MO * UPDATE - Charleston, MO * Situation as of March 11, 2009 * GOOD NEWS / BAD NEWS * NEED MEDIA HELP!!

March 14, 2009

PLEASE FORWARD / CROSPOST / TAKE ACTION ASAP!! INFO BELOW

--- On Sat, 3/14/09, USAPSPCA <USAPSPCA wrote:

Saturday, March 14, 2009, 2:42 AM

semoanimalrescue@ gmail.com3/11/2009 11:15:15 P.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: UPDATE * Charleston, MO Situation as of March 11, 2009: Good news, Bad news / PLEA Help With Media

---------- Forwarded message ----------Alanna Downey <semoanimalrescue@ gmail.com>Wed, Mar 11, 2009 at 9:13 PMUpdate on Charleston, MO Situation as of March 11, 2009: Good news, bad news, plea for help with mediaToday brought a whole new turn of events.Let's start with the GOOD news! I called and spoke with the Chief of Police this morning, and he informed me that the Humane Society of Missouri has stepped in and removed the remaining 4 dogs in the Charleston pound!!!!!!! ! Thanks to EVERYONE for making this happen. He also informed me that the Missouri Department of Agriculture had an inspector coming down to meet with him to discuss the situation, as well as to review the different types of euthanasia

available. He wasn't as nice with me today as yesterday, but that's okay. We are seeing results! I told him I was very glad to hear the animals were being removed. I explained to him that I had originally called to set up a time to come down and take better pictures of the remaining dogs available, but he told me I was not allowed to take anymore photos of the pound until after the renovations were completed. Neither was the media. I explained to him that I had wanted to come only to assist in the dogs finding rescue, but he said he is already getting enough grief from the photographs I originally took. After I got off the phone with the Chief, I immediately turned around and called the Department of Agriculture and asked to speak with the inspector who would be meeting with the Chief. I spoke with the man who supervises the inspectors. I thanked him for responding to our plea for help, and I told him how pleased I was that such a swift response

was being made. I then went on to voice a few additional concerns I now have in regards to the Charleston, Missouri pound. This is what I went onto explain:The area where these dogs are being disposed of after being shot needs to be disclosed.I also expressed my concern about the conflicting answers we are receiving as to what the city is doing with pit bulls taken from the city of Charleston. The dog catcher told me they were taking the pit bulls out to the country. Yesterday, the Chief of Police told me that because of an old ordinance the city has, the residents are given 10 days to remove the pit bull in question from the city. He said that the pit bulls were being sent from friend to friend within the city, so it was very hard to get a hold of the pit bull. He said that is what the dog catcher meant, when referring to pit bulls being "taken to the country." To me, this is a conflicting answer. Why would the dog catcher group

himself with the citizens of Charleston, when saying, "We take them to the country?" I asked the Department of Agriculture to look further into this and see what answers they could come up with. These additional concerns were added to the complaint that was filed, and they said they will inform me of anything discovered. Fast forward to later in the day:The Chief of Police has now admitted they are shooting the dogs in the head. He also admitted to Dawn from United States Animal Protection Services that they are dumping the dead dogs in a drainage ditch. If this drainage ditch is connected to the Charleston City Water, this will open up another huge can of worms....This is getting RIDICULOUS! They are feeding these dogs raw meat and dumping them in drainage ditches?! Is this disturbing to anyone else? I want to know the location of the dump site! There is a lot of rural areas surrounding Charleston, so

we have our work cut out for us. Dawn and I contacted the local news team, KFVS12, and expressed our concerns for a second time, about the Charleston, Missouri situation. They informed us that "they are looking into this." They have received the facts from my statement, along with the photographs, but they must find out the facts for themselves. We took this as, they are deciding if this is newsworthy. Dawn and I were flabbergasted by this. We have:a) Animals living in live traps (photographic evidence.)b) Unsanitary living conditions for the dogs (photographic evidence.)c) A diet of raw meat. (photographic evidence.)d) The Chief of Police ADMITTING the city shoots these dogs in the head and is DUMPING them in a drainage ditch, which possibly could be connected with the city water (I stress possibly).e) Conflicting answers between the dog catcher and the Chief of Police on what is happening to the city's pit

bulls.They don't find this newsworthy?! ?!I know the above is a bit more opinionated and dramatic than my previous update. I still believe these are valid concerns that need to be addressed. I am asking for assistance from everyone following this situation to please contact the local media and express your concern for the need to expose this to the general public. I believe there are a lot of people in Charleston and surrounding cities that need to know what is going on. I am hoping that someone in the general public will step up and tell us the location of the dumping site. Someone out there HAS to know something. Below you will find some local newspapers and TV stations that can be contacted. Again, thank you all for your amazing support. It is keeping me strong, knowing I have so many people backing me. Local TV Stations:-KFVS12 Heartland

NewsCape Girardeau, MOhttp://www.kfvs12. com/Main - 573-335-1212Heartland News Hotline - 1-800-455-KFVS (5387)-WPSD Local 6Paducah, KYhttp://www.wpsdloca l6.com/default. aspxToll Free News Tips Line800-4-WPSD-TVMain Phone (270) 415-1900Local Newspapers:-The East Prairie EagleEast Prairie, MO573-380-0319-Standard DemocratSikeston, MOhttp://www.standard -democrat. com/573-471-6980-The Paducah SunPaducah, KY (About an hour from Charleston)http://www.paducahs un.com/270-575-8600-- Alanna Downeysemoanimalrescue@ gmail.com573-703-7263-- Alanna Downeysemoanimalrescue@ gmail.com573-703-7263

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