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| Katelyn Reid photo of Harvey rescue |
The Houston SPCA rolled into Beaumont the afternoon of Saturday, September 2nd and completely took over operations and animals being cared for by rescuers and volunteers who'd been sweltering in the hot and humid Ford Center for a week.
Katelyn Reid had organized the Ford Center operation and despite heat, flooding, fleas and other disaster and pests, the center was operating surprisingly efficiently. People from all over the United States had driven to Beaumont, many like Erika Pearce from Indianapolis who drove with her husband and a car filled with donated vet supplies and much needed medicine to help care for the incoming hundreds of dogs, cats and other animals.
These good people worked tirelessly and missed meals to save these animals before Houston SPCA took over and shut everyone out.
Shylah Salas was one of the hard-working animal lovers and has issued a gut-wrenching statement to the Houston SPCA:
To the HSPCA, I am NO LONGER a SUPPORTER of your organization. After our encounter at the Ford Center in Beaumont, I walked away feeling distraught towards your efforts which were UNPROFESSIONAL, UNORGANIZED and seemed to have LACKED SINCERITY.
Your employees, especially TRAVIS came off Ignorant & lacked administration skills. Grant it, yall did a wonderful job w/ organizing our supplies. HSPCA claimed to "take charge" yet instead of "CALLING A MEETING with THE COMMUNITY at FORD CENTER", the information was being transfered through word of mouth.
YOUR EMPLOYEES SLEPT COMFORTABLY IN your company van WHILE Sandra Kelly and I, along with 3 members, TENDED to a trailer carrying 8 DOGS (1 w/parvo) and a sick horse. NONE OF YOUR STAFF WAS AVAILABLE until 8am then held a "Staff Meeting" for an HOUR & A HALF while DOGS SAT WITH URINATION & DEFFICATION in their crates.
The ICU PATIENTS did not have REFILLED BAGS, a chicken was DEAD. Travis ordered an elderly man to leave the premises (who was granted permission to stay by Ford shelter original coordinator) because "This is not a camp ground!" How dare you tell this man that if his 12 cockerspaniels and 1 lab were not transferred or taken elsewhere, they will be EUTHANIZED AFTER 2 WEEKS when your policy stated " 30 days". How is 2 weeks a sufficient amount of time for OWNERS WHO LOST EVERYTHING but their lives to recover their beloved pets?!?
HOW DARE you transport 20+ dogs w/out providing proper documents or communication regarding their transfer. First of all, WHY TRANSFER these DOGS?? WHERE DID THE REST OF THEM GO? Yepp...we have proof of animals missing in crates and 1 who was walked at 8pm, but never returned. Why only start inventory POST TRANSFER of DOGS? And why were pups labeled aggressive & specific animals(excluding the sick) segregated?
HOW DARE YOU ASK FOR DONATIONS WHEN YOU ALREADY SEIZED 80% that EXISTED PRIOR to YOUR ARRIVAL. Why donate money when you are planning to euthanize after 2 weeks? Those donations sustain you for MONTHS.
I FELT YOU TREATED this NATURAL DISASTER as if it were another CORPORATE JOB!!
Your lack of communication, administration, and most importantly, Honesty screwed yall over. I cannot prove you were euthanizing, but what I do know was something felt shady when HSPCA arrived. I was BOOTS ON GROUND....
Leila Barry, another hard working Ford Center first responder adds this to Shylah's statement:
I was boots on the ground as well, and was amazed that after 6 hours, 6 you couldn't tell the rescuers how many dogs were there. Yeah Travis you know how to count money really well, but not dogs. And how were the 22 dogs flown outta state when all the airports WERE CLOSED AND UNDER WATER. and why was the single room under the pavilion STAFF ONLY . You have a lot of explaining to do HSPCA. I WANT TO KNOW.
When Shylah received a Houston SPCA plea for donation money, it was just too much and she posted her statement.
These people see the orchestrated money raising campaigns all over social media by the Houston SPCA taking credit for their work and the lives these volunteers rescued from flooded homes and brought to the Ford Center. It is infuriating and it is nauseating. They are getting a dose of the way Houston SPCA does business...and to them, it's business. Pit bulls aren't good business and that's probably why you never saw a pit bull on their hit Animal Planet series Animal Cops: Houston.Since 2012, we have been questioning Houston SPCA's high kill practices with our Facebook page No name pittie will die at Houston SPCA.
According to No Kill Houston "The Houston SPCA's Save Rate was only 35% the last time that they were honest and released their records to the public. We believe that their Save Rate is drastically lower than this now."
World Animal Awareness Society also tried to get some answers from Houston SPCA in their No Hope for Paws as Houston SPCA accused of killing dogs after Hurricane Harvey: Operation Houston video:
We will continue to write about and research the Houston SPCA and the goings on at Beaumont's Ford Center. Please contact Pit bulls and other animals with photos, videos and animal stories related to Harvey and the Beaumont Ford Center.
Keep going. Find out what really happened. I've seen and heard enough very reputable rescue people I personally know indicate that something was very much amiss even if they hadnt gitten to the bottom of it themselves. What happened? What went wrong?
ReplyDeleteThanks for looking for answers.
If this is true about the ASPCA shame on them what false commercials they always show on TV how they help all these abandoned dogs and how they rescue animals if they did this in Houston and all the other areas that suffered through this Harvey hurricane and now they can't even find their pets because of the ASPCA I hope the truth comes out in the news and I hope everybody stands up and says Iwhere are my animals how come I can't find them and whatever else needs to be done shame on you ASPCA why would you put down anybody's pet that has been lost because of the hurricane you should go above your rules or whatever you have to do and really work with the people that need to find their pets shame on you ASPCA you weren't there at the beginning all these other people with their private boats and horse trailers and trucks and supplies where they're helping anybody they could before you showed up and kicked everyone out shame on you ASPCA you are a disgrace if all this is true I am so angry you are no better than PETA who kills animals
ReplyDeleteI heard that the ASPCA and the local SPCA's are not truly related. The local SPCA's do not follow the ASPCA.
DeleteKim
The article references the Houston SPCA (HSPCA), not the ASPCA. The ASPCA is a national organization, HSPCA is a local Houston organization. Two different entities.
DeleteThe ladies of beadlebratz manor is referring to the reply by Laura p.kid HSPCA is not connected. To Aspca
DeleteIf is has SPCA in the name they must be partnered. If not the National arm of SPCA would not let them use their name and NO ONE is going to tell me any different. Any body using that name would reflect on the national org.which could limit donations if it reflects badly.
DeleteDear "Unknown", there is no national SPCA. The ASPCA, which has regular ads on tv, is a privately non-profit organization based in New York. It does not own the name "SPCA". Many localities have their own societies for the protection of animals...that is the case here. The Houston SPCA has no ties to the ASPCA, just as there are many small humane societies that have no ties to the HSUS. Hope that helps clear it up for you.
DeleteI saw on video the set up and the disaster after they showed up and took over with supplies that were not theirs. Manny dogs disappeared over night and they claimed they took 22 to their Houston location. The gates were even closed and kicked and they did kick people out and made their hours 8 an to 8 pm as if they weren't at a disaster recovery site. Many people swore they had euthanized many dogs that night because they were never seen again. It would be very interesting to have a lust of all the musding dogs and their breed, if they were chipped and had identification tags. ASPCA had a horrible record and I don't know how they can keep operating. People need to stop donating and the counties snd givernor need to be aware of this so they are never granted the right to ginancially benefit from another disaster. They need to be held accountable. Many people took videos of that site before and after they barged their way in. It would be wonderful if there was a way for somebody to contact people and have them send their videos to one specific location so that dogs that were there at one point may be able to be identified and then ASPCA would have to say where those dogs went.
ReplyDeleteJeri Gilmore Langman did many videos.. She and her Husband Davis are with Guardians of Rescue David is in FL now and Jeri is on her way down there...
DeleteAssholes.Organization that is out for itself with no intention to help the animals. what a disgusting farce.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was not a part of this rescue effort, I once found two newborn kittens inside a hole at work. The mom was no where to be found. The kittens were so young, they were still wet. I took them home and my family took turns bottle feeding them. When they were about 7 weeks old, litter box trained and eating solid food, my dad took them to the Houston SPCA. They already had 3 cats and I had two and a dog. The SPCA took them, then made my dad sign something saying that they would be euthanized! My dad asked what it meant. They said they didn't want the kittens and would immediately euthanize them. There was nothing wrong with these kittens! My dad got mad and brought them home. I still have one of them 7 years later. A friend has the other. I would never go back to the SPCA. I thought they were supposed to be no kill!!
ReplyDeleteIf they woulda put my pit down Travis woulda been next on that list.ride their ass girl.God only knows he could been selling them as fighting or training dogs.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this is true or not, but it warrants investigation.
ReplyDeleteAs an animal advocate, I too would like to know where all of the animals have gone. They need to be held accountable for taking people's pets. Where are all of the dogs that were there? The cats? Someone really needs to investigate this as it just seems kind of odd the the HSPCA and PETA came into town within hours of each other and now look what's happened. I would demand that they get looked at very closely. Don't let them off the hook. Who do we need to contact?
ReplyDeleteI was not "boots on the ground". But when a rescue I trust, Best Friends Animal Society, puts out a petition against these folks, then I pay attention!
ReplyDeleteI was not "boots on the ground". But when a rescue I trust, Best Friends Animal Society, puts out a petition against these folks, then I pay attention!
ReplyDeleteI have always heard questionable things regarding Houston SPCA. I no longer support them. Their are too many good, honest and reputable Animal Organizations to support.
ReplyDeleteWhat a collosile crying shame this is! Shameful that all that couldn't have been coordinated even before the crisis so all could be ready to go asap! We all watched the news and knew what was coming well before hand. I helped with Katrina and had no problems with distribution of supplies orcrisis sites. Terrible that it seems nobody seemed to learn from that.
ReplyDeleteThe HSPCA is in collusion with the Red Cross for collecting $ for themselves first. I will never donate to either again!
ReplyDeleteI will always fight for the animals. Please, a thorough investigation needs to be done.
The HSPCA is in collusion with the Red Cross for collecting $ for themselves first. I will never donate to either again!
ReplyDeleteI will always fight for the animals. Please, a thorough investigation needs to be done.
I went to the HSPCA on Sunday and recorded a video specifically asking about the 22 dogs that were allegedly "transferred" Saturday night. No one knew anything about them!
ReplyDeleteWent to the Ford center on Tuesday, it was empty and very eerie. There was a young cow there with orange spray paint on his side that read, " don't eat until 9/6".
Many of us have been sharing photos and talking about this in messages since then. We've all lost sleep and many tears over all these innocent lives lost because of the HSPCA and it's lack of compassion or care.
Also, the Red Cross threw out thousands of dollars worth of animal supplies after Hurricane Irma started up because, " they could get more in from Florida ".
Wow!! All I can say is WOW! poor pups:( first abandoned by their loved ones in a fatal situation...Then taken out back by a couple of monsters and euthanized����unfortunately....humanity has sunken to its lowest people!
ReplyDeleteHSPCA got a lot of credit and a LOT of money for going and taking over, days after the first responders, volunteers got to Beaumont as fast as they could and had already been saving animals for a couple of days. ASPCA AND HSPCA proceeded to kick volunteers out, as they separated the bully breeds from the other dogs. People who had driven across the country with supplies to come help were turned away! Then when people have tried yo get their animals back they've been told they cannot walk their facilities and to just put their pets on the database and they would try to locate them...we are going to soon be at the 30 day mark and if they don't return animals by that time, then what? They will euthanize at least the dogs on their unadoptable list?
ReplyDeleteHSPCA got a lot of credit and a LOT of money for going and taking over, days after the first responders, volunteers got to Beaumont as fast as they could and had already been saving animals for a couple of days. ASPCA AND HSPCA proceeded to kick volunteers out, as they separated the bully breeds from the other dogs. People who had driven across the country with supplies to come help were turned away! Then when people have tried yo get their animals back they've been told they cannot walk their facilities and to just put their pets on the database and they would try to locate them...we are going to soon be at the 30 day mark and if they don't return animals by that time, then what? They will euthanize at least the dogs on their unadoptable list?
ReplyDeleteI don't know which organization is worse the Houston SPCA or the American Red Cross. Both are nothing but big business and could care less about the animals. I know many of The Rescuers that were there and they don't lie this is their life taking care of animals. If the SPCA had done their due diligence then these Rescuers would have been saying they did a good job they give props when props are due. But in this case and every case when it comes to the SPCA and pitbulls they are a dangerous bunch. After seeing the hundreds of pounds of dog food and blankets and crates and every other kind of Supply just thrown in the trash by the American Red Cross and then the SPCA taking over supplies meant for the animals and rescues is utterly ridiculous. And then to turn around and ask for more donations I'm appalled!
ReplyDeleteSame here. They are a trusted group with a stellar reputation. Let 's expose HSPCA for the sham of a rescue they are
ReplyDeleteThis is what you call #RescueForProfit scams. Welcome to the highly profitable privatized #AnimalKilling business!
ReplyDeleteThe SPCA's, Humane Society and APL, have been taken over by private groups that only care about money and salaries for themselves and board members. Please read Justice for Pete and Friends and you will see the horror the Lake Humane Society in Ohio has subjected 156 cat to. They are raiding sanctuaries and rescues to get rid of them. This sanctuary still has 105 cats in their care and the Lake Humane Society is so upset that their is a Federal RICO case for extortion against them that they are continuing to harass. They are also upset that the Judge who did not see the sanctuaries evidence during the trial saw it before sentencing and did not give them jail, fines or give the Lake Humane Society the $55,000 they were asking for. The story of Pete will open your eyes.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.gofundme.com/6fmbyp-justice-for-pete
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ReplyDeleteSPCA is a sorry group of people on a power trip not only in this case, but have seen them harassing private pet owners when their pets had babies and owners tried to sell them on craigslist, ect. trying scare people with fines for all kinds trumped up stuff, like a permit to sell their pet hamsters babies.............ridiculous power tripping people, that half really don't know what they are doing or talking about, voulenteers usually do a way better job than the SPCA could ever think about doing
ReplyDeleteThank god we didn't transport our rescues to FORD and waited out 4 hours of traffic to leave Beaumont instead . We were told to go there and it would be safe but we kept hearing from BOTG it was a nothing but ideal. They did an amazing job. Jefferson county failed big time on this disaster... BIG time. Nothing was done right
ReplyDelete