Blackwater, smackwater.
"Humane societies" rule the out-of-control paramilitary forces scene.
Private contractors prowl backyards, impound, "re-home" and kill pets.
Who's watching the store when it comes to "humane law"?
Rep. David Price (D-NC) 
is outraged over Blackwater's activities in Iraq and I'm glad he is.
[T]he administration is still falling short of addressing [Price's] concerns that some contractors are able to commit criminal acts with little fear of penalty. . ."The secretary still needs to address the essential question of accountability: How will rogue individuals who commit criminal acts be brought to justice?"
Excellent question, Congressman. But you don't need to go as far as Iraq to find private contractors working the public sector over.
No place like home: animal law fascism on Main Street, USA
Take the experience of upstate New York resident, author, and National Public Radio reporter Daniel Pinkwater. Pinkwater's unpleasant encounter with the employees of a private corporation charged with enforcement of state law began when he left two dogs in a car on a 45 degree day, sunroof open, while he went for a cup of coffee.
Uniformed individuals employeed by the Dutchess County S. P. C. A. confronted Pinkwater, asserting that state law prohibits unattended dogs in cars, and even mandates dog houses for all dogs outside for longer than it takes them to pee. But New York State law does no such thing.
Legends in their own minds
The Dutchess County SPCA website (which proudly notes that the DCSPCA is "chartered" by the ASPCA) insists that its agents, who are peace officers, enjoy the". . .the same powers as Police Officers."
Uuhhh, let's hope not.
Municipalities across the country routinely outsource animal cruelty law enforcement functions to private service providers. Confiscated animals may be "re-homed" or put down. Their owners may be charged with felonies.
The rules under which these service providers
operate are often poorly delineated, and poorly understood--particularly by pet owners and private citizens suddenly confronted by someone who looks just like a cop.
In an on-going case in Putnam County, New York, it appears that an employee of a humane society leveraged her ability to seize and dispose of dogs by "blending" her dual functions as both a humane society president and county sheriff's department employee.
The scandal raises accusations of conflict of interest and serious professional impropriety.
When rogue contractors run amok: Is Agent Orange above the law? ASPCA employees, like those of other humane societies, are accountable to its board of directors. Not the public.
The ASPCA enforces animal cruelty laws (and not animal control ordinances) in the City of New York, and refers to their employees as "humane law enforcement agents". State law governing who may enforce animal cruelty laws recognizes no such category.
What recourse do the victims of rogue ASPCA employees have?
After veteran ASPCA "humane law enforcement" Agent de la Torre bullied his way into a home without a warrant and illegally seized animals there, what recourse did the pet owners have?
The New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board has no jurisdiction.
NYC Police Department's Internal Affairs? Fuhgedaboutit. Is there a "Humane Law Enforcement Grievance Board" anywhere? Nope. Hollywood meets animal cruelty law enforcement: Animal PrecinctThe ASPCA's cash cow, the Discovery Channel reality show "Animal Precinct", elevated its agents to the status of movie stars. The New York Times reports:
An officer who left the agency several years ago, John Lopez, said one enforcement problem was that efforts are sometimes tailored for the show, whose crews routinely accompany officers in the field. . .
Judge Matthew A. Sciarrino Jr. of Criminal Court ruled that the A.S.P.C.A. officer, John De La Torre, “in an effort to play the starring role,” improperly took
the animals after going to the door with a camera crew shooting from the sidewalk.
Judge Sciarrino immediately dismissed the charges against the defendants.
And that's it?
Apparently so. The ASPCA, animal rights extremism and federal RICO statutes Feld Entertainment, owner of Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baily Circus, filed a RICO lawsuit in August naming the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and alleging a pattern of conspiracy and Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) violations, including bribery, obstruction of justice, wire fraud and mail fraud.
This lawsuit is a direct result of the animal rights extremists' agenda to deny families in the United States entertainment choices like the circus and their ongoing conspiracy to harm Feld Entertainment," stated Stephen Payne, a spokesperson for Feld Entertainment. "The 65-page complaint speaks for itself and documents the RICO violations that Feld Entertainment has alleged. Feld Entertainment looks forward to proving to a jury the magnitude and scope of the defendants' conduct.
"Criminal acts, with little fear of penalty." Move over, Blackwater.
In many parts of the country, privately employed personnel are searching homes and seizing pets and livestock. Go ahead and choose your state. Depending on where you live, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise.
exist for grievances from the public?
Transparency in government. No longer a value?
Who's in charge of law enforcement policy, anyway?
Public servants with direct accountability. . .
or the Boards of Directors of private organizations?
Is this any way to run a democracy? I don't think so.
Very well written article. As a resident of NY, I have witnessed people sentenced longer for "animal" cruelty, than "humane cruelity".
ReplyDeleteOnce again, well done.
I like your article--it is the only one I've seen questioning this agency and others like it. Our neighbor called the SPCA on us (because we had 30 days of rain and our pigs were in some mud) and the SPCA came out and made false accusations. Mind you they came on my property without my knowledge or consent and filmed my 1 1/2 acres (as witnessed by neighbors). I was told that my dogs were underweight, underfed, infested with fleas and with worms. The "investigator" even told me that one of my dogs was going to die within 24 hours! Undoubtedly, this was all manifested to make the agency sound wonderful seeing that they have a profitable contract with the Discovery Channel that only airs "juicy" stories and follows them around to film everything. So I took all my dogs to the veteranarian within 4 days of the accusations--just as the "investigator" ordered. Guess what? All my dogs were in awesome shape, no fleas, well fed, not underweight and they were not infested with worms. And not one of my dogs looked like it was even close to dying! So $728.00 went to what? Just to prove my innocence, because these people were probably outcasts when they were in school and they have "little man syndrome". We worm and give flea medicine to all our animals on a regular basis. It was insulting to be accused of treating my animals poorly. They even let one of my dogs out and didn't put her back! I was devastated to come home and find that she was gone. Luckily, she was just at the neighbors. Did I get an apology for any of this? Did I get any monetary compensation that could have gone to getting the dogs some new toys, leashes, collars? Nope, nothing. All I was told is that I owed the "investigator" a car detail because my dog jumped in the back of her vehicle. The SPCA came back out unannounced again to do a check up so they could "close the case" and they did--they closed it. Nothing was wrong this time--nothing was different this time except......they didn't have the camera crew.
ReplyDeleteRouge HS/SPCA part of PETA are starting up all over the country.They pick out an easy mark and go to work, they torment,harass,manufacture evidence, kill a few animals, tell a mountain of lies and ask for donations. All this money goes into their pockets ,minus the payoffs. They act like and have the morals of the Mafia?? Actually i do not think they would even like them as they have pets too.The big rouge in Texas was Frank Garcia a star on Animal Precinct. The rouge in my victimization was Paul F. Miller of the WCHS in Hagerstown ,MD.He has power over the judicial system and lawmen fear him.Money and greed has made him powerful looks like he is enjoying it, but it will not be for long.I have had a year to investigate him and his organization and it is all going public soon.PAART.ORG is a group of victims making an attempt to get an information webb site going . We need victims to come forward and any help we can get. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.Thank you for listening, Victim#___B.R.
ReplyDeleteThe new HS/SPCA/PETA and yes they are one group. They are now known as Rouge HS/SPCA. They are deciples of "Frank Garcia" a star of the Houston show till his criminal hx became known including rape.They use the Rico act to obtain money from manufactured "terrible" abuse cases they create. I know I was was one of their "life rape" victims. PAART.ORG is a webb site started by victims , we need a computer whiz to help.We need more victims to speak up and know they are not alone.I was was contacted by PAART immediately when a member read about me in the media blitz that was set to come out the minute they came to my farm. One victim can always recognize the signs. Their tactics reflect organized crime they kill and not just animals , intimidate, manufacture evidence, lie, have payoffs, you name it they do it. The other victims, the ones who donate to these "terrible cases" have no idea the money and donations do not even get to the animals in question. Hay rots, money goes to the rouges pockets or secret bank accounts. They have to account for nothing under protection of the Rico Act( a loophole they found). You would be amazed at what i one victim alone has found out about them. It is all their to se. Victim#___B.R.
ReplyDeleteThe new HS/SPCA/PETA and yes they are one group. They are now known as Rouge HS/SPCA. They are deciples of "Frank Garcia" a star of the Houston show till his criminal hx became known including rape.They use the Rico act to obtain money from manufactured "terrible" abuse cases they create. I know I was was one of their "life rape" victims. PAART.ORG is a webb site started by victims , we need a computer whiz to help.We need more victims to speak up and know they are not alone.I was was contacted by PAART immediately when a member read about me in the media blitz that was set to come out the minute they came to my farm. One victim can always recognize the signs. Their tactics reflect organized crime they kill and not just animals , intimidate, manufacture evidence, lie, have payoffs, you name it they do it. The other victims, the ones who donate to these "terrible cases" have no idea the money and donations do not even get to the animals in question. Hay rots, money goes to the rouges pockets or secret bank accounts. They have to account for nothing under protection of the Rico Act( a loophole they found). You would be amazed at what i one victim alone has found out about them. It is all their to se. Victim#___B.R.
ReplyDelete