News
Hoarder's Dogs Ready for Foster Homes after 3-Year Life in Shelters
January 05, 2009, 11:12AM MT
By Roni Raczkowski
Legal delays over hoarder case put 33 dogs behind bars; court still holds out on prospect of “forever” homes
Legal delays over hoarder case put 33 dogs behind bars; court still holds out on prospect of “forever” homes
By Roni Raczkowski, Best Friends Network Volunteer
As if the county shelters do not have enough to deal with, the fate of more than 30 dogs that have been living in four area shelters for nearly three years has hung in the balance while they live caged shelter lives. Their only crime was to be on Cindy Bemis’ property during a hoarding raid, and now they must wait as the legal cat and mouse game is played out between Bemis and Los Angeles, Kern and San Bernardino counties. Meanwhile, the shelters are overflowing due to overpopulation, economic crises, foreclosures and animals who lost their homes in other ways.
Who Is Cindy Bemis?
Cindy Bemis has been cited with various offenses ranging from animal cruelty to hoarding, dating back to January 2003. Specific details of the charges against her, Vince Rhodes, and Cynthia Trapani can be found on Pet-Abuse website. Hundreds of dogs have suffered or been euthanized due to inhumane living conditions at various properties. Even now, the fate of almost 200 dogs at Bemis’ Mojave compound hangs in the balance as they weather a cold and snowy winter while legal wrangling between Bemis’s attorney and the county continues.
Who are the Dogs and Where are They?
Currently four shelters are harboring the 33 dogs that have been seized and have survived thus far. There are 21 dogs at Baldwin Park, three at Agoura Hills, two at Downey and six at Bakersfield. These dogs can be viewed at Wuffington Wag website. A team of three tireless women have been working around the clock trying to help these dogs find foster homes until the court cases are settled.
Heroes to Mention
Lance Hunter, manager of LA County-Baldwin Park Shelter has been working with these dogs since they were seized. “It’s a tragedy. Other dogs will be adopted out, but these dogs sit here year after year.” Hunter has arranged for blood and dental work to be done at a private vet, and the staff at County helps with facilitating the fostering process. Rescue organizations such as Ace of Hearts and Pryor’s Planet continue to support the efforts to free these dogs from shelter life. And finally, a team of three tireless and honorable women have been working around the clock trying to help these dogs find foster homes until the court cases are settled.
Best Friends’ Volunteers Share Their Love
Several Best Friends’ LA volunteers have spent time visiting with some of the Bemis dogs and even created a special Christmas for them this past year. Robin Harmon, Volunteer Manager for Best Friends Animal Society Los Angeles, met with a group of volunteers on Christmas Eve Day 2008 and gave every dog and cat at Baldwin Park Animal Shelter a gift of a blanket, a bed, a toy or treats. They had some big bones for the Bemis dogs since most of them are alone in their kennels. For some added Christmas joy, they tried to get as many of the Bemis dogs out in the exercise area as they had time for.
“I would like to point out how loving and friendly the majority of these dogs are despite being locked up in a kennel for almost three years,” states Harmon. “Many hadn't gotten out of the kennel in months and with the help of the BFLA volunteers, we have been able to spend some time with them and give them a little exercise and love.” Harmon’s favorite Bemis dog? A gentle, loving four-year -old female German shepherd named Ruby that came to the Baldwin Park Shelter in April 2006, when she was just four months old.
Jill Vega, another BFLA volunteer, took a personal liking to Toby, now a five-year-old male pit bull mix. Jill sponsored Toby and brought him specialized dog food due to a skin condition. She bought a big plastic container and had it put in front of Toby's kennel with a note detailing feeding instructions. She also convinced the shelter to do a thyroid test on Toby, which is not within the scope of the shelter’s duties. Jill visited Toby often, gave him oatmeal baths, and brought him bones and toys. Toby was recently fostered by Stella Lee, and Jill received a photo of him with her two other dogs snuggled together in his new home. “It nearly made me tear up, seeing him so calm and relaxed and warm,” said Vega.
What Can I Do to Help?
1) Help facilitate the adoption of the few dogs lucky enough to be released to their “forever” homes, but remain in county shelters.
2) Provide a foster home for one of the dogs that remain as “personal property” pending the legal outcome of Bemis’ court case.
3) Sponsor one of these dogs.
4) Attend the hearing or attend the trial.
5) Donate services, such as training, grooming, medical or holistic treatment, walking or loving.
6) Network these dogs. Many of these are purebred and can be networked to breed-specific rescues.
7) Lend your voice. Do not let another dog die because of a human crime.
Information about the court case can be found on the Animal Legal Defense Fund website.
For Updated Information:
For up to the minute information about the dogs, contact Stella Lee (818) 349-4100 stellalee9@yahoo.com, Helen Storey (310) 488-1098 helen.storey@verizon.net or Lenora Higgins (626) 233-7387 lhiggins@coh.org.
Posted by Laura Thompson, Best Friends Network Volunteer
Photos courtesy of Stella Lee and Kim Warren