HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGY IN THE FREEZER?
SOMETIMES THINGS YOU READ DON’T MAKE SENSE UNTIL YOU DIG UP A BONE
Temecula, CA – As I’ve said before, a ‘scene’ is much more than just music. It is a mystical area populated by interesting ‘characters’ and a swirling synergy that reaches far beyond its musical borders to give access to stories and events that most people either miss or don’t want to see or comment on. Some things are too personal for general consumption or too embarrassing, but from time to time, there comes along a story too important not to bring to light. This is one of those stories and especially in lieu of the fact that I just read about Abigail Heiselt (‘Bless the beast and the children’, Valley News Vol.8, #22) who asked for pet food instead of presents for her 11th birthday party in the heartfelt tale. The birthday girl “didn’t want (Animal Friends of the Valley) to have to put any animals down because they couldn’t afford to feed them.” According to my ‘inside’ source ‘Daisy’, a lack of food isn’t the reason why dead ‘put down’ animals are sometimes hauled out in abundance inside large black plastic trash bags.
“You see the (AFV) shelter just takes in strays. These dogs and cats are scared to death when they are brought in. I’ve seen workers try to force an animal to comply without trying to gain their trust first, and then when the animal bites or snaps at (the worker) they are put in containment (solitary confinement) for a week. I remember this puppy that went into confinement for a minor bite for over a week. Basically there is a two-three week window for them to be adopted, one week by law and then two more weeks before they are scheduled to be put down. If they spend a week in solitaire, that’s one less week they are exposed for public adoption. Fosters can come in during that time and make a selection and pictures of the new arrivals are put online. You can also put a hold on a particular (prospect) that will save them. Still so many are being wrongfully put down. I saw an employee kick a cocker spaniel then put the dog in solitaire when he reacted back to being kicked. Small animals have been put in the freezer and left to die that way. Nobody there seems to know what’s really going on. Everyone has a different story and almost all (of the workers) are corrupt or numb to what’s happening. They have way too many animals and they seem to prevent a number of animals from being adopted by having a crappy attitude toward potential adopters. It’s so bad that people (from outside agencies and pet centers) don’t even want to go there (to the physical location). You almost have to beg them to adopt a dog or cat. (AFV) is not a place where you (as an animal) want to be.”
This story first attracted my attention when I read of the devastating fire at the AFV shelter which tragically took so many animal lives. The next ‘bone’ of contention came when I read of the dispute involving the architect that threatened to disrupt the state-of-the-art facility construction that is planned to be started shortly. Though the dispute was never fully explained for my satisfaction as to why it arose, that ‘hiccup’ and the fire was enough to turn on my Spidey sense. Thankfully ‘Daisy’, at a recent ‘scene’ event, sought me out and gave me the real poop.