Sacramento Kings player Ron Artest and the story of his starving dog Socks could have been avoided if Placer County Animal Services under the direction of Health & Human Services were doing their job in December 2006 when the dog was ultimately hit by a car for always running loose. Animal Services manager Mike Winters made a 'Deal' with Mr. Artest's attorney which is standard fare in Placer. The typical "Deal" here in Placer is the alleged abuser(s) sign over ownership to the animal(s) to Animal Services, in lieu of being prosecuted.

Take a look at Hope On 2/22/07 Health & Human Services announced IT WILL NOT move the case to the DA's office for prosecution of the owner!! Read the 'Latest Skirmish' over this decision at the March 6, 2007 Board of Supervisor's meeting about this this ad. that FRIENDS sponsored in the Auburn Journal. While the county states it removed the horse from the abusive situation (The Deal) and spent $14,000 in veterinary costs before giving the horse to a rescue group, we maintain the County 'ignored' their duty to bring criminal charges against the abuser. Here's another message from the horse named "Hope" for Placer County.

And only when County officials heard public outcry on another case of abused Afghan Hounds did they finally respond on February 9th, 2007 by taking possession of thirteen dogs they knew were in neglectful and abusive conditions. After a great deal of continued public pressure, the department of Animal Control finally moved the case to the DA's office. The dog owner(s) pled no contest and were prosecuted on misdemeanor charges. After coaxing the prosecuting attorney, he finally included a request for restitution (in accordance with the law) to the judge. The judge granted the request and required the owner to pay back the animal rescue group and Animal Control (our tax dollars). To our knowledge, the County hasn't instituted collection proceedings.

In this STORY of abuse, the animals were in such horrific condition (as evidenced by photos FRIENDS viewed) that Animal Services euthanized thirty-eight of the dogs at the property. What awaited officers inside the house, was over two inches of feces and urine covering the entire floor and lining the crates where the animals lived. These same photos showed every surface in the house (stove, beds, tables, etc) was covered with urine and feces. Yet Animal Services under the direction of Health & Human Services never referred the case to the DA's office for prosecution - thus turning their backs AGAIN on animal abuse.

In July, 2007 Animal Services seized this group of eleven dogs, many of them puppies at the time. Three were adopted out before the County changed its mind and decided to stop all adoptions. Locked up since July, they grew up in a fearful shelter with little human contact while their file is passed from one desk to another without commencement of legal proceedings.

If you think that just because Placer County takes possession of your animal, it will be treated kindly, then take a look at these horses standing in cold, winter rains and mud up to their fetlocks for months because the Auburn shelter is inadequate to house large animals. Once loved and owned by the late Bill Allen, FULL STORY these conditions would have been cause for Animal Services to take them away from him, yet clearly, the County repeatedly breaks the laws that they are obligated to enforce.

Costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, because of its negligence to properly train and educate its staff in the laws which govern animal abuse and neglect and resulting in lost convictions, violations of civil rights and civil liability suits filed against Placer County and its employees (Jackson v. Placer County)

Animal abuse defined. The link between animal abuse, domestic violence and other brutal crimes is well documented. When Placer County turns its back on crimes against animals, it turns its back on crimes against its citizens.

These animal abuse cases are further evidence of a failed administration of oversight surrounding Animal Services of Placer County in its most raw and exposed form. It is a clear and overwhelming example of the level of disregard upheld by the current administration at Health and Human Services; the ultimate reporting body of Animal Services that cannot be tolerated or allowed to continue in its current structure. Health & Human Services is an administration that, as history has proven, has failed to provide for the animal population whose care has been mandated to them. These cases also represent the cumulative effect of a misguided response to our request for improvements by the County Executive Officer to the Board of Supervisors -- whom we have lobbied since 2005 - without appropriate resolution and which we believe have resulted in retaliation against our rights to freedom of speech.

Placer County has an absolute obligation to rectify crimes against animals once knowledge of it is brought to their attention in accordance with (Penal Code 597) and failing to act on such knowledge, constitutes a crime in itself.

Because the shelter facility in Auburn is too small to house animal victims and its budget is insufficient to provide proper long-term care, it further compounds the problem. As long as the county continues to neglect the need for a budget overhaul within Animal Services, refuses to eliminate the dysfunctional leadership within Health & Human Services, and refuses to fulfill the county's desperate need for a new Auburn shelter sooner than 2010, this practice will continue. The citizens of Placer County have an absolute right to expect, its government to protect its people and the animals - WE MUST DO SOMETHING NOW.

---PLEASE HELP US HELP OUR ANIMALS--

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