ACTIVATE: Charlotte Spadaro’s Riverside Property Raided
Note from Editor: Charlotte Spadaro allegedly works with Diane Carey, South Central Stray Rescue kennel AKA 61st street kennels that is now completely shut down. All of the dogs are gone to an undisclosed location in Riverside.
Officers Seize 29 Animals From
Riverside Property;
One Dog Found Dead
Among the Neglected
-from the Riverside Department of Animal Services
Friday, April 23, 2010, RIVERSIDE – Officers seized 29 animals from a Riverside property today (April 23) where most of them were living in substandard and neglected conditions.
Captain Tammie Belmonte took the lead on what is suspected to be an animal cruelty investigation. Of the 29 animals confiscated, one was a female cat, plus four kittens she was nursing.
One dog was found dead inside a trailer in the rear of the property, located in the 3000 block of Myers Street, west of Van Buren Boulevard and just south of Highway 91. Roughly 15 other dogs, mostly puppies, were stored inside the trailer. The stench of the trailer was overwhelming, Captain Belmonte said. “No animal should have to live like this,” Captain Belmonte said.
Someone called the Riverside Police Department about 11 a.m. regarding the welfare of the animals and the police officers contacted Riverside County Animal Services. The city of Riverside contracts with the county for its animal control and sheltering needs. Animal control officers were on scene about 11:15 a.m.
The owner of the dogs was not on the property during the seizure. The owner is believed to be Charlotte Spadaro, a woman Riverside County Animal Services has been monitoring for more than two years. Spadaro, a former Beverly Hills mayor, is facing animal cruelty charges in neighboring San Bernardino County.
“This will be processed as a potential animal cruelty case and forwarded to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for review,” Captain Belmonte said.
The 29 animals became the very first residents of the new Western […]
LORI’S CORNER: Neuter or Euthanize
On Friday I received a call from Robert, a homeless pit bull owner, who had been arrested, jailed for four months and was about to lose his dog “Boss” forever if I did not help, as he put it, “Right now!” I phoned him back immediately, but it was still after the shelter closed for the day, which was too late. Boss was scheduled to be euthanized on Saturday April 24th.
The only reason that the captain of the shelter had decided to hold on to Boss for four long months was because his owner had written eight letters, pleading with the Department of Animal Services to hold on to his beloved pit bull. This amazed me because the shelter is only required to hold any personal property dog, such as was the case with Boss’ impound, for thirty days. The DAS went to amazing lengths to hold on to him for an additional three months, even though Boss is not the coolest dog in town, temperament wise.
I spoke to Robert, heard his account of how the LAPD, for no good reason, forcefully took Boss from his Cadillac, smashed the windows and destroyed his personal property. This all went down in Hollywood, which is the service area for the North Central Animal Shelter. According to Robert, LAPD officers waited for two hours for an animal control officer to come and get Boss and take Robert to jail. The officer never showed up so LAPD delivered Boss to the shelter where he stayed for 120 days. According to Robert, Boss was never aggressive but the officer hit Boss with his Billy club and threatened to kill Boss if he became really aggressive.
I listened for about twenty minutes to Robert’s account of the day that he was arrested, how he had no money to get Boss out and the fact that this dog was his world. He had owned Boss since he was just a pup. Now almost two years old, from the Razor’s Edge Razor’s Edge line, he was a dog that he had planned to breed because, according to Robert, he had “a wonderful temperament and great confirmation”.
We agreed to meet at the […]
FRIDAY SHOUT OUTS – Giving Thanks!
YAY! It’s Friday and we can give thanks!
Who’s ready to do the fun stuff?
Of course it’s our new adoptee of the week!!!
We’re going to give ASKIM and PEPPER!!!!!!!!
We are thanking an awesome organization AND our very dear adopters!!!!!
Without these two important elements, well, we’re nowhere…
so hip hip hooray!!!!!
Askim? Pepper? Ready??? Set GO!
On behalf of Lori and DDR, we would both like to thank the Animal Farm Foundation for sponsoring DDR’s CGC trials (Canine Good Citizenship Test) for pit bulls). Their Incentive award program has really helped us reach out to new people in the community and have their beloved pits AKC certified!
So far, we have certified 9 dogs and have been awarded a total of $1,350 which in turn will pay for the medical care for the dogs that we rescue.
Another program that we are involved in that they sponsor is their Spay/Neuter program. We were awarded a $5,000 grant to spay/neuter 100 pitbulls in the next year! Without the support of this Foundation, DDR could not continue to help as many people and dogs that we do every month. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Below is a photo of Robin and Zena who passed the CGC test. Zena was rescued from the shelter on the day that she was supposed to be euthanized!
Please read the very important statement on
“At the heart of our organization’s mission is the knowledge that all dogs are individuals, and must be treated as such. We work specifically on behalf of dogs labeled as “pit bulls” not because they are different from any other dogs, but because they are […]
PITStop Community Assist: For DDR DOG GUARDIANS who need FREE HEALTHCARE!
FREE HEALTH CARE SERVICES!
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT RAM’S WEBSITE
Remote Area Medical (RAM) is coming back to Los Angeles. For one entire week, RAM/LA will provide FREE medical, vision and dental care to anyone who comes – no questions asked.
DENTAL: Cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals and other procedures. Pediatric dentistry is also available.
VISION: Eye exam and free prescription glasses. (NOTE: We may not be able to make glasses for every prescription.)
MEDICAL SERVICES: Pediatric exams, adult physicals and medical consults (including diabetes and hypertension), women’s health (mammograms and pap smears), chiropractors, acupuncture, medication assistance, and many other medical specialists available.
To Attend the Clinic, You Must Pick up a Wristband
Sunday, April 25 at the L. A. Sports Arena!
Starting at 9am until all wristbands are gone
Wristbands will be color-coded for different days.
First Come, First Served.
PICK UP WRIST BANDS FOR APPOINTMENTS
ON ONE DAY ONLY!
RAM is also looking for VOLUNTEERS to help distribute wristbands and check in patients throughout the week. Check out their websitefor more volunteer information or call Mary Jones @ 213.974.1425. If you have the time give a little back to your community.
SOUTH LA SHELTER RESCUE ME SPOTLIGHT: BUCKLES A0653105 -First Lady of the Shelter
FIRST LADY OF THE SHELTER — THE OFFICIAL PORTRAIT.
FIRST LADY OF THE SHELTER RELAXING WITH HER CONSTITUENTS.
FIRST LADY’S PRESS CONFERENCE IN WHICH
SHE PROMISES TO GIVE TOYS TO ALL DOGS AT THE SHELTER (note the prop):
AND HERE’S HER VIDEO!
FIRST LADY BEGGING FOR YOUR VOTE — FOR HER LIFE.
THE END OF THE FIRST LADY (note circle around her tail)
Buckles (A0653105, 6 years old, came in to the shelter on March 18th — so way past her time at South L.A.) is the best candidate for your job as happy dog companion. Buckles is the first lady to appear on the website now — with an early impound number indicating she was adopted / licensed years ago. There is no reason given for owner surrender. She has done all the right things — as her political status indicates. She’s been friendly with all the dogs in her kennel, taking a back seat to puppies and pits alike. She was a sweetheart at our adoption event, mild-mannered, good with kids. And, as we learned while making her video, she is SUPER PLAYFUL!!!! She caught the tennis ball that the officer was throwing — but like a politician, was clever enough not to return it without getting something back in exchange — laughs and praise.
Buckles is a perfect girl. A little bit older, a little bit wiser. She isn’t demanding — she’s devoted. And she wants to devote herself to you. Please help Buckles — she’s a cinch to win your heart.
Call the South L.A. shelter at (213) 485-0117 or (213) 485-0119.
And please let us know — because this middle-aged First Lady has truly gotten our votes.
Andrea & Mindy
ivegonetothedogs@gmail.com
(323) 363-4909
SOUTH LA SHELTER RESCUE ME SPOTLIGHT: SHELTER SADNESS: Momma Naomi gone, Baby Campbell leftl
THURSDAY, April 22
Although momma Naomi is gone, we have not forgotten her. There is no blame with the shelter — I want to make that perfectly clear. Staff was not aware that I was networking this dog and I take responsibility for not being diligent and confirming the status. I am burdened with the sadness that remains. And it haunts me.
It is now time to save her puppy Campbell. If you can help this orphan, please call the South L.A. shelter at (213) 485-0117 or (213) 485-0119.
With Naomi’s memory always in our hearts,
Andrea Braver
===
SUNDAY, April 18
SAD, TENDER, WOUNDED MOMMA SEPARATED FROM HER PUPPY
THEIR REUNION BROUGHT TEARS TO EVERYONE’S EYES.
You can’t help yourself when you watch their video:
EVEN PUPPY, AS YOUNG AS HE IS, HAS BEEN CRUELLY NEGLECTED AND HURT.
Naomi (A1102606, 2 year old, pit / GS mix, NOT ON ALERT BUT WILL BE SCHEDULED ANY DAY NOW SO NEEDS OUT IMMEDIATELY (probably by 4/20!!! Don’t wait.) is one of the gentlest dogs at the shelter. All of us love her to pieces. She has been kenneled with other females and is always a sweetheart. Puppy Campbell (A1102604, now 4 mos old), though surrounded by lots of little […]
DEB’S DOG OF THE WEEK: Roxy!
How are they with other dogs?: Roxy
When I’m at the shelter, one of the most frequent questions I get from adopters is “how are they with other dogs?” While we try our best to test dogs to see if they are friendly, sometimes we just don’t know. We have to do introductions on-leash, one dog at a time. It’s a very unnatural way for dogs to meet but we have to ere on the side of caution because if anything goes wrong it could cost the dog its life. Often, one or both of the dogs are straining at the end of the leash and it’s not always clear if their intentions are good. If we don’t know, we won’t take a chance but this can greatly diminishes their chance of getting adopted or rescued. With bully breeds, they have to be held to a higher standard because of the stereotypes and misinformation that is out there. For example, if a little chihuahua and a pit bull meet and the chihuahua is lunging and trying to attack the pit bull and the pit bull is remaining as calm as he can but then gives a “warning” growl…who’s going to get blamed/labeled as aggressive? Unfortunately, it’s usually the pit bull. And once a dog has been labeled as possibly dog aggressive, it’s hard to remove that label.
Roxy was a dog that fit into this category. I met her way back in January 2009 when her previous owners turned her into West LA shelter. She quickly became a volunteer favorite because of her super friendly, “in your face” personality. She had a big wide smile that no one could resist. When her time at the shelter was up we tried to get her into a rescue but they wanted to know how she was with other dogs. The truth is, we just didn’t know so they passed on her. Roxy’s last option was to be relinquished for a fee, to a man that came recommended by other rescue groups. He would keep her as his own and work with her on whatever issues she had.
Fast forward seven months…the man she was living with was on the news and being charged with animal cruelty! Roxy was one of the many evidence dogs that ended up at the Downey shelter. She was super skinny and […]
SOUTH LA SHELTER RESCUE ME SPOTLIGHT:BAISE-A1104954
BAISE is on alert, a sweet dog!
My name is Baise and I am an unaltered male, tan and white German Shepherd Dog mix.
The shelter thinks I am about 11 months old.
I weigh approximately 42 pounds.
I have been at the shelter since Apr 05, 2010.
Call the South L.A. shelter at (213) 485-0117 or (213) 485- 0119. And kindly let us know that you are the lucky one who will get Baise’s kisses!
Many thanks,
Andrea & Mindy
ivegonetothedogs@gmail.com
(323) 363-4909