Poppy's Page
"All my dogs have been a ladder for me to God." Poppy's Mom
And God gives us these little ones, loving, forgiving, and comforting us, and knowing that we are physical beings, he gives us these little creatures to hug and kiss, to nourish and fulfill our need to touch, especially when we are alone.
HOME PAGE
And God gives us these little ones, loving, forgiving, and comforting us, and knowing that we are physical beings, he gives us these little creatures to hug and kiss, to nourish and fulfill our need to touch, especially when we are alone.
HOME PAGE
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Spencer Is Looking for a Home
d of hearing as a result of his previous ear problems, but this does not take away from anything he does. Spencer is neutered, has had a dental, is up to date on his vaccinations. He looks and feels like a totally different dog than when he was picked up. His tail is always wagging and he gets along well with his other doggy brothers and sisters, although he is not quite as rowdy as they are. He is perfect on the potty training and would do great either in a home as an only dog or a home with other quiet dogs. If you are interested in a great companion please call Mary at 262-633-9371.Sunday, March 8, 2009
Tinkerbell - Give This Girl Your Heart and A Home
Located: St Charles Illinois. My name is Tinkerbell. My story has a pretty rough beginning. I was one of 125 dogs living in a little house with just one human. Someone came and took all of us away. I went to a vet and he said I had a really bad heart problem. My tummy was swollen and I was not feeling well at all. Then I took a long ride to Wisconsin to a place called rescue. They took me to a vet who said my heart was just fine, but I was full of parasites. They gave me some medicine and wow did I start to feel really good. Today I am 4 1/2 pounds of puppy energy. They think I am about 11/2 to 2 yrs old, and boy oh boy do I love life. I have so much energy that I ne
ed a home with someone who can keep up with me. Take me for walks, and play, play, play. Don't get me wrong I LOVE my cuddle time too. I love sleeping in a human bed and knowing I am safe. I would really like a buddy, but one that is young enough and has enough energy to play with me. Unfortunately I lost the hair on my ears and part of my tail because of the trauma to my system from those nasty parasites. There is some fuzz starting to grow back, I do look a little silly right now but then I am a silly little girl. Please call Mary (262-633-9371) if you want to adopt me, I would be so happySweet Tessa Looking For Her Forever Home
Located in Racine, Wisconsin; Tessa is a 1 ½ yr old female. She has been spay and is current on all of her shots. Tessa is a Maltese /Shih Tzu Mix we believe. She weighs about 7 ½ pounds of bounding energy. She will win anyone over with those huge sweet eyes. Tessa was picked up as a stray, limping in the cold. When no one claimed her at the shelter she was transferred to Maltese Rescue needing veterinary care. While we suspected she had a broken leg we were surprised to find that the leg could not be repaired. Tessa had to have her rear leg removed. Now, here she is just a few weeks since her surgery and she is running like the wind. She does not know she only has three legs. Shhh don’t anyone tell her. She is a snuggle bug. But so full of energy, so a home with enough energy to keep up is necessary. Please call Mary for more information about Tessa. 262-633-9371
Another Tucker
Located in New College Pennsylvania; Tucker is a wonderful little Maltese. He has been in my foster care since February 1, and is an absolute joy to have in our home. Tucker is a 5 year old, neutered Maltese and weights about 12 lbs, and could stand to lose a pound or more. He loves to go on walks, and will walk well on a leash. He gets along well with other dogs, but would prefer a home without other dogs or a home with a submissive dog, just like him. Tucker loves to cuddle up on the sofa next to me or rest on my lap, and most of all at bedtime he wants to crawl into bed with us and our two other dogs. Tucker seems to prefer woman over men and children, but would do well with a man in the household who took his time getting to know Tucker. Tucker is 98% potty trained, but needs to be fed and walked on a regular-daily schedule. I take Tucker out frequently during the day to remind him it is potty time. We haven’t had any potty incidents since he has been in my care. Tucker has been to obedience school and understands basic commands such as: Sit, Stay, Come, Leave it, Shake, Dance and is extremely eager to please. Tucker will certainly be missed in our home when he goes to his Forever Home, as he has been my constant shadow since the day we met. He is without a doubt a bundle of joy, and would be a loyal, playful and wonderful companion to his Forever Family. Please call Mary at 262-633-9371.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Rocky Needs a Home

Located in Lowell Indiana: Rocky has not had an easy life. He was part of a family with his siblings, but because of bad times they were relegated to an outside porch in crates. A wonderful friend came along and convinced the family to put them into rescue. Rocky is a sweet soul and loves to play. He is house trained, neutered and current on all of his shots. He is 3 years old and loves to cuddle. He would like to become part of a loving family who has time to let him know what family life is all about. Rocky had to be completely shaved down when he came into rescue. He was so badly matted that he had trouble walking. His hair is growing out now and he is going to be a very handsome boy. If you are interested in a great companion please call his foster mom in Indiana. Alice 219-696-3258 Or Mary 262-633-9371
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Russell & Macy - Will You Be Their Forever Mom?
Located in Blairstown, NJ: Russell & Macy - We were given up for adoption because our mother is in a nursing home with terminal cancer. We are 8 years out and have been together since we were 5 weeks old. We are looking for a forever home with lots of love and no young children. We have settled in quickly with our foster mom and love to follow her around the house. When she’s sitting we enjoy being on her lap or right next to her. Don’t think we’re old, we love to play. We enjoy giving kisses and love to snuggle. We are good with other dogs and cats. Russell is 7 pounds, neutered and current on shots with a recent dental. Macy is spayed, up to day on shots and dental, and is a whole 5 pounds. These dogs will not be separated, but ONLY adopted together. If you are interested in adopting this loveable pair please call Mary at 262-633-9371You will find more of our avaliable dogs on our website . http://malteserescue.homestead.com/
Trixie Is Looking for a Loving Home

Located in Germantown, Wisconsin: Sugar and Spice and all things nice. That’s Trixie!
Trixie is a sweet, spunky little 7# Poodle-Maltese mix who spent the first years of her life as a breeder in a Wisconsin puppy mill. She was freed from that life just after her second birthday. It was discovered that she had hip dysplasia so she underwent surgery to correct this and is now doing great. She also has been spayed and brought up to date on her immunizations. Trixie gets along very well with other dogs. She loves to run and play tug of war with the dogs in her foster home. She enjoys chewing on bones and you will usually find an assortment in her bed. Due to her start in life Trixie is still cautious around people but is improving every day. She loves to sit next to you to be pet and will roll on her belly in delight. She is completely potty trained if kept to a schedule. Trixie needs to go to a loving home with another playful, well-trained dog.
If this little girl captures your heart please call Mary Palmer at 262-633-9371.
Northcentral Maltese Rescue: http://malteserescue.homestead.com/
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tucker is Looking for a Home
Please call Mary at 262-633-9371 to see if I am the dog for you.
Northcentral Maltese Rescue: http://malteserescue.homestead.com/
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Sophie
Sophie is darling and demur, a quiet, devoted and very sweet little girl. She’s perfect. She likes to play and run. She faithfully follows her foster mom, always wanting to be near. She gets along well with other Maltese in the home and adjusts easily. She is house trained and will signal when she wants to go out by standing by the door. Sophie was born on 10-3-01. She was AKC registered by her prior owners and had five litters of puppies. She weighs 7.3 pounds, has had her annual shots, her dental and is spayed.
I am Sophie's foster mom for Northcentral Maltese Rescue. If you would like to adopt her, call Mary Palmer, Northcentral Maltese Rescue, 262-633-9371.
(On February 15, 2009, Sophie was adopted and has gone to a wonderful new home with a great mom and dad. She also has a big sister, Missy. See Missy's picture on this page.)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Nikki


Nikki came to me as her foster mom through Northcentral Maltese Rescue in June 2005. Sadly, she had to leave her home because her mom had a new job, requiring travel, and could no longer take care of Nikki. She was quickly adopted by a friend who has spoiled this little princess.
When Nikki, was my foster, this is what I wrote about her before she was adopted:
Nikki is adorable - a beautiful little girl - as you can see. She is very tiny and so sweet. A Maltese angel. She has excellent manners and a very gentle spirit. She loves to snuggle and sleep on my lap and is very compatible with Poppy, Tashee, Juniper and Pal. Tashee seems to really enjoy having a sister, and the two have become very good companions, sharing my lap and affection. I have enjoyed having her with us and will miss her greatly when she goes to live with her forever mom. She deserves the very best!!
And she's unforgettable.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Poppy
Dear Poppy went to rainbow bridge in May 2008. I have not been able to write about his last days on Poppy's Page because of the great sadness my husband and I continue to feel about the loss of our dear Poppy. I have wanted to make a great tribute to Poppy for all the joy he brought to us and others. Perhaps the following paragraphs, from an e-mail I wrote to our closest friends, will describe some of our thoughts and feelings during Poppy's last days.
From the e-mail -
Dear Ones:
I am overwhelmed right now with great sadness and sorrow. Tom and I are going through difficult times, and we cry lots. I suppose I just need to write about it - to express my grief. I have scheduled Poppy for Friday to put him to sleep. He is our first Maltese. This afternoon, after work, I decided that I would take him outside for a walk, wanting to give him something that he always enjoyed. How he used to love his walks, going at a fast trot. He loved to explore the neighborhood and visit with other folks on our rounds. He always greeted others, humankind and doggies, standing on his hind legs, waiving his paws in the air. He was always very outgoing and friendly.
So this afternoon we began to walk. I didn't put a lease on him because there was no point. We walked very slowly side by side, going the route we always took. I didn't let him walk a long way before I picked him up. We stopped at the house of one of his friends, a dear lady who also has a Maltese dog. He was so pleased to see her, and she gave him many kisses. Then we walked slowly home again.
Poppy brought unconditional love and total joy into our home. He has been a ladder for me to God, and I shall be eternally grateful for the gift of his presence in our lives. So many good memories. How adorable he was as a puppy.
Poppy has a liver problem and has lost lots of weight, down from 15 pounds to 6.3. He has gotten much worse the last ten days. He eats well but his body is not using the nourishment. Nothing we have tried has succeeded in giving him quality of life or helped to stabilize his health. Please pray for Poppy and for Tom and me.
Love & Prayers, Ouida
From the e-mail -
Dear Ones:
I am overwhelmed right now with great sadness and sorrow. Tom and I are going through difficult times, and we cry lots. I suppose I just need to write about it - to express my grief. I have scheduled Poppy for Friday to put him to sleep. He is our first Maltese. This afternoon, after work, I decided that I would take him outside for a walk, wanting to give him something that he always enjoyed. How he used to love his walks, going at a fast trot. He loved to explore the neighborhood and visit with other folks on our rounds. He always greeted others, humankind and doggies, standing on his hind legs, waiving his paws in the air. He was always very outgoing and friendly.
So this afternoon we began to walk. I didn't put a lease on him because there was no point. We walked very slowly side by side, going the route we always took. I didn't let him walk a long way before I picked him up. We stopped at the house of one of his friends, a dear lady who also has a Maltese dog. He was so pleased to see her, and she gave him many kisses. Then we walked slowly home again.
Poppy brought unconditional love and total joy into our home. He has been a ladder for me to God, and I shall be eternally grateful for the gift of his presence in our lives. So many good memories. How adorable he was as a puppy.
Poppy has a liver problem and has lost lots of weight, down from 15 pounds to 6.3. He has gotten much worse the last ten days. He eats well but his body is not using the nourishment. Nothing we have tried has succeeded in giving him quality of life or helped to stabilize his health. Please pray for Poppy and for Tom and me.
Love & Prayers, Ouida
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Let Sleeping Dogs Lie
Whoever said "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" didn't sleep with dogs. The first thing you discover when you bring a dog onto your bed is the striking difference in weight between an alert, awake dog and a dog at rest.
Rule Number One: The deeper the sleep the heavier the dog. Most people who sleep with dogs develop spinal deformities rather than rent the heavy equipment necessary to move their snoring canines to a more appropriate part of the bed. Cunning canines steal precious space in tiny increments until they have achieved the center position on the bed - with all covers carefully tucked under them for safekeeping. The stretch and roll method is very effective in gaining territory. Less subtle tactics are sometimes preferred. A jealous dog can worm his way between a sleeping couple and, with the proper spring action from all four legs, shove a sleeping human to the floor.
Rule Number Two: Dogs possess superhuman strength while on a bed. As you cling to the edge of the bed, wishing you had covers, your sweet pup begins to snore at a volume you would not have thought possible. Once that quiets down, the dog dreams begin. Yipping, growling, running, kicking. Your bed becomes a battlefield and playground of canine fantasy. It starts out with a bit of "sleep running", lots of eye movement and then, suddenly, a shrieking howl blasted through the night like a banshee wail. The horror of this wake-up call haunts you for years. It's particularly devastating when your pup insists on sleeping curled around your head like a demented Daniel Boon cap.
Rule Number Three: The deeper the sleep, the louder the dog. The night creeps on and you fall asleep in the 3 inches of bed not claimed by a dog. The dog dreams quiet slightly and the heap of dog flesh sleeps - breathing heavily and passing wind. Then, too soon, it's dawn and the heap stirs. Each dog has a distinctive and unpleasant method of waking the pack. One may position itself inches from a face and stare until you wake. The clever dog obtains excellent results by simply sneezing on your face, or they could romp all over your sleeping bodies - or the ever-loving insertion of a tongue in an unsuspecting ear.
Rule Number Four: When the dog wakes - you wake.So, why do we put up with this? There's no sane reason. Perhaps it's just that we're a pack and a pack heaps together at night - safe, contented, heavy and loud.
Rule Number One: The deeper the sleep the heavier the dog. Most people who sleep with dogs develop spinal deformities rather than rent the heavy equipment necessary to move their snoring canines to a more appropriate part of the bed. Cunning canines steal precious space in tiny increments until they have achieved the center position on the bed - with all covers carefully tucked under them for safekeeping. The stretch and roll method is very effective in gaining territory. Less subtle tactics are sometimes preferred. A jealous dog can worm his way between a sleeping couple and, with the proper spring action from all four legs, shove a sleeping human to the floor.
Rule Number Two: Dogs possess superhuman strength while on a bed. As you cling to the edge of the bed, wishing you had covers, your sweet pup begins to snore at a volume you would not have thought possible. Once that quiets down, the dog dreams begin. Yipping, growling, running, kicking. Your bed becomes a battlefield and playground of canine fantasy. It starts out with a bit of "sleep running", lots of eye movement and then, suddenly, a shrieking howl blasted through the night like a banshee wail. The horror of this wake-up call haunts you for years. It's particularly devastating when your pup insists on sleeping curled around your head like a demented Daniel Boon cap.
Rule Number Three: The deeper the sleep, the louder the dog. The night creeps on and you fall asleep in the 3 inches of bed not claimed by a dog. The dog dreams quiet slightly and the heap of dog flesh sleeps - breathing heavily and passing wind. Then, too soon, it's dawn and the heap stirs. Each dog has a distinctive and unpleasant method of waking the pack. One may position itself inches from a face and stare until you wake. The clever dog obtains excellent results by simply sneezing on your face, or they could romp all over your sleeping bodies - or the ever-loving insertion of a tongue in an unsuspecting ear.
Rule Number Four: When the dog wakes - you wake.So, why do we put up with this? There's no sane reason. Perhaps it's just that we're a pack and a pack heaps together at night - safe, contented, heavy and loud.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
I Rescued A Human Today
I rescued a human today.
Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.
I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.
She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.
Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.
I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.
http://rescuemedog.org/dog-blog/i-rescued-a-human-today-by-janine-allen/
Written by Janine Allen CPDT, Rescue Me Dog's professional dog trainer. Janine's passion is working with people and their dogs. She provides demonstrations for those who have adopted shelter dogs, lends email support to adopted dog owners that need information beyond our Training Support Pages, and aids shelter staff and volunteers in understanding dog behavior to increase their adoptability. Copyright 2008 Rescue Me Dog; www.rescuemedog.org
Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her.
I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid. As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.
As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.
She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.
Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.
I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.
I rescued a human today.
http://rescuemedog.org/dog-blog/i-rescued-a-human-today-by-janine-allen/
Written by Janine Allen CPDT, Rescue Me Dog's professional dog trainer. Janine's passion is working with people and their dogs. She provides demonstrations for those who have adopted shelter dogs, lends email support to adopted dog owners that need information beyond our Training Support Pages, and aids shelter staff and volunteers in understanding dog behavior to increase their adoptability. Copyright 2008 Rescue Me Dog; www.rescuemedog.org
Monday, August 4, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Mississippi Child Abuse and Puppy Mill Case
FROM RESCUE DOG CENTRAL
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Mississippi child abuse and puppy mill case gets worse: details released describe horrific conditions
New Albany, Mississippi
We wrote about this case yesterday. Since our original posting, more details about this case have been released in the news. The details are disturbing and horrifying for both the children and the animals. The truly evil couple who ran this horrific puppy mill and severely abused their Internationally adopted children are now facing homicide charges and multiple counts of animal cruelty.
Here is what investigators found after looking further into the heartbreaking and needless death of the two-year old little girl.
Beyond the deceptively normal yard lurks the site of indescribable child abuse and severe animal neglect, a case so horrible that many officials who deal with such cases said it's the worst situation they've ever seen.
"The people that did this should be shot, or at least when we come to spay and neuter these animals we should spay and neuter these people along with them," said Mississippi State University School of Veterinary Medicine Professor Phil Bushby.
That might not be necessary. The Barretos face homicide charges after their 2-year-old adopted daughter died Monday at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis. Doctors who treated the girl had notified authorities that the couple might have abused their daughter. In their follow-up investigation, law enforcement agents also discovered a mass puppy breeding operation on their property.
As a result, the Barretos also face animal abuse charges from the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, which was granted custody of the more than 185 dogs and 25 cats found stuffed in filthy cages behind the house.
One duck also was found dead in a cage with no food or water.
Eight other Guatemalan children adopted by the couple are in protective custody. It's unclear at this point how the Barretos were able to pass mandatory home visits required by the Department of Homeland Security to adopt international children.
On Tuesday morning, the house - located about five miles south of New Albany - was sealed off by yellow police tape. But the front door remained open to allow air to circulate through what law enforcement officers had described as a stuffy and dirty environment.
Some even talked about cockroaches falling from the ceiling. A peek through the open door revealed clothes and toys strewn across the floors, piles of junk on the dining room table, and the happy faces of dark-haired children smiling from photographs hung on the wall.
A heap of children's shoes - mostly pink - lay abandoned by the front door.
Behind the house, sealed from view by a homemade fence covered in opaque plastic, were more horrors: Hundreds of animals in tiny, raised cages made from chicken wire. They were made to breed time and time again, their babies snatched and sold for profit at flea markets.
They included cocker spaniels, poodles, Lhasa apsos, rat terriers, English bulldogs, Chihuahuas, schnauzers and other popular breeds - many that would fetch between $300 and $800 apiece, according to Debbie Hood, TLHS director.
"If you buy at the flea market, this is where your puppy was raised," said DeAnn Massengill, a volunteer and animal expert, who spent the day caring for the animals there.
There were nearly 70 cages in all, most containing five or six pets who shared a few feet of space and a bucket of brown water. Urine and feces had fallen through the wires and accumulated in vast piles beneath the cages. Some of the excrement had become matted in fur and stuck to the wire inside the cage, where it formed large piles the animals had to maneuver around.
In one cage Tuesday morning, a small dog birthed two pups atop a mound of feces. In another cage, the furry waste became so heavy it ripped the floor, causing a hole the animals took care not to fall through.
Flies buzzed incessantly throughout the enclosure, feeding mostly on the feces, but also the pus running from some of the animals' eyes.
In a larger enclosure, a cocker spaniel's fur became so matted that the clumps prevented it from walking normally. Most of the animals there also had matted fur - in some cases, the problem was so bad even the veterinarians couldn't identify the breeds.
We cannot emphasize this enough. If you are aware of or have knowledge of ANY form of cruelty, please tell someone immediately. Alert the authorities. Call the police! There are tip lines and crime lines dedicated to allowing people to make anonymous reports of cruelty and abuse so that the individuals will not have to fear retaliation from the abusers.
Despite the fact that far too many people believe that worrying about the treatment of animals is a waste of time, animal cruelty is a SERIOUS crime that has not only been taken far too lightly by the bulk of society for far too long, but it often an indicator of accompanying abuse towards weaker human beings. The link between animal cruelty and human abuse, as is demonstrated in this Mississippi case, is very real and has extremely serious and painful implications for the victimized people and animals. Ignoring the link only results in the continued infliction of cruelty and abuse towards the vulnerable humans and defenseless animals that so desperately need others to make the cruelty stop.
As this investigation continues, it is possible that authorities will find out that other people were aware of the abuse inflicted on the children and the cruelty inflicted on the animals, yet did nothing to intervene on their behalf. Such a devastating discovery would be followed with a myriad of excuses as to why reports of cruelty weren’t made or, if there were reports of cruelty made, why those reports were never followed-up on. Excuses are worthless now, as any lack of reporting by individuals who knew something was wrong and any lack of follow-up by appropriate entities will have contributed to the death of a two-year old child. Excuses won’t bring this poor little girl back. Excuses won’t undo the harm done to the eight other adopted children who were abused and forced to live in such filthy and horrific conditions. And, excuses won’t undo the physical and behavioral damage done to the defenseless animals that these people unscrupulously over bred and abused to make money.
On behalf of the defenseless among us, both human and animal, we need to learn from this case and understand that we have a moral obligation to do something to stop the cruelty that we know exists. We cannot sit on our knowledge and do nothing with it, in hopes that some one else will do something to make the cruelty stop. It will be a devastating and horrible shame if it is learned that there were people, in this Mississippi case, who knew about the abuse to the children and/or the animals and did nothing, in hopes that some one else would do something, given that the extreme abuse in this case resulted in the excruciatingly painful death of a little two-year old girl.
Please learn from this case. If you are aware of cruelty, do something to make it stop! Don’t wait until it is too late.In the meantime, the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society needs help, and homes, for the dogs. Please, help if you can!
Posted by Rescue Dog Central at 9:37 AM 0 comments
Labels: Human Abuse, Mississippi, Puppy Mills
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Child's death in Mississippi shows link between animal and human abuse; immediate help needed at Tupelo-Lee Humane Society
Location: New Albany, Mississippi
Yes, there is a direct link between animal cruelty and human neglect and violence. Common sense should make this easy to understand. If a human has the capability to abuse and neglect an animal, a weaker being of lesser “status” that is completely dependent on that human being for it’s existence, then it is, sadly, easy for that cruel and abusive capability to extend towards other dependent and weaker human beings, especially children, the elderly, and vulnerable adults.
An example of this link can be found outside of New Albany, Mississippi, where a case of a two-year child dying of extreme child neglect led to the discovery of a puppy mill being run by the same child abusers.
A case of extreme child neglect here Sunday night led to one death, two felony counts and the discovery of a mass puppy breeding operation that has animal officials stunned.Union County Sheriff's deputies raided the home of Janet and Ramone Barreto, 824 County Road 87 near New Albany, after receiving a tip from doctors that the couple might have abused their adopted daughter.
Once at the home, law-enforcement agents also found more than 180 dogs, 25 cats and several ducks in various conditions. The animals' numbers are expected to increase, because some of them continue to give birth.Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said the Barreto's 2-year-old daughter was brought from a local hospital to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis for an unspecified reason. Doctors there suspected child neglect and tipped off Wilhite on Sunday night, when he obtained a warrant and raided the property.
The 2-year-old died Monday morning, but a cause of death was not yet available.
All but one of the couple's nine children now are in protective custody, Wilhite said, although he did not give the whereabouts of the remaining child. The animals are being taken care of by the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, which was called by the sheriff's department Sunday night. The couple has been charged with two felony counts of child neglect and could face more charges as the investigation continues, Wilhite said. Tupelo-Lee Humane Society officials say they might press charges, too, for animal neglect.In the meantime, the humane society has filed a warrant for order of protection on the property to allow staff to enter the property and take care of the animals. It also filed a seizure warrant to take the animals from the property, said shelter director Debbie Hood.
Both have been granted. All of us should be taking the link between animal cruelty and human abuse seriously. In far too many cases, where there is a discovery of animal neglect, there is the discovery of harm to humans, and vice versa. Because of this link, social services and animal rescue organizations should develop and wholeheartedly utilize a policy of communication, whereby the discovery of one form of abuse is reported to the other. Direct and constant communication will not only prevent further abuse of the victims involved, both the human victims and the defenseless animals, but the communication will also prevent the abuse and neglect of future victims.
Understanding the link between the abuse of animals and the abuse of other defenseless human beings is not difficult; it is common sense. Those who are fully capable of abusing and neglecting one weaker living being will abuse and neglect other weaker living beings, be they human or animal. And, the abusers will not stop their cruel and harmful behavior on their own. To stop the abuse, other people who suspect or become aware of the abuse must not ignore the information, but must report the abuse to appropriate individuals that can do something to intervene on behalf of the victims.
To learn more about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence, go here.
We cannot repeat this often enough. If you are aware of a cruelty situation, do something! Tell someone! Do what you can to prevent other children, like this little girl, from enduring such tremendous pain and neglect. Where there is animal abuse, there is likely some form of human abuse as well, as this heartbreaking Mississippi story shows. Animals and children cannot defend themselves and cannot save themselves from the horrible and painful abuse of cruel human beings. Therefore, the responsibility to prevent and stop the abuse belongs to others to do so. Take your responsibility to ensure that all living beings are treated humanely and are not abused seriously. When you discover abuse, do something to make it stop!
In the meantime, the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society is in need of help to care for the animals confiscated from these child abusing puppy millers. Debbie Hood, the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society Director, is asking for much needed assistance.
If you can help in any way, please do! Go here for more information on how you can help the puppy mill animals.
Posted by Rescue Dog Central at 9:56 AM 0 comments
Labels: Animal Cruelty, Human Abuse, Mississippi
SOURCE: Rescue Dog Central and Rescue Dog Central
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Mississippi child abuse and puppy mill case gets worse: details released describe horrific conditions
New Albany, Mississippi
We wrote about this case yesterday. Since our original posting, more details about this case have been released in the news. The details are disturbing and horrifying for both the children and the animals. The truly evil couple who ran this horrific puppy mill and severely abused their Internationally adopted children are now facing homicide charges and multiple counts of animal cruelty.
Here is what investigators found after looking further into the heartbreaking and needless death of the two-year old little girl.
Beyond the deceptively normal yard lurks the site of indescribable child abuse and severe animal neglect, a case so horrible that many officials who deal with such cases said it's the worst situation they've ever seen.
"The people that did this should be shot, or at least when we come to spay and neuter these animals we should spay and neuter these people along with them," said Mississippi State University School of Veterinary Medicine Professor Phil Bushby.
That might not be necessary. The Barretos face homicide charges after their 2-year-old adopted daughter died Monday at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis. Doctors who treated the girl had notified authorities that the couple might have abused their daughter. In their follow-up investigation, law enforcement agents also discovered a mass puppy breeding operation on their property.
As a result, the Barretos also face animal abuse charges from the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, which was granted custody of the more than 185 dogs and 25 cats found stuffed in filthy cages behind the house.
One duck also was found dead in a cage with no food or water.
Eight other Guatemalan children adopted by the couple are in protective custody. It's unclear at this point how the Barretos were able to pass mandatory home visits required by the Department of Homeland Security to adopt international children.
On Tuesday morning, the house - located about five miles south of New Albany - was sealed off by yellow police tape. But the front door remained open to allow air to circulate through what law enforcement officers had described as a stuffy and dirty environment.
Some even talked about cockroaches falling from the ceiling. A peek through the open door revealed clothes and toys strewn across the floors, piles of junk on the dining room table, and the happy faces of dark-haired children smiling from photographs hung on the wall.
A heap of children's shoes - mostly pink - lay abandoned by the front door.
Behind the house, sealed from view by a homemade fence covered in opaque plastic, were more horrors: Hundreds of animals in tiny, raised cages made from chicken wire. They were made to breed time and time again, their babies snatched and sold for profit at flea markets.
They included cocker spaniels, poodles, Lhasa apsos, rat terriers, English bulldogs, Chihuahuas, schnauzers and other popular breeds - many that would fetch between $300 and $800 apiece, according to Debbie Hood, TLHS director.
"If you buy at the flea market, this is where your puppy was raised," said DeAnn Massengill, a volunteer and animal expert, who spent the day caring for the animals there.
There were nearly 70 cages in all, most containing five or six pets who shared a few feet of space and a bucket of brown water. Urine and feces had fallen through the wires and accumulated in vast piles beneath the cages. Some of the excrement had become matted in fur and stuck to the wire inside the cage, where it formed large piles the animals had to maneuver around.
In one cage Tuesday morning, a small dog birthed two pups atop a mound of feces. In another cage, the furry waste became so heavy it ripped the floor, causing a hole the animals took care not to fall through.
Flies buzzed incessantly throughout the enclosure, feeding mostly on the feces, but also the pus running from some of the animals' eyes.
In a larger enclosure, a cocker spaniel's fur became so matted that the clumps prevented it from walking normally. Most of the animals there also had matted fur - in some cases, the problem was so bad even the veterinarians couldn't identify the breeds.
We cannot emphasize this enough. If you are aware of or have knowledge of ANY form of cruelty, please tell someone immediately. Alert the authorities. Call the police! There are tip lines and crime lines dedicated to allowing people to make anonymous reports of cruelty and abuse so that the individuals will not have to fear retaliation from the abusers.
Despite the fact that far too many people believe that worrying about the treatment of animals is a waste of time, animal cruelty is a SERIOUS crime that has not only been taken far too lightly by the bulk of society for far too long, but it often an indicator of accompanying abuse towards weaker human beings. The link between animal cruelty and human abuse, as is demonstrated in this Mississippi case, is very real and has extremely serious and painful implications for the victimized people and animals. Ignoring the link only results in the continued infliction of cruelty and abuse towards the vulnerable humans and defenseless animals that so desperately need others to make the cruelty stop.
As this investigation continues, it is possible that authorities will find out that other people were aware of the abuse inflicted on the children and the cruelty inflicted on the animals, yet did nothing to intervene on their behalf. Such a devastating discovery would be followed with a myriad of excuses as to why reports of cruelty weren’t made or, if there were reports of cruelty made, why those reports were never followed-up on. Excuses are worthless now, as any lack of reporting by individuals who knew something was wrong and any lack of follow-up by appropriate entities will have contributed to the death of a two-year old child. Excuses won’t bring this poor little girl back. Excuses won’t undo the harm done to the eight other adopted children who were abused and forced to live in such filthy and horrific conditions. And, excuses won’t undo the physical and behavioral damage done to the defenseless animals that these people unscrupulously over bred and abused to make money.
On behalf of the defenseless among us, both human and animal, we need to learn from this case and understand that we have a moral obligation to do something to stop the cruelty that we know exists. We cannot sit on our knowledge and do nothing with it, in hopes that some one else will do something to make the cruelty stop. It will be a devastating and horrible shame if it is learned that there were people, in this Mississippi case, who knew about the abuse to the children and/or the animals and did nothing, in hopes that some one else would do something, given that the extreme abuse in this case resulted in the excruciatingly painful death of a little two-year old girl.
Please learn from this case. If you are aware of cruelty, do something to make it stop! Don’t wait until it is too late.In the meantime, the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society needs help, and homes, for the dogs. Please, help if you can!
Posted by Rescue Dog Central at 9:37 AM 0 comments
Labels: Human Abuse, Mississippi, Puppy Mills
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Child's death in Mississippi shows link between animal and human abuse; immediate help needed at Tupelo-Lee Humane Society
Location: New Albany, Mississippi
Yes, there is a direct link between animal cruelty and human neglect and violence. Common sense should make this easy to understand. If a human has the capability to abuse and neglect an animal, a weaker being of lesser “status” that is completely dependent on that human being for it’s existence, then it is, sadly, easy for that cruel and abusive capability to extend towards other dependent and weaker human beings, especially children, the elderly, and vulnerable adults.
An example of this link can be found outside of New Albany, Mississippi, where a case of a two-year child dying of extreme child neglect led to the discovery of a puppy mill being run by the same child abusers.
A case of extreme child neglect here Sunday night led to one death, two felony counts and the discovery of a mass puppy breeding operation that has animal officials stunned.Union County Sheriff's deputies raided the home of Janet and Ramone Barreto, 824 County Road 87 near New Albany, after receiving a tip from doctors that the couple might have abused their adopted daughter.
Once at the home, law-enforcement agents also found more than 180 dogs, 25 cats and several ducks in various conditions. The animals' numbers are expected to increase, because some of them continue to give birth.Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said the Barreto's 2-year-old daughter was brought from a local hospital to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis for an unspecified reason. Doctors there suspected child neglect and tipped off Wilhite on Sunday night, when he obtained a warrant and raided the property.
The 2-year-old died Monday morning, but a cause of death was not yet available.
All but one of the couple's nine children now are in protective custody, Wilhite said, although he did not give the whereabouts of the remaining child. The animals are being taken care of by the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, which was called by the sheriff's department Sunday night. The couple has been charged with two felony counts of child neglect and could face more charges as the investigation continues, Wilhite said. Tupelo-Lee Humane Society officials say they might press charges, too, for animal neglect.In the meantime, the humane society has filed a warrant for order of protection on the property to allow staff to enter the property and take care of the animals. It also filed a seizure warrant to take the animals from the property, said shelter director Debbie Hood.
Both have been granted. All of us should be taking the link between animal cruelty and human abuse seriously. In far too many cases, where there is a discovery of animal neglect, there is the discovery of harm to humans, and vice versa. Because of this link, social services and animal rescue organizations should develop and wholeheartedly utilize a policy of communication, whereby the discovery of one form of abuse is reported to the other. Direct and constant communication will not only prevent further abuse of the victims involved, both the human victims and the defenseless animals, but the communication will also prevent the abuse and neglect of future victims.
Understanding the link between the abuse of animals and the abuse of other defenseless human beings is not difficult; it is common sense. Those who are fully capable of abusing and neglecting one weaker living being will abuse and neglect other weaker living beings, be they human or animal. And, the abusers will not stop their cruel and harmful behavior on their own. To stop the abuse, other people who suspect or become aware of the abuse must not ignore the information, but must report the abuse to appropriate individuals that can do something to intervene on behalf of the victims.
To learn more about the connection between animal cruelty and human violence, go here.
We cannot repeat this often enough. If you are aware of a cruelty situation, do something! Tell someone! Do what you can to prevent other children, like this little girl, from enduring such tremendous pain and neglect. Where there is animal abuse, there is likely some form of human abuse as well, as this heartbreaking Mississippi story shows. Animals and children cannot defend themselves and cannot save themselves from the horrible and painful abuse of cruel human beings. Therefore, the responsibility to prevent and stop the abuse belongs to others to do so. Take your responsibility to ensure that all living beings are treated humanely and are not abused seriously. When you discover abuse, do something to make it stop!
In the meantime, the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society is in need of help to care for the animals confiscated from these child abusing puppy millers. Debbie Hood, the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society Director, is asking for much needed assistance.
If you can help in any way, please do! Go here for more information on how you can help the puppy mill animals.
Posted by Rescue Dog Central at 9:56 AM 0 comments
Labels: Animal Cruelty, Human Abuse, Mississippi
SOURCE: Rescue Dog Central and Rescue Dog Central
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