Document text
Photo by Jim Craven One of the dogs found living in filthy conditions at a Sams Valley home gets carried out of the Jackson County Animal Shelter, above, by Dianne Quarg, who is caring for the dog until a new home can be found for it. Three of the dogs, below, wary of a photographer, huddle in a corner. Shelter workers evaluate dogs Unsocialized animals still shy of people By SUSAN JAY TALENT -- Dianne Quarg came to the county animal shelter to save a dog Wednesday. She picked up one of the 45 dogs removed from a Sams Valley home this week because of neglect. "If I can get one out of here, I can save an adoptable dog, because when they run out of space, one has to go," said Eagle Point resident Quarg, who will care for a 3-year-old beagle-terrier mix until it is adopted. Thirty-two of the 45 canines taken to the shelter Monday and Tuesday were put to sleep after shelter workers determined they were not suitable for adoption because of their condition or behavior. Shelter staff Wednesday began to evaluate the remaining 13, a process that will continue over the next several days as workers watch their health and see if they become friendly to people. "We won't be doing any more euthanizing until, one by one, they show there's not going to be the chance of adoption," said Colleen Macuk, shelter manager. Shelter wants foster homes for dogs Animal shelter officials are looking for people willing to commit the time and patience needed to be foster parents or adoptive parents to a group of neglected Sams Valley dogs. Colleen Macuk, shelter manager, said there is hope for many of them to become good pets. "These dogs would need a lot of time to adjust to their surroundings, to learn to trust. I think they can. That's one of the marvelous things about animals, they can definitely do a good turnaround." Macuk said she will talk to and screen those interested in foster parenting and adopting because of the special needs of the animals. Those interested in temporarily caring for or adopting a dog can call Macuk at the shelter, 776-7035, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Animal control officers found 70 dogs in all at the rural home of Bonita Jones. Forty-five were taken to the shelter, and another 25 remain in Jones' mobile home. They are mostly cocker-spaniel, beagle and terrier mix. Jones, 47, gave them food and water, but they lived outdoors in a makeshift shed and kennel, where their feces mixed with the mud. Some of the dogs were euthanized after they tried to attack shelter workers. Others were too old to be adopted and some had fur so thickly matted with feces and mud that workers couldn't tell which end was their head. Donna Patnesky, one of the shelter workers working closely with the dogs, said they eat only at night when the staff isn't around. Wednesday, they huddled together, heads on top of one another and curled up as far from the cage door as possible. They trembled at the sight of people and didn't bark, pant or wag their tails. "They've not been socialized at all," Macuk said. "They don't know that people are their friends," she said. "It's been quite a trauma for them, and they're terrified." For some of the dogs, the future looked bright. Two "Benji"-looking mutts let Patnesky and Macuk pet them. "If you can pet them, there's hope," Macuk said. Patnesky also is able to cuddle the one puppy in the group. "Because he's so young, 10 to 12 weeks, we think he has a good chance of becoming a good house pet," she said. In a few weeks, Macuk may have to make room for more mutts from the Sams Valley home. Gary Stevens, manager of the county's environmental health services, said another 25 dogs are still living in Jones' mobile home on Shiloh Road. Stevens said Jones told them she originally owned some dogs that she planned to give to Dogs for the Deaf, but that fell through and the dogs just kept multiplying. She also said she was overwhelmed after the recent illness and death of her husband. Stevens said county officials also have heard from other people that Jones bred and sold dogs in the past. The county received a similar complaint of too many dogs at her home in 1989. It was neighbors who complained to the county this time about the dogs, Stevens said. Some were concerned about their water and sanitation systems because of the excessive amount of feces on the property. The county is working with Jones, who has two weeks to decide which dogs she will keep and which ones she will give away. Callers ask about legal trouble Calls poured in to the county animal shelter Wednesday from people wondering whether Bonita Jones faces legal trouble because of her dogs. Gary Stevens, manager of the county's environmental health services, said he has not ruled out the possibility. He said two laws could have been violated: animal neglect or illegally operating a kennel. The crime of animal neglect requires intentional and knowing neglect and failure to provide minimal care, such as food, water and shelter. Kennels are required by the county to have a license and meet zoning regulations, plus meet county inspections. There is no limitation to the number of dogs a person can own in the county, as long as the animals are not neglected and are not causing a nuisance, Stevens said. The county is more inclined not to cite Jones "if we get cooperation and we resolve the problem, and this individual has adequate resources to care for the animals she has left, and she doesn't have a reoccurrence." "If we believe these situations would continue or repeat themselves then we may take action," Stevens said. How could the Sams Valley situation happen? Stevens said, "If you get out on a rural property and you don't have much interaction with the public or anyone else, and time passes, and you have a number of dogs ... you can end up with a lot of animals in a hurry." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA