Fall 2009 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 3 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

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It’s just after 10 a.m. on Friday, July 3, when Humane Officer Lisa McDaniels sets out for the day. Today’s cases involve trekking from the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA campus in central San Diego to Ramona to check on a report that some horses are living in unsanitary conditions. Also on today’s schedule is a recheck of some horses at another property that had been malnourished to see if they have improved. Despite the cruelty that she sees in her day-to-day job, Officer McDaniels is hopeful. In 2008, the San Diego Humane Society’s Investigations Department responded to nearly 1,200 reports of abuse or neglect. As peace officers that receive enforcement powers from the California Corporations Code 14502, Humane Officers have the ability to investigate and, when necessary, arrest individuals on charges of animal cruelty or neglect just as the police department does. Fortunately, for the majority of cases investigated, the situation can be dramatically improved through education. “Often, when we visit a person who has been suspected of animal neglect, they are not aware of all the laws that pertain to how they are keeping their pet,” says Officer McDaniels. “An owner that has his dog tied on a short leash to a post in their yard may not be fully aware of the tethering laws, so our goal with each inspection is both to make sure the animal is safe and ensure that the owner is properly educated.” After Photo: Candice Eley A Case for Hope Officer Terisa Harju spends some quality time with Buster, a dog brought into the Humane Society through one of her cases. addressing how to become compliant with the laws, Humane Officers will also offer advice and instruction on ways to make the animal more happy, healthy and improve the pet’s quality of life overall. “Most people want to improve, so when we begin an investigation, it’s always important to give each person a chance to correct their mistakes and work on being a better pet owner,” states McDaniels. If the owner has been given the opportunity to improve their pet’s A Day quality of life but has not made any progress or shown any interest in complying, intervention may become necessary. Officers can suggest that the owner sign the pet over to the San Diego Humane Society. If the owner refuses and it is clear that the owner is subjecting the animal to needless suffering, the officer can seize the pet, taking it into protective custody. Buster, a social and outgoing German Shepherd, came to the San Diego Photo: Candice Eley
cover story Humane Society through just such a case. Officer Terisa Harju received a report that a family was keeping a dog that appeared to be suffering, and upon investigating, Officer Harju found 4-year-old Buster limping around their backyard. “The family was going through a difficult domestic situation, and caring for the dog was no longer their top priority,” said Officer Harju. “I informed them that the dog needed veterinary care, but they did not want to provide it. Though it was hard for them, they realized that they could not give Buster the best possible life, and they relinquished him to our custody.” After receiving attention from the San Diego Humane Society’s veterinarians, Buster is on the road to recovery and waiting to be adopted into a new home where he will receive the love and attention that he deserves. Buster’s case was an instance of animal neglect. California law dictates that pet owners must provide their pets with adequate food, water, shelter and veterinary care when sick or injured. With neglect, one or more of these items may have been unintentionally ignored. However, when an owner knowingly denies basic needs or intentionally causes physical harm, the situation escalates to animal abuse. When officers investigating a case have discovered proof that an animal was intentionally abused, an arrest will be made. Depending on the level of abuse, charges can range from a misdemeanor to a felony, leading to up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $20,000. Fortunately, Buster’s story isn’t the only happy ending that Officer Harju has witnessed recently. In June, a concerned pet lover reported that a mother cat and her three kittens were being kept in a bird cage at a neighbor’s home. Upon inspection, it was clear that the kittens were lethargic and covered in fleas. One kitten had a severe laceration to his eye. Officer Harju knew that this kitten needed attention immediately and assured the owners that it would be in all the cats’ best interest if they were surrendered, and the owners consented. Photo: Candice Eley Humane Officer Lisa McDaniels checks in with the Investigations Dispatcher while out working on cases. Rather that returning to the campus, Officer McDaniels is instructed to head to the Humane Society’s equipment storage facility to hook up the rescue trailer to her vehicle in case any calls for in the Life of a Humane Investigations Officer Captain Roscoe Redbeard recovers from his eye laceration alongside his brother in the Humane Society’s Veterinary Medicine department. Now known as Captain Roscoe Redbeard, the 7-week-old kitten with the eye laceration is making a speedy recovery through the efforts of the San Diego Humane Society’s veterinarians and some extra love and attention in a Foster Care home. It’s now late in the afternoon on July 3 when Officer McDaniels leaves Ramona after inspecting the malnourished horses to return to the Humane Society campus. Though the progress is slow, she is pleased to see that the horses have gained some weight, and she’ll be back soon to make sure that progress continues. On the journey home, a call comes over the radio that a fire has broken out in the Poway area. emergency fire rescue are placed. It’s an unexpected stop, but just another part of the day-to-day job of being a Humane Investigations Officer. The San Diego Humane Society and SPCA takes reports of animal cruelty 24 hours a day on our abuse hotline. Reports can be made anonymously both on our hotline at (619) 243-3466 or via our website, www.sdhumane.org. Please note, the San Diego Humane Society investigates instances of abuse or neglect and does not respond to calls on barking dogs or loose or stray pets – please contact the San Diego County Department of Animal Services for assistance with these issues. CE AnimalFare • Fall 2009 www.sdhumane.org 5
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Page 3: From the Mailbox Thank you Humane S
Page 7 and 8: 2 3 4 5 6 7 Photos: 1) Thousands of
Page 9 and 10: Retirement Plan Giving - A Gift Wit
Page 11 and 12: Photo: Stacey Zeitlin Photo: Shanno
Page 13 and 14: Bear (Mary Vannoy) Karen Ulvila Geo
Page 15 and 16: Jesse Jen DeMik & Aili Kato Johnny
Page 17 and 18: San Diego Humane Society and SPCA F
Page 19 and 20: AUGUST 2009 Calendar of Events The

Fall 2009 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 3 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA

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Fall 2009 â¢ V ol. 43 No. 3 - San Diego Humane Society and SPCA