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Subject: [TexicanRottweiler] 200+ Rottweilers coming into Houston SPCA from Gatesville tonight, help needed



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We need volunteers and help this weekend. The SPCA needs temperament evaluators for these dogs at their facility, and I am sure much, much more is needed. I will give out more information as it comes in. The people were turned in for starving horses, and were also discovered to own large cats (ie tigers, cougars), monkeys and more in exotics. And of course, the 200-250 Rottweilers. This was a breeding operation that got out of hand, due to several factors (economy, hoarding and more). The good news, as our weather here in Texas is about to reach freezing temperatures, these dogs are to be transported from Gatesville to the SPCA this evening. They assured me they had plenty of room. This group also includes puppies of all ages.

If anyone can make it to the Houston area this weekend, please call me, 713 303 5639 The more help we can get, the faster this will go.

The ARC Disaster team is stepping in, but we will no doubt be making a call for foster homes, transport and donations.

More to follow as I learn more,

Lew

Lew Olson, PhD Natural Health

Scary thing is that in 2005 these 'people' applied for, and were denied, a special use permit that would have allowed them to have up to 250 rottweilers on their 5 acre property in PA.

Apparently they found a way to move their operation to rural TX. Video I've seen shows the dogs in a large pen, fighting...scary stuff.

This is the info on adopting one of the Rotties... from Lew Olson.

The Gatesville Rottweilers are not currently available for adoption. If you would like to keep up with what is going on with the dogs - when they are available and from whom, you can join this list - http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rottnetadoptions/.
These dogs are not available yet, but when you join, identify yourself by location so we can sort interested parties into regions.

Quote from another list:
"Lew Olsen has a meeting with the Houston SPCA 2/7/11, and more information should be available after that meeting. The court hearing for the people involved is 2/7/11 also. There are still a lot of Ifs In this situation. Until due process, the dogs still belong to their owners and are being housed at the Houston SPCA. IF the owners voluntarily sign over the dogs to the HSPCA, things may go quicker. The Disaster Committee will be working with local Rottweiler Rescue groups to facilitate the adoptions. ARC will not be handling the adoptions, just supporting the rescues as they get the dogs processes, IF and when they are released to the HSPCA either by the owners or the courts."

A quote from Lew Olson:

"The meeting went very well. We were all on our best behavior, I was trying
to please them as much they were trying to please me. I was there from 10AM
to 1:30PM.

I have worked with them 3 times before, during Hurricane Katrina, Rita and
Ike. We have a good working relationship.

Now for what you really want to hear. Yes, I saw every Rottweiler and that
took almost 2 hours. It is overwhelming to see so many Rottweilers in one
area. Most are very friendly, there are maybe 5 with fear or aggression
issues, but I can't blame them. These dogs are not leash trained, they have
lived in 'kennels' or crates all of their lives. They were kept in 'breeding
pairs' for the most part. There are 6 litters (one born last night), two
litters of two, one litter of one, and three other litters of larger sizes,
from 5 to 8. There are 5 senior Rottweilers, and 3 Rottweilers than need
Hospice care (two probable cancer, one renal issues). I need foster homes
FIRST for the seniors, hospice and moms. I need volunteers NOW.

There are only about 5 or 6 puppies from 8 to 14 weeks old. Most of the rest
of the Rottweilers are from ages 2 to 4. (breeding age...). There are about
228 Rottweilers (counting newborns).

GOOD NEWS! The SPCA has offered to spay and neuter all them before they
leave. They can leave 10 days after the hearing (today's was cancelled, the
next is scheduled for Wednesday at 9AM). I need rescue groups in readiness
to come after that, or to arrange transport. We can work on that later this
week and next week. They will hold them as long as needed, but hopefully I
would like to get them all out of there in two weeks from the date we can
take them.

SPCA has a contract on them as well, it is not too prohibitive, it mainly
states they need to know where they are going and where they wind up.

These dogs need and deserve indoor homes only, with few dogs in the home.
They need a lot of attention, can we do that? They deserve the best life
from here on out. Let's not let them down.

They look good (thin, but good, a few that were obese, more on that later).
Good temperaments, happy and eager for human touch and companionship. I got
a lot of licks and nose rubs and I petted and talked to each one.

Most of these dogs lived outdoors in chain link pens with a shed. One male,
one female, always together even during birth and puppy raising. Some pens
contained more groups of younger dogs. Most pens wired shut, not much hands
on.

Many dogs lived in crates in the home, those are the obese ones. Really thin
dogs were with fatter dogs, assumption is dominant dog got all the food. I
believe the house was wall to wall with dogs in crates.. more on that later.

Let's get to work! The Houston SPCA is wonderful and I need some concrete
plans now, on commitments from rescues on how many and when you can take
them.

I need firm commitments on foster homes for 3 hospice care, 5 senior dogs
and 6 brood bitches. I need firm commitments for evaluators for this
Saturday in Houston at the SPCA.

I love all you, thank you for hanging in here this long, let's do this for
the breed we love!

Lew"

Ugh. That was overwhelming just to read! Hopefully we can all step up and help. Wish they were closer so I could help more hands on!

http://www.houstonspca.org/site/News2/38524243?page=NewsArticle&id=17297&news_iv_ctrl=0

This link shows their living conditions, pretty sad.

How did this big of an operation go on for so long without intervention? How did this couple afford to feed this many animals? I know some were in bad condition but you would expect with these circumstnces for them to look even worse. The weekly feed bill alone for all of these animals had to be astronomical. Were they selling these animals, and if so, how were they not reported by would be clients??? How did the authorities finally get involved?

I have no knowledge other than what I've posted. Those are the same things I wondered too.

I know nothing either but

since they applied for a permit in PA in 2005 they cannot have been in Texas long

also many of these cases take more than a year to come to seizure status

Do you remember the kennel name they used when they applied for the permit in PA? What kennel name were they using in Texas?

The only kennel I've ever heard of that applied for a permit for that many Rottweilers was Schomberg out there in LaCrosse Wisconsin. I heard they didn't get it but reapplied.

I was commenting based on Anne's post above

It says on the front page of that group - "If you are a rescuer/volunteer, you should be subscribed to the ARCDC list. This list is not for potential adopters"

Does anyone know how to find/join this ARCDC list? Do you have to be an ARC member?

It is a yahoo mailing list. Search Yahoo Groups for ARCDC.

You do not have to be a member, and all help is desperately needed. You can join here. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ARCDC/

It didn't come up in the search for me, but I'm golden now. Thanks for the link!

*American Rottweiler Club*

*Disaster Committee*

*News*

Release 11-02February 14, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Bill Ray

Photos/Video: Available on requestrottymedia@gmail.com
<mailto:rottymedia@gmail.com>

832-387-4111

*Groups Work Together To Help Rescued Rottweilers*

Houston, Texas ? Fourteen volunteers from 12 national, regional, and
local organizations concerned with the welfare of Rottweilers gathered
to work with Houston SPCA staff to evaluate Rottweilers seized in
Central Texas by the Coryell County Sheriff's Office as a result of an
animal abuse investigation. The group was able to complete evaluations
of the physical condition and temperament of over 200 dogs Saturday and
Sunday.

"It is amazing to see how resilient these dogs are. They have come
through some tough conditions, but with proper care, and lots of
individual attention, they will make great pets for loving families",
stated Lew Olson, Chairman of the American Rottweiler Club Disaster
Committee, who is spearheading this effort.

"We were thrilled to be working with the American Rottweiler Club
Disaster Committee, led by Lew Olson. The team brought their
breed-specific expertise and knowledge, and together we can help give
these animals a second chance at a life where they will be cherished
forever," said Houston SPCA Vice President of Animal Welfare Tara Yurkshat.

The coalition of dog groups is developing a plan to find permanent,
loving homes for each of the rescued dogs. Currently, organizations from
22 states and 2 foreign countries have committed to help find homes for
these dogs.

"What we really need now are families who are willing to provide forever
homes to these great dogs and financial help to cover the costs of
transportation and continuing veterinary care", said Olson.

The dogs are currently in the custody of the Houston SPCA awaiting
resolution of the case.

Anyone interested in adopting one of these dogs should register at
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/rottnetadoptions/

To learn more about making donations to help these dogs, visit

http://www.amrottclub.org/2011/TexasRottweilers.html

Just curious, is the United States Rottweiler Club one of the organizations offering assistance?

Yes, the USRC has stepped and offered assistance. There is information on the USRC's homepage along with PayPal for donations. All donations collected for the TX Rottweilers by the USRC will be sent to the ARC's Disaster Fund. USRC also emailed information to the membership. And, Lala Roberts, USRC HBW, was in Houston this past weekend to help out.

Thanks,
Staci

excellent!

There is a paypal link on USRC's homepage and this account was also set up:

http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/31d664cdd87fa3fb

If any can contribute, please help! This is going to be a huge undertaking for the American Rottweiler Club and I'm sure all donations are appreciated.

New video of the dogs...kinda crazy seeing them all in one place!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JXfkv3h9ik&feature=player_profilepage

Partially Quoted from another Rottweiler Email List:

They're down to the final few - most have now gone
through transport all over the States to local Rottweiler Rescues.

Just 19 remain !!
And 2 of them are promised for adoption and 6 are probably going to
leave.

Lew's latest comment sums it up:

"This is history making. This is about a shelter (Houston SPCA),
reaching out to an AKC parent breed club, who reached out to Rottweiler
Rescues and Rottweiler Fanciers, and with the publics support and
donations were able to joine hands to make this work. This has never
been done before and I want to thank everyone who was involved! When it
is done, we need to have one big party!

Lew"

**Permission to Cross Post**


Funding raising for the Texas 200 Rottweilers! For those who have not heard
about these dogs, 200 Rottweilers were seized in a cruelty case in Texas.
They were taken to the Houston SPCA. Through the effects of Rottweiler
Rescue, American Rottweiler Club Disaster Committee, Rottweiler and dog
lover fanciers everywhere, they are now in Rescues in foster homes. But.. We
still need some funding for medical needs for some of these wonderful dogs.


Texas 200 Story Shirts are READY!!!


We have tee shirts, and $7 of every sale goes to the ARC Disaster Committee.
To see and order them, go here:
http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/23009646/1 ... Colors.pdf



You can still make a donation at:


http://arcdc.chipin.com/arc-disaster-fu ... ler-rescue


Or, you can send a check to ARC Disaster Fund (texas 200)
C/0 Carolyn Zembrodt
419 Morris Road
Fort Wright, KY 41011-0296


We are very proud that we were able to place 200 Rottweilers in foster homes and rescue groups in 2 months!


To read more about it and to see pictures, go here:


http://www.b-naturals.com/newsletter/te ... e-mission/


Lew

http://animal.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=15.15322.134507.41513.3
Feb 15, 1:00 pm
Animal Cops Houston
Breeder
There's trouble In Austin County when Houston SPCA Cruelty Investigator Randy Farmer is called to a suspected dog breeding facility. On the property Farmer discovers dozens of dogs in bad shape, including a Springer spaniel that's at death's door.


**Permission to Cross Post**
"As some may know, Animal Planet has a crew at the Houston SPCA. They were there during the rescue last year of the 200 Rottweilers from Coryell County in Texas. They filmed the Houston SPCA when they got to the property that had the 200 Rottweilers (plus 4 big exotic cats, 46 horses and other animals) and filmed where the dogs were housed there, and the loading of the dogs in the large semi's to move them to Houston. They also filmed them at the Houston Shelter AND many of the Rottweiler Rescue groups who came to get them! They also mention the American Rottweiler Club. It is a fascinating hour to watch, and the episode is called, "Frozen". Please don't miss it! Again, Feb 15th, 1 PM, called "Frozen"."

Lew Olson
Chair, ARC Disaster Committee