That is unconscionable behavior by overpaid, unethical, pompous administrators who think they are above accountability to the public. This cannot stand! There must be accountability and transparency for this issue and it must happen immediately!!!! What are we waiting for?
Thank you, Karen, for your passionate response! I agree—this kind of behavior is unacceptable, and the lack of accountability and transparency is troubling. The public deserves answers, and the animals deserve better. Together, by continuing to demand action, we can push for the accountability and reforms that are so urgently needed. Thank you for lending your voice to this critical issue!
You just said a mouthful of TRUTH! Those of us in the rescue space wonder why taxpayers don’t help us take back our animal shelters? Why is it so difficult to get traction?
Animal shelters are taxpayer funded. We certainly don’t see this much death, destruction and corruption in our other county departments: like our health departments or libraries.
We’ve turned over our animal shelters to documented sociopaths. All the while they are pretending to be the “experts” and claiming they know best. Overpaid dog catchers at best. LA Co. Marsha Mayeda makes almost TWICE what our Governor makes. A self glorified dog catcher… just lost a lawsuit for violating Hayden animal protection laws. And she is still there. We’ve also heard about sexual harassment NDA’s being signed and the harasser is just moved to another shelter… heard his name is Frank? Truth or rumor?
In California for example, they’ve created a MONSTER organization called “Cal Animals”. All the shelters join, attorneys and others who are dead set on consolidating shelter POWER. They institute “policies” that absolutely violate CA animal protection laws. So many lawsuits, and they spend whatever it takes to defend their right to kill, retaliate against volunteers, rescue groups and create the most hostile work environments,
Cal Animals also is using this power to lobby to legislators, city councils to maintain the status quo with regressive policies that HARM orphaned animals. All the while saying they are the experts. Look at the crises these “experts” have created!
And why for the love of God do these pompous asses get promoted or relocated? Recycling the trash. Seriously, not unlike those Catholic priests… moved from parish to parish for decades 👹
Thank you, Christine for your passionate comment and for shedding light on these critical issues. It is frustrating to see taxpayer-funded shelters operate with such a lack of accountability and transparency, especially when their actions harm the very animals they’re meant to protect. Your insights about the misuse of power and the hostile environments created by some leaders are eye-opening and resonate with many in the rescue community. Change is long overdue, and voices like yours are essential in pushing for reform. Let’s keep raising awareness and fighting for a system that truly prioritizes the welfare of animals. Thank you for speaking out!
Thank you, thank you to you and the Whistleblower for bringing this former incident to life.
I have been an advocate for change at OC Animal Care (OCAC) for years. Please go to our advocate website: OCShelter.com to view our ongoing efforts and how to get involved in our mission to bring change for the animals.
After reading some of the comments, I’d like to add that the public can bring change by contacting public officials and making some noise. Riverside County community did just that, and as a result the ED has been “reassigned” and the shelter system is now under the management of an animal welfare consulting group. OC Supervisors Sarmiento and Nguyen have shown a strong interest in reforming OCAC.
Again, Ed, thank you for your work to shine a light on abuse and corruption.
Definitely a very dark period for the animals when humans have lost their minds, hearts, spirits and souls...it's tragic for all of us, especially those who care, are sensitive and try to stop corruption.
To let people wonder what happened to the animals is abusive, on top of criminal behavior. The animal loving community in AZ (and CA and beyond) were devastated. Animals need to have rights and sick people need to be held responsible. Then, we need to never let things like this happen again.
I've witnessed animal non-profits and their agendas and have called one of them out on it in Arizona. The backlash is not for the weak. It was a devastating experience and my health took a toll. I left the non-profit and rebuilt my health and my vocation and teach health and well-being. I also care for wildlife too injured to return to the wild. Thus, Wildlands.
Thank you, Robin, for your heartfelt comment and for sharing your personal journey. Your dedication to standing up for animals, even in the face of adversity, is inspiring. It’s a reminder of the resilience and courage it takes to confront corruption and advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. I’m grateful for people like you who continue to fight for justice and care so deeply. Together, we can keep shining a light on these dark moments and work toward a future where such tragedies never happen again. Wishing you continued strength and success in your vital work with Wildlands!
So can they also sell all the unplaceable cats and dogs to labs to be tortured, and call that "live placement?"
Shelter people: if you intake an animal as a pet, you'd better keep that animal's status as "pet" and euth them if you can't place them, no matter what it does to your "live placement" rates, or what this will do to your reputation, thanks to good whistleblowers, will leave the alternative in the shade.
Miep, you raise an important point about the ethical responsibility shelters have to maintain the status of animals as pets and prioritize their welfare above metrics like live placement rates. Transparency and accountability are critical, and whistleblowers play a vital role in exposing practices that betray public trust. Shelters must focus on humane outcomes, even when it’s difficult, to ensure the integrity of their mission and the protection of the animals in their care. Thank you for being a voice for change!
This article and comments are greatly appreciated and at the crux of what shelter management and Best Friends "No Kill 90% Live Outcome" has become......COVERT disposal of animals. It's been going on a long time and accelerated due to abandonment of volume lo-cost or free spay neuter programs.
Whether a "No Kill" shelter is shipping animals to a high-kill shelter or so-called rescue that merely a paid hoarder, reptile breeder and food seller, dumping friendly domestic cats as "community animals" these practices have been secretly institutionalized. Now there is more public awareness and perhaps there is documentation being developed where all the animals being moved around from California are going.
I totally agree that every individual animal leaving a shelter should be documented with ID#, individual characteristics, microchip if available--(standard intake) and documented at point of destination and OUTCOME available to public.
Animal transports from disaster zones have been fundraising gold for Best Friends, ASPCA, HSUS and others yet there is no publicly available verified documentation where the vast numbers of animals find a safe destination.
I understand some of the dogs transported out of Lancaster. Ca are sent to a Humane Society that is only an intermediary. From there they've been distributed to unknown rescues. There are many similar stories. The entire chain of custody of documented individual animals or multiple transfers should be posted and available to public.
The trafficking's of these animals, until now has been secretive affair and enabled the 90% No Kill façade to continue. Until the big animal welfare orgs, Cal Animals etc, fund volume spay/neuter and legislate commercial breeding instead of hefty salaries, we will continue to see mass euthanizing and covert disposal.
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) had a 10 year relationship with Colton Jones reptile breeder and seller of live and frozen small animals for reptile food. There is no way San Diego HS did not know there was no accommodation for 320 small animals in Tucson, that HSSA was only the intermediary for a clandestine destination. The transport of animals from San Diego was scheduled to arrive at HSSA AFTER HOURS then transferred to HSSA vans delivering animals to Phoenix where most were frozen to death or fed alive to reptiles.
Similarly, HSSA had been "disappearing" animals from Cochise County. Despite many public demands, HSSA never produced outcome records for over 218 dogs and cats from a shelter in Douglas AZ.
These events are not unique and an expose could be an award winning, culture-shift documentary similar to "Blackfish" that created public pressure for Sea World to recognize extreme confinement Orcas large marine mammals for public entertainment was dangerous and extremely cruel.
IMO, this is the crux of the choice. "No Kill 90% Live Outcome" is pure fantasy without volume s/n and commercial breeding restrictions and requires mass covert disposal of animals. Until now, covert disposal has been routinely achieved but cracks in the façade are increasing.
Thank you, Carmen, for your thoughtful and detailed comment! You’ve articulated a critical issue that many in the animal welfare community are increasingly recognizing: the lack of transparency and accountability in the "No Kill" movement’s practices. The covert disposal of animals, whether through questionable transfers or untracked outcomes, undermines the trust and mission of shelters. Your call for comprehensive documentation and public access to records is spot on—every animal deserves to be treated as an individual, not a statistic. It’s encouraging to see more awareness growing around these issues, and voices like yours are essential in pushing for meaningful reform. Thank you for sharing your insights and for being a strong advocate for animals!
Where I live (SE NM) there is a veterinary shortage and this is predicted to get worse. This problem will not get solved without a lot of funding put into training and support. It's very hard work. I know a lovely, smart, steady and dedicated vet here who got out of private practice because she could not bear to say no when people brought her ailing animals and she couldn't afford it anymore when they stiffed her on bills. What we really need is clinics that do both spay/neuter/vax/chipping and also provide emergency care. Somebody has to pay for all this. It's doable but not without changing priorities.
Thank you, Miep, for sharing this important perspective! The veterinary shortage is a serious issue, especially in underserved areas like SE New Mexico, and it’s clear that more funding and support are urgently needed. National organizations, which raise about a billion dollars annually, should prioritize allocating more of those resources to spay/neuter programs and accessible veterinary care. Clinics that combine spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, and emergency care could make a huge difference if properly funded. Changing priorities to focus on these critical needs is essential for creating sustainable solutions for both animals and the dedicated professionals who care for them.
Yes, lack of accessible vet care is essential point. Again, the big orgs (having amassed billions with lavishly paid execs) could be funding vet training with commitment of practicing in shelters or lo-cost clinics for at least two years. Most vet graduates go into specialties and the private practices that Private Equity firms have acquired with services most cant afford to pay off enormous student loans.
There are obvious solutions: Government officials stop squandering money on animal welfare political cronies. Instead fund overpopulation PREVENTION and sponsor vet training with shelter or volume/accessible s/n mobile or clinic commitments.
The big orgs that have been profiteering on a business model of pet overpopulation ( distressed homeless pets fundraising gold, more fosters and rescues drive customers to Big Box Pet Merchandise retailers) also prioritize funding vet training with commitments to shelters or lo-cost clinics in addition to above mentioned obvious solutions.
Thank you, Carmen, for your response! You’re absolutely right—accessible vet care is a critical piece of the puzzle, and the idea of funding vet training with commitments to shelters or low-cost clinics is a fantastic solution. It’s frustrating to see big organizations with massive resources prioritize fundraising and retail partnerships over real, systemic change. Redirecting even a fraction of their fundraising efforts toward addressing the vet shortage and supporting community clinics could make a world of difference for animals and the people working tirelessly to help them. Thank you for highlighting this important issue!
This is awful! I hate to think what has become of these animals.There has got to be more accountability. Thank you for bringing attention to the important issue!
That is unconscionable behavior by overpaid, unethical, pompous administrators who think they are above accountability to the public. This cannot stand! There must be accountability and transparency for this issue and it must happen immediately!!!! What are we waiting for?
Thank you, Karen, for your passionate response! I agree—this kind of behavior is unacceptable, and the lack of accountability and transparency is troubling. The public deserves answers, and the animals deserve better. Together, by continuing to demand action, we can push for the accountability and reforms that are so urgently needed. Thank you for lending your voice to this critical issue!
You just said a mouthful of TRUTH! Those of us in the rescue space wonder why taxpayers don’t help us take back our animal shelters? Why is it so difficult to get traction?
Animal shelters are taxpayer funded. We certainly don’t see this much death, destruction and corruption in our other county departments: like our health departments or libraries.
We’ve turned over our animal shelters to documented sociopaths. All the while they are pretending to be the “experts” and claiming they know best. Overpaid dog catchers at best. LA Co. Marsha Mayeda makes almost TWICE what our Governor makes. A self glorified dog catcher… just lost a lawsuit for violating Hayden animal protection laws. And she is still there. We’ve also heard about sexual harassment NDA’s being signed and the harasser is just moved to another shelter… heard his name is Frank? Truth or rumor?
In California for example, they’ve created a MONSTER organization called “Cal Animals”. All the shelters join, attorneys and others who are dead set on consolidating shelter POWER. They institute “policies” that absolutely violate CA animal protection laws. So many lawsuits, and they spend whatever it takes to defend their right to kill, retaliate against volunteers, rescue groups and create the most hostile work environments,
Cal Animals also is using this power to lobby to legislators, city councils to maintain the status quo with regressive policies that HARM orphaned animals. All the while saying they are the experts. Look at the crises these “experts” have created!
And why for the love of God do these pompous asses get promoted or relocated? Recycling the trash. Seriously, not unlike those Catholic priests… moved from parish to parish for decades 👹
Thank you, Christine for your passionate comment and for shedding light on these critical issues. It is frustrating to see taxpayer-funded shelters operate with such a lack of accountability and transparency, especially when their actions harm the very animals they’re meant to protect. Your insights about the misuse of power and the hostile environments created by some leaders are eye-opening and resonate with many in the rescue community. Change is long overdue, and voices like yours are essential in pushing for reform. Let’s keep raising awareness and fighting for a system that truly prioritizes the welfare of animals. Thank you for speaking out!
Well?
Wow!!!
Thank you, thank you to you and the Whistleblower for bringing this former incident to life.
I have been an advocate for change at OC Animal Care (OCAC) for years. Please go to our advocate website: OCShelter.com to view our ongoing efforts and how to get involved in our mission to bring change for the animals.
After reading some of the comments, I’d like to add that the public can bring change by contacting public officials and making some noise. Riverside County community did just that, and as a result the ED has been “reassigned” and the shelter system is now under the management of an animal welfare consulting group. OC Supervisors Sarmiento and Nguyen have shown a strong interest in reforming OCAC.
Again, Ed, thank you for your work to shine a light on abuse and corruption.
Definitely a very dark period for the animals when humans have lost their minds, hearts, spirits and souls...it's tragic for all of us, especially those who care, are sensitive and try to stop corruption.
To let people wonder what happened to the animals is abusive, on top of criminal behavior. The animal loving community in AZ (and CA and beyond) were devastated. Animals need to have rights and sick people need to be held responsible. Then, we need to never let things like this happen again.
I've witnessed animal non-profits and their agendas and have called one of them out on it in Arizona. The backlash is not for the weak. It was a devastating experience and my health took a toll. I left the non-profit and rebuilt my health and my vocation and teach health and well-being. I also care for wildlife too injured to return to the wild. Thus, Wildlands.
Thank you, Robin, for your heartfelt comment and for sharing your personal journey. Your dedication to standing up for animals, even in the face of adversity, is inspiring. It’s a reminder of the resilience and courage it takes to confront corruption and advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. I’m grateful for people like you who continue to fight for justice and care so deeply. Together, we can keep shining a light on these dark moments and work toward a future where such tragedies never happen again. Wishing you continued strength and success in your vital work with Wildlands!
So can they also sell all the unplaceable cats and dogs to labs to be tortured, and call that "live placement?"
Shelter people: if you intake an animal as a pet, you'd better keep that animal's status as "pet" and euth them if you can't place them, no matter what it does to your "live placement" rates, or what this will do to your reputation, thanks to good whistleblowers, will leave the alternative in the shade.
Miep, you raise an important point about the ethical responsibility shelters have to maintain the status of animals as pets and prioritize their welfare above metrics like live placement rates. Transparency and accountability are critical, and whistleblowers play a vital role in exposing practices that betray public trust. Shelters must focus on humane outcomes, even when it’s difficult, to ensure the integrity of their mission and the protection of the animals in their care. Thank you for being a voice for change!
This article and comments are greatly appreciated and at the crux of what shelter management and Best Friends "No Kill 90% Live Outcome" has become......COVERT disposal of animals. It's been going on a long time and accelerated due to abandonment of volume lo-cost or free spay neuter programs.
Whether a "No Kill" shelter is shipping animals to a high-kill shelter or so-called rescue that merely a paid hoarder, reptile breeder and food seller, dumping friendly domestic cats as "community animals" these practices have been secretly institutionalized. Now there is more public awareness and perhaps there is documentation being developed where all the animals being moved around from California are going.
I totally agree that every individual animal leaving a shelter should be documented with ID#, individual characteristics, microchip if available--(standard intake) and documented at point of destination and OUTCOME available to public.
Animal transports from disaster zones have been fundraising gold for Best Friends, ASPCA, HSUS and others yet there is no publicly available verified documentation where the vast numbers of animals find a safe destination.
I understand some of the dogs transported out of Lancaster. Ca are sent to a Humane Society that is only an intermediary. From there they've been distributed to unknown rescues. There are many similar stories. The entire chain of custody of documented individual animals or multiple transfers should be posted and available to public.
The trafficking's of these animals, until now has been secretive affair and enabled the 90% No Kill façade to continue. Until the big animal welfare orgs, Cal Animals etc, fund volume spay/neuter and legislate commercial breeding instead of hefty salaries, we will continue to see mass euthanizing and covert disposal.
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) had a 10 year relationship with Colton Jones reptile breeder and seller of live and frozen small animals for reptile food. There is no way San Diego HS did not know there was no accommodation for 320 small animals in Tucson, that HSSA was only the intermediary for a clandestine destination. The transport of animals from San Diego was scheduled to arrive at HSSA AFTER HOURS then transferred to HSSA vans delivering animals to Phoenix where most were frozen to death or fed alive to reptiles.
Similarly, HSSA had been "disappearing" animals from Cochise County. Despite many public demands, HSSA never produced outcome records for over 218 dogs and cats from a shelter in Douglas AZ.
These events are not unique and an expose could be an award winning, culture-shift documentary similar to "Blackfish" that created public pressure for Sea World to recognize extreme confinement Orcas large marine mammals for public entertainment was dangerous and extremely cruel.
IMO, this is the crux of the choice. "No Kill 90% Live Outcome" is pure fantasy without volume s/n and commercial breeding restrictions and requires mass covert disposal of animals. Until now, covert disposal has been routinely achieved but cracks in the façade are increasing.
Thank you, Carmen, for your thoughtful and detailed comment! You’ve articulated a critical issue that many in the animal welfare community are increasingly recognizing: the lack of transparency and accountability in the "No Kill" movement’s practices. The covert disposal of animals, whether through questionable transfers or untracked outcomes, undermines the trust and mission of shelters. Your call for comprehensive documentation and public access to records is spot on—every animal deserves to be treated as an individual, not a statistic. It’s encouraging to see more awareness growing around these issues, and voices like yours are essential in pushing for meaningful reform. Thank you for sharing your insights and for being a strong advocate for animals!
Where I live (SE NM) there is a veterinary shortage and this is predicted to get worse. This problem will not get solved without a lot of funding put into training and support. It's very hard work. I know a lovely, smart, steady and dedicated vet here who got out of private practice because she could not bear to say no when people brought her ailing animals and she couldn't afford it anymore when they stiffed her on bills. What we really need is clinics that do both spay/neuter/vax/chipping and also provide emergency care. Somebody has to pay for all this. It's doable but not without changing priorities.
Thank you, Miep, for sharing this important perspective! The veterinary shortage is a serious issue, especially in underserved areas like SE New Mexico, and it’s clear that more funding and support are urgently needed. National organizations, which raise about a billion dollars annually, should prioritize allocating more of those resources to spay/neuter programs and accessible veterinary care. Clinics that combine spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, and emergency care could make a huge difference if properly funded. Changing priorities to focus on these critical needs is essential for creating sustainable solutions for both animals and the dedicated professionals who care for them.
Yes, lack of accessible vet care is essential point. Again, the big orgs (having amassed billions with lavishly paid execs) could be funding vet training with commitment of practicing in shelters or lo-cost clinics for at least two years. Most vet graduates go into specialties and the private practices that Private Equity firms have acquired with services most cant afford to pay off enormous student loans.
There are obvious solutions: Government officials stop squandering money on animal welfare political cronies. Instead fund overpopulation PREVENTION and sponsor vet training with shelter or volume/accessible s/n mobile or clinic commitments.
The big orgs that have been profiteering on a business model of pet overpopulation ( distressed homeless pets fundraising gold, more fosters and rescues drive customers to Big Box Pet Merchandise retailers) also prioritize funding vet training with commitments to shelters or lo-cost clinics in addition to above mentioned obvious solutions.
Agree entirely.
Thank you, Carmen, for your response! You’re absolutely right—accessible vet care is a critical piece of the puzzle, and the idea of funding vet training with commitments to shelters or low-cost clinics is a fantastic solution. It’s frustrating to see big organizations with massive resources prioritize fundraising and retail partnerships over real, systemic change. Redirecting even a fraction of their fundraising efforts toward addressing the vet shortage and supporting community clinics could make a world of difference for animals and the people working tirelessly to help them. Thank you for highlighting this important issue!
This is awful! I hate to think what has become of these animals.There has got to be more accountability. Thank you for bringing attention to the important issue!
Please write or call your supervisors.