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The central issue regarding the Mason bust and his arrest for animal neglect, was his alleged lack of providing adequate vet care for Mason’s cats/kittens. Then Boks says even LAAS apparently could not provide adequate vet care, therefore the kittens and cats had to be killed.
His conclusion was based on Dr. Rao’s (the West Valley Vet) opinion that the cats/kittens did not “appear to be receiving veterinarian treatment” and were irremediably suffering due to Rhinotracheitis or other upper respiratory infections, and therefore had to be killed.
By the way, one of the main concerns for Boks and the Task Force was that the kittens had Panleukemia and were killed. However, in the next sentence he said that the vet and techs were wrong, they screwed up the testing for Panleukemia, and subsequent professional testing proved the kittens did not have that disease. I certainly would like to know what “field testing” means and why they were wrongfully killed based on an unvalidated diagnosis.
Boks:
On October 9th, 2007, the ACTF initiated an investigation. During this investigation Mr. Mason released six sick kittens to the Task Force. The kittens were field tested and the test showed positive for Panleukkemia. Additional samples were taken and sent to a lab because it is not uncommon for a field test to show false positive results. The results from the lab came back negative on October 12th.
Although the initial test results raised concerns that neighborhood cats may be at risk of a highly contagious and deadly disease, Panleukemia, this information only served to hasten the timing of ACTF’s visit to Mr. Mason’s house. This information had no bearing on the warrants served or the euthanasia of the six kittens. The kittens were humanely euthanized because they were irremediably suffering. The kittens were emaciated when received from Mr. Mason and were suffering with impacted rectums and crusted eyes, along with a respiratory infection. They had pale mucous membranes and were severely dehydrated. The oculo-nasal discharge was symptomatic of feline viral rhinotracheitis.
The kittens were suffering and did not appear to be receiving veterinary treatment. In fact, often, antibiotics such as Amoxi-drops (amoxicillin) are not even effective against viral rhinotracheitis. Twice daily subcutaneous fluid replacement and diligent nursing care is indicated and even then kittens often succumb.
Many of the mature cats and numerous kittens appeared to be suffering from various illnesses.
All the kittens rescued on October 11th were irremediably suffering and the only humane alternative was euthanasia. The veterinarian had to make the tough but compassionate decision to uphold his oath to end animal suffering and not let these kittens suffer any longer.
Let’s take a look at the medical issues Boks brought up.
First, Rhinotracheitis and upper respiratory infections are fancy names for the common cold or flu. The vast majority of kittens in Boks’ shelters have some form of upper respiratory infection. Most are not treated, most are killed by “compassionate” RVTs to keep them from “suffering” the symptoms of the common cold.
All of Boks bull is directed to a general audience not to the LA animal community who knows better.
Even a cursory Internet search revealed three sites dealing with rhinotracheitis:
Site #1
“Rhinotracheitis is a fairly mild condition, even in its most severe form, as long as the cat receives adequate fluids and nutrition. It often runs its course in 7 to 10 days without medical intervention. The infection usually lasts longer when secondary bacterial infections develop. Rarely, FHV-1 causes death in young kittens and older cats.”
Treatment for an FHV-infected cat involves providing supportive care, including the following: Minimize stress (Make sure the room is warm, well ventilated, and well lighted. Some veterinarians recommend that cats are kept indoors while they are sick.); Make sure the cat is eating and drinking enough. (Offer foods that appeal to them.); Keep the cat's eyes and nose clean and clear of discharge."
In other words, most cats/kittens recover within 10 days all by themselves because rhinotracheitis is a cold. They are not irredeemably suffering.
Site #2
“It is very common to obtain a kitten or new cat with a crusty nose, weepy eyes and a sneeze. We call these problems upper respiratory disease (URI) or feline respiratory disease complex and it is the most common infectious disease that veterinarians deal with. These problems usually resolve within a few weeks of good care and low stress but some cases linger. There are several organisms that can cause this disease. The most common is the rhinotracheitis virus.”
Animal Services provided absolutely no supportive care; they killed them. Mason was giving them Amoxi drops to prevent secondary infections as mentioned above, as well as twice daily applications of Terramycin to treat their “crusty” eyes. This is far more than Animal Services provided, and is consistent the Internet recommended supportive care (T.L.C.).
Site#3
"I have found that this disease complex (Upper Respiratory Infections) responds better to simple T.L.C. than all the medications that I can dispense. Chicken soup is an excellent treatment for this disease. It can be fed through a dropper if need be to prevent dehydration and tempt depressed cats into eating. Sometimes pungent foods like sardines and tuna will be accepted when all else fails. Viruses are not killed by antibiotics so only in chlamydial, mycoplasmal and bordatella infections are antibiotics actually curative. I put most cats on antibiotics because I am never sure which pathogens are present and to prevent pneumonia and sinusitis in debilitated patients."
Boks just flat out stated they were irremediably suffering and had to be killed. That is the purist crap as you can see from these three Internet sources above. It is a mild condition, best treated with T.L.C., and which antibiotics are administered to prevent secondary infections, and Terramycin was administered to the kittens’ eyes. Maybe Mason was being neglectful because he did not give them chicken soup.
Did LAAS make even the slightest effort to treat these kittens? There is not one mention of any treatment administered, except killing them. Were any diagnostic tests administered? No!!! LAAS personnel at the arrest site told Dana Bartholomew that the kittens would be taken for treatment and then placement with fosters. Instead they killed them.
Rao’s decision to kill was really based on a lack of space, isolation facilities, and manpower. That is, he did not want to be bothered with them. LAAS refused to treat upper respiratory conditions, but they expected Mason to take them to a vet.
Boks alleges all the kittens were emaciated and dehydrated, but as the websites (All written by vets) above opine, these can be treated relatively easily without the dramatic medical care Boks states would have been necessary. This is hypocrisy at its worst, but very typical of Ed Boks.
Here is a link to all the photos taken at the Mason bust:
http://lang.dailynews.com/socal/flash/cat_slideshow/gallery.swf
How many cats and kittens look sick here, even with a mild upper respiratory infection? Two, maybe four or five? There are two very healthy looking kittens in individual photos, and several very healthy adults. Several kittens in the group photos look like thay had some sort of discharge, while others look quite healthy. You must have adobe Flash to see these pictures. Download Flash: http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash
The allegation that they were irremediably suffering, means they could not be cured. Boks said they often succumb even with the best vet care. That is, the only treatment that could be provided, according to Boks, was killing them. Therefore, what Mason should have done was kill the kittens himself as that was the only treatment possible in Boks’ own words, and the only "treatment" Animal Services provided.
Instead, Mason chose to treat them, which Boks apparently considered to be animal neglect.
NEXT POST: Boks numbers do not add up, the basis for the warrant, and whether there was any animal neglect according to the Boks’ cited California Penal Code 597b.
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Boks Justifies ACT Strangling Muffin
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Ed Boks sent out a 4 page email response to my general email about the Mason case. Over the next few days I will rebut almost all the points he raises in defense of the department’s action. What is blatantly obvious is that Ed can never admit he or anyone else in his department ever made a mistake or did anything wrong.
Since Boks decided to go public with details about an ongoing criminal investigation, he has opened the door for multiple requests for public records of the details he brought out, such as impound numbers of all cats taken off Mason's property between October 7 and October 11, impound health status, diagnostic tests performed, medical treatments administered (Boks makes a big deal about medical treatment in his letter), and dispositions of the cats, as well as the original complaint that led to the warrant for Mason's arrest. There is no doubt in my mind that no medical tests were performed on any of the cats euthanized except the ones that were found not to have panleukemia—which they killed. I would like to see if any were medically treated or all were deemed to be irremediably suffering or were treatable, without any diagnostic tests.
Regarding Muffin being strangled, apparently Ed thought nothing was wrong with noosing him around the neck and hoisting him into the air.
Boks:
No cats were strangled during this rescue. The cat photographed on the end of a catch pole was found wedged behind a cabinet inside the garage, and was hiding on top of a dead cat’s decomposed body. After many attempts to reach the cat by hand, cat-nabbers (net basket), and a traditional net failed, the cat was finally secured on the end of a catchpole as a last resort. At the time the scene was noisy and not conducive to the kind of quiet, gentle coaxing any one of us might employ trying to persuade a cat out from a narrow space behind an immovable piece of furniture. Once secure the cat was quickly brought out from behind the cabinet and safely placed in a wire cage. It was at the moment the cat was freed from behind the cabinet that the Daily News photographer snapped the picture featured in the newspaper and circulated on the internet. The cat was not being held up in display for the photographer.
Let’s look at the two pictures of Muffin. The first is Muffin being lifted into the air by the neck—strangling. Behind him is a small refrigerator. There is nothing next to the refrigerator.
Photo #1
The other picture shows Muffin hiding behind something on the ground. The mirror reflection of his face suggests it is some reflective appliance or a mirror, not a cabinet as Ed alleges, nor is Muffin behind a cabinet. In fact, I just talked to Mr. Mason, and he said it was a mirror next to a cabinet which he had taken down to repair the wall. These photos were not taken in Mason's garage as Ed alleges, but from inside his house.
Photo #2
As you can plainly see, Muffin is not hiding on top of a dead cat’s decomposed body. This is a pure Boks’ lie to justify a horrendous act. Boks does not state whether the use of a catch pole and strangling the cat (albeit not to death, but definitely a strangling) is allowed or against department policy, but he is saying it was appropriate in Muffin’s case.
If Muffin were hiding next to a cabinet on the ground to the left of the photo #1, he was swung through the air a great distance rather than being walked to a cage along the floor. It is obvious from photo #2 that he could have been carried out without being lifted into the air.
As the commenter below remarks, can you imagine what else happened to those cats that the photographer did not capture.
Ed has responded with 4 pages of lies that just do not hang together and I will expose them all. Ed should also be prepared for a flurry of requests for public records which Brad Jensen is already preparing and which I will post.
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Ed Boks sent out a 4 page email response to my general email about the Mason case. Over the next few days I will rebut almost all the points he raises in defense of the department’s action. What is blatantly obvious is that Ed can never admit he or anyone else in his department ever made a mistake or did anything wrong.
Since Boks decided to go public with details about an ongoing criminal investigation, he has opened the door for multiple requests for public records of the details he brought out, such as impound numbers of all cats taken off Mason's property between October 7 and October 11, impound health status, diagnostic tests performed, medical treatments administered (Boks makes a big deal about medical treatment in his letter), and dispositions of the cats, as well as the original complaint that led to the warrant for Mason's arrest. There is no doubt in my mind that no medical tests were performed on any of the cats euthanized except the ones that were found not to have panleukemia—which they killed. I would like to see if any were medically treated or all were deemed to be irremediably suffering or were treatable, without any diagnostic tests.
Regarding Muffin being strangled, apparently Ed thought nothing was wrong with noosing him around the neck and hoisting him into the air.
Boks:
No cats were strangled during this rescue. The cat photographed on the end of a catch pole was found wedged behind a cabinet inside the garage, and was hiding on top of a dead cat’s decomposed body. After many attempts to reach the cat by hand, cat-nabbers (net basket), and a traditional net failed, the cat was finally secured on the end of a catchpole as a last resort. At the time the scene was noisy and not conducive to the kind of quiet, gentle coaxing any one of us might employ trying to persuade a cat out from a narrow space behind an immovable piece of furniture. Once secure the cat was quickly brought out from behind the cabinet and safely placed in a wire cage. It was at the moment the cat was freed from behind the cabinet that the Daily News photographer snapped the picture featured in the newspaper and circulated on the internet. The cat was not being held up in display for the photographer.
Let’s look at the two pictures of Muffin. The first is Muffin being lifted into the air by the neck—strangling. Behind him is a small refrigerator. There is nothing next to the refrigerator.
Photo #1
The other picture shows Muffin hiding behind something on the ground. The mirror reflection of his face suggests it is some reflective appliance or a mirror, not a cabinet as Ed alleges, nor is Muffin behind a cabinet. In fact, I just talked to Mr. Mason, and he said it was a mirror next to a cabinet which he had taken down to repair the wall. These photos were not taken in Mason's garage as Ed alleges, but from inside his house.
Photo #2
As you can plainly see, Muffin is not hiding on top of a dead cat’s decomposed body. This is a pure Boks’ lie to justify a horrendous act. Boks does not state whether the use of a catch pole and strangling the cat (albeit not to death, but definitely a strangling) is allowed or against department policy, but he is saying it was appropriate in Muffin’s case.
If Muffin were hiding next to a cabinet on the ground to the left of the photo #1, he was swung through the air a great distance rather than being walked to a cage along the floor. It is obvious from photo #2 that he could have been carried out without being lifted into the air.
As the commenter below remarks, can you imagine what else happened to those cats that the photographer did not capture.
Ed has responded with 4 pages of lies that just do not hang together and I will expose them all. Ed should also be prepared for a flurry of requests for public records which Brad Jensen is already preparing and which I will post.
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Mayeda Much Bigger Liar than Boks-AMMENDED
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After Boks/Villaraigosa announced LAAS was the #1 adoption agency in the country, Mayeda issued a press release the next day stating County placed 28,309 animals with included adoption and rescues of dogs, cats and others for fiscal 2006/2007, which beat Boks claim of 25,279.
"Placed" of course, is different from adoptions, and County beats LAAS hands down in that category, despite the fact they adopt out a far lower percentage of live impounds than LAAS.
Linda Barth, as a result of Brad Jensen's Request for Records, stated that some unidentified individual at County told her--or the LAAS statistics person, that County placed 22,290 animals in 2006/2007. This was, according to her, the third set of numbers provided to LAAS by County.
Apparently, according to Barton, County first two sets supplied by County were for 2005/2006, not 2006/2006, set #1 for dogs and cats, set #2 included other animals.
According to Boks, the fourth set of County numbers was released by Mayeda after only after Villaraigosa's press release, and Mayesa claimed that County placed 28,309 animals, which is 6,000 animals higher than the County person supplied Barton.
Although I may not have the whole story, it appears Mayeda blindsided Boks. Even if County had placed 6,000 more animals, the last numbers they gave LAAS were 6,000 lower than Mayeda announced a day or two after Villaraigosa's press release.
If Barton's version is true, and I think it is, Mayeda is a far bigger liar than Boks, and, like her claim that County adopts out 90% of its adoptable animals, is such a flagrant lie that she is #1 in the Hall of Shame.
I stand corrected. A comment sent in below alleges that Boks claimed 100% placement of adoptable animals when he was in Maricopa County. The commenter stated Boks killed 100,000 there, which is more than Mayeda does at County. Right now I am not going back to check Maricopa County's euth record, but I remember it being much lower. Another commenter said Boks used the term "placement." However, he only used that term after Mayeda used that term.
He used the word adopted meaning LAAS adoptions and New Hope adoptions. I hope when Ed goes, we drop the term New Hope and go back to "rescues," or something similar. I'd hate his legacy to live on in our terminology.
Another commenter joked "Placed where, in the grave?" Funny.
I guess they are both equal liars, but in this case, if Linda Barton is telling the truth, LAAS, Boks and Villaraigosa were snookered by Mayeda.
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After Boks/Villaraigosa announced LAAS was the #1 adoption agency in the country, Mayeda issued a press release the next day stating County placed 28,309 animals with included adoption and rescues of dogs, cats and others for fiscal 2006/2007, which beat Boks claim of 25,279.
"Placed" of course, is different from adoptions, and County beats LAAS hands down in that category, despite the fact they adopt out a far lower percentage of live impounds than LAAS.
Linda Barth, as a result of Brad Jensen's Request for Records, stated that some unidentified individual at County told her--or the LAAS statistics person, that County placed 22,290 animals in 2006/2007. This was, according to her, the third set of numbers provided to LAAS by County.
Apparently, according to Barton, County first two sets supplied by County were for 2005/2006, not 2006/2006, set #1 for dogs and cats, set #2 included other animals.
According to Boks, the fourth set of County numbers was released by Mayeda after only after Villaraigosa's press release, and Mayesa claimed that County placed 28,309 animals, which is 6,000 animals higher than the County person supplied Barton.
Although I may not have the whole story, it appears Mayeda blindsided Boks. Even if County had placed 6,000 more animals, the last numbers they gave LAAS were 6,000 lower than Mayeda announced a day or two after Villaraigosa's press release.
If Barton's version is true, and I think it is, Mayeda is a far bigger liar than Boks, and, like her claim that County adopts out 90% of its adoptable animals, is such a flagrant lie that she is #1 in the Hall of Shame.
I stand corrected. A comment sent in below alleges that Boks claimed 100% placement of adoptable animals when he was in Maricopa County. The commenter stated Boks killed 100,000 there, which is more than Mayeda does at County. Right now I am not going back to check Maricopa County's euth record, but I remember it being much lower. Another commenter said Boks used the term "placement." However, he only used that term after Mayeda used that term.
He used the word adopted meaning LAAS adoptions and New Hope adoptions. I hope when Ed goes, we drop the term New Hope and go back to "rescues," or something similar. I'd hate his legacy to live on in our terminology.
Another commenter joked "Placed where, in the grave?" Funny.
I guess they are both equal liars, but in this case, if Linda Barton is telling the truth, LAAS, Boks and Villaraigosa were snookered by Mayeda.
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Mason Preliminary Hearing November 6
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In a nutshell, this is what the Mason bust is all about in a comment left by a reader:
"They want to charge him with a felony to make the ACTF numbers look good, plain and simple. Target a poor hoarder who can't afford an attorney; an easy target. They'll threaten to charge him for animal care, threaten him with jail time and he'll roll over and plead guilty. Slam dunk case. Going after the easy poor hoarders is a lot easier than going after the real abusers, dog fighters.
Ron's preliminary hearing is on November 6 at the San Fernando courthouse. I have no idea that there was one there, and wonder why it is not at the Chatsworth or Van Nuys courthouses.
Get ready to come out to support Ron. Hopefully we will have some banners of Muffin being strangled or even T-shirts.
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In a nutshell, this is what the Mason bust is all about in a comment left by a reader:
"They want to charge him with a felony to make the ACTF numbers look good, plain and simple. Target a poor hoarder who can't afford an attorney; an easy target. They'll threaten to charge him for animal care, threaten him with jail time and he'll roll over and plead guilty. Slam dunk case. Going after the easy poor hoarders is a lot easier than going after the real abusers, dog fighters.
Ron's preliminary hearing is on November 6 at the San Fernando courthouse. I have no idea that there was one there, and wonder why it is not at the Chatsworth or Van Nuys courthouses.
Get ready to come out to support Ron. Hopefully we will have some banners of Muffin being strangled or even T-shirts.
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You Judge Whether Mason was Guilty of a Felony
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Mason was charged with PC 597 b according to the dept. press release. He was basically charged with not providing food, drink or shelter for his animals. He has to provide "ordinary care." He was providing this and a lot more. They had food, water, shelter, vet care. Not all were neutered but that's not mandatory.
597 b is a wobbler, you can charge as misdemeanor or felony. The dept wants to go for felony because it makes their ACTF stats look good.
Obviously, if Mason has a ton of vet bills, had most "fixed," and they looked well fed, as did Muffin and "Sonny" held by Det. Orgetga, then he is not guilty of a PC 507b violation, and definitely not as a felony.
Penal Code 597. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) or (c), every person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks,
tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal, or causes or procures any animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, drink, shelter, or to be cruelly beaten, mutilated, or cruelly killed; and whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter or protection from the weather, or who drives, rides, or otherwise uses the animal when unfit for labor, is, for every such offense, guilty of a crime
punishable as a misdemeanor or as a felony or alternatively punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony and by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=594-625c
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Mason was charged with PC 597 b according to the dept. press release. He was basically charged with not providing food, drink or shelter for his animals. He has to provide "ordinary care." He was providing this and a lot more. They had food, water, shelter, vet care. Not all were neutered but that's not mandatory.
597 b is a wobbler, you can charge as misdemeanor or felony. The dept wants to go for felony because it makes their ACTF stats look good.
Obviously, if Mason has a ton of vet bills, had most "fixed," and they looked well fed, as did Muffin and "Sonny" held by Det. Orgetga, then he is not guilty of a PC 507b violation, and definitely not as a felony.
Penal Code 597. (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a) or (c), every person who overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks,
tortures, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance, drink, or shelter, cruelly beats, mutilates, or cruelly kills any animal, or causes or procures any animal to be so overdriven, overloaded, driven when overloaded, overworked, tortured, tormented, deprived of necessary sustenance, drink, shelter, or to be cruelly beaten, mutilated, or cruelly killed; and whoever, having the charge or custody of any animal, either as owner or otherwise, subjects any animal to needless suffering, or inflicts unnecessary cruelty upon the animal, or in any manner abuses any animal, or fails to provide the animal with proper food, drink, or shelter or protection from the weather, or who drives, rides, or otherwise uses the animal when unfit for labor, is, for every such offense, guilty of a crime
punishable as a misdemeanor or as a felony or alternatively punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony and by a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=594-625c
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If Anyone is Guilty of Felony Animal Neglect, it is LAAS and Boks
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Boks lets turtles die of illness from overcrowding in his shelter, and then kills 700. That's okay. Someone has a few too many cats and a cluttered house, that's not okay.
Boks lets animals kill each other in the shelter in vicious dog fights. That's okay. Someone has five dogs that aren't killing each other, that's not okay.
Animal abuse, neglect, hoarding, is whatever the Departments wants it to be. The Department was definitely an animal hoarder last year. The overcrowding caused twice as many animals to die from illness and injury, lack of care. That's animal cruelty, neglect to me. Mason's animals weren't dying, yet they took them, and killed them.
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Boks lets turtles die of illness from overcrowding in his shelter, and then kills 700. That's okay. Someone has a few too many cats and a cluttered house, that's not okay.
Boks lets animals kill each other in the shelter in vicious dog fights. That's okay. Someone has five dogs that aren't killing each other, that's not okay.
Animal abuse, neglect, hoarding, is whatever the Departments wants it to be. The Department was definitely an animal hoarder last year. The overcrowding caused twice as many animals to die from illness and injury, lack of care. That's animal cruelty, neglect to me. Mason's animals weren't dying, yet they took them, and killed them.
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Know a Lawyer?
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We (a bunch of us) have contacted several lawyers to determine whether there could be a big lawsuit against the city in this case. I/we have been sending particulars about the case to several lawyers, none of whom have responded. There are more we have to contact. If you know any, email me at edwardmuzika@sbcglobal.net.
Brad Jensen, whose website is sheltertrak.com, and who has analyzed numbers that prove LAAS has been in violation of the Hayden Act in over 100 cases (and which Boks has admitted, but excused them as compassionate exceptions), will begin to do what Brad does very well: submit requests for public records.
I will keep you constantly informed if any request is honored. I will send emails regarding compliance. We'll see how transparent Boks still is.
I made a request for records 18 months ago for anyone who had requested records of my emails to Boks when we were friendly. No answer yet. There is a big fat penalty for not responding. We are about to go forward on this too.
Let's see how Brad's requests fair. The same lawyer who defends Mason, has us as research assistants.
Here is what Brad will request:
I'll submit a request for copies of the call log, dispatch log, ACO notes,photographs and/or digital images, veterinary notes and records, kennel notes, date and time of euthanasia and copies of any and all improper euthanasia reports related to each of these cats.-brad
Go for it Brad!!!
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We (a bunch of us) have contacted several lawyers to determine whether there could be a big lawsuit against the city in this case. I/we have been sending particulars about the case to several lawyers, none of whom have responded. There are more we have to contact. If you know any, email me at edwardmuzika@sbcglobal.net.
Brad Jensen, whose website is sheltertrak.com, and who has analyzed numbers that prove LAAS has been in violation of the Hayden Act in over 100 cases (and which Boks has admitted, but excused them as compassionate exceptions), will begin to do what Brad does very well: submit requests for public records.
I will keep you constantly informed if any request is honored. I will send emails regarding compliance. We'll see how transparent Boks still is.
I made a request for records 18 months ago for anyone who had requested records of my emails to Boks when we were friendly. No answer yet. There is a big fat penalty for not responding. We are about to go forward on this too.
Let's see how Brad's requests fair. The same lawyer who defends Mason, has us as research assistants.
Here is what Brad will request:
I'll submit a request for copies of the call log, dispatch log, ACO notes,photographs and/or digital images, veterinary notes and records, kennel notes, date and time of euthanasia and copies of any and all improper euthanasia reports related to each of these cats.-brad
Go for it Brad!!!
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Ron Mason Innocent of Animal Neglect
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As an bit of evidence that Ron Mason was set up, he just called and said he found additional vet records that show that of the 14 adults taken into custody by Animal Services, 12 had been /spay/neutered and all had their shots. The records go back more than 3 years. Records show Muffin needs a booster shot at this time. One cat had a surgical pin inserted in his leg 3 years ago after Ron found him in the street hit by a car.
How is that for felony animal neglect?
Animal Services' rescuers killed 37 kittens, 12 because of botched virus testing and 25 for colds and being neonatal, while they were being weaned and treated by Mason with Amoxi. That is a 73% kill rate for Animal Services.
How is that for "rescue" and how is that for felony animal neglect by the City?
Dana Bartholomew was told the cats would be treated for non-existent diseases and placed with fosters. Instead, they were misdiagnosed and killed.
Felony animal neglect charges must be dropped.
It is not a felony or even a misdemeanor to live in debris and foul odors. It is a nuisance for the neighbors and some intervention by the City or County Health was needed, but not a bust with 5 agencies and 30 people, followed by an arrest and charges of felony animal neglect.
What a city. Rumor has it that Boks has been accused of lying, providing false numbers and responsible for animal abuse for animals in the shelters. Why are they called "shelters" again?
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As an bit of evidence that Ron Mason was set up, he just called and said he found additional vet records that show that of the 14 adults taken into custody by Animal Services, 12 had been /spay/neutered and all had their shots. The records go back more than 3 years. Records show Muffin needs a booster shot at this time. One cat had a surgical pin inserted in his leg 3 years ago after Ron found him in the street hit by a car.
How is that for felony animal neglect?
Animal Services' rescuers killed 37 kittens, 12 because of botched virus testing and 25 for colds and being neonatal, while they were being weaned and treated by Mason with Amoxi. That is a 73% kill rate for Animal Services.
How is that for "rescue" and how is that for felony animal neglect by the City?
Dana Bartholomew was told the cats would be treated for non-existent diseases and placed with fosters. Instead, they were misdiagnosed and killed.
Felony animal neglect charges must be dropped.
It is not a felony or even a misdemeanor to live in debris and foul odors. It is a nuisance for the neighbors and some intervention by the City or County Health was needed, but not a bust with 5 agencies and 30 people, followed by an arrest and charges of felony animal neglect.
What a city. Rumor has it that Boks has been accused of lying, providing false numbers and responsible for animal abuse for animals in the shelters. Why are they called "shelters" again?
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Philadelphia Quadruples Live Save Rate in Three Years
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Third quarter numbers are in from Philadelphia. The save rate has increased from an estimated 15% in 2004 to 60% this year. Notice too, that like everywhere else in the country, kitten intake is up about 25% per quarter, yet they dealt with it.
This is on a budget 1/7th the size of LAAS.
On the other hand, kitten intake in LA is down by 40% due as Boks says, to an anomaly. The only anomaly is that Boks is refusing kittens, such as when LAAS refused to take Ron Mason's kittens when he asked for help three months ago.
http://phillypaws.org/news_events_detail.cfm/news/42.htm
http://phillypaws.org/pdfs/save%20rates%20_%202004-2007_v1.pdf
On the other hand, there was one very negative post about PAWS on Craigslist by a purported rescuer.
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Third quarter numbers are in from Philadelphia. The save rate has increased from an estimated 15% in 2004 to 60% this year. Notice too, that like everywhere else in the country, kitten intake is up about 25% per quarter, yet they dealt with it.
This is on a budget 1/7th the size of LAAS.
On the other hand, kitten intake in LA is down by 40% due as Boks says, to an anomaly. The only anomaly is that Boks is refusing kittens, such as when LAAS refused to take Ron Mason's kittens when he asked for help three months ago.
http://phillypaws.org/news_events_detail.cfm/news/42.htm
http://phillypaws.org/pdfs/save%20rates%20_%202004-2007_v1.pdf
On the other hand, there was one very negative post about PAWS on Craigslist by a purported rescuer.
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Mason Kitten Kill Probably 37 not 25
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When I said a total of 25 kittens were killed, I had not added the 12 that were killed three days previously, the ones who allegedly tested positive for panleukemia. maybe not all of these were killed.Therefore, of the 51 cats and kittens "rescued, 37 were killed for nothing; they were weaned, in the process of being weaned, or had colds. How is that for "rescue?" How is that for telling Bartholomew they were medically treated and placed with fosters?
Is euthanasia considered medical treatment? Were any of the kittens spared? Why did they tell Dana they were placed in fosters? Is the department, like most city government agencies, so conditioned to lying that they are unable to tell the truth?
When I lived in Santa Monica, city officials lied for no reason; it was as if lying was in their blood and they needed constant practice.
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When I said a total of 25 kittens were killed, I had not added the 12 that were killed three days previously, the ones who allegedly tested positive for panleukemia. maybe not all of these were killed.Therefore, of the 51 cats and kittens "rescued, 37 were killed for nothing; they were weaned, in the process of being weaned, or had colds. How is that for "rescue?" How is that for telling Bartholomew they were medically treated and placed with fosters?
Is euthanasia considered medical treatment? Were any of the kittens spared? Why did they tell Dana they were placed in fosters? Is the department, like most city government agencies, so conditioned to lying that they are unable to tell the truth?
When I lived in Santa Monica, city officials lied for no reason; it was as if lying was in their blood and they needed constant practice.
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Task Force Kitten Killers
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This is the story gathered from multiple sources. All kinds of people are calling me and giving new information, including city employees from LAAS and other offices. They say even their inquiries are being stonewalled.
A total of 25 kittens were killed. There was no panleukemia as Daily News reporter Dana Bartholomew was told and which he published.
Mason's cats were initially tested using a parvo kit; they tested positive and were killed. Blood samples for these kittens were also sent to Antech, and tested negative. They were killed for no reason.
I do not know if the warrant was issued based on the assumption of panleukemia, nor do I know how the absense of panleuk would affect any subsequent search or seizure. Someone help me out here. Ron will send me a copy tomorrow. I will post it when I get it.
The other 13 kittens were killed purportedly because they were neonates or because they had upper respiratory infections (colds), which 25% of the animals in the LAAS shelter also have.
Mason said those kittens were 4-6 weeks old and were being weaned. He was putting out soft food as well as hard kibble soaked in warm water. They still had nursing moms. The ones with the runny eyes were being treated with Amoxi.
They too were killed for nothing. The kittens were nursing; they were being weaned, and the ones with colds were being treated. They would be alive now had it not been for the "rescue" by LAAS.
14 adults remain alive at West Valley or SLA. One is an old cat about 14 years old who was abandoned by a neighbor who moved away three years ago. Muffin's whereabouts are unknown.
Of the 39 animals "rescued," 25 are dead and I assume the elderly cat will soon be too. One cat that walked with a limp, was hit by a car three years ago and had its hip and leg repaired through a $1,200 surgery paid for by Ron. That cat was being used as an example by detectives of a sick and injured cat that was not being taken care of.
Ron got a letter today from LAPD giving him an inventory of property taken. Though they took all of his paperwork, they did not list:
This is the story gathered from multiple sources. All kinds of people are calling me and giving new information, including city employees from LAAS and other offices. They say even their inquiries are being stonewalled.
A total of 25 kittens were killed. There was no panleukemia as Daily News reporter Dana Bartholomew was told and which he published.
Mason's cats were initially tested using a parvo kit; they tested positive and were killed. Blood samples for these kittens were also sent to Antech, and tested negative. They were killed for no reason.
I do not know if the warrant was issued based on the assumption of panleukemia, nor do I know how the absense of panleuk would affect any subsequent search or seizure. Someone help me out here. Ron will send me a copy tomorrow. I will post it when I get it.
The other 13 kittens were killed purportedly because they were neonates or because they had upper respiratory infections (colds), which 25% of the animals in the LAAS shelter also have.
Mason said those kittens were 4-6 weeks old and were being weaned. He was putting out soft food as well as hard kibble soaked in warm water. They still had nursing moms. The ones with the runny eyes were being treated with Amoxi.
They too were killed for nothing. The kittens were nursing; they were being weaned, and the ones with colds were being treated. They would be alive now had it not been for the "rescue" by LAAS.
14 adults remain alive at West Valley or SLA. One is an old cat about 14 years old who was abandoned by a neighbor who moved away three years ago. Muffin's whereabouts are unknown.
Of the 39 animals "rescued," 25 are dead and I assume the elderly cat will soon be too. One cat that walked with a limp, was hit by a car three years ago and had its hip and leg repaired through a $1,200 surgery paid for by Ron. That cat was being used as an example by detectives of a sick and injured cat that was not being taken care of.
Ron got a letter today from LAPD giving him an inventory of property taken. Though they took all of his paperwork, they did not list:
Dates of all visits by LAAS to his house and he to the WV shelter over the past three years.
The Amanda list of the four spay/neuters done with them during the six weeks prior to the bust.
The vet papers verifying another eight to ten spay/neuters done over the previous eight months or so.
The many S/N certificates given to him by the WV shelter.
They did not return his carriers which would allow him to take more cats to the "shelter." This is being rectified. They did not return his medications.
This is a perfect example of how governments everywhere have always operated: Rule by intimidation and fear. Use overwhelming force on someone who cannot defend himself in order to make an example of him and to demonstrete the power of "Them."
Mason said that Det. Linda Ortega ((213) 847-1417) said, two days before the raid when she was there with another detective and two ACTs, "We can take anything we want, any time we want!"
This is what we need to fight against, an abuse of power so poorly used that it kills the animals it supposedly is trying to save in order to make the Prince of Fools, Boks, and the Mayor look good.
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Let's Show the City Who is Boss
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It's time to band together and help Ron Mason. It flat out is time for us to band together on all things related to the LA animal community.
Let show Boks, the cops, Task Force, County Health, Franchise Tax Board, Bickhart, Kramer and the Mayor we are sick of them. We will take care of our own. Any animal lover, rescuer, activist and even alleged hoarder who is not neglecting their animals is our own.
This is an opening shot. We will form our own Task Force to monitor the Animal Cruelty Task Force, LAAS, Boks and the Mayor's Office. We have got to actually act on this, otherwise "They" will think we still are a joke.
Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights became a joke in Santa Monica because they stopped helping renters and focused on controlling the politicians. Once a powerhouse, they are now easily beaten because they did not attend to their base.
We need to choose to activate our base!
Once we get this going, we will not stop. But we do need to act.
Call Ron. His vet medications have been confiscated; he needs more. Kittens need placement. He needs litter boxes, litter and anything else you can think of. The City will do daily pick ups if necessary for stuff brought out of his yard and house to the curb thanks to the work of one volunteer. I think I'll create a giant banner showing Muffin being strangled.
Ron Mason: (818) 993-6816,
or email me at edwardmuzika@sbcglobal.net
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It's time to band together and help Ron Mason. It flat out is time for us to band together on all things related to the LA animal community.
Let show Boks, the cops, Task Force, County Health, Franchise Tax Board, Bickhart, Kramer and the Mayor we are sick of them. We will take care of our own. Any animal lover, rescuer, activist and even alleged hoarder who is not neglecting their animals is our own.
This is an opening shot. We will form our own Task Force to monitor the Animal Cruelty Task Force, LAAS, Boks and the Mayor's Office. We have got to actually act on this, otherwise "They" will think we still are a joke.
Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights became a joke in Santa Monica because they stopped helping renters and focused on controlling the politicians. Once a powerhouse, they are now easily beaten because they did not attend to their base.
We need to choose to activate our base!
Once we get this going, we will not stop. But we do need to act.
Call Ron. His vet medications have been confiscated; he needs more. Kittens need placement. He needs litter boxes, litter and anything else you can think of. The City will do daily pick ups if necessary for stuff brought out of his yard and house to the curb thanks to the work of one volunteer. I think I'll create a giant banner showing Muffin being strangled.
Ron Mason: (818) 993-6816,
or email me at edwardmuzika@sbcglobal.net
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County Health Also Screws Muffin's Owner, Ron Mason
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Ron Mason (Left) just got a letter from County Health Services, Dept. of Environmental Health, signed by Jason Baun. Apparently Baun was present the day of the bust.
The letter said it was a Notice of Violation number 241732, and that he had 30 days to get rid of ...., and there was a long list of to-dos. The letter further stated that if this were not completed as ordered, the State Franchise Tax Board would put a lien on his house.
This is ridiculous. Baun's letter does not even state what code Mason purportedly was violating, or how the State Franchise Tax Board was getting into the act. It is not an income property, but his residence. Mason is being gang raped by legalized thugs under the color of authority.
They told him room by room to get rid of specific clothes, couches, items, etc. I agree a lot of his stuff should go, but he had already taken steps over the past three months including two mass pickups by the City.
He is afraid to take any of the remaining cats to the WLA shelter for fear of being arrested for having more cats.
A friend of mine who had been a County health inspector in the past said it was extremely important to demand to know what specific code was allegedly being violated. Otherwise this is simply terrorism under the color of authority.
Mason needs help. First, call this Baum bum and let him know what you think. Ask for the violation code number. Tell him you are available to come to his office at any time for him to show it to you. Jason bum Baum can be reached at (818) 902-4470. Then call Ed Boks and tell him what you think about his part in this case. Then call the mayor for the same reason. As George Bush senior (the good one) said, "This cannot stand!"
Excuse me, it is becoming harder and harder for me to remain even the slightest objective about Boks, Animal Control and Villaraigosa.
Ron was slandered by using the term "hoarder." Being a "hoarder" is not a crime. Mason was charged with felony animal neglect. There was no neglect. The cats are fat and healthy. I have photographed them. The onus is on the City to produce records that Ron's cats tested positive for panleukemia as Dana was told.
Dana Bartholomew apologized to me for saying Ron had 70 sick cats. He said he was only repeating what the Task Force and Animal Control told him. In other words, they lied.
Get angry and demanding of them from County Health, the Task Force to Villaraigosa. The time of being reasonable with them has passed.It is time to take back our local government.
I still wonder whether Boks will respond to my request for records and how edited it will be if he ever sends it. I still am waiting for Boks response about how Muffin was treated and what will be done as remedy.
This is the time to get outraged if ever there ever was a time.
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Ron Mason (Left) just got a letter from County Health Services, Dept. of Environmental Health, signed by Jason Baun. Apparently Baun was present the day of the bust.The letter said it was a Notice of Violation number 241732, and that he had 30 days to get rid of ...., and there was a long list of to-dos. The letter further stated that if this were not completed as ordered, the State Franchise Tax Board would put a lien on his house.
This is ridiculous. Baun's letter does not even state what code Mason purportedly was violating, or how the State Franchise Tax Board was getting into the act. It is not an income property, but his residence. Mason is being gang raped by legalized thugs under the color of authority.
They told him room by room to get rid of specific clothes, couches, items, etc. I agree a lot of his stuff should go, but he had already taken steps over the past three months including two mass pickups by the City.
He is afraid to take any of the remaining cats to the WLA shelter for fear of being arrested for having more cats.
A friend of mine who had been a County health inspector in the past said it was extremely important to demand to know what specific code was allegedly being violated. Otherwise this is simply terrorism under the color of authority.
Mason needs help. First, call this Baum bum and let him know what you think. Ask for the violation code number. Tell him you are available to come to his office at any time for him to show it to you. Jason bum Baum can be reached at (818) 902-4470. Then call Ed Boks and tell him what you think about his part in this case. Then call the mayor for the same reason. As George Bush senior (the good one) said, "This cannot stand!"
Since the Task Force took all of Mason's medications away, if you have any extra, send them over. If you have extra litter boxes and litter, send them over. If you know a lawyer who will work with Ron, let us know.
Mason is being railroaded to make Animal Control, Boks, and the Mayor look good. They don't. Boks apparently has no depths of darkness he won't explore, and Jim Bickhart and Villaraigosa continue to support him. I am losing my respect for Jim. He is now one of them.Excuse me, it is becoming harder and harder for me to remain even the slightest objective about Boks, Animal Control and Villaraigosa.
Ron was slandered by using the term "hoarder." Being a "hoarder" is not a crime. Mason was charged with felony animal neglect. There was no neglect. The cats are fat and healthy. I have photographed them. The onus is on the City to produce records that Ron's cats tested positive for panleukemia as Dana was told.
Dana Bartholomew apologized to me for saying Ron had 70 sick cats. He said he was only repeating what the Task Force and Animal Control told him. In other words, they lied.
Get angry and demanding of them from County Health, the Task Force to Villaraigosa. The time of being reasonable with them has passed.It is time to take back our local government.
I still wonder whether Boks will respond to my request for records and how edited it will be if he ever sends it. I still am waiting for Boks response about how Muffin was treated and what will be done as remedy.
This is the time to get outraged if ever there ever was a time.
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Guess Who All Came to the Boks/Villraigosa Look Good Bust?
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Here is a minimalist list of people present at the Animal Cruelty Task Force bust of Ron Mason:
Lt. Troy Boswell
two squad cars and 4 uniforms
at least 2 detectives
at least 4 ACTs
the Animal Task Force
Dana Bartholomew and his photographer
The City Channel 35 media director head and a film crew
Maybe one Veterinarian
Jason Baun, County Health thug
Channel 35 taped the bust and has already shown it once on air. I certainly would like to see that video. His place is horrible looking and smelly, but the cats are well-fed and healthy. There was no animal neglect here. There certainly there were fewer cats sick at Mason's place that percentage wise at LAAS. Dana and the City TV ought to bring their cameras to SLA to see real illness and death.
Boks refused a television interview by KNBC reporter Robert Kavocik because of the overcrowding at EV where the interview was to be held.
There is here a terrible City abuse of power and the sacrifice of one nice guy to make the mayor, the Task Force, the Department and Ed Boks look good. From my viewpoint, all of them have covered themseleves with slime.
By the way, many of the moms have abandoned their kittens at his house since the bust. These kittens need fosters; there are only a few. If course if you take any, you'll probably be busted. They are not feral.
Here is a minimalist list of people present at the Animal Cruelty Task Force bust of Ron Mason:
Lt. Troy Boswell
two squad cars and 4 uniforms
at least 2 detectives
at least 4 ACTs
the Animal Task Force
Dana Bartholomew and his photographer
The City Channel 35 media director head and a film crew
Maybe one Veterinarian
Jason Baun, County Health thug
Channel 35 taped the bust and has already shown it once on air. I certainly would like to see that video. His place is horrible looking and smelly, but the cats are well-fed and healthy. There was no animal neglect here. There certainly there were fewer cats sick at Mason's place that percentage wise at LAAS. Dana and the City TV ought to bring their cameras to SLA to see real illness and death.
Boks refused a television interview by KNBC reporter Robert Kavocik because of the overcrowding at EV where the interview was to be held.
There is here a terrible City abuse of power and the sacrifice of one nice guy to make the mayor, the Task Force, the Department and Ed Boks look good. From my viewpoint, all of them have covered themseleves with slime.
By the way, many of the moms have abandoned their kittens at his house since the bust. These kittens need fosters; there are only a few. If course if you take any, you'll probably be busted. They are not feral.
Open Letter to Ed Boks Re the Arrest of Ron Mason
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Dear Mr. Boks,
On October 11, you posted a press release on your website regarding a raid by the department, the police and the Animal Cruelty Task Force on the home of Ron Mason in Northridge. That press release has disappeared from your website. The URL was 10-11-07 ACTF Arrests Suspect for Animal Neglect. Why was that press release taken down just days after it went up?
Consider this a request for that public record. You have ten days to respond. I will pay any reasonable fee up to $25 for this single document. The preferred method of delivery is electronic.
One of the photos in the Dana Bartholomew’s Daily News article showed a large orange cat being hoisted in the air by its neck at the end of a catch pole. Dana said the noose was aggressively tightened by the AC. I understand that this is against Department policy. I also understand the person who did this was A. Ramirez, an AC officer. Will she be reprimanded and counseled? Also, an unknown AC sent in a comment to my blog that it is common practice for animal control officers to capture cats in this way. Is this true to your knowledge?
The cat’s name is Muffin. Where is Muffin if he is still alive?
Dana Bartholomew was told that 2 cats tested positive for feline distemper, also known as panleukemia and that was the reason for the warrant to search Mason’s property leading to his arrest. Now I understand that that is not true, no cat tested for panleukemia. That is, the warrant for his property search and arrest was based on facts not true.
Were any of the 12 kittens handed over to LAAC 2 days before the raid tested for panleukemia and tested positive? What was the disposition of these kittens?
I also understand all of Mason’s veterinary records were taken from him and not returned as well as medications for his cats. Is this true and will they be returned?
Why was Mr. Mason arrested and charged when three previous raids of alleged hoarders were not? That is, what is special about Mr. Mason’s case other than you want to make the department look good at the expense of a poor person who cannot afford legal counsel and will plead rather than lose his house to pay the cats’ impound bills?
For background, please see Dana Bartholomew’s article at:
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_7153695
Edward Muzika
Dear Mr. Boks,
On October 11, you posted a press release on your website regarding a raid by the department, the police and the Animal Cruelty Task Force on the home of Ron Mason in Northridge. That press release has disappeared from your website. The URL was 10-11-07 ACTF Arrests Suspect for Animal Neglect. Why was that press release taken down just days after it went up?
Consider this a request for that public record. You have ten days to respond. I will pay any reasonable fee up to $25 for this single document. The preferred method of delivery is electronic.
One of the photos in the Dana Bartholomew’s Daily News article showed a large orange cat being hoisted in the air by its neck at the end of a catch pole. Dana said the noose was aggressively tightened by the AC. I understand that this is against Department policy. I also understand the person who did this was A. Ramirez, an AC officer. Will she be reprimanded and counseled? Also, an unknown AC sent in a comment to my blog that it is common practice for animal control officers to capture cats in this way. Is this true to your knowledge?
The cat’s name is Muffin. Where is Muffin if he is still alive?
Dana Bartholomew was told that 2 cats tested positive for feline distemper, also known as panleukemia and that was the reason for the warrant to search Mason’s property leading to his arrest. Now I understand that that is not true, no cat tested for panleukemia. That is, the warrant for his property search and arrest was based on facts not true.
Were any of the 12 kittens handed over to LAAC 2 days before the raid tested for panleukemia and tested positive? What was the disposition of these kittens?
I also understand all of Mason’s veterinary records were taken from him and not returned as well as medications for his cats. Is this true and will they be returned?
Why was Mr. Mason arrested and charged when three previous raids of alleged hoarders were not? That is, what is special about Mr. Mason’s case other than you want to make the department look good at the expense of a poor person who cannot afford legal counsel and will plead rather than lose his house to pay the cats’ impound bills?
For background, please see Dana Bartholomew’s article at:
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_7153695
Edward Muzika
Mason Set Up by LAAS? Looks That Way More and More
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Ron Mason set-up by LAAS and Animal Cruelty Task Force.
Substantiating evidence of a setup bust of Ron Mason in a comment below.
Indeed, Mason asked the department for help with the 30 kittens in his yard. They took a fraction the day before the bust:
That is horrible, absolutely horrible. The City is guilty here.
Sounds like the guy asked them to take some cats, but they didn't. Boks kitten refusal program at work. They even gave him bottle baby supplies!Lt. Troy Boswell is not the nicest guy. He likes to pretend to be a big shot. I bet he and Boks called the media. They raided that guy as a PR stunt to help feed Boks' attention needing ego.
I remember Boswell when he was a Wildlife Officer. He used to go around and scare residents saying coyotes would eat their babies.
They should be going after abusers, dog fighters, people who beat their animals. They should be doing their job and helping people with too many animals. I bet the shelter may have even been dumping cats at his place. Maybe that's part of Boks animal refusing program. Go pick up an unwanted animal, don't book it in then drop it off at a person's house who wouldn't refuse the animal. Then bust the guy for hoarding.
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Ron Mason set-up by LAAS and Animal Cruelty Task Force.
Substantiating evidence of a setup bust of Ron Mason in a comment below.
Indeed, Mason asked the department for help with the 30 kittens in his yard. They took a fraction the day before the bust:
That is horrible, absolutely horrible. The City is guilty here.
Sounds like the guy asked them to take some cats, but they didn't. Boks kitten refusal program at work. They even gave him bottle baby supplies!Lt. Troy Boswell is not the nicest guy. He likes to pretend to be a big shot. I bet he and Boks called the media. They raided that guy as a PR stunt to help feed Boks' attention needing ego.
I remember Boswell when he was a Wildlife Officer. He used to go around and scare residents saying coyotes would eat their babies.
They should be going after abusers, dog fighters, people who beat their animals. They should be doing their job and helping people with too many animals. I bet the shelter may have even been dumping cats at his place. Maybe that's part of Boks animal refusing program. Go pick up an unwanted animal, don't book it in then drop it off at a person's house who wouldn't refuse the animal. Then bust the guy for hoarding.
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Mason Set Up for Animal Cruelty Bust
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This is just preliminary info.
No one at Animal Services now knows anything about any of Mason's cats having panleukemia. The press release regarding the "sick" cats and positive panleuk testing has entirely disappeared off the LAAS website.
Mason told me he has been in regular communications with the West Valley shelter for two months. He approached them two months ago asking them for help with 30 kittens he had in his yard. Pregnant moms were showing up weekly from nowhere and he didn't know what to do.
Get this, he was given a bottle feeder's starters kit along with artificial milk, and told to bring the kittens to the shelter at age eight weeks. They also gave him several spay/neuter certificates and literature about rescue groups. The moms were lactating and there was no need for artificial milk or bottles, and they gave him certificates but told him to not get the moms spayed until the kittens were eight weeks old.
He thought he had established a personal relationship with Lt.Troy Boswell at the WV shelter.
Two or three days before the raid, two detectives and 2 AC officers (I have photocopies of their cards) dropped off some traps at his house, and he helped round up 12 kittens for them and put them in cages. These were the kittens that the Press Release--now totally disappeared off the LAAS website--said tested positive for panleukemia. Dana Bartholomew unknowingly repeated this lie about diseased cats.
The traps they dropped off were filthy, caked in dirt with feces and had open cans of dried cat food. Ramirez (female AC) called the day before the bust, Wednesday, and asked if any cats had been caught yet. Mason told her that he had to clean the cages first because they were filthy and he didn't want his cats to catch anything.
Next day, 6:00 A.M., the bust. Cops, detectives, animal services, animal cruelty, camera crew.
He said he had always been open with anyone from the City and even agreed to have a City lock put on his gate so that any City employee or city service could come onto his property at any time. There was no need to arrest or cuff him.
In other words, this was a setup for the Animal Cruelty Task Force to make its bones. Notice how many hoarder busts there have been lately? Who is easier to go after, a "hoarder" who has asked Animal Services for help and was given bottle feeders, or someone raising fighting dogs in South Central? Notice all the busts are in the West Valley, not East LA, Watts or West LA. I am sure there are vicious hoarders in WLA somewhere and maybe better doughnut shops there too.
Moreover, not only did LAAS/Task Fotce take all of his vet records and medications, when he went to his vets to get copies of all his cats' medical records, they didn't want anything to do with him. They were destroying all medical records more than 3 years old. They told him they didn't want any trouble from the City.
I guess the Task Force also showed up at their doorstep too.
This is purely a case of Boks/LAPD wanting the Task Force to make its bones by busting alleged hoarders even if their was no animal neglect.
This is an outrage!!! Much, much more to come.
Ohh, I forgot to tell you, the moms ran away after the raid and have not come back. The kittens remaining are weaned and need to be rescued and adopted. They are tame and appear healthy.
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This is just preliminary info.
No one at Animal Services now knows anything about any of Mason's cats having panleukemia. The press release regarding the "sick" cats and positive panleuk testing has entirely disappeared off the LAAS website.
Mason told me he has been in regular communications with the West Valley shelter for two months. He approached them two months ago asking them for help with 30 kittens he had in his yard. Pregnant moms were showing up weekly from nowhere and he didn't know what to do.
Get this, he was given a bottle feeder's starters kit along with artificial milk, and told to bring the kittens to the shelter at age eight weeks. They also gave him several spay/neuter certificates and literature about rescue groups. The moms were lactating and there was no need for artificial milk or bottles, and they gave him certificates but told him to not get the moms spayed until the kittens were eight weeks old.
He thought he had established a personal relationship with Lt.Troy Boswell at the WV shelter.
Two or three days before the raid, two detectives and 2 AC officers (I have photocopies of their cards) dropped off some traps at his house, and he helped round up 12 kittens for them and put them in cages. These were the kittens that the Press Release--now totally disappeared off the LAAS website--said tested positive for panleukemia. Dana Bartholomew unknowingly repeated this lie about diseased cats.
The traps they dropped off were filthy, caked in dirt with feces and had open cans of dried cat food. Ramirez (female AC) called the day before the bust, Wednesday, and asked if any cats had been caught yet. Mason told her that he had to clean the cages first because they were filthy and he didn't want his cats to catch anything.
Next day, 6:00 A.M., the bust. Cops, detectives, animal services, animal cruelty, camera crew.
He said he had always been open with anyone from the City and even agreed to have a City lock put on his gate so that any City employee or city service could come onto his property at any time. There was no need to arrest or cuff him.
In other words, this was a setup for the Animal Cruelty Task Force to make its bones. Notice how many hoarder busts there have been lately? Who is easier to go after, a "hoarder" who has asked Animal Services for help and was given bottle feeders, or someone raising fighting dogs in South Central? Notice all the busts are in the West Valley, not East LA, Watts or West LA. I am sure there are vicious hoarders in WLA somewhere and maybe better doughnut shops there too.
Moreover, not only did LAAS/Task Fotce take all of his vet records and medications, when he went to his vets to get copies of all his cats' medical records, they didn't want anything to do with him. They were destroying all medical records more than 3 years old. They told him they didn't want any trouble from the City.
I guess the Task Force also showed up at their doorstep too.
This is purely a case of Boks/LAPD wanting the Task Force to make its bones by busting alleged hoarders even if their was no animal neglect.
This is an outrage!!! Much, much more to come.
Ohh, I forgot to tell you, the moms ran away after the raid and have not come back. The kittens remaining are weaned and need to be rescued and adopted. They are tame and appear healthy.
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LAAS Lies and Coverup Begins?
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Since I interviewed Ron Mason and posted his side of the story, I received a comment that there is no field test for panleukemia. Therefore Animal Services libeled Mr. Mason to make him look bad for the press. The LAAS bulletin about the bust has disappeared from the LAAS site.
This is the link on the LAAS site to the press release. Click on it now, and the page has disappeared. I wonder how the edited version will look if and when it goes back up.
10-11-07 ACTF Arrests Suspect for Animal Neglect
THERE IS NO PROOF WHATSOEVER THAT ANY CAT WAS SICK OTHER THAN THE ONE HE WAS TREATING FOR URI!!! LAAS LIED TO DANA BARTHOLOMEW ABOUT THE HEALTH CONDITION OF THE CATS.
However, in the photos, a few of the kittens look like they might have been ill, but without intake numbers, testing and disposition facts, we'll never know.
Mr. Mason needs help. He told me he needs an attorney. He could also use help cleaning the property and helping with whatever needs the cats have. Perhaps some cats to be taken to a vet for blood tests to help support his case that none--except for one cat--were ill.
Anyone with a camera can take pictures of the cats to show they look to be healthy. We need to follow the impounded evidence animals, especially Muffin.
Mr. Mason's phone number is (818) 993-6816.
Let's get together and help him and show Boks that his ever more frequent busts of "hoarders" is being noted and he'd better follow the letter of the law from here on out. I wonder if there is some lawyer who wants to handle a libel suit for Mr. Mason? Then, there is that little bitty matter of how sick the cats were and the test results on the 12 kittens that were killed.
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Since I interviewed Ron Mason and posted his side of the story, I received a comment that there is no field test for panleukemia. Therefore Animal Services libeled Mr. Mason to make him look bad for the press. The LAAS bulletin about the bust has disappeared from the LAAS site.
This is the link on the LAAS site to the press release. Click on it now, and the page has disappeared. I wonder how the edited version will look if and when it goes back up.
10-11-07 ACTF Arrests Suspect for Animal Neglect
THERE IS NO PROOF WHATSOEVER THAT ANY CAT WAS SICK OTHER THAN THE ONE HE WAS TREATING FOR URI!!! LAAS LIED TO DANA BARTHOLOMEW ABOUT THE HEALTH CONDITION OF THE CATS.
However, in the photos, a few of the kittens look like they might have been ill, but without intake numbers, testing and disposition facts, we'll never know.
Mr. Mason needs help. He told me he needs an attorney. He could also use help cleaning the property and helping with whatever needs the cats have. Perhaps some cats to be taken to a vet for blood tests to help support his case that none--except for one cat--were ill.
Anyone with a camera can take pictures of the cats to show they look to be healthy. We need to follow the impounded evidence animals, especially Muffin.
Mr. Mason's phone number is (818) 993-6816.
Let's get together and help him and show Boks that his ever more frequent busts of "hoarders" is being noted and he'd better follow the letter of the law from here on out. I wonder if there is some lawyer who wants to handle a libel suit for Mr. Mason? Then, there is that little bitty matter of how sick the cats were and the test results on the 12 kittens that were killed.
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My Interview the Cat-poled Tabby's Owner, Ron Mason
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Muffin
Mr. Mason is a part-time construction worker no longer able to take the physical abuse of full-time laborer employment. He says that at the end of the week, whatever he has made, he takes to his vet to pay the cat's medical bills.
By the way, according to Mason, one of the cats LAAS carted away was a neighbor's.
More to come, including photos.
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Muffin
(Click photo for an enlargment)
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I just interviewed Ron Mason, arrested owner of the orange tabby that was nearly strangled by the officer who may not have been Linda Ortega, identified by the Daily News as the detective who "helped free an angry orange tabby caught in some debris." Mr. Mason thought it was another female Hispanic officer.
The poled cat's name is Muffin. Mason has owned Muffin for four years. Muffin is not ill and is not taking medication. He is being held at East Valley along with many of the other cats as evidence animals.
A neighbor told Mason that the cat was walking towards the officer who aggressively threw the loop over Muffin's neck and then hoisted him into the air as shown in the photo. Mason showed me the small room in which this allegedly occurred. There was absolutely nothing in that room. (Mason was not there; he was handcuffed in a police car. This is what he was told. The photo shows what appears to be a small refigerator in the background.) The cat was friendly, he could have been picked up and placed in a carrier according to the neighbor. This probably is not true, as few cats would be friendly with 10 strangers chasing cats around the house with nets and poles.
Dana's article said there were 70 sick cats. The numbers of cats involved varies from source to source, from 38 to 70. Mason said only one cat was ill from an upper respiratory infection, for which the cat was being treated.
Mason said that he was told that 12 kittens failed field testing for panleukopenia and were killed. However, subsequent test analyses done at the EV lab proved negative. That is, the cats were killed because of false positive field tests. I am going to have to ask the EV vet about this.
Mason's refrigerator full of cat medications were seized along with all of his veterinary treatment records as well as his carriers. Therefore, he cannot transport any animal to a vet or anywhere for that matter.
He was charged with felony animal neglect and released after a relative paid a fat bond.
I did not see any cat that appeared sick when I was there. Animal services mercifully left the moms behind at the residence and only took the males. He was told not to have any of the moms spayed until any kittens were 8 weeks old and then they could be brought in for adoption. Maybe Ed won't turn these kittens away.
Personally, I thought the smell was awful, but not enough to warrant the use of respiratory masks as the photos showed. The odor did waft into the street and neighbors could find it obnoxious. There was debris everywhere. BUT, none of the cats looked ill, scrawny, injured or sick in any way except the one black cat in Daily News article. The cats were well taken care of and there was no neglect.
The poled cat's name is Muffin. Mason has owned Muffin for four years. Muffin is not ill and is not taking medication. He is being held at East Valley along with many of the other cats as evidence animals.
A neighbor told Mason that the cat was walking towards the officer who aggressively threw the loop over Muffin's neck and then hoisted him into the air as shown in the photo. Mason showed me the small room in which this allegedly occurred. There was absolutely nothing in that room. (Mason was not there; he was handcuffed in a police car. This is what he was told. The photo shows what appears to be a small refigerator in the background.) The cat was friendly, he could have been picked up and placed in a carrier according to the neighbor. This probably is not true, as few cats would be friendly with 10 strangers chasing cats around the house with nets and poles.
Dana's article said there were 70 sick cats. The numbers of cats involved varies from source to source, from 38 to 70. Mason said only one cat was ill from an upper respiratory infection, for which the cat was being treated.
Mason said that he was told that 12 kittens failed field testing for panleukopenia and were killed. However, subsequent test analyses done at the EV lab proved negative. That is, the cats were killed because of false positive field tests. I am going to have to ask the EV vet about this.
Mason's refrigerator full of cat medications were seized along with all of his veterinary treatment records as well as his carriers. Therefore, he cannot transport any animal to a vet or anywhere for that matter.
He was charged with felony animal neglect and released after a relative paid a fat bond.
I did not see any cat that appeared sick when I was there. Animal services mercifully left the moms behind at the residence and only took the males. He was told not to have any of the moms spayed until any kittens were 8 weeks old and then they could be brought in for adoption. Maybe Ed won't turn these kittens away.
Personally, I thought the smell was awful, but not enough to warrant the use of respiratory masks as the photos showed. The odor did waft into the street and neighbors could find it obnoxious. There was debris everywhere. BUT, none of the cats looked ill, scrawny, injured or sick in any way except the one black cat in Daily News article. The cats were well taken care of and there was no neglect.
Mr. Mason is a part-time construction worker no longer able to take the physical abuse of full-time laborer employment. He says that at the end of the week, whatever he has made, he takes to his vet to pay the cat's medical bills.
By the way, according to Mason, one of the cats LAAS carted away was a neighbor's.
More to come, including photos.
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SLA spay/neuter Clinic Debacle?
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A story on Craigslist stated that 5 animals have died at Eric Jones spay/neuter clinic at SLA during the past month or so. Since he is only performing about 300 s/n's a month, isn't this a high death rate? This allegation was made by an employee. Of course, this info is about tenth hand and should be taken in that light. But given the cat pole story below and this allegation, much is wrong at LAAS even beyond Boks still being GM.
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A story on Craigslist stated that 5 animals have died at Eric Jones spay/neuter clinic at SLA during the past month or so. Since he is only performing about 300 s/n's a month, isn't this a high death rate? This allegation was made by an employee. Of course, this info is about tenth hand and should be taken in that light. But given the cat pole story below and this allegation, much is wrong at LAAS even beyond Boks still being GM.
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Animal Cruelty Task Force Demonstrates How to be Cruel to Cats
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Before the day was done, officers reported rounding up 50 cats for medical care and quarantine at the East and West Valley animal shelters, where they will be released for future foster care adoption.
Police Detective Linda Ortega helped free an angry orange tabby caught in some debris. "Poor thing: It's just a real sick-sounding kitty. If you don't laugh, you're gonna cry."
The photo is of a "large malecat" adult cat hanging by its neck from an animal control pole during a raid by the Animal Cruelty Task Force. The animal control pole is only to be used to "move an OBS (observation for bite) or fractious dog from place to place" as per the employee manual. The purpose is to "keep animal under control at a safe distance from the handler and others." It is only to be used on dogs walking on the ground to help lead them. It is not supposed to be used to hang an animal in midair as they can break their neck or cause strangulation from the loop tightening. You may not drag an animal with this device.
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Apparently the Animal Cruelty people, like Ed Boks, do not like cats. Look at the cat being strangled at the end of a pole. This is what Dana Bartholomew did not write about in his October 12 article on the fine work (sarcasm) the taskforce is committing.
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(Click on Photo for enlarged picture.)
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I quote from Dana's article:
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Armed with gloves, nooses and nets, police and animal control officers scrambled in and outside the house to rescue Mason's cats.
Before the day was done, officers reported rounding up 50 cats for medical care and quarantine at the East and West Valley animal shelters, where they will be released for future foster care adoption.
Police Detective Linda Ortega helped free an angry orange tabby caught in some debris. "Poor thing: It's just a real sick-sounding kitty. If you don't laugh, you're gonna cry."
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I wonder if Linda Ortega didn't think that being strangled by a noose might make a cat sound sick.
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The article does not explain how several cats were tested positive for panieukopenia earlier in the week. Had Animal Services been at the home previously and entered his "fenced in yard," abducted several cats, all of whom had panieukopenia, and then got a search warrant? Something is fishy here.
The photo is of a "large malecat" adult cat hanging by its neck from an animal control pole during a raid by the Animal Cruelty Task Force. The animal control pole is only to be used to "move an OBS (observation for bite) or fractious dog from place to place" as per the employee manual. The purpose is to "keep animal under control at a safe distance from the handler and others." It is only to be used on dogs walking on the ground to help lead them. It is not supposed to be used to hang an animal in midair as they can break their neck or cause strangulation from the loop tightening. You may not drag an animal with this device.
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The handler is supposed to place the loop around the neck and one foreleg. You may never only loop it around the neck as the animal may break it's neck trying to free itself or it may die from strangulation.
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Animal control poles are NEVER to be used on cats as they can easily break their neck trying to free themselves or strangle themselves. Using an animal control pole on a cat is considered animal cruelty. Nets and cat graspers are the employee recommended device to use on cats.
Animal control poles are NEVER to be used on cats as they can easily break their neck trying to free themselves or strangle themselves. Using an animal control pole on a cat is considered animal cruelty. Nets and cat graspers are the employee recommended device to use on cats.
I wonder how many of the 50 cats will ever be released for "foster care adoption."
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County CEO refers my Mayeda Complaint to the County Auditor
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Despite wanting to keep the pressure up on Boks, enough is happening on the Mayeda front to warrant at least a mention.
I just received an email from the County CEO who has referred my complaint against Mayeda to the County Auditor.
WILLIAM T FUJIOKA
Chief Executive Officer
To: J. Tyler McCauley Auditor-Controller
ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL PET ADOPTION PRACTICES
Attached, please find a request from Supervisor Antonovich dated September 5, 2007 requesting an investigation into allegations related to the Department of Animal Care and Control. I would appreciate your investigating the concerns addressed in the attached letter and providing a response to the Supervisor, the Department, and our Office.
If you have any questions, please contact me, or your staff may contact Montessa Duckett at (213) 893-2292 or via e-mail at mduckett_u@.ceo.lacountv.gov.
I wonder how long it will take them to bury my complaint.
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Despite wanting to keep the pressure up on Boks, enough is happening on the Mayeda front to warrant at least a mention.
I just received an email from the County CEO who has referred my complaint against Mayeda to the County Auditor.
WILLIAM T FUJIOKA
Chief Executive Officer
To: J. Tyler McCauley Auditor-Controller
ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL PET ADOPTION PRACTICES
Attached, please find a request from Supervisor Antonovich dated September 5, 2007 requesting an investigation into allegations related to the Department of Animal Care and Control. I would appreciate your investigating the concerns addressed in the attached letter and providing a response to the Supervisor, the Department, and our Office.
If you have any questions, please contact me, or your staff may contact Montessa Duckett at (213) 893-2292 or via e-mail at mduckett_u@.ceo.lacountv.gov.
I wonder how long it will take them to bury my complaint.
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OVERVIEW OF THE MASON CASE
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Many have asked me for an overview of the Mason case. I provided such for a long time. But the inquiries keep coming. I now refer everyone to my blog which may have 80 or more entries about the Mason case.
Below are some of the key links to read.
The first several are just the initial posts about Mason and the raid and you need to start here to get a feel for the case. Later on, more and more information began to come out, such as Mason’s private vet before the raid was Cynthia Hockman, who apparently turned Mason in, because she became a Boks’ employee 2-3 weeks after the bust. Also, Ron was not provided the required post seizure hearing about the whereabouts of his cats. Later it was disclosed that the whole bust may have been related to an upcoming contract with Animal Planet to film the Animal Cruelty Task Force in action—the same ones that raided Mason, which produced the videotape we think was an audition tape. Then too, all the Mason evidence was “lost,” as the cover up began.
One of the key pieces of evidence in this case is the Video shot by City TV35 which shows the kind of person Mason is even when in handcuffs—a gentleman—vs. the uniformed “thugs” and Lt. Ortega’s and Social Worker’s psychobabble.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_kJ9nGiVis
Many have asked me for an overview of the Mason case. I provided such for a long time. But the inquiries keep coming. I now refer everyone to my blog which may have 80 or more entries about the Mason case.
Below are some of the key links to read.
The first several are just the initial posts about Mason and the raid and you need to start here to get a feel for the case. Later on, more and more information began to come out, such as Mason’s private vet before the raid was Cynthia Hockman, who apparently turned Mason in, because she became a Boks’ employee 2-3 weeks after the bust. Also, Ron was not provided the required post seizure hearing about the whereabouts of his cats. Later it was disclosed that the whole bust may have been related to an upcoming contract with Animal Planet to film the Animal Cruelty Task Force in action—the same ones that raided Mason, which produced the videotape we think was an audition tape. Then too, all the Mason evidence was “lost,” as the cover up began.
One of the key pieces of evidence in this case is the Video shot by City TV35 which shows the kind of person Mason is even when in handcuffs—a gentleman—vs. the uniformed “thugs” and Lt. Ortega’s and Social Worker’s psychobabble.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_kJ9nGiVis
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Daily News Story:
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Daily News Photo slideshow:
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The most important posts are below. This is about 1/4 of the total.
http://laanimalwatch.blogspot.com/2007/10/animal-cruelty-task-force-demonstrates.html
The most important posts are below. This is about 1/4 of the total.
http://laanimalwatch.blogspot.com/2007/10/animal-cruelty-task-force-demonstrates.html
Boks orginal response to criticism of the ACTF raid:
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Boks Response on ther LAAS site to my email criticsm:
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How to Make LAAS No-Kill; Don't Take Any In
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In September "Other Animals" went from 1,100 to 167. I expected to see many more dead, probably all of the turtles as they are now all missing. I see way fewer adopted, fewer to New Hope, 100 more died, 50 fewer came in.
Those other animals are now missing; 1,000 animals are just gone. They are not in the shelter as there are only 200 Other Animals in the shelter, down from 1,100. Boks is now cooking the books directly. I see no new classifications.
Again, the drop in intake and euthanasia for all animals is due to refusing kittens. They refused 600 kittens and euth of kittens is down same amount. Euth of puppies doubled. Twice as many others died on their own as previous year. If they did not refuse kittens, euth and intake would be up. He is still doing worse but the numbers look better due to refusing kittens. Nothing has changed. This is like the LAPD refusing to take police reports to try to make it look like crime was down. They actually did this and were reprimanded, yet the LAPD still does this. LA will become a no kill, no crime city by simply refusing to do their job. Makes you wonder how poorly all the other departments are doing. I bet they are doing the same trick.
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In September "Other Animals" went from 1,100 to 167. I expected to see many more dead, probably all of the turtles as they are now all missing. I see way fewer adopted, fewer to New Hope, 100 more died, 50 fewer came in.
Those other animals are now missing; 1,000 animals are just gone. They are not in the shelter as there are only 200 Other Animals in the shelter, down from 1,100. Boks is now cooking the books directly. I see no new classifications.
Again, the drop in intake and euthanasia for all animals is due to refusing kittens. They refused 600 kittens and euth of kittens is down same amount. Euth of puppies doubled. Twice as many others died on their own as previous year. If they did not refuse kittens, euth and intake would be up. He is still doing worse but the numbers look better due to refusing kittens. Nothing has changed. This is like the LAPD refusing to take police reports to try to make it look like crime was down. They actually did this and were reprimanded, yet the LAPD still does this. LA will become a no kill, no crime city by simply refusing to do their job. Makes you wonder how poorly all the other departments are doing. I bet they are doing the same trick.
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Boks/Mayeda Turn Pets Into Meatballs
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YOU ARE EATING CALIFORNIA'S DEAD PETS!
October 2, 2007 --- All of the dead animals in California are added to the feed of chicken, fish, beef, shrimp, etc.,which we humans eat everyday. Virtually all of the animals killed in shelters and veterinary clinics,road kill, medical laboratories, feed lots, deceased wildlife,etc., are sent to one company, West Coast Rendering in Vernon, CA,where they are piled up and left to decompose for days before being“rendered” into a sale-able product.
“Rendering means that these dead animals are cooked in a giant stew pot for an hour, at just above boiling, and then the fat is drained off this soup and put in drums for shipment to cattle feed facilities in California and elsewhere,” said Leo Grillo, founder of the largest care-for-life cat & dog sanctuary in the world, D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, of Glendale, CA, “the rest is ground up into a powder and loaded by tractor into either a container or an open grain truck, which is later used for grain and feed transport.”“Our D.E.L.T.A. Rescue Humane Investigation Unit followed trucks to American companies where the powder, now called ‘protein meal,’ is added to farm-animal feed. We also followed containers to the ports where they are loaded for shipment to Asia ... to be added to feed for the farmed fish and seafood that comes back to the United States and is sold in our supermarkets.
Check the labels of the seafood in the stores: ‘product of Thailand, Vietnam, etc.’”Los Angeles County has contracted to provide its dead animals to the same rendering plant for decades. Four years ago, when Grillo informed the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors of where their own Los Angeles County Animal Control’s dead animals were going, the Supervisors were divided. Some said that they didn’t know about it, but did nothing; others said that this practice is perfectly legal.Grillo continued, “What lawmakers need to realize is that these dead bodies, along with all their cancers and other diseases, viruses,veterinary treatments, experimental laboratory drugs, chemo therapies,toxins and bacteria from decomposition, are being fed to us.
Yet we still wonder where all OUR cancer is coming from.And ‘chronic wasting disease’ in deer, which are also rendered, is caused by the same virus as ‘mad cow disease!’ Does that tell you something? And if you’re a vegetarian, don’t think you’re safe: dairy and egg producers eat these same dead animals, and fertilizer used at vegetable farms contains the same ‘animal by-products.’With the rash of food-borne diseases in America lately, it is clear that we are being poisoned by the food we eat.”
For more information on Grillo’s battle against the rendering of dead animals, and for his call to boycott meat, fish and dairy products,nationwide, go to www.deltarescue.org .CONTACT: LEO GRILLO Undercover Photos Attached 661-269-4010WWW.DELTARESCUE.ORG.
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YOU ARE EATING CALIFORNIA'S DEAD PETS!
October 2, 2007 --- All of the dead animals in California are added to the feed of chicken, fish, beef, shrimp, etc.,which we humans eat everyday. Virtually all of the animals killed in shelters and veterinary clinics,road kill, medical laboratories, feed lots, deceased wildlife,etc., are sent to one company, West Coast Rendering in Vernon, CA,where they are piled up and left to decompose for days before being“rendered” into a sale-able product.
“Rendering means that these dead animals are cooked in a giant stew pot for an hour, at just above boiling, and then the fat is drained off this soup and put in drums for shipment to cattle feed facilities in California and elsewhere,” said Leo Grillo, founder of the largest care-for-life cat & dog sanctuary in the world, D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, of Glendale, CA, “the rest is ground up into a powder and loaded by tractor into either a container or an open grain truck, which is later used for grain and feed transport.”“Our D.E.L.T.A. Rescue Humane Investigation Unit followed trucks to American companies where the powder, now called ‘protein meal,’ is added to farm-animal feed. We also followed containers to the ports where they are loaded for shipment to Asia ... to be added to feed for the farmed fish and seafood that comes back to the United States and is sold in our supermarkets.
Check the labels of the seafood in the stores: ‘product of Thailand, Vietnam, etc.’”Los Angeles County has contracted to provide its dead animals to the same rendering plant for decades. Four years ago, when Grillo informed the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors of where their own Los Angeles County Animal Control’s dead animals were going, the Supervisors were divided. Some said that they didn’t know about it, but did nothing; others said that this practice is perfectly legal.Grillo continued, “What lawmakers need to realize is that these dead bodies, along with all their cancers and other diseases, viruses,veterinary treatments, experimental laboratory drugs, chemo therapies,toxins and bacteria from decomposition, are being fed to us.
Yet we still wonder where all OUR cancer is coming from.And ‘chronic wasting disease’ in deer, which are also rendered, is caused by the same virus as ‘mad cow disease!’ Does that tell you something? And if you’re a vegetarian, don’t think you’re safe: dairy and egg producers eat these same dead animals, and fertilizer used at vegetable farms contains the same ‘animal by-products.’With the rash of food-borne diseases in America lately, it is clear that we are being poisoned by the food we eat.”
For more information on Grillo’s battle against the rendering of dead animals, and for his call to boycott meat, fish and dairy products,nationwide, go to www.deltarescue.org .CONTACT: LEO GRILLO Undercover Photos Attached 661-269-4010WWW.DELTARESCUE.ORG.
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Rosendahl Turns Against Boks
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Councilman Bill Rosendahl, considered one of the staunchest allies of Villaraigosa, is slowly backing away on at least one issue: the city's Department of Animal Services.
Rosendahl this past weekend saluted the work of former Commissioner Marie Atake at a pet adoption event, saying Atake has brought many concerns to him about the operation of the department by General Manager Ed Boks.
"I haven't taken a position on that part yet," Rosendahl said. "But the animal rights community knows it has a friend in me. And, I was very sorry to see Marie quit the department."
Atake resigned from the post because of concerns over the information Boks was providing the commission. She also said she felt pressure from the Mayor's Office.
rick.orlov@dailynews.com
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Councilman Bill Rosendahl, considered one of the staunchest allies of Villaraigosa, is slowly backing away on at least one issue: the city's Department of Animal Services.
Rosendahl this past weekend saluted the work of former Commissioner Marie Atake at a pet adoption event, saying Atake has brought many concerns to him about the operation of the department by General Manager Ed Boks.
"I haven't taken a position on that part yet," Rosendahl said. "But the animal rights community knows it has a friend in me. And, I was very sorry to see Marie quit the department."
Atake resigned from the post because of concerns over the information Boks was providing the commission. She also said she felt pressure from the Mayor's Office.
rick.orlov@dailynews.com
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My Picks for President
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Time to get political. Rich McLellan and Mike Bell have been telling us that for years.
Well, we are 13 months away from the election.
For animal people, Clinton and Obama are no-nos and Biden a possibility
Biden has taken some strong pro animal stands, such as against canned hunting. Of course, that might be because Cheney shot a friend on one of these "hunts."
BIDEN:
WASHINGTON, DC – A key U.S. Senate panel gave its stamp of approval today to a bill that would ban the unsportsmanlike practice of hunting and killing exotic animals in fenced-in enclosures. The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s (D-DE) Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act which seeks to prevent cruel and inhumane "canned hunts" by making it illegal to kill an exotic animal within the confines of a specified enclosure for trophy or sport.
BARACK OBAMA
Barack Obama like most Illinois politicians has a cozy relationship with unionbuster
McDonald's which he has praised. His wife is a spokesperson for vivisection as a VP
of Univ of Chicago Hospitals.
CLINTON
Hillary Clinton helped make Don Tyson the nation's biggest butcher of cows, pigs and chickens. She invested in cattle futures. She has publicly endorsed the brutal
Heifer Int'l projects in which baby animals are shipped alone overseas to slavery and death. Clinton served on the animal abusing WalMart board. She has voted for vivisector money.
My own favorite candidate is Dennis Kucinich. We were both in politics at the same time in Cleveland. He became mayor and I became sane and left Cleveland.
KUCINICH:
"As a member of Congress, I have cosponsored every piece of major animal protection legislation. In addition, I hold the distinction of being the only vegan in Congress.
I made this lifestyle change many years ago, because I consider all life on our Earth to be sacred. As a vegan, I choose not to eat any animals or animal products. I strive to live my life in accordance with my convictions, and any other choice of diet would defy my ideals and, in my judgment, be hypocritical."
Well, if you want to waste your time volunteering, do so for Dennis or Biden. Both are at about 2%. Maybe you should support Biden because he looks like Jerry Brown, who is Vegan. (Joke). Then again, if a Dem becomes pres, Brown, as California's Attorney General may have a chance at becoming the nation's attorney general.
My point is that it is important to get political. Because we haven't been, we got Hahn/Stuckey and Villaraigosa/Boks. Nobody pays much attention to the LA animal Community except Boks and Bickhart. Everyone tells us to play it cool and don't piss off the mayor. If we were cool, he would be afraid of pissing us off. But we are not and he isn't.
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Time to get political. Rich McLellan and Mike Bell have been telling us that for years.
Well, we are 13 months away from the election.
For animal people, Clinton and Obama are no-nos and Biden a possibility
Biden has taken some strong pro animal stands, such as against canned hunting. Of course, that might be because Cheney shot a friend on one of these "hunts."
BIDEN:
WASHINGTON, DC – A key U.S. Senate panel gave its stamp of approval today to a bill that would ban the unsportsmanlike practice of hunting and killing exotic animals in fenced-in enclosures. The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s (D-DE) Captive Exotic Animal Protection Act which seeks to prevent cruel and inhumane "canned hunts" by making it illegal to kill an exotic animal within the confines of a specified enclosure for trophy or sport.
BARACK OBAMA
Barack Obama like most Illinois politicians has a cozy relationship with unionbuster
McDonald's which he has praised. His wife is a spokesperson for vivisection as a VP
of Univ of Chicago Hospitals.
CLINTON
Hillary Clinton helped make Don Tyson the nation's biggest butcher of cows, pigs and chickens. She invested in cattle futures. She has publicly endorsed the brutal
Heifer Int'l projects in which baby animals are shipped alone overseas to slavery and death. Clinton served on the animal abusing WalMart board. She has voted for vivisector money.
My own favorite candidate is Dennis Kucinich. We were both in politics at the same time in Cleveland. He became mayor and I became sane and left Cleveland.
KUCINICH:
"As a member of Congress, I have cosponsored every piece of major animal protection legislation. In addition, I hold the distinction of being the only vegan in Congress.
I made this lifestyle change many years ago, because I consider all life on our Earth to be sacred. As a vegan, I choose not to eat any animals or animal products. I strive to live my life in accordance with my convictions, and any other choice of diet would defy my ideals and, in my judgment, be hypocritical."
-------------
Well, if you want to waste your time volunteering, do so for Dennis or Biden. Both are at about 2%. Maybe you should support Biden because he looks like Jerry Brown, who is Vegan. (Joke). Then again, if a Dem becomes pres, Brown, as California's Attorney General may have a chance at becoming the nation's attorney general.
My point is that it is important to get political. Because we haven't been, we got Hahn/Stuckey and Villaraigosa/Boks. Nobody pays much attention to the LA animal Community except Boks and Bickhart. Everyone tells us to play it cool and don't piss off the mayor. If we were cool, he would be afraid of pissing us off. But we are not and he isn't.
.
ABC-TV Story Pans Boks; Boks now says LAAS #5 in the Country
.
According to Marie Atake, several city officials including herself, told ABC-TV what a screwup Boks is and that Blackman has ignored all the complaints about Boks, leaving the Mayor sitting over a volcano of discontent. I hope it blows its top shortly.
Interestingly she stated in a Daily News opinion piece, Boks has changed his story and now says Los Angeles is now #5 in the country. #5 what, I do not know.
Atake's piece:
http://www.dailynews.com/theiropinion/ci_6987127
We are getting close to the time where we need to find a successor for Boks. If we let the Mayor do it, we will likely get another Bozo just as bad or worse. Hahn appointed Stuckey almost out of spite and because Stuckey apparently delivered a good line. Stuckey had absolutely no animal experience. He did not even own any.
I suggest the Mayor appoint me as GM of LAAS. I have absolutely no shelter experience, very little management experience, no ability or intent to go into the shelters and witness the misery and death; AND I have never headed the #1 adoption agency in the country.
If not me, who then?
We can't let Villaraigosa and Blackman screw this up.
But be warned, my personal choice to choose or replace Boks is Nathan Winograd. However, Nathan said he'd have little time to devote to LA after January 1 of next year as he has a big consult contract that will take his time. When I asked him in the past whether he knew anybody he could recommend, he said no. In fact, his whole relationship with LAAS and our problems with them has been half-hearted.
Philly, which is making great progress (maybe a 60% save rate at the end of this year compared to a 90% kill rate four years ago.), had Nathan's undivided attention for a few months at least. LA is much larger, and he won't even have that time to devote to LA.
There is no unified voice that Council or Tony will listen to; Blackman does not care and Bickhart supports Boks. So we better get our act together NOW in order to figure out what to do.
I think a bunch of us ought to get together and hash this out. We need to call people around the country to ask what they suggest, people like Carl Friedman in San Francisco. I think the generally recognized leaders in the no-kill movement, like Ed Sayers would be worse than no one.
Besides, as someone who heads a large municipal shelter system told me, the GM salary in LA is pretty low given the department's budget and range of responsibilities.
The guy Boks was having trouble with in Phoenix was enticed to the SF area where he purportedly makes $250,000. Will Villariagosa and Council give the GM an $80,000 raise? Would it make any difference as to the quality of applicants? Do we want someone with a million years of failed shelter experience, or someone who is a skilled manager and corporate turn-around specialist.
I wish Richard Riordan would take the job, because although a Republican, he actually was a great mayor, even if he and Wardlow stole my ideas about establishing neighborhood councils and never gave me credit, but it would be six steps down economically and socially. Maybe we could get one of the truckload of generals who have been jumping from Bush's ship for the last two years.
However, lacking that, I resubmit that I am as unequipped to handle the job as any of the previous GMs and don't even want the job; therefore I am the perfect choice.
Really, we need to get our act together now about finding a replacement, and not start thinking about it after Ed leaves.
Please email me ideas or leave a comment. edwardmuzika@sbcglobal.net.
.
.
According to Marie Atake, several city officials including herself, told ABC-TV what a screwup Boks is and that Blackman has ignored all the complaints about Boks, leaving the Mayor sitting over a volcano of discontent. I hope it blows its top shortly.
Interestingly she stated in a Daily News opinion piece, Boks has changed his story and now says Los Angeles is now #5 in the country. #5 what, I do not know.
Atake's piece:
http://www.dailynews.com/theiropinion/ci_6987127
We are getting close to the time where we need to find a successor for Boks. If we let the Mayor do it, we will likely get another Bozo just as bad or worse. Hahn appointed Stuckey almost out of spite and because Stuckey apparently delivered a good line. Stuckey had absolutely no animal experience. He did not even own any.
I suggest the Mayor appoint me as GM of LAAS. I have absolutely no shelter experience, very little management experience, no ability or intent to go into the shelters and witness the misery and death; AND I have never headed the #1 adoption agency in the country.
If not me, who then?
We can't let Villaraigosa and Blackman screw this up.
But be warned, my personal choice to choose or replace Boks is Nathan Winograd. However, Nathan said he'd have little time to devote to LA after January 1 of next year as he has a big consult contract that will take his time. When I asked him in the past whether he knew anybody he could recommend, he said no. In fact, his whole relationship with LAAS and our problems with them has been half-hearted.
Philly, which is making great progress (maybe a 60% save rate at the end of this year compared to a 90% kill rate four years ago.), had Nathan's undivided attention for a few months at least. LA is much larger, and he won't even have that time to devote to LA.
There is no unified voice that Council or Tony will listen to; Blackman does not care and Bickhart supports Boks. So we better get our act together NOW in order to figure out what to do.
I think a bunch of us ought to get together and hash this out. We need to call people around the country to ask what they suggest, people like Carl Friedman in San Francisco. I think the generally recognized leaders in the no-kill movement, like Ed Sayers would be worse than no one.
Besides, as someone who heads a large municipal shelter system told me, the GM salary in LA is pretty low given the department's budget and range of responsibilities.
The guy Boks was having trouble with in Phoenix was enticed to the SF area where he purportedly makes $250,000. Will Villariagosa and Council give the GM an $80,000 raise? Would it make any difference as to the quality of applicants? Do we want someone with a million years of failed shelter experience, or someone who is a skilled manager and corporate turn-around specialist.
I wish Richard Riordan would take the job, because although a Republican, he actually was a great mayor, even if he and Wardlow stole my ideas about establishing neighborhood councils and never gave me credit, but it would be six steps down economically and socially. Maybe we could get one of the truckload of generals who have been jumping from Bush's ship for the last two years.
However, lacking that, I resubmit that I am as unequipped to handle the job as any of the previous GMs and don't even want the job; therefore I am the perfect choice.
Really, we need to get our act together now about finding a replacement, and not start thinking about it after Ed leaves.
Please email me ideas or leave a comment. edwardmuzika@sbcglobal.net.
.
.
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