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46 °F 5 Day Forecast Sunday, November 30, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend October 18, 2003 Jerilyn Pool, 32, is taking care of a mom and five pups that were among 41 dogs seized recently from a Sams Valley home. The couple who owned the dogs were charged Friday with animal neglect. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Even as charges filed, hope seen in dog case By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune A Gold Hill couple was charged with 41 counts of animal neglect Friday, the same day the county animal shelter announced a Good Samaritan’s remarkable offer to help one of those animals. Luisa Spadini of Ashland has offered to not only pay $170 in adoption and supply fees, but lifetime food and vet fees for Abby, the mother of five nursing Labrador-mix puppies. Spadini requested that she not be contacted for comments regarding the donation. The offer surprised Medford resident Jerilyn Pool, 32, who’s providing foster care for Abby and her 5-week-old puppies. "I think it’s amazing. It’s so incredibly generous," she said. "So many times you hear of people who don’t even want to take care of their own pets." Advertisement And with the Jackson County District Attorney’s office filing charges against Anita and Brian McKenna of Sams Valley for 41 counts of animal neglect, a class B misdemeanor, animal control officials see it as something good coming out of a difficult situation. In September the Animal Control officials seized 41 dogs from the McKennas’ Ramsey Road home after neighbors complained. The animals were in various states of neglect. Of the 41 dogs, 19 were euthanized with severe health problems, and seven dogs were adopted out, leaving 15 still at the shelter, or in Abby’s case, at a foster home until they can be adopted. From tumors and flea infestation to anxiety and depression, these dogs have many issues to solve, according to animal shelter staff. The McKennas blocked Animal Control from finding homes for the remaining animals because they want some of them back. That is a civil court matter separate from the misdemeanor neglect charges they face. "They wanted seven dogs they didn’t want to lose," said Doug McGeary, the assistant county counsel who put together the search warrant and was involved in the animals’ seizure. McGeary the only concern is who should have legal rights to the dogs. But Robert Casserly, program manager of Friends of the Animal Shelter, is worried that these animals are in limbo because they can’t be adopted and they can’t return to the McKennas. "The sad part for these dogs is they just have to sit here," he said. Abby and the puppies, all of which will be available for adoption in three or four weeks when the nursing pups complete weaning, are not among those the McKennas want to keep, said Casserly. He said Spadini’s offer is once-in-a-lifetime and he’s never heard of someone giving so much for a dog that isn’t theirs. "She just lost her dog, Mozart," he said. "She wants to help, but she’s not ready to have another dog." Colleen Macuk, director of the Jackson County Animal Shelter, said every day the dogs are not adopted costs the taxpayers money. "We’re up into the $1,500 range in the testing and vaccinations," she said, adding that figure is in addition to the $8 cost to feed and care for each dog every day. The situation isn’t as rare as Macuk would like. She said the shelter handles 250 to 300 animal neglect cases each year. She’s got one bit of advice for dog owners. "Don’t get more dogs than you can manage," she said. "That means food, that means veterinarian care, that means vaccinations." The McKennas are scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 4. Neither the McKennas nor their attorney, Steve Johnson, could be reached for comment Friday. For more information on adoption, donations or volunteering, call the shelter at 776-6644 or drop by the shelter at 5595 S. Pacific Highway from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times