The person(s) who operate the site and the site itself are not affiliated with this site but it’s a good one. Please check out www.gimmeshelterportland.org.
Mar 182011
salty popcorn with nutritional yeast
Mar 162011
From www.animallawcoalition.com/public-shelters/article/1400…
Delaware’s Governor Jack Markell has signed into law Senate Bill 280 that sets new standards for animal shelters.
“Up until now, we have had no state standards of operation for animal shelters. Today, that changes, ” said Governor Markell. “These standards put Delaware shelter regulations among the most comprehensive in the country, a legislative accomplishment we should all be proud of – we did this together. This new law protects our shelters, our pets and the people who love them, pet owners.”
(snip)
Shelters must try to find owners
(snip)
Shelters must try to find rescues or homes for animals
(snip)
Before euthanizing animals, shelters must look at every reasonable alternative to keep animals alive
**click on the link above for all of the details.
Mar 162011
From www.straypetadvocacy.org/shelter_law.html…
The Hayden Bill, also known as California Senate Bill 1785, became effective July 1, 1999. It expands the rights and duties of publicly funded animal shelters and pounds. It updated portions of the California Penal Code, Civil Code, and Food and Agricultural Code.
(snip)
4. Allows nonprofit animal rescue and adoption groups to obtain shelter animals who are about to be killed (Food and Agricultural Code Secs. 31108, 31752, 31752.5, 31753, 31754), if a group requests the animal at any time before the killing. Groups cannot demand an animal before the hold period is up, and they might not have preference over someone who is interested in adopting the pet. However, the shelter cannot kill an animal if a nonprofit group has requested the animal. The group may, at the discretion of the shelter, be required to pay the same fee that any other adopting person would have paid for that animal.
(snip)
** click on the link above for all of the details.
Mar 122011
(note: Ananda is not affiliated with this site; write to Ananda at anandafar@gmail.com)
3/16/2011: For an update on Vannah and other Ananada news & information (including adoption opportunities) please go to anandafar.wordpress.com.
———————-
Forwarded from Ananda Rescue & Sanctuary…..
URGENT: This dog is to be killed on Monday unless we can find a spot for her somewhere. The only details I have at the moment are in the mssg below from MCAS. (See photo and short email below.)
As always, if anyone is able to take in Gemma, I can take this girl, otherwise we need to think of something fast. (Gemma is healed and nearly ready for adoption, but needs a little work on her basic skills training.)
Cat
Gemma (left) and Vannah (right)
 |
 |
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Jenny HOLMAN
Date: Sat, Mar 12, 2011 at 7:44 AM
Subject: Vannah # 521241
To: Ananda Animal Rescue & Sanctuary
Cc: #DCS ANIMAL CARE
Hello Ananda, we have a emergency situation here. To say Vannah did not handle kennel life is a major understatement. We worked hard to find her a suitable foster spot but even there she has proved unmanageable. I have attached her notes & picture. You are our last resort. She will be euthanized Monday the 14th if there is no place found for her. If you have any emergency foster space without cats & small dogs please contact us immediately. Thank you, Jenny
Feb 072011
With the higher numbers they may have a program doing it is what internet savvy persons have told me.
—–Original Message—–
From: gocbwatchdog@aol.com
To: gocbwatchdog@aol.com
Sent: Sun, Feb 6, 2011 6:49 pm
Actually the best KATU telephone number is 502.231.4264. The person I spoke to is Steve Bennum ( sp). The scores are arrived at by the commentators giving and taking away points form other commentators. In short any score can manipulated by those who go online. That is why we are seeing the great divide between MCAS sympathizers and those who criticize and the positive correlation between praise for MCAS and number of favorable comments. MCAS has its constant tribe who roam the internet and do just that.Why work when you can just lie and sleep about? They attacked Ted Wheeler when he was campaigning and he first put up a mild comment on need for change at MCAS. He apologized in short order and he modified his comments, gutted them really, and said they were hard workers who just needed volunteers.
I asked Mr. Bennum if KATU TV would consider making it publicly clear just how comments are rated because enough persons have called me outraged thinking KATU is rating the comments and that is not good for a media group. KATU needs to state how comments are rated. Otherwise MCAS takes advantage of those muddy waters.
On the comment section now we just need to expose how facts unpopular to the county are buried by MCAS sympathizers who stuff ballot boxes and seek to manipulate the facts. All they do well is lie.. And I hope tomorrow you will also call katu.com and ask that at the very least the popularity contest be described on the web site i.e., how scores are arrived at. And tell them it looks like their rating not a contest among commentators. Then deduct points from all of the MCAS sympathizers. take them down to zeros. Be spoilers. Because MCAS is using the site as they do so many others to undermine and bury important civic concerns by turning facts into advertising cover ups..
Just like always. Masters at disguise. Let’s go online for sport, take their points away literally and figuratively and expose them. Let’s change the subject.
Gail
—–Original Message—–
From: gocbwatchdog@aol.com (gocbwatchdog@aol.com)
To: gocbwatchdog@aol.com
Sent: Sun, Feb 6, 2011 6:09 pm
Subject: Re: read the reputation ranking score of the persons making the comments about MCAS on the katu website
Why not ask KATU TV how they arrive at scores? Have they tried to seek out facts or just all bread and circuses, popularity contests about which facts are more lovable? Because MCAS is great at stuffing ballot boxes.Voting on the facts, not investigating is ,what lazy media does ( Spot magazine’s popularity contests) So let’s slam it.
KATU’s telephone number is katu.com news 503.231.4222; KATU TV 503. 231.4262
http://northeastportland.katu.com/content/medford-dogs-adoption-portland-shelter
Continue reading »
Feb 042011
There seem to be no standards of performance at all. If one gets paid no matter how badly one performs, working for government is a work free vacation.
—–Original Message—–
From: gocbwatchdog@aol.com
To: jenny.m.morf@co.multnomah.or.us;
marc.b.rose@multco.us;
michelle.t.luckey@co.multnomah.or.us
Cc: rbabcock@babcockhaynes.com
Sent: Fri, Feb 4, 2011 3:25 pm
Subject: Fwd: MCAS Partial Public Records Requests for February 02 , 2011… second request: Please note. I really need to know when I might expect these time sensitive records because it is very hard to be checking every hour given my other urgent responsib
To: Assistant County Counsel Morf:
Officer Michelle Luckey
Officer Marc Rose
CC: Attny Robert Babcock
To: All it may concern:
Why can no one help by simply noting when time sensitive public records will be sent? Is no one there? Retired Legal Aid Officer Lindi Mantifel did respond. In fact she initiated responses.
I have described over and over again that when time sensitive records arrive too late we still pay but can help no one. What is the point of advising me to order paper records once a week if it is just a joke to you? If records arrive Friday night ( noted before) an additional delay in contacting persons occurs because of the intervening weekend. Does no one care about public service; that animals die and families are hurt when they have no resources? Since many of the time sensitive materials are already past their due date i. e quarantine notices past due, Notices of Infraction close to or at the end of their appeal time, our offers of help are rendered futile. I now think that is the point, that this is an intentional heartless game. Cooperation is so simple
I work to help citizens. Nothing in public records forbids cooperation. Is no one going to respond to this concern ?
Billings: Also I find the billings a punishing experience. They are so seldom right I am driven insane. Yesterday I spent over an hour sorting out MCAS overcharges because having been billed at the wrong hourly rate, credit was due but MCAS couldn’t figure out the correct amount . The noted credit due was in error. I was not paid for my time sorting out MCAS billing errors. Today I received a billing that I am returning by fax because I have no record of owing the monies noted including the late fees for the monies not owed ..
What is wrong with this billing department ? What can be done to correct this?
How do I get any help?
Please note I am fully aware that the public records assignment is a punishment to those who must do it. But MCAS is paid for this boring clerical task. I can indeed download my own records because as noted previously there are no doggy jihadists in Multnomah County. There is no security risk whatsoever. These are animal status reports for stray animals. Where does Michael Oswald think the danger lies?
Can’t we resolve this?
Gail O’Connell-Babcock
—–Original Message—–
From: gocbwatchdog@aol.com
To: jenny.m.morf@co.multnomah.or.us; marc.b.rose@multco.us; michelle.t.luckey@co.multnomah.or.us
Cc: rbabcock@babcockhaynes.com
Sent: Thu, Feb 3, 2011 5:50 pm
Subject: Fwd: MCAS Partial Public Records Requests for February 02 , 2011
Can you let me know approximately when I might expect these records? As they are time sensitive I have to set aside all other activities when they arrive and knowing about when to expect them is helpful/makes it easier..
Thanks
Gail
Continue reading »
Nov 092010
From: “gocbwatchdog@aol.com”
To: mult.chair@co.multnomah.or.us; mult.auditor@co.multnomah.or.us; district1@co.multnomah.or.us; district2@co.multnomah.or.us; district3@co.multnomah.or.us; district4@co.multnomah.or.us
Sent: Tue, November 2, 2010 11:13:49 AM
Instead of working with the family in this case this and other families in other similar cases to correct the conditions secondary to poverty and lack of means, or simple ignorance MCAS extorts and leverages consent with the threat of fines and never any offers of help, and now, once having made a mess of this and other cases, indicated it was up to me to rescue Holly if I cared or she would be killed ( often it is the finder who is asked to make this choice in other cases; never the agency’s problem to be humane). I will do my best on short agency generated non-cooperative 24 hour notice to pick up after MCAS’s failure.
When will you, the county, the governing body, assume your responsibility for this county’s appalling polices. behavior and actions, intervene? Ever? Is it just cull and kill? Is that the singular service Multnomah County government offers at enormous public expense: a dump,dispose and kill site for homeless animals? What about the 35% save rate for unredeemed animals since 2006? Do you take any responsibility for that ? Or is it just geography?
See summary below: Welcome to Multnomah County. Why would anyone in their right mind support this agency with their licensing dollars?
None.
Gail O’Connell-Babcock
Summary: MCAS driven focus on killing the animals of those without resources, the poor/minorities and others without means: the narrow role of harsh enforcement
Michelle,
If indeed this family surrendered Holly to MCAS it is a direct result of “cruelty/neglect” tickets threatened by MCAS upon her redemption when they haven’t been neglectful at all; just not had the proper resources. They have tried to treat Holly’s skin condition. How does threatening the poor or those without resources or for whom resources are unaffordable help animals or them when you only intend to kill when surrendered ( health conditions)?
The policy of citing families who lack resources in caring for their animals with “cruelty/neglect” tickets must stop ( attached case) . They surrender them under pressure from MCAS with “deprive proper care” citations and threats of citations they cannot afford. They lack the means or resources, not love or caring for their animals. I have counseled enough families through their anguish to know that. MCAS, once the surrender is forced by impossible conditions ( especially affordability; sometimes lack of knowledge) then invariably kills their animals as “too much work/effort to try to deal with them or “too expensive” etc.,i.e for the same reasons they cite the owners. This is the difference: MCAS does have resources and can reach out into the comm unity for foster homes and care assistance. They just don’t want to. In short using threats, MCAS pressures needy citizens into surrendering their animals and, left without resources with the additional threats of tickets they surrender in frustration. They need help not punishment and extortion: service not control.. This is not what is objectively meant by ” Cruelty/neglect.” It is not intentional. It comes from poverty/lack of resources.
Continue reading »
Sep 212010
Gail R. O’Connell-Babcock, Ph. D.
Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation/Watchdog
16004 SW Tualatin-Sherwood Rd., Box 508
Sherwood, Oregon 97140
Telephone: (503) 625-4563 FAX: (503) 925-8299
E-mail: gocbwatchdog@aol.com
September 20, 2010
To: Guillermo Maciel, Policy analyst for Multnomah County
CC: Jeff Cogen, Multnomah County Chair
Commissioner Deborah Kafoury, District 1
Commissioner Barbara Willer, District 2
Commissioner Judy Shiprack, District 3
Commissioner Diane McKeel, District 4
CC: Portland City Council: Mayor Sam Adams, Commissioners Randy Leonard, Amanda Fritz,
Dan Saltzman and Nick Fish
Regarding: the county’s stand on MCAS’s deteriorating performance
On the afternoon of July 26, Attorney Reb Babcock and I met briefly with Chair Cogen and you, outlining the facts about MCAS’s steadily deteriorating performance (based upon MCAS’s own records). County Chair Cogen and you agreed that there were problems worthy of investigation and County Chair stated that you would take charge of a review investigating identified problems.
The statistical trends of increased killing and increased budget costs: Each year since 2003 (when Mr. Oswald assumed leadership of MCAS), costs have gone up and so have animal deaths, documented in the agency’s own records, a matter of particular concern to this community as demonstrated by the 2000 Citizens’ Advisory Committee. MCAS has gone from a live release rate of 62% in 2000 to a live release rate of 46% in 2009 (again based upon MCAS’s own records) while remaining in the same location and without change in significant contributing demographics. During Mr. Michael Oswald’s tenure, the “save” rate for unredeemed animals has declined to 34% or 35% for the past four years with the most significant causes attributable to newly instituted enforcement and temperament testing programs and policies. Mr. Oswald has said that he adopts out every “healthy, adoptable” animal, a percentage indicating that he has found only 35% of unredeemed animals “adoptable”, a figure far from the national average.
Continue reading »
Aug 112010
| Remembering Sable, August 2010 |
| It is too late for Sable, the German shepherd dog found running down the middle of Powell Boulevard skinny and clearly neglected but with a cheerful adventurous heart. Within 48 hours of her surrender to Multnomah County Animal Services, she was destroyed as “unadoptable.” No rescue or foster organizations were contacted and the Good Samaritan, himself poor and disabled, who had rescued her, was forced to give her up, surrender her to MCAS because he could not afford threatened fines for the consequences of her earlier neglect. |
| Sable will not have a life now. After we learned of her plight through public records and before we could offer the family help, she had been killed too swiftly by MCAS. The description from public records and from the family who tried to redeem her immediately on Saturday, August 07, makes it clear that this was a lovely playful friendly dog in need of care for wholly correctable conditions. |
Aug 082010
| Hard to believe, Michael Oswald is paid more, in annual salary and total compensation, than the Oregon governor. Makes no sense. OK, as far as I know the list is complete. MCAS employees…if I omitted you and you would like to be included you can add a comment or email us…and if you would like to chat about this or any other subject, that would be fun too. |
| Oregon Politico – GovDocs |
| Oregon Governor: |
| Total | |||
| Last Name | First Name | Annual Salary | Compensation |
| Kulongoski | Ted | $93,600.00 | $121,396.44 |
| MCAS (Dept: Community Services): |
| Total | ||||
| Last Name | First Name | Title | Annual Salary | Compensation |
| Johnson | Cecilia | Department Director 1 | $144,020.00 | $188,140.14 |
| Oswald | Michael | Program Manager 2 | $97,910.00 | $132,033.60 |
| Rowton | John | Program Supervisor | $68,270.00 | $95,897.28 |
| Poetz | Charles L | Program Supervisor | $53,038.00 | $76,927.46 |
| Romney | Meghan S | Veterinarian | $64,130.00 | $92,419.20 |
| Luckey | Michelle T | Animal Control Officer | $45,367.00 | $68,319.88 |
| Havlik | Vicki L | Animal Control Officer | $45,367.00 | $67,141.62 |
| Cherry | Nicole N | Animal Control Officer | $45,367.00 | $69,312.18 |
| Roman | Jorge | Animal Control Officer | $45,367.00 | $69,312.18 |
| Piazza | Michael A | Animal Control Officer | $45,367.00 | $66,600.18 |
| Rose | Marc B | Animal Control Officer | $38,003.00 | $60,722.26 |
| Landaker II | Thomas L | Animal Control Officer | $38,003.00 | $60,346.28 |