UPDATE 4/20/08 on the 19 Seeley Collies Rescued in Upstate NY
Statement by AWCA President Jean Levitt
The Volunteers
Part 6
In our previous updates From March 13 - April 13, 2008 (see the Archives) we have introduced several volunteers and their stories. Today we introduce another volunteer who worked with the Seeley Collies and Dachshunds on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at the SPCA of Upstate New York located in Queensbury. This was the last time volunteers went in to work there. As always, her real name will not be used.
"Belinda"
Belinda has owned and trained dogs since childhood; she earned her first AKC Companion Dog (obedience) title with her family's Standard Poodle when she was 10. Since then she has continued to compete in agility and obedience with her dogs, who have been nationally ranked in agility. She has also trained dogs in field work and herding. For over 25 years she has taught obedience and agility classes for local area clubs. In addition to her full time job as occupational therapist for a local school district, she has also trained people and their dogs professionally for fifteen years. Currently two of her three dogs have come from rescue groups.
This is her story:
" I went to the SPCA on Saturday, January 5th. I had been warned that the conditions were not great, but I was not prepared for what I saw, heard and smelled. My first impression was that it was a firetrap. The narrow hallway where we entered was wide enough for only one person or one dog. You could not even walk side by side with a dog. Lining the hallway were bags of dog food by the dozens.
"My second impression was the stench. I have had asthma and allergies for years and my sense of smell is very poor. Smells have to be extremely overwhelming for them to register with me. I had to put my turtleneck shirt over my nose in order to breathe without succumbing to an asthma attack from the smell.
"It took several minutes for my eyes to adjust to the darkness when I went up a rickety staircase to the Collie room. It was very quiet up there away from the main room; however, it was very dark. I was asked to take a look at the Dachshunds and I could not see them adequately. The rooms were windowless with minimal lighting. The back part of the “Collie room” was filled with junk. Again, I was reminded that the building seemed like a firetrap. There appeared to be a lot of bedding materials in that back room, yet none of the dogs had any in their crates. The crates were all lined with dirty newspapers.
"I spent most of my time outdoors with at least five or six Collies at a time. Even though I was cold, I could not face going in again, and I hated returning the dogs to their crates. I wanted to give them as much freedom as I could for as long as I was able. Once outside, the Collies' spirits seemed to lift and they began to move around. The longer they were out the more their personalities seemed to appear, only to diminish when they were taken inside. Once inside many began to shake, their eyes returning to a glazed look, and most refused to move.
"I could not go into the cat room to see what it was like in there, as I am deathly allergic to cats, but I was very concerned about the poor Eclectus parrot. The parrot was housed in a dark corner with no light and only seeds for food. His cage faced an area with a lot of drafts and an overwhelming amount of noise and confusion. This too appeared to be substandard care for a living creature.
"By far the worst part was the main room. The noise was deafening. There were stacks of crates three high with dogs that were fighting, barking incessantly, spinning or cowering in fear. The larger pens, one of which contained the Triplets, were just as bad. The floor had been hosed down and was soaking wet, with doors opened to the outside letting the cold in. There was a Vari-Kennel top turned upside down. I assume this was to be used for a bed. This area housed 3 large dogs, which could not all fit in the kennel top. There was no bedding or raised area to get away from the cold, wet cement. These 3 dogs were in the worst shape of all the Collies. Even spending 45 – 60 minutes outside could not change their spirits or personalities. They were neurotic messes and would need serious care to return to anything close to normal.
"The volunteers I met seemed like kind, dedicated people who were trying to make things better to the best of their ability. They often said that they had suggested improvements only to be told no by the director.
"I was horrified that an SPCA could be allowed to exist in such a condition and that authorities could allow that kind of treatment by one of their peace officers."
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Folks, we continue to be very concerned about the old gentleman, as well as the remaining Seeley Collies and Dachshunds held in crates at the SPCA of Upstate New York in Queensbury. We thank you for your continuing messages of concern for them all.
This past week we learned of a stray Collie that was taken in last July by a dog rescue in midwestern state. Grace was found lying beside a creek, grossly infested with maggots and ticks. The rescuers rushed her to the vet to be treated for heat stroke and to have the maggots and ticks removed. She was obviously underweight, and her hair so badly matted it had to be shaved. The heat stroke caused her to lose the use of her front legs for a while, which required careful rehabilitation to enable her to walk and navigate stairs normally. Months of loving care, hydrotherapy and other exercises, dental surgery, good nutrition, and socialization enabled Grace to be adopted by a very caring family, where she has joined their other Collies in their home and their hearts. She is doing wonderfully, and will never again be lost or neglected or hurt.
Why do we tell about Grace? She was estimated to be about 13 years old, certainly "older than dirt" (see the January 13 report), and in much worse condition than the old gentleman. Like the old gentleman, many people cared about her and wanted to help her. Unlike the old gentleman, that help was welcomed, and resulted in a healthy, happy Collie filling the home and hearts of a loving family. She was NOT crated and hidden in a dark, lonely place with minimal care and allowed to deteriorate physically and mentally. The end of her life will find her in peace, love and comfort.
Is it cruelty to deny the old gentleman all the offers of rehabilitation and superior adoptive homes that he has been denied, and to leave him lying on his chest in a crate all these months, in the darkness of the SPCA of Upstate New York? It has been 187 days.
Calmly,
Jean Levitt
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