UPDATE 2/10/08 on the 19 Seeley Collies Rescued in Upstate NY
Statement by AWCA President Jean Levitt
A Tri in the Dark
He weighed 18 pounds less after his fecal-laden coat was shaved following rescue from long term crate confinement at the Seeleys' home.
This beautiful, well-bred tri-colored Collie boy was taken, along with his Collie and Dachshund companions, to the SPCA of Upstate New York in Queensbury, where he was, incredibly, again confined in a crate, this time in a dark corner on the top floor. This crate was a dark green, solid metal box about the size of a 400 shipping crate. He barely had room to stand up and turn around. The only opening for air circulation was a barred grill in the door. There were no other openings.
He eliminated in his crate on a rusty slide-out tray, on which newspapers were placed and quickly became soiled. He stood as straight as he could and spun and dug, much of the time in a rhythmic cadence: spin-stop-dig, spin-stop-dig, spin-stop-dig, creating a paper and urine and fecal mache on the bottom of his crate. When he was exhausted from spinning and digging and could no longer stand, he lowered himself into the filthy mache to recover, and then began spinning and digging again.
Each weekend AWCA volunteers cleaned him up and, because he was so weak in the rear from prolonged crate confinement, they had to carry this high-energy Collie down the stairs so he could exercise in the snow-covered play yard, breathe fresh air for a change, and adjust his eyes to light. When outside he was bouncy, friendly, and outgoing. He loved running and playing hide-and-seek with the other Collies.
The volunteers then carried him back up the stairs and sadly had to coax him back into the dark metal box where he would begin his spinning-digging cadence until he was exhausted.
Repeatedly the volunteers requested of the SPCA staff that he be moved to a wire crate where he could see light, have air circulation, and see the other dogs. After being pressed by AWCA, the President of the SPCA Board of Directors called Executive Director Cathy Cloutier at PetSmart where she was selling puppies and asked permission to move him to a wire crate. The answer was "No".
Why this tri was held in the dark is incomprehensible. Why the President of the SPCA Board of Directors would have to ask permission to place this Collie in a wire crate is doubly incomprehensible.
Following an outcry by not only AWCA but another worker at the SPCA, and following the termination of considerable financial donations coming into the SPCA from his breeder and associates of the breeder, after many, many weeks of confinement in the dark he was suddenly moved to a wire crate. One week later, according to SPCA staff, he was adopted.
Why was a tri in the dark??
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Folks, please bear with me while I present New York's state regulations for the housing of dogs in shelters:
Section 77.2 Standards for the care of seized dogs.
Every dog seized pursuant to article 7 of the Agriculture and Markets Law, or any local law, ordinance, or order adopted or issued pursuant thereto, shall be properly cared for, sheltered, fed and watered for the redemption period provided by said article or for the period established by local law or ordinance as authorized by said article.
For the purpose of this Part, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) Properly sheltered means the provision of shelter suitable to the breed and age of the dog. Said shelter shall be structurally sound, clean, and sufficient to protect the dog from detriment to its well-being, and shall provide adequate space to allow the dog to move about in a natural manner, light, air and temperature sufficient to protect the animal.
For the full regulations, see the official website; the "Standards for care" are about 4/5 of the way down:
http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AI/AGM_ART_7.html
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It is unclear why the SPCA will not accept offers to rehabilitate these Collies by two renowned rehabilitation facilities at no charge. (1) Wizard of Paws for the old gentleman, (2) Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption, and why excellent foster and adoptive homes have been rejected when the SPCA is clearly unable to meet the needs of these Collies.
The old gentleman is still confined to a crate, as are six other Collies. It is doubly unclear why this situation at the SPCA of Upstate NY has continued for 117 days.
Calmly, Jean Levitt
Next Sunday I'll tell you more about the Seeley Collies held at the SPCA.
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