Animal Hoarding is BAD NEWS!

Here is the latest framed in a Q & A format to make it less confusing.

Where are these dogs?
All the dogs are at a property of a known hoarder in Lancaster. 5-6 dogs to a cage... There are many cages. 20-40 dogs in one big area… There are many big areas.

Which organizations/rescues are working to help the animals?
Gentle Barn and Animal Acres are working together to alleviate the suffering of the animals, but Animal Acres is not set-up for dogs. Gentle Barn has 4 workers caring for the dogs during the day. (It’s a 30 minute drive) No workers can stay there (Lancaster) at night, since there is no place for them. Some farm animals are at Animal Acres for quarantine before they go to Gentle Barn or into foster or adoptive homes. Animal Acres is not involved with "dog, cat" aspect of rescue, only farm animals. Gentle Barn and Animal Acres continue to look for fosters/homes for all the animals.

A Wish for Animals got the hoarder to release the animals to its organization, but has no resources (aka man power nor ready-to-be used facility) to care for this huge influx of sick, hungry, cold, un-spayed/neutered animals.

What happens next?
A Wish for Animals will let Gentle Barn use their newly acquired Acton location to build some temporary shelter. Gentle Barn is hiring Andy Gump Temporary Site Services to build such temporary facilities to move approximately 50 dogs needing immediate life-threatening medical attention, about 10 pregnant females here.

What are the conditions of the other dogs?
A majority of the animals have mange, upper respiratory problems, pink eye, vomiting, diarrhea and all are exhausted. Five litters of puppies have been removed from the property with horrible medical issues. The temperature has been below freezing and the animals have no protection from the extreme climate and because of the rain are living in mud puddles with no dry area at all.

What type of dogs?
Shepherd mixes, Lab mixes, Pbull mixes, Rottweiler mixes, Corgi mixes...

What type dog food is needed?
dry - in 50 lbs. bags. There is no place to store food at hoarding place without it getting wet. Gentle Barn workers transport food every day to Lancaster.

How many total pounds of dog food is needed?
3000 lb. = 30 days

Has Best Friends been contacted yet?
yes.

What type of supplies are needed?
- 200 collars (different sizes) - 200 leashes
- 30 bags of dry dog food (50 lbs/each bag) to last till next Wednesday 1/23/08
- 100 big clips to secure water buckets to chained link fences, so dogs won't kick the buckets and no water left to drink.
- 200 blankets - Bleach (40 gallons)
- 15 Flat oversized shovels,
- 15 metal leaf rakes
- 50 pooper scoopers
- 200 plastic trash bags
- 50 food/water containers no more than 2-3 inches height for small, short dogs (must be able to reach the content inside the containers)
- $8,000 for spay/neuter 200 dogs at $40/each.
- $12,500 (est) about 50 needing immediate life threatening medical attention, about 10 pregnant females.
- $800 (est) for transportation costs to move 50 dogs from Lancaster to Acton, and to vet offices.
- 25 volunteers to care for the sick dogs which will be transferred from Lancaster to Acton (currently in rushing mode to have some type of temporary shelter to be built, so they can be cared for).
- Funds for the following:
* Feed for the emu, pigs, horse and llama
* Veterinary Care for neutering (there are about 200 dogs and they all need to be fixed at about $40.00 each), vaccines, stitches and treatment for mange and other sicknesses.
* Animal transportation costs

Donations may be made through PayPal at: http://www.gentlebarn.org/id17.html OR http://animalacres.org/donate.html

Who do I contact about volunteering my services or donating supplies?
Please contact Desiree at Gentle Barn: (661) 886-0901 (ok to call her 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) OR Lori at Animal Acres: 661-269-5404 /email: info@animalacres.org

THANK YOU!