A bad experience in our community four years ago … repeats, after-the-jump:
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In 2015 (when I was in-between jobs) I was hired as a temp at a local Humane Society. While the pay rates for temp jobs are poor, this at least had some non-profit experience for me (which helped in finding full-time employment nine months later). In this case, the previous Executive Director and Finance Director were “asked” to leave, as they were drawing on the society’s endowment more than the Board would allow. And the newly-hired office manager admitted she needed someone to get the accounting system squared away. For me, it was coming in and finding no notes on payroll allocation, for instance. Suffice it to say: by the end I had prepared guides and procedures (with screenshots).
In addition, I learned (if perhaps by osmosis) how no-kill animal shelters operate … which gave me a real insight when a disastrous situation developed three years later. I previously wrote in this space about an animal cruelty case they had to handle: with 53 yellow Labs found in squalid conditions in a home in a nearby community. And so when I saw the names of Society managers cited: the story was meaningful, because I knew these folks.
All along, it appeared to be a puppy mill situation (given the purebred dogs) yet by the end: it seemed to be a more emotional case. This guy also kept a cat on a separate floor and Smitten did not appear to be mistreated (perhaps the house’s rodent population was big?).
After going to trial, the owner (John Riggieri) was convicted on two counts and acquitted on two others (in a bench trial) and was ordered to surrender his dogs. He appealed, and asked for a jury trial — which (apparently) would consist of a jury watching video of the prior proceedings.
In the meantime, the Humane Society had to put down one of the 53 dogs, yet was able to rehabilitate the others and foster them out. Yet the families who fostered these dogs were on tenterhooks, aware that a full acquittal could mean surrendering the dogs back. Mercifully, he negotiated a plea deal, basically signing-over the dogs (to great relief) and the families in question were able to adopt the fosters.
Apropos of nothing: this fellow John Riggieri moved to the state capital of Concord and ran in the Democratic primary … for US Senate. That he got 1.6% may have meant the locals did not know of his past. My original story is at this link.
Alas, just the other day: news broke of another case (in a different town) in this region, with 27 Labs (14 puppies and 13 adults, with seven of them still nursing) seized by state police executing a search warrant. The Humane Society apparently received numerous tips from neighbors, which led to the arrest of the breeder. Many of the dogs were underweight and tested positive for multiple parasites (and one is being treated for Lyme disease) in a room replete with urine and feces.
Kathy Collinsworth (local Humane Society executive director) described it thusly:
“It honestly feels like it was just yesterday when we rescued 53 labs from a very similar case, while assisting the County with an eviction in a home in Marlborough. In just four short years, we have faced two of the largest dog cruelty and neglect cases related to horrific breeding practices in our community. We continue to be committed to investing in a full time Animal Agent to bring justice to animals who are living in unacceptable conditions”.
In 2021, the local Humane Society arranged for the training of (my former co-worker) Beth Doyle to become a Humane Agent — who investigate animal cruelty complaints, assist law enforcement with investigations and removal of animals, as well as serve the public through recovering their lost pets and education of animal care and welfare laws. Just since September 2021, Beth has received 110 complaints from concerned citizens.
How this case will unfold remains to be seen … if this fellow decides to go to trial, all-bets-are-off. Here’s hoping that this guy agrees to surrender the dogs (in exchange for leniency in fines). I wish I could also hope that this doesn’t happen anywhere near where you live …. yet ……….
Now, on to Top Comments:
From raines:
In Mark Sumner’s front-page update on Ukraine — a dark take from pigpaste on Russia looting washing machines.
From belinda ridgewood:
As usual, my nomination is from today's Abbreviated Pundit Roundup, by Chitown Kev. The conversation had turned to the very short tenure of Liz Truss as Prime Minister. bilboteach helped out with a conversion from British units to US, and then centerline added a further conversion, to provide scale.
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the front-page story about the California restaurant where a woman seeking safety (from a man trying to choke her) was rescued by employees wearing Power Rangers uniforms — amidst all the comments on nostalgia, stories of their kids watching the show and other mayhem … Captain Frogbert delivers a necessary dose of harsh truth.
Next - enjoy jotter's wonderful (and now eternal) *PictureQuilt™* below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment featuring that photo.
TOP PHOTOSOctober 19th, 2022
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And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
13) What’s Russian for pee tape? by RepublicanKos +10028) More on voting by Denise Oliver Velez +7829) I just checked. by DRo +76