Only on 12: Warwick home raided for alleged pet adoption ring

[Robyn]

Spoke with animal control in NC yesterday he said none of these dogs were brought back to NC. Even though they are posted on Pet finder. If you look at Jill the picture in the middle and look at the new pictures posted for her they are not the same dog!!!! Beware they were collecting donations and were not registered as a non profit. This case is still uner investigation by Warwick authorities. These dogs also were not at the shelter for 2 weeks so they were somewhere else being held for at least one week. They almost had me believing their stories. Read wpri carefully they are saying that this is what the "shelter owner" said not that it is a fact.

[Robyn]

Forgot to add I was not asked to do any paperwork to foster. She didn't even know my address or last name at the time. They don't care where the dog goes after. Not safe for the dogs.

[Robyn]

They are not really there. Talked to NC Animal Control Offider he said they are not there.

Ashley wrote:

Hey guys, after much research I found all the dogs that were returned back to Bladen County from the RI Rescue are back up for adoption here: http://search.petfinder.com/shelterSearch/she...
or go to petfinder.com and type in Bladen County Animal Shelter. PLEASE SAVE MAX & HAILEY SOMEONE!!! They have transporters and volunteers who can help arrange to save these dogs AGAIN! Please note they ARE a KILL SHELTER & these dogs don't have much time!

[Joanie]

Sammy, Max and Vinnie's pictures are posted and it's the same dog too. What's going on? As this isn't heartbreaking enough. I cried my eyes out watching that video of the kill shelter. Are the dogs somewhere in RI in a no kill shelter?

[Robyn]

Yes, They are in RI no kill shelter. The SPCA has them. These people will go to any length to deceive people. NC Animal control is getting involved now too to stop these people from hurting dogs and people by their lies.

Joanie wrote:

Sammy, Max and Vinnie's pictures are posted and it's the same dog too. What's going on? As this isn't heartbreaking enough. I cried my eyes out watching that video of the kill shelter. Are the dogs somewhere in RI in a no kill shelter?

[MeR]

The dogs are reposted because they were sent back with the transporter. Who knows what they did with it- but I know the dog I was supopsed to get is most definitly with the RI SPCA- as I ahve been in contact with them. Believe what you want, however I believe that Marissa was lead to believe that she was rescuing these dogs- and if they really were lieing she owuldn;t have put them into homes and given money back to people who didn't get their dog!

[MeR]

And might I add that the RI SPCA also told me that there are only 6 dogs in their custody- mostly black labs.

[Robyn]

The animal control officer in NC said they did not get any dogs at all back. He said when asked about the Beagals that there are none there at all and haven't been in at least 2 weeks. And Mer I had to have Paypal help get my money back. When asked to have money returned it was not. She is also in question legally because she took donations when she wasn't a licensed nonprofit. That is illegal to do. I have also offered to fly Jill in and emailed the NC email and offered to pay for her transport. No one will contact me. The authorities are aware that the dogs are on the web again. So I am sure they will straighten everything out one way or the other.

[Lisa]

No one is begrudging animals in need. Responsible rescue means, among other things, temperment testing, vetting (including altering), ensuring a good fit via adoption screening and home visits and most important of all, being there to take the dog back should the adoption fail. Ensuring that the dog never again finds himself in a shelter. Because if a dog ends up back in a kill shelter, he is equally dead, whether he is euthanized by gas or lethal injection. When a rescue takes a dog into its program it assumes responsiblity for that animal for its entire life.

http://www.projo.com/ri/warwick/content/WB_Wa...

According to Ms. Stracaluzi by her own estimation she brought 130 dogs to RI in a six-month period, in 9-10 trips. Even the Connecticut Humane Society, with resources beyond most rescues let alone a single person in RI, doesn't import that many dogs in such a short period of time.

Also, according to Ms. Stracaluzi, "she said she researched regulations and was assured by the shelter that all dogs had been properly vetted and were up to date on their rabies vaccinations". It would appear Ms. Stracaluzi did little in the way of vetting any of these animals herself.

So where did the transport fee go? Do the math: 130 dogs at an average fee of $200/each, or $26,000. The round trip from Warwick to Bladen County is approximately 1600 miles. Assuming the transport van gets 10 mpg that's 160 gallons of gas, at an average of $4/gallon or $640. Add on another $400 in tolls, food and a motel and the trip should run about $1,040. So, 130 dogs at $200/each=$26,000 less 10 trips (again, according to Ms. Stracaluzi)at a total total transport cost of $10,400 leaves a profit of $15,600.

Ms. Stracaluzi's problems may go beyond the DEM.

[Lisa]

To add, IMO it's very sad that she blames other rescues in RI for her problems. Apparently in her mind she is the only person in RI with compassion for animals.

[Robyn]

Thank you Lisa for your comments. You are so right!!!! I agree she has more problems then she is aware of yet. Internet fraud a federal offense and may come into play.

[Lisa]

You're welcome, Robyn. Rescue is a wonderful and noble cause but people should understand not all rescues operate responsibly.

According to her fundable site (now no longer collecting donations) Ms. Stracaluzi used SCS Pet Transport, owned by Stan Cromlish.

http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupact...

"I run a small rescue group called "Help Save One" which rescues dogs from the south and finds them forever homes in the north. Our favorite shelter is Bladen County, North Carolina and I always like to be able to pull as many as possible. This past week we successfully pulled 30 dogs and they are all now in safe homes. We simply would not be able to continue to rescue dogs without donations and the support of SCS Pet Transport (www.scspettransport.com) ".

Please take a moment and read the attached links about one of Mr. Cromlish's recent transports. It may shed light on why the DEM is concerned, and the complaints of several adopters of sick dogs.

http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/scripts/wa-PLUTO....

http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html...

[Robyn]

Excellent research Lisa!
I can't believe they said they put 30 dogs in homes. What liars. They should be in jail. Collecting $2000 for what they actually do is criminal. Marissa was collecting money everywhere.

[The big picture]

Are you forgetting that dogs who are not temperment tested are handed out to people who selected them from a website?

No one sees anything wrong with this.

I don't think anyone is against saving an animal regardless of zip code but there has to be some protocol.

Furthermore, if she wasn't going to vet these animals then there shouldn't have been any money given to her; only the transporter should be paid.

Let's not forget all of the animals that are gassed in Texas, North & South Carolina, Georgia etc. This has been going on for years and it starts from the top down. Legislation must be changed to demand more humane methods of euthanasia.

You can bring 30 dogs up here weekly and their spots are filled each week.

[Robyn]

What we really need to do is have everyone start contacting the NC government and put the pressure on them to ban this type of thing. If they start getting thousands of people writing then the issue could get forced into being put on the agenda for change. Please everyone start contacting them to bring change.