PJBoosinger

Today I mourn the suicides of 2 women and ask all who truly care about animals to give this case some thought.  May all the deceased in this case, both human and animal, find peace on the other side of the veil and my sympathies go out to the families of these women.  We who live on still have much to learn...

Department of Agriculture spokesman Terrance McElroy said, sadly, the case is not an isolated incident in Florida .  "With the economic downturn, there is no question that more animals are being neglected. More people are being neglected in terms of getting the food and health care they need. People are struggling to afford to take care of themselves, and so they can't afford to care for their animals."

“Ten horses, a donkey, a goat, a bull and two dogs were seized”  A horse had been reported shot and another horse carcass was found.  Another horse died after being removed from the property and three others had to be euthanized .  There is no doubt at all that most, perhaps all, these animals were in desperate shape.

"But we aggressively investigate these cases. Animals can't fight for themselves," [Lt. Doug] York added.  Yes, how aggressive you can be is becoming rather obvious and Lt. York there are many humans who cannot fight for themselves either.  It certainly appears your office found 2 such women to "aggress".  Aren't you proud?

The women had been charged with 28 counts of animal abuse and cruelty…  Officers had contact with the woman on Nov. 14, 2009, Seay said. Investigators believe the suicides occurred two days later.  That they were not found for nearly 3 months speaks to their obvious isolation and I wonder if that was a result of the accusations or already existed.  I suspect the latter was exacerbated by the former.

Two Union County women who had been accused in an animal cruelty case apparently committed suicide.  Even in death, the media can’t resist painting them as animal abusers.  Well, I guess that suicide wouldn't be news without that connection as we allow people to become isolated, desperate, and to kill themselves on a daily basis.  In fact, we encourage it more with every passing day.

"The animals were in bad shape. I don't know why [Brown and Vetterlein] wanted that much responsibility with the animals," [Charlie] Clemons [former employee who cared for the animals] said.  If he doesn’t know, it’s likely we will never know.  What can easily be discerned from the internet is that these 2 women were painted as sub-human, as “cruel” to animals, that ALL of their animals were seized, that they were charged with 28 counts of cruelty for what may well have been neglect stemming from their own tragedies of life.

Some toss out words like neglect, abuse, and cruelty as if they are interchangeable.  They are not and they do not begin to describe the underlying circumstances that may well exist.  I believe that those who truly care about animals should choose their allegations carefully, distinguish between neglect and cruelty which infers intent to cause severe harm.  Do not paint someone as cruel until the facts have been fleshed out and, even then, in the interests of the animals, the focus should be on caring for the animals, providing them with help and helping to resolve the human issues as that will benefit the animals.

Many “hoarding” cases are the lonely, the isolated who are trying to provide to animals the same which is missing in their own lives: someone who cares and loves, food, shelter – just the basics.  There is no intent to harm in most of these cases.

Aggressive investigations, massive over charging of crimes, publicly defaming people…  These things do not help, they hurt.  It is easy to hate and rail, to spam the internet with alleged atrocities.  Please, if you care for animals, reach out to help them and their owners instead of getting caught up in the PETA hatred.

The hot topic is still sending aid to Haiti, a country we’ve sent billions of dollars to, tried to help and build several times only to be evicted time and again.  Haiti did not recognize rape as a crime until 2005 and still does not respect women even nominally, let alone animals.  Life of all kinds is cheap in Haiti.  We do not see that because it is distant.  We see the pain and suffering after a disaster and we want to reach out and help.

How about a tiny bit of reality and understanding right here at home?  How about reaching out to the humans and animals in need here?  Even if you care nothing for the humans, only the animals; wouldn’t it help the animals to recognize and help with the underlying human issues instead of driving people into further desperation and isolation because, where the humans go, the animals usually follow?

So my plea is that the animal lovers out there ask questions, not make assumptions based on sensationalized media reports, to think twice before hitting send on an email or posting filled with unfounded (or even poorly founded) accusations and hatred.  Do not support “aggressiveness” toward animal owners as it helps no one and often results in even more death, of humans and animals.  We’ll never know if the animals in this particular case could have been saved instead of euthanized but that is all too often the case.  There simply has to be a better way and we need to find it.

Killing and hatred is what THEY do best.  Let US be better than that.

Anyone who thinks about it for a few minutes will realize the pet in the window at a pet store may not belong to that store.  It could be there on consignment.  It could be that ownership doesn’t transfer until the supplier gets paid.  It could be subject to a lien.

A whole body of law has been developed to protect lenders because businesses of just about any size can no longer run on a cash basis.  If a government seizes a house or car, it generally has to ascertain who has interests in the property and many of them get priority over the seizure when it comes to getting paid or even when determining who gets possession.  In the case of animal seizures, doesn’t the seizing government at least have an obligation to determine who owns the animals?  Who may have liens against them or other forms of interest?  In Texas animal cruelty cases, they are required to give notice to the owner so I think that indeed they do because the person in possession may not be the owner at all.

This was touched on in the U.S. Global Exotics case where notice was given to the Shaws and the court determined that was sufficient for notice to the corporation.  I disagree but there’s the bigger issue.  What if USGE wasn’t the sole owner of the animals?  What if other owners find out after a seizure and after their animals have been destroyed or distributed?  These cases happen very quickly and the true owner may have no idea that they’ve begun, no opportunity to make a claim if not given notice.

It isn’t just the big cases this could happen in either.  It could happen in many situations.

“In addition to finding an interpreter, [Marion County District Attorney Bill] Gleason said the postponement would also give Juan Jesus Davenport, the legal owner of the seized horses, time to bring equipment to transport them. Davenport, who came to the hearing to reclaim his animals, said he had loaned them to Ms. Hoffman to use in her proposed educational programs.”

SPCA of Texas has farmed out the USGE animals to a multitude of organizations and appears to have retained ownership.  Wouldn’t they be entitled to notice if those animals were subsequently seized?  If someone is accused of abuse, are they likely to voluntarily provide the ownership information?

Many animal rescue groups retain ownership or some form of residual right in animals even when they are adopted out.  What of notice to them?

Responsible dog and cat breeders care very much about their offspring and often retain an interest in them.  They main co-own them with several others or retain an interest in those placed in pet homes.

How about animals seized from a commercial kennel, groomer, or veterinary clinic?  Would the owners vacationing afar have any idea their animals had been seized?

We entrust our animals to all kinds of people and we want to think they well cared for while we aren’t there but, if that person’s own animals are seized, we know all animals present will be swept up and we can’t possibly know everything about everyone we entrust; more so for those in commercial enterprises.  What if it were all the animals at a particular airline?

If animals are moved from being property to some category similar to children, all the more reason the "guardian" must be identified and notified just as would be the case when children are taken from temporary caretakers and day care centers.

Surely seizing agencies have an obligation to investigate ownership and ensure that owners get notice and, if not provided, surely they could be liable to owners not notified, not given a chance to reclaim their property.  I’d bet they don’t even regularly scan animals for chips when they seize them, that they make NO attempt to ascertain ownership in their arrogance of these seizures.

Governments like to think they are immune to lawsuits and damage awards but that isn’t nearly as true as they like to think.  That is even more true if they’re going to continue with big seizures in a multinational market; more so as ownership becomes more complicated even for individually possessed pets.

The animal rights activists want us to be reduced to “guardians” anyway so why not gift our animals to our family members or friends?  At a minimum, it would surely make giving notice to the owner a bit more time consuming and complicated.

“All the fowl, which included chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks had to be euthanized based on the Texas Animal Health Commission laws in case they had Avian flu. The domestic cats were also euthanized due to an upper respiratory infection that spreads from cat to cat.”  That appears to be the judgment of Dr. Carol Hedges who, as veterinarian in this matter, appears to have swiftly played judge, jury, and executioner to a large number of animals and probably within mere hours of the seizure.  BTW, her conclusion is complete and utter CRAP, CRAP, and BULLSHIT.  These animals were killed for pure and simple convenience and with no regard whatsoever to their lives or their owner’s rights.  Rescue my ASS.  This is an excuse for mass killing of animals for no other purpose than the killing itself and to raise donations while not having to actually care for the animals.  It's an all too common obscenity in these animal seizure and incredibly rare if it is reported (so some kudos for doing that to the reporter).

“All the fowl, which included chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks had to be euthanized based on the Texas Animal Health Commission laws in case they had Avian flu.”  BULLSHIT!!!  Killing the birds was NOT necessary.  Suspect flocks are monitored and tested.  Those birds actually EXPOSED are quarantined and tested.  Birds that test positive are killed.  So says the TAHC.  I found no place on their website that encouraged pre-emptive killing of birds!

“The domestic cats were also euthanized due to an upper respiratory infection that spreads from cat to cat.”  More HORSE SHIT!!!  Ditto for the cats as with the birds; isolate, test…  Euthanasia should be an absolute LAST resort when you don’t own the animals and they are in your temporary care.

NO government has any business snatching up animals unless it’s prepared to give them a reasonable level of care while the seizure proceedings are pending.  PERIOD and NO excuses.  These animals were all ALIVE in Barbara Hoffman’s care so it was a DAMNED site better care than they got from Marion County.  If she’s to be convicted of cruelty, then each and every one of the officials involved in this seizure should be convicted for torturing these animals through the grossly inappropriate circus-like seizure, move, examination and killing.  By the time they got to the killing, these animals HAD to be in utter terror.  I am beyond outraged at this conduct by Marion County’s officials AND Caroline Wedding of the Humane Society of Marion County, as we already know her fingers were stuck in this and must now be sticky with the blood of these animals.

Veterinarian: Dr. Carol Hedges, Carol L. Hedges, Carol Lynn Hedges, C. Hedges, C. L. Hedges.  GD baby vet, licensed just 5 years!  Probably a member of that frigging HSVMA to boot.  I wouldn’t entrust a toad to the care of Jefferson Animal Clinic.  In my little old personal opinion, you, Dr. Hedges, are one lazy incompetent HO.

My animals go on vacations with me and places like Marion County need to know we animal lovers, we owners, will not be spending our vacations in places where the risk they will be killed is HIGH.  The Chamber of Commerce should show its compassion for animals by revoking memberships of the Humane Society of Marion County, Dr. Hedges, her clinic, and any other members who participated in this scandalous animal seizure.

And THIS is the case that needs to go up on appeal in Texas and establish the value of pets goes way beyond replacement value and that the emotional distress inflicted can be extraordinary and Marion County should be in debt paying off the judgment for the next 100 years.

Oh, yes, I know why animals are almost always killed right off the bat.  It’s to terrorize the owner into caving to whatever demands are made of them and most do just in hopes of saving their other animals, in hopes that those animals will be spared by their self-sacrifice.  Are you all familiar with the rule of unintended consequences?  One of the consequences of this instant killing may well be a greeting by animal owners who shoot first under the castle law so don’t be surprised when your violence results in much more violence.  I would most certainly rather risk being shot than see my animals die in this fashion, at the hands of the likes of Dr. Hedges. If I get shot, at least I’ll be on the other side to greet them when they arrive to ease their transition.  And that would also put me in the right place to testify on the responsible person’s real and FINAL judgment day.  You may get away with these mass killings of animals for now and for no decent reason but you will be held accountable – eventually.

Whether an animal is euthanized or allowed to die through a normal course is a decision that simply must be made by an owner and no one else.  The killing of animals who have homes simply MUST stop!!!  If the owner feels life is better than death then it is not the state’s place to tell them otherwise.  This isn’t something that involves just people or even more so children but also as it relates to the animals.  There is simply no one in a better position to make the decision than the owner whether the animal is pet, inventory, or livestock.

“The stench was so strong, you could hardly breathe.”  Was it really?  Or did you convince yourself it would be before you ever got there?  Sense of smell is a powerful thing, as is the mind’s ability to invent them, more so to simply exaggerate them.  When objective measurements are used, that “oh, my, it stinks” is usually more imagination than fact.  In each of these animal seizure cases it seems someone is going to great lengths to describe the odors in colorful language.  Like this…

"If you haven't got a strong stomach you'll probably lose it," said Larry Nance. "I mean, the ammonia is so strong it just burns your nose when you walk in. The filth and the smell and then you look at these cats in these cages. They're not let out to use the restroom at any time."  Yes, surely we are simply to take the word of someone (probably a lawyer) who thinks animals should use restrooms.  Um, and the pictures of poop in the cages?  Did y'all miss taking photos of that or did it not exist?  No, I don’t think so.  I especially don’t think so when there is a simple and inexpensive method to measure smells these days.

Any government that is going to seize property and threaten to keep it or have it removed when it is related to a “stink” complaint or such is a component of the case as it often is in animal seizure cases should surely be able to provide objective measurement of the level of the stench.  From my research, it certainly appears that governments know that too so now I’m more than angry that those measurements and standards aren’t being used in these residential seizures.  You see they’ve been using them for decades to deal with large livestock operations.  There’s a whole field of agricultural science dedicated to this that animal control officials and humane groups would have tripped over had they spent a few minutes on the internet.

Let’s see.  There’s now a portable, hand held measuring device (scentometer) called the Nasal Ranger that costs about $1,500 and the materials even give examples wording for community standards (ordinances).  Texas already has ambient level caps (residential and commercial) for a number of offending items.  Scroll on down to page 3 and you’ll see that a number of states and communities have already set D/T standards and guidelines.  A person seated measures 1 olf and an athlete measures 30 olf.  The scentometer similarly measures the odor in the air and computes the in D/T ratio.

Would you take a police officer’s testimony of how fast someone was speeding these days or would you demand the radar readings?  There’s NO excuse for testimony to be acceptable in lieu of D/T ratios these days.  If it’s simple and inexpensive, why aren’t they using scentometers?  Ah, because the objective measurements may not support their allegations, of course!

And there’s another little problem.  We all want “natural” these days and compost, mulch, bat guano that we use in our gardens STINKS (as natural fertilizer [you know, it's animal poop, right?] has always stunk).  You see it isn’t the level of stench, nor even the health issues (which can’t actually be determined by scent alone), it is the PERCEPTION of stink and the delusions of those who instantly jump to health hazard allegations.  I truly dislike the smell of “athlete come home from gym” while I know others who adore that scent.  To each his own.

All the more reason to set D/T levels in communities.  You can have your bat guano and I can have my dog poop (and there’s actually little difference between them).  That’s life.  We all stink and have to put up with each other’s stench.

Interestingly, the standards I ran across always seemed to require measurements at the property line.  They inherently acknowledge the privacy of PRIVATE property and that is exactly as it should be.

The Stink Meter Overload in these cases is from the stench of overstepping government officials and their bff animal rights activists.  From the Boado seizure in Harris County, to the Kearney seizure to the USGE seizure to the seizure of Barbara Hoffman’s big cats; we hear of the stench.  Time for the government to put up or shut up on that topic!

And shortly we will know if JP Lex Jones has an appropriate grasp of and respect for the US and Texas Constitutions and fundamentally protected property rights or not.