Examiner article by Penny Eims

http://www.examiner.com/article/dogs-left-to-die-on-rural-property-washington

Dogs Left to Die on Rural Property Washington State

Letter to Stevens County from a resident and rescuer

Dear County Commissioners of Stevens County, My apologies if this letter comes off as harsh, but it is being penned shortly after I assisted a Spokane Humane Society employee and other residents of our county seize puppies at 7663 Hwy 291 in Tum Tum.(Feb. 16, 2014) I can not convey my embarrassment for living in a county that has allowed this type of situation to occur AGAIN! Our reputation as a "reactionary" county with no humane law enforcement has to come to an end.  We must become proactive in this arena! The total seizure, with the puppies, is over 22, with at least seven dogs left to intake on Monday.  Of the seven left to intake, three are chained, and it looks like three are pregnant. There were also at least 5 dead dogs still tied to trees, and garbage bags tossed about that may hold even more carcasses. As if the situation with the dogs wasn't bad enough, the two elderly women who lived at this address should have had assistance long before conditions got this bad.  The social worker who returned with one of the ladies, to verify her residence, could not believe anyone could live there without running water and toilet facilities. The women were not in good physical or mental condition. This was not even 100 yards off Highway 291.  How many Police/Fire calls have gone out to 7663 Hwy 291 before February 12, 2014? The reality is, this residence has had attention, but no care, and not one official stepping up to enforce basic RCW's. Where is our pride? Our responsibility? Our compassion? Our desire to take care of this county instead of letting it rot from within? The time for action is NOW, not tomorrow and not yesterday.  If you want to be a part of the solution, great!  I look forward to seeing progress!  If you don't, and you don't mind being mentioned as part of the problem when news media gets this story, great!  That will happen sooner than you think!  (No, I am not giving an interview to the paper, but I am not the only Stevens County resident who was present.) Please do what has to be done for our county to set the bar a little higher, because what we are doing now is not working. Sincerely, Rebecca Washington Chewelah, WA

Newspaper article nails the inadequacies of the "system"

Another article by the Silverado Press

Some of this article is inaccurate.  Because one of the rescuers fell in love with Teddy Bear and reached out again to Chow Chow Rescue NW in Beaverton, OR, Teddy's future looks much brighter!

At the end of the article they talk about the deceased dogs.  Yes, they were indeed deceased, some in plastic bags, some at the end of a tether.  One wonderful employee from the Spokane Humane Society who volunteered on her own time, and a group of volunteers from Stevens, Lincoln and Spokane Counties removed those bodies.  The Spokane Humane Society generously offered to cremate them, so they could indeed, rest in peace!

Some things should not have been made public, such as the at large remaining dog.  Sadly it looks like this dogs journey in hell on this earth is over.

Grandiose dreams- animal control!

So they woke up and drafted these documents.  Stevens County Washington

Sounds lovely doesn't it?  Finally we have help for the animals. 

Wow, just kidding no AC for Stevens County after all!

This is a travesty!

Sierra's Last Chance

Volunteers came from every corner of our area, three counties wide.  All of the dogs were caught, except one.   Sierra.  The man-hours that went into trying to catch this dog were astounding. 

The group tried everything, we phoned all over Washington and Idaho for help.  None could be found.  At the last minute, we are able to get help, and find a darter. 

For seven weeks, we worked, we hoped and finally a plan came together.  Most of the neighbors were helpful, two families in particular did everything they could to help us save Sierra.

Readying

One neighbor in Ford, Jerry Wymer started to feed her, we were told, to keep her on his property where he refused to allow the rescuers to tread.

On the 30th of March, all the volunteers arrived in Ford with great hope.  Sierra did get darted.  That attempt was thwarted by the man that did not want anyone on his property.  The last time she was seen was six in the morning on Monday the 31st.  Run Free Sierra.

"Run free sweet girl....you will never ever be forgotten and if love could have saved you, you would still be with us and safe."

Judy

Her last hope

Here we come  for you!

So many cared!

Oh oh, someone called the Sheriff.

Then a relative guarded the property from all of us Guerillas !
( two very nice men and mostly old women)

Now the work is to educate and enlighten Stevens County, this did NOT need to happen.


And to the person who refused to let us save her, I hope you can live with yourself.

Home Sweet Home

Sierra, you no longer are tied to this mess!




Why these conditions are ignored and not prosecuted in this day in age is beyond most of our abilities to understand.

Welcome to Stevens County HWY 291 Ford, WA!
 You would have to be there to know how bad it is.

Curb Appeal

Yard clearing time?

As far as the eye could see, junk cars, old trailers, storage units, why?

We understand at the time these were taken there was no running water or septic on the parcel.

It should look like this!

But no, it was littered with junk cars, old wires nails what have you.  Such a sad ending for so many!

SO SAD!