Where did all the pitties go? Houston SPCA swoops into town and dogs disappear...

Jeri's 'little blue pittie'

Jeri Gilmore Langman and her husband are rescuers in Bullhead City, Arizona. When they heard about the situation in Beaumont, Texas, they headed for town literally to bail Beaumont and her animals out. She was surprised at the operation at Ford Center. However chaotic, things were progressing. There were about 100 or so dogs at the center when Jeri arrived Thursday the 31st. She went to work boots on the ground rescuing from flooded homes and bringing animals to the Ford Center where two volunteers were checking in and and ID'ing incoming animals.

Friday night, a couple arrived and stated they were with Houston SPCA. The woman began grabbing dogs and walking animals without checking in and out. When she became irate, the couple was asked to leave. PETA had also tried to intervene, according to Jeri, but they were expunged as well. The next day, Saturday, September 2 at 2:30 p.m., the Houston SPCA took over.

Jeri was outside Vidor, Texas involved in a rescue when the Houston SPCA came in, but when she returned, she thought 'something here is off.' Many people who were at Ford Center when Houston SPCA came in have all said the same thing. There was a weird pall over the whole building when Houston SPCA took over. It was different from the system Katelyn Reid had established. There was a comradery among the volunteers who'd dropped everything from homes across the U.S. to help out the 'Golden Triangle' in Jefferson County, Texas. That sense of everyone working together was gone and had been replaced by fear. The animals could feel it, too.

When Jeri first arrived at Ford Center, she made it her business to video and photograph all of the intake animals. A vet tech by profession, she was amazed that not one of the animals exhibited any aggression. After the Houston SPCA took over the center, a draped section labeled 'staff only' contained animals with 'aggressive' signs on their kennels.

Pit Bulls and Parolees and Villalobos Rescue vet was working with these volunteers who were shut out from helping the animals they'd spent every night and day saving in life-threatening situations. Everyone was pushed out as the Houston SPCA took over. As Jeri puts it, "it quickly became 'their way.'"

One dog stands out to Jeri as she recalls the goings on at the Ford Center. She was a little blue pittie, mangy with Demodex. She and Jeri had become closely bonded. She'd been found in a pick up truck where she'd been abandoned for three days. When Jeri returned from Vidor, she sensed something 'askew' and then thought, 'wait a minute, where's my little blue pittie?' Jeri began searching the entire facility and the little pittie was nowhere to be found.

There were two sections being used for infirmary and Jeri was told by a volunteer to check the infirmary. The little blue pittie was not in the first building, but Jeri found a group of people gathered together. Jeri was told by the vet that the little blue pittie had left for Houston SPCA. This was terrifying to Jeri. Why in the world was this dog being shipped to Houston?

Jeri has documented this whole affair with photos and videos. She asked 'Travis' and an associate, both from Houston SPCA, in this VIDEO their plans for and locations of the missing dogs.

This is important. Jeri was told by Houston SPCA representative 'Travis' that the little blue pittie had been sent to Houston. As is documented in the her video, 'Travis' states that 22 dogs so far had been transported to Houston. He added, "all medical cases went to Houston." Jeri immediately posted this information on her Facebook page specifically to alert the public. Something was not right and the public needed to know.

Jeremy Boss has shot several videos which have gone viral on social media. Here is the video documenting the same conversation with 'Travis' and the other Houston SPCA associate:

Two days later, Jeri discovered the little pittie had in fact been adopted by a finder. After specifically being told the pittie had been transported to the Houston SPCA institution in Houston where pit bulls are never adopted, this information was unsettling. What about the 22 others? Where were they?

When Jeri specifically asked 'Travis' about the Houston SPCA facility, he told her, 'the Houston SPCA can hold thousands.'

Jeri feels that no attempts are really being made to find the owners of these dogs. Why are they all being shipped to Houston SPCA in Houston with '1000's of spaces' when their owners were in the Beaumont area, the Golden Triangle? One thing she knew for sure and had seen it in action. The Houston SPCA had an agenda, an eerie agenda.

Please send any photos, videos and information you have about the goings on at the Ford Center in Beaumont.

How to file an attorney grievance in Texas

Reporting a lawyer for ethical and other violations is not something most of us wish to do on our Sunday mornings. According to Lawyers.com, "Lawyers are human. Sometimes they make legal errors when representing clients. Sometimes they make bad decisions and are charged with crimes. Like anyone else, they have to pay for their mistakes."

Reunion Rescue recently became the financial scapegoat of an attorney in the state of Texas. This attorney, by using privileges bestowed by the State of Texas, strong armed the publication in which Reunion publishes dog and pit bull news stories to fund the upkeep of animals in their care.

Not only did the Examiner pull several articles based on untrue claims by this attorney, but a gang of cyber bullies began attacking the rescue and it's director with harmful and false statements.

How does the Texas Bar feel about one of its own using legal standing to threaten and manipulate a citizen, a federal non profit and a criminal investigation?

The University of Houston Law Center has published a helpful Q and A for those of us without the  benefit of a legal education.

"How can I tell if a rule has been violated?"

"Any person who believes that a rule of professional conduct has been violated may file a complaint with the State Bar. The State Bar will then examine the complaint and determine whether an actual violation is claimed. Not all disputes or disagreements with lawyers involve professional misconduct, but if you believe misconduct under the rules has occurred, you should file a complaint."

"The vast majority of lawyers follow the rules. However, for those who don't, each state has a disciplinary counsel or some other body that investigates and punishes code violations"

"What can happen to an attorney who commits professional misconduct?"

"The State Bar punishes lawyers who commit professional misconduct. The nature of the punishment will vary with the seriousness of the misconduct and other factors. Punishment may include private or public reprimands, suspension or disbarment."

What can the disciplinary process do for me?

"The State Bar disciplinary process is intended to protect the general public by punishing lawyers who commit professional misconduct. However, the State Bar cannot force a lawyer to pay a debt. Nor can the State Bar force a lawyer to reduce or refund a fee. The State Bar can punish a lawyer for failing to return a client's file, but cannot force a lawyer to return the file. The State Bar cannot reverse a criminal conviction, even if the conviction was the result of lawyer misconduct. Finally, dissatisfaction with the result achieved by the attorney usually does not involve professional misconduct."

"How do I file a complaint?"

"First, you must fill out a grievance form, available from the General Counsel's local offices in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Harlingen, Houston, Midland, San Antonio, and Tyler or by mail by calling 1-800-932-1900.

It is important to know that signing the grievance form waives the attorney-client privilege, which would otherwise keep discussions between your lawyer and you confidential. Waiver of this privilege is necessary for the State Bar to review your complaint.

To file your grievance form, send it to the General Counsel's local office nearest you. If you have any questions about where to send your form, call 1-800-932-1900. Make sure you include copies of all papers important to your complaint. You may attach additional pages if your full complaint cannot be stated on the grievance form."

The State Bar of Texas website has published a very simple step by step process in which to file a complaint should anyone feel an attorney has violated their rights:

http://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=How_to_File_a_Complaint

A person would expect all those years spent studying the law would deem a respect for justice.

"Lawyers have to follow a code of ethics. Each state has its own ethics code or rules, but generally they set out how attorneys are expected to act while in their professional dealings."

The law is for everyone, not just a select few who have discovered how to manipulate the system.

The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine.

Austin Pet Expo 2012

Boy, oh boy...was the Austin Pet Expo a fun fest or what? Reunion Rescue had a blast meeting tons of pit bulls and other beloved Austin animals at this year's event. Whether we needed help hanging signs, taking a quick break or an announcement made, the Expo girls Courtney R., Courtney H., Jessica, Patti, Tiffany and Savannah were right there with a big smile and a helping hand.

We were right next to Austin's Love-a-Bull who are taking in five of the Spindletop unclaimed dogs. Love a Bull could really use some help with foster care in the greater Austin area. If you know anyone who might open their hearts and homes to one of the sweet dogs already in the Love-a-Bull program, it would open up a much needed space for some of these unclaimed Spindletop dogs affected by the raid and seizure in July.

Love-A-Bull's Nutty Brown and family

A big perk in the day was getting to meet Nutty Brown, the dog Love-a-Bull saved from Log Cabin, Texas. Nutty Brown used to be Macky Mack.

He was saved by Love-a-Bull and renamed Nutty Brown. He came to the Expo yesterday with his new family and we got to meet them. This is what rescue is all about...people helping people helping dogs. What a treat for us to meet this wonderful family and their beautiful and beloved Nutty Brown.

One of the most amazing perks at the Austin Pet Expo was meeting so many people in rescue. Right around the corner from us was Heather Morris and Don't Bully Me Rescue. Heather and I both write for the Examiner and she is a tireless rescuer and advocate for the breed. I don't think she sleeps.

Don't Bully Me Rescue's Sampson

Don't Bully Me is right around the lake in Lago Vista from Reunion Rescue, but we both have very long arms and try to save dogs in need from more than our overpupulated zip codes. Don't Bully Me is also trying to help out the Spindletop unclaimed and could certainly use some good foster homes. Take a look at the adorable availables at Don't Bully Me Rescue.

We got a look at Sampson last week and boy, is he a lil' heartthrob. Lucky us when we got to sample some of Sampson's smooches at the Don't Bully Me Kissin' Booth. Yummy! Who needs candy when you've got a sweetie like Sampson?

We met Amanda at Bullyvard Rescue from Driftwood right outside Austin. Grateful Pets Rescue from Georgetown. We didn't get a card, but a brand new group from Killeen stopped by...please get in touch so we can link your info.

Hey, does anybody notice a trend here? With Mariah's Promise in Blanco, Ebby's Dogtown in Elgin, Reunion Rescue, Love-a-Bull, Don't Bully Me Rescue and trying to lure Amy Adams of Midland's Bully Beds to town, the Austin area might soon be home to the biggest population of pit bull rescues in the US! Stay tuned. There will be some good news coming from Austin. Let's all show up at Love-a-Bull's 2012 Texas-Sized Pittie Pride October 28 and show 'em how we roll!

We petted dogs, kissed cats, hobnobbed with petlovers and had an all around wonderful day...but pictures tell the best sturry, even if they're kinda blurry...

Reprint: Mass Death at Spindletop Refuge: The Story of Stella

Zandra Anderson has accused me of writing articles that contain 'misinformation, half truths and out and out fabrications.' She also has put forth objections to Reunion Rescue, a 501(c)(3) in excellent standing raising money to save the dogs and other animals we have successfully been rescuing since 1998.

The Examiner pulled all of the articles written about the Spindletop raid and seizure except one, even the last piece about Nolan who luckily never wound up at Spindletop despite some frantic networking for his chip in fund by her client, Leah Purcell.

Today's entry is the first re-publishing of the articles improperly and unfairly removed due to Zandra Anderson's untruthful claims. Each comment made to the Examiner by Anderson has been addressed in the following three blog entries:

Spindletop Dog Killers Try to Shut Down Rescuer

Texas Dog Lawyer: Rebuttal Part 2

Texas Dog Lawyer: Rebuttal Part 3

Stella

Willis, TX: Stella was a pit bull. She was abandoned last summer with Amber in the hot Houston, Texas heat. Her ears had been butchered off with dried blood running down the sides of her face.

Stella and Amber were left noosed to a fenced vacant lot. After all of the horror that Stella and Amber have experienced, the worst was only yet to come.

http://www.examiner.com/article/amber-and-stella-found-butchered-and-noosed-the-hot-houston-texas-heat

A kindly Samaritan found the girls and contacted Reunion Rescue. An article was written about Stella and Amber and a Facebook page was created for them. After establishing a chip in, money was raised to board the dogs at Spindletop Rescue in Willis.

Almost $9,000 has been raised and sent to Spindletop for the care and boarding of Stella, Amber and two other dogs. Throughout the past year, Reunion Rescue was informed that Stella and Amber were ‘unadoptable’ and ‘aggressive’.

Tuesday, July 17, a raid on the Spindletop facility resulted in the confiscation of 298 dogs. Stella was not one of these dogs.

According to a former employee, Stella was one of 38 dogs who died of heat suffocation and were buried on the property. The young man confirmed her death and added, “Stella was an amazing dog. She was one of many that I looked forward to working with every day when I came to work.”

When told of Stella’s horrible death, her Samaritan broke down. “She was my little pot bellied pig.” When asked about Stella, her benefactor told about Stella playing with her little dogs. This is the same dog deemed too ‘aggressive’ to be adopted by Spindletop director, Leah Purcell.

Everything about this horrible affair is wrong. Stella and Amber could have been adopted. How many others at this place died who could have been in homes instead of literally tortured to death and secretly buried in a filthy mass grave

Legal representative Zandra Anderson known as the Texas Dog Lawyer has ‘allegedly’ advised her clients to remain quiet about this sordid and disturbing affair. Just how much of these details were known and kept secret? How many people across the country trusted these people to care for rescued and personal pets? Maybe this ‘lawyer’ and promoter needs to take a page from her own website which reads, “Promote education on responsible dog ownership through seminars, at local events and in conjunction with animal services.”

Tomorrow, Reunion Rescue’s Cindy Marabito will be driving to the first court hearing with paperwork for the three (hopefully) surviving dogs, Amber, Batgirl and Angel to try and re-claim them. According to the HSUS, these and the other 295 dogs will be ‘evidence’ and not available to be returned to rescues until a final decision is reached. This could take months.

Bad Rap, the group who became famous through the Vick dogs tragedy has already started networking these dogs on their Facebook page. Those of us who have dogs boarded at Spindletop and have suffered tragic losses like that of Stella are asking Bad Rap not to use our dogs as a fundraising tool. Please allow us to grieve the dogs we’ve lost and afford due process of law to have our surviving dogs returned to us. We do not want to see a re-occurrence of the Katrina dogs in which refugees were shipped to this group and other California groups, many never to be seen again.

Please take a minute to say a little prayer for Stella. Take a minute to pause and think about the others who’ve suffered. We are all angry and hurting about this horrible and tragic event. There will be a long road ahead to try and sort through the necessary bureaucracy to get our dogs back.

Many of us will be in the courtroom tomorrow to present our proof of ownership.

Friday, July 20th at 10:30am at the following location:

Justice of the Peace Precinct 2

Judge G. Trey Spikes

2241 North 1st Street Conroe, Texas 77301

Phone: 936-538-3788 Fax: 936-538-7732

Please email doggirl1@earthlink.net if you have a dog boarded at Spindletop. We are working to organize so that all dogs will be carefully tracked with photographs and proof of ownership.

Please share this story and follow the American Pit Bull Examiner for details about this situation.

Cindy Marabito of Reunion Rescue writes the American Pit Bull Examiner stories to save lives. Every click on a story donates to the animals

Reunion Rescue: http://www.reunionrescue.com

American Pit Bull Examiner:

http://www.examiner.com/american-pit-bull-in-national/cindy-marabito

Please subscribe to and keep reading the American Pit Bull column where this and other pit bull stories are followed and the truth, made known.

Join National Examiner's American Pit Bull on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/American-Pit-Bull-Examiner/119043764844618

Check out Pit Bulls and Other Animals blog: http://doggirlpitbull.blogspot.com/

Author - Pit Bull Nation

Pit Bull Nation is a tell all book about rescuing pit bulls from death row for over twelve years.

Order Pit Bull Nation: http://www.pitbullnationonline.com

Now available in e-book and print.

One of the complaints made by Zandra Anderson, dog lawyer, was the posting of Stella on the Reunion Rescue website. Note to the dog lawyer, Stella's photograph will remain on our website. She will always be remembered and cherished as a tragic reminder that not all people in the dog business are good people.

Our hope is that we might at some point gather the remains where Stella was buried in a mass grave with 37 other dogs to place in a shrine.

Certainly these people who follow Spindletop and the dog lawyer on Facebook, who criticize and make fun of those of us who are grieving and trying to find our dogs will not understand. We do not expect someone who defends animal torture and mass murder to understand, nor do we wish to elicit any further communication with these people. However, like the giant tree roaches in the Texas heat, you really can't do much to discourage their presence. They just keep crawling along.

All unfounded complaints in which Anderson based removal of this article are addressed in the rebuttal. The next re-publish will be the July 23 piece, 'Inside a Living Nightmare: Recap of Spindletop Raid.

Please stay tuned. Just getting started for what looks to be a long ordeal.

Rebuttal: Texas dog lawyer, Part 3

Today is Saturday. I am going to exercise and play with the three dogs I've managed to redeem from the horrible nightmare at Spindletop. Last night, BeBe, who was formerly known as Batgirl, was suffering. This is not the same dog I entrusted to Leah Purcell in April 2011.

BeBe becomes terrified at night. What must have happened to these dogs when crated in their own urine, vomit and feces, some for years, has resulted in an extremely stressed dog for lack of a better description. I've read a little about babies born addicted to crack cocaine and that similarity is the closest I can venture to explain BeBe's condition.

My hope is that through herbal treatment and complete detox, her poor body can be healed and this dog's sanity and wellbeing can someday be restored. A couple of jokesters have joined the commentary to offer their input on the Spindletop disaster to champion Leah Purcell's Spindletop facility and the dog lawyer who represents her, Zandra Anderson.

While this blog and my column respect everyone's right to freedom of speech, I can't help being amazed at those who defend animal cruelty and outright murder. One of the former employees has described Purcell's do it yourself euthanasia as a sordid procedure in which she held the dog and poured liquid into the animal's nose until the dog drowned. I guess this is humorous to these people who continue to spew hate toward those of us seeking answers and justice for the dogs who suffered and died at the hands of Leah Purcell.

Below, I'll address the second complaint in which Zandra Anderson Dog Lawyer attacks Cindy Marabito and disrespects Leah Z, the owner and benefactor of Mea who was killed while trying to escape from Spindletop.

For those who have yet to review the actual complaints, each is linked below:

http://freepdfhosting.com/95ca1a0cbe.pdf

http://freepdfhosting.com/6766727fe4.pdf

The last complaint deals with the article I wrote entitled "Spindletop Raid...where are our dogs?"

Even the title was misquoted in the dog lawyer's statement, but as both complaints are rife with grammatical and factual blunders, who can keep track?

The dog lawyer opens with her announcement she is providing pro bono council to the defendent, Purcell.

"FALSE , DEFAMATORY & TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WIHT BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS"

The dog lawyer quotes my piece in which I truthfully state, "People are begging Leah Purcell and her attorney Zandra Anderson for information about the dogs they've been unable to identify at the holding facility. Anderson knows the whereabouts and has given false and misleading ID numbers to the inquiringpartiesso [sic] desperate to find answers. Thissituation, [sic] which HSUS has described as precedent setting in its unique qualities, can be likened to that of a mass serial killer who holds information about his victims and refuses to share with broken families so they might gain closure."

Apart from the misprinted flaws, I stand completely behind this statement. In my files are hundreds of emails pertaining to dogs missing at Spindletop. Many of these dogs were claimed by Anderson to be at the holding center in Conroe. Searchers traveled to the holding site to view photographs, many departing empty handed with still no clue as to the location of their missing pets.

Serial killers historically plea bargain for a lesser sentence in exchange for disclosing the whereabouts of slaughtered victims so the families can gain some sort of closure and deal with their grief. The similarity here is as plain as the smiles on the faces of those posters who still seem to find this tragedy humorous. "Can be likened," or can it not be likened?

"FALSE, DEFAMATORY & TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS"

"It is supposed that Zandra Anderson is holding out to secure her client a sweet plea bargain for the criminal charges she is certain to face."

According to the dog lawyer, "criminal charges are not imminent in this case. As a rule, most do not eventuate into charges. Regardless, I do not represent Ms. Purcell in any criminal matter and will not be if charges are filed."

This is relieving to discover that Leah Purcell gets off with a slap on the wrist and no criminal charges will be filed. Certainly all of those who have lost dogs and had dogs killed at Spindletop will find comfort in Anderson's conclusion.

Good to know the dog lawyer will not be representing Purcell in the criminal case. We could all use a vacation from the dog lawyer. In fact, I know some dogs that won't be missing her in the least.

"FALSE, DEFAMATORY & TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE WITH BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS."

"When the news hit about the raid, Leah Z. began searching to find Mea. She did not have the money to fly from Ohio to Texas and started networking to get the airfare. The entire time, Leah Purcell and Zandra Anderson knew Mea had been killed, but withheld the information."

Comment from dog lawyer, "I have no idea who this "Leah Z" is and had no idea that she or anyone was looking for this dog. I did not withhold any information about this dog."

According to my sources, this information is absolutely false, however, by the end of this ordeal, I can make the dog lawyer a promise. She will certainly know who Leah Z and Mea are and in fact, she will never forget those names.

More from the dog lawyer, "This dog was lost during the seizure and labeled as a 'field escape' by the Humane Society, not anyone associated with the owner or the refuge. Not only did not [sic] I not withhold that infomration, there is no motivation for doing so. In fact, the dog was discovered a few days after the seizure by a Spindletop worker who saaw her alongside the road. She apparently had been hit by a car. I wrote a letter to Montgomery County informating them that the dog lost by the Humane Society during the seizure had been located."

May we see the time and date on your letter, dog lawyer? Hopefully, your date precedes our inquiry. And how long was Mea's body held at Spindletop before notifiying the authorities? So many questions lay unanswered regarding Mea's death. So many questions unanswered about all of the dogs and what went on at Spindletop.

Only the proprietress knows the real truth. And maybe her dog lawyer.

Will the rest of us ever know where our dogs are? Do we really want to know? Can we take the truth however grisly that might be?

Hope is there will be justice served. Hope is that the dogs' real owners who trusted Leah Purcell and Spindletop will each file small claims cases respectively, even to seek closure...the same closure one seeks from a mass serial murderer who holds all the cards.