry on Nov 07, 2008. There are comments.
EMERGENCY!
Is there anyone that can help us transport a dog from Franklin, Georgia to Nashville, Tennessee – or even from Franklin, Georgia to New York (or anywhere in between where we can meet you halfway perhaps?)
The dog pictured here is a pregnant boxer mix that is scheduled to be euthanized in Franklin, Georgia TODAY at 4:00 PM. We have contacted them and they can hold her for us until tomorrow but that’s IT!We HAVE to get her out of there between today and tomorrow.
We have a transport RIGHT now on their way to Tennessee (Nashville area) to do another rescue for us involving more than 15 dogs and if we can get THIS dog to them, they can bring her back to us…where she can have her babies in peace and safety.
BUT TIME IS CRITICAL!
We need to get her out of this shelter and to Nashville, or back here toward New York.
We have a volunteer willing to drive halfway to meet you if you can get her part of the way.
PLEASE CONTACT US RIGHT AWAY AT info@petsalive.com
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Updates by kerry on Nov 07, 2008. There are comments.
Sanctuary animal updates:
Since our last update on October 16th the following animals were adopted: Honeysuckle, Sugar Ray, Boudreaux, Katie, Aaron, Riley, Kurry, Honey, Wally, Copper, Xavier, Suzy, Al, Kody, JamesBond, Butch, Jean, Billie Jo, Huckleberry, Sadie, Petey, Boone and three FIV cats – Mason, Budha, Sebastian! Wow. That is 25 animals adopted in 18 days! Way to go! This is just so impressive. We did get Tina back, but we already have four adoption applications on her, so I am sure she will be in a new home soon.
Upcoming Events:
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Updates by kerry on Nov 03, 2008. There are comments.