Thus far animal control has released two dogs to owners and two to Boxers and Birds in Oceanside. For information on these dogs please contact Lisa Hamilton at (760) 433-3763. Lisa and her organization have graciously been standing by to help, and are able to take up to 40 at a time (they have the facilities and the volunteers) but animal control is not allowing that and saying they DO NOT want them to go to rescues.

The two released are both dogs with health considerations: Lilly, who has megaesophagus and a chronic mange girl Annabelle...both are nice. Please consider giving them wonderful homes.

Be aware that if you fill out a shelter application for one of the dogs from my rescue you will have to have a home visit as well. Home visits are never required for adoption of other animals from animal control so draw your own conclusions.

A letter sent today to the DA Mr. Huffman and Mr. Carlson of Animal Control.

We are hoping an accord can be reached to release the dogs from the shelter quickly.

Ms. Via has now had a chance to go through the files that were provided. As you know, these files were made available last Thursday afternoon and were picked up by my office on Friday. Various attempts were made to email these documents to Ms. Via, as you know, I was out of town. However, the size of the documents crashed the server. I was still away on Monday and Ms. Via was unavailable on Tuesday. Today was the first day we were able to review the copies. Together, we reviewed the thousands of pages of documents you provided. Unfortunately, there were no documents provided for the animals that were being boarded. To the best of Ms. Via’s recollection, these three animals are Bowie, Lola and Trooper. To the best of our ability, these animals are described below. Also, I have specifically requested a commitment from you, in writing, that no seized animals will be euthanized. Before Ms. Via will release any animals, we will need that commitment.

Once we receive your commitment that no animals seized from Ms. Via will be euthanized, she will formally release all ownership interests in all of the remaining animals. The other animals should then be released forthwith. Thank you.

As pleased as I am to have my personal dogs home again I am not at all happy

I must say I should probably thank animal control for the release of the hit piece on NBC last week as it brought me many additional supporters who were outraged that they would stoop so low and as I've had people in my house every week for 17 years, everyone knows that was not my house. So thanks animal control and NBC!

Those of you who saw (whether on line or TV) the NBC hit piece on me this morning need to understand that the only photos that applied to my story was the shot of them walking the HEALTHY dogs out of my house...the rest of the shots were from other raids, as was the descriptions of the places but it was made to appear that it was my house they were describing. I refrain from saying more but am disappointed.

I also just saw Channel 8 talk about the arraignment today but rather than show the lovely people

and dogs who came in support they chose to show me get arrested on the 10th of March again!!!

some of the dogs out of the shelter and into homes or rescues. The media made it seem as though animal control has all control over where these dogs go but believe me my lawyer and I have to agree on each dogs placement and this will prevent animal control from euthanizing these dogs. My dogs are ecstatic to be home and with each other again...who knew how happy a Chihuahua could be to see his Boxers again! I await the day the rest will be released.

Had my arraignment today and pretrial hearing is set for July 27...don't think this lends itself to you coming along

but if so will let you know...and the trial is set for August 16th...the date may change so keep watching!

My gratitude for those of you who took time off work and vacations to come be with me at the court house and a special thanks to those who brought their dogs...among them we had two service Boxers, a couple of Chihuahuas and a mishmash of other happy, and beautiful, Boxers and mixes! Hugs to all...Alice

A BIG thank you to Judge Preckel for allowing my personal dogs to come home today!

We are working on the release of the rest of the dogs still in the shelters.

A HUGE thank you to Chris Morris of Aguirre, Morris and Severson for the fine work

A HUGE thank you to those who showed up for support this morning at the hearing.

Thank you to Channel 8, Channel 10 and Katerina Makris (sorry, I think it is Dogbeat.com) for covering today's hearing.

If you can come to show support for these dogs, and all rescues in general, please do!

I am saddened to say that I have just received word that my sweet Maggie Mae died last week.

I was NOT told this in any responsible way by animal control, nor the DA's office.

I knew when I saw her that she was being slowly tortured to death and I knew they would not tell me when she died.

Every person who had any part in Maggie's suffering, no matter how small, should be fired in disgrace.

Those who have kept quiet when yelling about this would have helped should be ashamed.

Parking is scarce so give yourselves some extra time. I look forward to seeing you.

I don't usually put things like this on my site and this is NOT in San Diego, thankfully, but we need to re-educate ourselves so that we understand that being PAID to do a job does not insure, compassion, responsibility or ability.

FCAHumane had to remove clothing from the dryer belonging to an Animal Control staff member so they could heat towels for the poor Labrador. While the Humane Society members worked feverishly throughout the night trying to save the lives of the dogs whose bodies had been ripped apart, the Animal Control employees allegedly stood outside laughing and smoking.

http://www.examiner.com/x-40189-LA-Dog-Rescue-Examiner%7Ey2010m6d2-Breaking-news-Dog-fight-at-animal-control-shelter-leads-to-dogs-death#comments

"We've been working feverishly to maintain the dogs in a good psychological state."

You may not remember that on April 28th I reported that someone had told me that "a puppy that was taken in the raid on my house had signs of atrophy in it's rear legs...this was a healthy puppy at my rescue. This can only be due to a LACK OF EXERCISE at the shelter!!! This was observed and reported to the shelter last week. (Still in April)

I talked to John Carlson, our director, and he says our medical staff is in the process of working up the dog. Once it is determined what is wrong they will decide what should be done about it At this time we are not sending any of our dogs out to foster. If anything changes we will be sure to let you know. signed Lori Hite, Animal Care Supervisor"

My response at that time: Why does an outsider have to report leg atrophy to the staff? Is no one responsible

for the health of these dogs at the shelter? Why is it "in the process" of working up the dog?

Well guess what I learned today. The shelter, rather than give the dog to me or allow me to place this dog, OR GIVE IT ADEQUATE EXERCISE, is being taken to water therapy sessions. The dog becomes happy there and then gets so upset when it is returned to the shelter that he pees in anxiety and fear. This is a Boxer pup who was happy as the dickens at my house and healthy and socializing with the other dogs.

Due to the over zealous and I believe unlawful raid on my rescue this pup has spent nearly half his life

John Carlson: "We've been working feverishly to maintain the dogs in a good psychological state."

This is how the medical staff at the shelter solves a problem...throw tax payers money at it and

then put it right back into the same dismal situation so it will never recover.

You know this is dumb as a stump thinking in my opinion and so counter productive to the dog.

So this is at least two dogs the shelter is torturing...is this really helping dogs in any way?

Woman who had 63 dogs facing misdemeanors

Okay group here's the story behind the story...then the story.

Wednesday the DA told my lawyer that he was going to file only one misdemeanor charge which could be worked down to an infraction. We were interviewed by a reporter on Thursday, who said she was also going to get the DA's side and this article is coming out Saturday morning so in retaliation to this article (I have no idea what she wrote) the DA filed these charges before the article has come out...simple as it is...they are angry and trying to get the first blow I guess. This would be our legal system at work.

The DA said they didn't file a felony because of my lack of a criminal record...I hope you don't fall for that line...they never had a felony case. I should never have been arrested
.
I have plenty of people who will testify as to the care and condition of the animals...and answer honestly.

You may ask what is so important that I felt I needed to talk to a reporter (with no guarantee it will even be a favorable article) at this point. Let me show you:

Maggie at my house (she did have more gray as she is now 8 but notice the health)

Maggie 3 months in the shelter notice abdoman Maggie's head and spine now below

These photos show Maggie Mae (my personal dog) as she was at my house (although had acquired a touch of gray)in March when they took her and as she is today at the shelter in only three months time. The photos show all of her ribs are showing to the point that you can lay your fingers between them. There is fluid in her abdomen (they don't know why) so she is now a bag of bones with a distended (as though she were way pregnant) stomach. I have seen her and I took these photos and it broke my heart. While Maggie did wag her tail while with me she has lost her "happiness" (you Boxer owners know what I mean) and she could not even put her front paws on my knees for a proper Boxer hug. Animal control would crucify a rescue if a dog looked like this, no matter what the reason. They are torturing my dog. It takes a lot of suffering for a dog to get this thin and for the spine and headbone to stand out like this...again they are torturing my dog.

The official story from the shelter is that she had bloat (stomach twists and can quickly kill a dog) and they operated on her and discovered a tumor on the pancreas and took that out and then developed "other clinical signs" and thus here she is today with shelter care.

This bloat ONLY occurred because this dog was forced into a pen with other dogs and gulped her food while eating...all her life she has eaten calmly and without challenge, in her crate. Dawn Danielson has replied to my email and said "twisted stomach often develops in certain breeds of dogs, including Boxers." I have had over 120 dogs per year in my rescue for 17 years and have never had bloat...I feed them in crates so they can not be stressed and gulp their food. My question is that if Dawn Danielson knows about the breed why would they not take precautions as that is what we do in rescue.

There is more but let me say that I found these charges out by a friend who heard from a friend who saw it on Sign On San Diego on the net... I called my lawyer to let him know. Again our legal system at work.

By the way the shelter has been refusing to take in dogs and yet they have done NOTHING after three months of effort on our part and rescues part to help get these dogs out of there...it is NOT healthy for the dogs and Dawn Danielson is not fulfilling her duty to the citizens of this county by not giving the dogs a place to be when owners need to give them up. She is wasting your tax dollars (a $15 million dollar budget which less than a third goes to help the dogs.) Perhaps it's time to stop funding this archaic system and get one that actually favors the animals...while the shelters are refusing to take dogs in they are determined to shut down rescues who have wonderful reputations (I did and others have also been affected) and whom the public has relied on for many, many years without complaints. In my own case I have had people in my house every week for 17 years with no complaints from either adopters , volunteers or my friends who are ALL animal lovers. The only interest of this and other rescues has always been the welfare of the dogs...and with no funding such as shelters have at their disposal.

Animal control has called me for years knowing my good reputation as nothing is a secret in this animal community

Do not worry about me. I must let you know that if we talk about my Maggie that I will break down...what they have done to her truly breaks my heart.

Alice Via

By Anne Krueger, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Friday, June 11, 2010 at 2:45 p.m.

LAKESIDE — Six misdemeanor charges were filed Friday against a 65-year-old woman who is accused of failing to properly care for dozens of rescued boxers and Chihuahuas in her Lakeside home.

Alice Via faces charges of having an unlawful kennel, keeping animals in an unsanitary environment, failing to treat contagious animals, and three counts of failure to care for an animal. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail.

Via was arrested March 10 and 63 dogs were taken from her home by county Department of Animal Services. Via has run a rescue operation since 1994, beginning in Escondido before her move to Lakeside five years ago.

Animal Services officers had sought a felony charge of animal neglect against Via when she was arrested March 10, but Deputy District Attorney Richard Huffman Jr., said no felony charge was filed because of Via’s lack of a criminal record.

John Carlson, deputy director of the Department of Animal Services, said the dogs suffered from a variety of ailments when they were picked up, including mange, malnutrition and dehydration.

Via said in an interview that she took good care of the animals, providing food and water for them in their crates and letting them play in her yard for an hour twice a day. She said she was often called by Animal Services employees asking her to take boxers who could not remain in a shelter.

“My whole focus for 17 years has been the welfare and care of dogs,” Via said. “It’s been a passion, an honor, to help those dogs.”

Huffman said Via is scheduled to make her first court appearance July 8.

Anne Krueger: (619) 542-4575; anne.krueger@uniontrib.com

www.paypal.com then you'd click ''send money" then you'd input my email address boxeresq@cox.net

- the best way is to have people send the money as a "GIFT", then no taxes are taken out.

(Be persistent! If I haven't returned your call within two days please call again.)

Boxer Rescue San Diego

San Diego California 92040

Woman who had 63 dogs facing misdemeanors

Tanya Gillis

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