Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!

As this is a very special day, I will keep this blog very short. First, I want to thank each and every person who took time out of their busy lives to help me help the animals. Especially those individuals, living outside Texas, wanting to help save the remaining animals at the pseudo-sanctuary. It just goes to show, there are no state boundaries when it comes to helping animals in need.

On a quick and yet sad note, I just learned the pseudo-sanctuary once possessed 24 chimpanzees back in 2000. As of December 2006, there were only 18 chimpanzees alive. In June 2006, the pseudo-sanctuary claimed to have 22 chimpanzees (one allegedly died from old age and the other one died from an untreated wound). Of course, their own in-house animal death report showed an additional chimp death (cause supposedly unknown), but gee, the pseudo-sanctuary wouldn't want this information to come out, now would they? By December 2006, the pseudo-sanctuary's veterinarian claimed there were only 18 chimpanzees on the property. That means within a six month period, the sanctuary lost 18% of its chimpanzee population and from 2000-2006, the same facility lost 25% of its chimpanzee’s population. What is even scarier, last month, one of the animal caretaker said they [pseudo-sanctuary] may only have about 10 chimpanzees - but he wasn't sure on the exact number!

Despite this grim news, I am optimistic that the remaining animals will get the help they desperately need. So, again, I thank each and every one of you (and you know who you are!) for standing up the animals -- our case has been heard by the Federal and State authorities -- now we just have to wait to see what happens next.

Much later:  According to the WAO Animal Inventory dated August 25, 2010, only 16 chimps survived.

And the Drama Continues...

Just when I thought I couldn't be surprised by anything the pseudo animal sanctuary's directors or board of directors said or did, I learned several things, just this month, that made me wonder how the government continues to allow them access to the sanctuary's finances. Cases in point:

The pseudo sanctuary continues to hire criminals onto its staff and their board of directors! How does one qualify to be employed or join the board of directors at this sanctuary? Easy - just have a DUI, drugs, or assault criminal record(s) on file and you are in!!! Just ask the pseudo sanctuary's newest board member.

During a nine month period, the pseudo sanctuary gave both it's directors a hefty pay raise. If the sanctuary pays its directors the same monthly pay rate for the last three months of this year, then the sanctuary would have given its directors a 150% raise over the previous year! Can you believe it--a 150% pay raise for both directors while in the mist of a huge investigation for misappropriation of funds and animal abuse?

The pseudo sanctuary failed to pay county taxes and so the county filed suit against the sanctuary this year. Okay. The directors can give themselves huge pay raises, but they cannot pay off the sanctuary's taxes owed to the county (which by the way was significantly less than the pay raises paid to the directors). What is wrong with this picture? What other bills were not paid during this year? Animal feed? Vet care? Hello AG? Where are you???

Folks, we got it on tape - the pseudo sanctuary only has 4 animal caretakers supposedly caring for about 600 animals. I say "supposedly" because the pseudo sanctuary keeps changing its numbers -- depending on when you ask, the number of animals at both facilities ranges from 600-800 animals. Even so, that means each of the four employees is responsible for approximately 150 animals, housed over a combined total of 108+ acres. And yet, somehow, all the animals are supposedly fed (either meat or dog food, depending upon the species); cages cleaned; water bowels and water lines checked; medication given (oh sure); animals checked for injuries (or deaths); and tours given to the public — all with just four people during an eight hour period. So what happens if someone needs to take some time off? Go on a vacation? Take a sick day? I guess that means there are "usually" four people taking care of these animals — as the sanctuary's tour guide was quoted saying just this month. I should note, this pseudo sanctuary's web site claims the office staff performs double duty. The sanctuary claims not only does their office staff answers the phones; collects funds from tours; handles all incoming mail; performs data entry and secretarial duties -- they also perform animal caretaker duties!! All for about a salary a few dollars higher than minimum wage!! Versatile workers, wouldn't you agree!

So, with just a couple of days before Christmas, I pray the government will wake up and take this case seriously before the “directors” skip out of town, leaving the animals with a lot of unpaid bills.

"Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen." Peter Marshall

Haven on Earth

The following is an exert from a blog on found on-line with my comments in red!  See what I'm up against?!

http://graciesat2007.blogspot.com/2007_12_01_archive.html

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Haven on Earth

... I interviewed Carol Asvestas and she told me that there are two facilities. The other location on Tally Rd., houses 450 wild animals. She said that they do not have any volunteers due to liability issues. They do however, use court appointed community service volunteers. These workers help maintain the grounds under supervision and instruction and also build structures as needed. The organization relies solely on donations. The veterinarians do not donate their time but do offer their services at a reduced rate and are on call 24/7.  Plus they clean the director's house, constructed the daughter's apartment, worked on personal projects for the director's etc.

I asked her if there has ever been an escape. She said there was a tiger cub about five years ago who got out. It wasn’t officially an “escapee” because a visitor let it out. It was eventually recovered. I asked her if there was a danger of any infected animals escaping since their location is in close proximity to a residential area. She said that there wasn’t a possibility of that ever occurring.  Wow, have we forgotten about the escaped tiger (was on the news) and Hannah the lion (shot multiple times by Deputy Sheriff officers)?  What about all the primates that escaped their enclosures?  The foxes? And the cougar found wondering around the touring facility grounds? Wolves that were shot and killed when caught escaping the second property? I guess the mind is the first to go!

I asked her if any animals are ever rehabilitated for release to the wild. She said none of the animals are ever released back to the wild because their defense mechanism has become unlearned. They would perish. They become lifetime residents to live out the remainder of their life. The organization is contacted by agencies who have come in possession of wild animals and need to find a home for them. The rescue facility has to pay for expenses for retrieval of these wild animals. They are called from many states. Some of the animals have been rescued from abusive situations, the entertainment industry, roadside zoos, and some have been involved in breeding and rescued. Some have been used in labs and are retired from lab/research testing facilities or are old pets. Most (80%) are in critical condition and in poor health upon arrival and fortunately have a remarkable recovery rate.  Really?  80% arrive in "critical condition?"  Remember, critical condition means "near death."  Got any vet medical reports to substantiate this claim?  No??  I thought not.

I posed the delicate question about the horrible allegations brought up by their organization's former vice president Kristina Brunner. Carol Asvestas said that this disgruntled employee went after people that had had animals formerly confiscated from their abusive or negligent care. She conspired with these people and formed a website to personally attack her. Carol Asvestas said, “What led to her dismissal on this particular occasion, was Ms. Brunners entered an infected area without protective equipment. I told her to get out and she became confrontational, and was dismissed“. Further more she stated,” If we’re such a bad organization, people wouldn’t be coming to this so called Hell Hole”.  Yeah, you just stick with that fantasy story, Ms. Director.  I believe knowingly telling false statements against my person in the hopes of discrediting my account as to what truly transpired at the facility is called SLANDER! 

According to an article on the website, US Animal Protection .ORG., Ms. Brunner states that the poor conditions and negligence of monkeys, resulting with at least five of them consequently freezing to death, was her reason for leaving. Since leaving her position, Ms. Brunner has filed numerous complaints against the WAO.  And yet despite instructions from the USDA/APHIS, the directors still refuse to provide heat for ALL the primates!

Reportedly both the state (TCEQ) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the (USDA) United States Department of Agriculture have the (WAO) under pending- investigation charges. The TCEQ has two sites under investigation concerning the burial remains of potentially infected animals, without proper permits. A trouble shooter for WOAI, Tanji Patton , obtained a letter from WAO to the state that the orphanage had relocated remains from a site that had been in a"potential flood plain", to a permitted landfill. Still other allegations from the San Antonio Lightning are allegations of pot- bellied pigs gone missing and the burial of pit-bulls who although euthanized, and bodies still warm, may have been buried alive. These proposed charges are still under investigation. You draw your own conclusions.  Hey, how about pulling the open records documents from all agencies concerned, read them, and then draw your own conclusions!

I recommend that if you get a chance to visit this fine refuge, you will find it enjoyable, memorable and well worth your time. For those of you who do not know, they do have house cats up for adoption.  Please adopt a kitty before he/she is either euthanized or tossed away at the second non-inspected site to fend for itself!!