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Pregnant Cocker-Hoarding Case (very long)
Countless rescuers shouted and demanded that this pregnant mama who was removed from a hoarding situation then brought to the Town of Hempstead Kill Shelter get transferred OUT immediately and INTO a 24 hour Emergency Care Vet. It wasn’t until she was at such a weakened state, and due to continued demands from the public, when TOHAS finally got her the medical help and care she desperately needed. After almost 2 weeks in the Kill Shelter, the evaluation was that she was malnourished and in bad shape. Now it appears that same Kill Shelter is exploiting her to improve their damaged image.
In Pet Columnest Sharon Hubbard's Words
Dear Readers,
The Town Of Hempstead (aka "Spin City") is at it again.
This time Supervisor Murray weaves a happy tale of a rescued pregnant cocker spaniel who, "thanks to humanitarians like Dr. Marino and the staff of the Hempstead shelter, is happy and healthy with her new litter."
Now please stay with me Readers as I connect the dots and reveal a very different story. The true story, unfortunately, is one of incompetence and a lack of compassion and one which bears witness all too well to what banned whistle blowers Diane Madden, Lucille De Fina and Frances Lucievro (and other animal activists) have been protesting about at the Hempstead Shelter.
What Ms. Murray failed to mention in her statement to the press was that Mamma was brought to the Shelter on January 12 and, to the best of my knowledge, was still
languishing at the shelter on January 22.
This is significant because Dr. Marino of LIVS (who, by the way, graciously donated his services free of charge despite the shelter's seven million dollar budget) who delivered the puppies, stated in Newsday that "Mamma's muscles had started to deteriorate because she was malnourished and pregnant ... and she was in such bad shape she didn't have the physical stamina to deliver”.
I became aware of this situation when Marianne Lappas, a member of CASA, called and told me that she had a conversation with acting shelter supervisor Pat Horan about a pregnant Cocker Spaniel who was being kept in a cage in the shelter garage. Marianne requested that the dog be taken to a twenty-four hour emergency clinic.
Ms. Horan's response was that the dog was fine but that she would transfer the dog from the garage to a room in the shelter.
The following afternoon, I received several calls from rescuers and animal advocates who expressed concerns about a sick pregnant cocker spaniel who was in a cage in the hallway panting and pacing back and forth.
I called the Hempstead Shelter but was told Pat Horan had left for the day.
My next phone call was to Susan Jacobs, a Hempstead Town Attorney.
I advocated for the dog, requesting that she be sent immediately to a 24 hour veterinary clinic since, as per numerous witnesses, the dog was in obvious distress.
Ms. Jacobs contacted Ms. Horan and the next day the dog was moved to a room. Witnesses, however, reported that the poor dog was seen being hoisted, while still inside her cage, as she was carried jarringly down the hall banging against the walls and finally disappearing into a room.
Several days later I spoke with Ms. Jacobs again and was assured that the dog had been seen by the shelter vet and was in good shape.
Dr. Marino, however, had stated in Newsday that Mama had to be put on IV support to increase her weight and was happy because she had "eaten a good meal". I guess the obvious question would be, didn't she get many good meals during her long stay at the shelter?
Why was Mama not immediately transferred to a 24 hour veterinary clinic? Why was she malnourished, weak, and in need of intravenous support and why was this
not recognized by the shelter vet and employees? Is this evidence that claims by the banned rescuers that the animals went from "A House of Hoarders" to a "House Of Horrors" true?
Hempstead spokesperson and Oyster bay resident Mike Deery claims that the town doesn't "skimp "on the care of the shelter animals. If that is the case, why was this pregnant dog who required immediate care not given that care until it was almost too late?
Was it monetary consideration or just plain ignorance and lack of compassion?
Said Kate Murray, "We are so pleased that out of a terrible situation, four thriving puppies were brought to
life...Mama lived through a harrowing experience but thanks to humanitarians like Dr. Marino and the staff of the Hempstead Town Animal Shelter, she is happy and healthy with her new litter."
It seems Ms. Murray forgot that one of the four puppies died (which is considerably less than "thriving"), quite possibly because it's mother did not receive the immediate veterinary care that she needed. In fact, it certainly appears that the survival of the mother and remaining three puppies was due to outside intervention and anything but the heroics of the Hempstead Shelter staff.
Please visit a shelter and adopt.
Remember, Your Best Friend Is Waiting...
This is one of the reasons that I will be at the rally tomorrow. If you'd like to be a voice for the homeless and voiceless please join me tomorrow at 12:00 @ TOH Animal Shelter, 3320 Beltagh Avenue Wantagh. RAIN or SHINE!
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Re: Pregnant Cocker-Hoarding Case (very long)
Posted by dita
That's terrible.
I have to wonder though, there are two sides to every story, I'd like to hear what the other side has to say.
You are right but if you've been following any of the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter news stories, you will find that these types of stories are neverending. Something has to change there for the sake of our animals.
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