You know Riverside County wasn't happy when a report showed that they had the poorest quality of drinking water. In fact, they are now out to prove the report was completely flawed. So what makes them different from me as far as a truth seeking mission goes? Nothing. As you can see by their newly redone(is that where the donation money goes?)web page animal control wasted no time revealing the pending case against Angel White. I can say that I am disgusted by this article by The Press Enterprise the facts are no accurate at all. First of all, the property was NOT in Woodcrest it was in Mead Valley which I am sure the residents of Woodcrest would be happy to point out to Mr. Barrie! Next, the temperature was 140?! Really??? 140 degrees? I don't think so, how about 114 at least that is what animal control said. Next, no running water... let me get this right the dogs were there for 2 years without water? Wow! Those must be some hardy dogs. I tip my hat to them! Being as there was a flourishing nursery next door I doubt that there was a lack of water on the property. And WTF exactly will she be counseled for? How to deal with getting railroaded because she wasn't interested in "being with animal control" and lying? I called Steven Barrie and left a message, but I have not gotten a return phone call. I think anyone reading this story should also call him or his editor and ask for a retraction of this highly exaggerated story. I don't mind if you want to print the truth...but this is NOT the truth. 140 degrees....lol does it get that hot on the plains of Africa?
Woman with 92 dogs on Woodcrest property is convicted of animal cruelty
10:00 PM PST on Monday, December 14, 2009
By STEVEN BARRIE
The Press-Enterprise
A Woodcrest woman who was arrested in 2007 and had 92 dogs impounded from her property, including about 40 Great Danes, was convicted Monday of a dozen misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty.
The conviction of Antonia Angel White, 51, in Riverside County Superior Court came after a five-day trial, court records show.
White was arrested July 26, 2007, after two years of effort by the county Department of Animal Services to get her to treat in a humane manner scores of dogs she claimed were rescues, said John Welsh, spokesman for Animal Services.
Animal control officers discovered White's makeshift -- and unlicensed -- kennel on April 26, 2007, when they went to answer an unrelated call at a bordering property in the Woodcrest area south of Riverside, said Tammy Bellmonte, the Animal Services Department's captain of field operations.
They found 83 dogs living in unsanitary conditions, Bellmonte said. There was no house or running water on the property, and the ground temperature at the kennel was measured at 140 degrees.
"Most of the smaller-breed dogs were in various stages of heat distress, and most had no water," Bellmonte said.
On that and subsequent visits, White was ordered to improve the situation, get the dogs vaccinated and not take in any more.
After officers determined White had not complied, they impounded 92 dogs. Sheriff's deputies arrested White and she was cited, booked and released.
White's sentencing date has not been set, but Welsh said it's rare for people to get jail time in these cases.
"Normally what we get is three years probation, an order that she can't own animals, an order that she get psychological counseling and that she pay restitution costs," Welsh said.
Reach Steven Barrie at 951-368-9466 or sbarrie@PE.com
Monday, December 21, 2009
Happy Holidays
I would like to wish all of the readers a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year from all of us(Left to right) Itty Bitty, Remmington, Layla, Bode, and Lilith. I also hope that next year will bring resolution and redemption to all pending issues.
Justice For Cubby
Last Saturday was a very sad day. Cubby lost his life after he was viciously attacked by neighbor dogs that broke down his fence and entered into his yard. However, this brutal attack could have been prevented if only Riverside County Animal Services would have done their jobs. Cubby’s owner had made numerous calls to animal control that went unanswered. On one occasion an animal control officer actually told Cubby’s owner “Oh that’s just Chauncy, here is his phone number go over and talk to him about it.”
Chauncy is the owner of Jerassik Park Kennels http://jurassikparkkennels.com/, a pit bull kennel. He must have a friend in Animal Control because numerous complaints were made by his neighbors, and ALL of them went unanswered.
In the past the dogs were in Cubby’s yard and destroyed patio furniture, however, this time it would be much worse. Cubby went outside (which should have been in the protection of his own back yard) and was immediately attacked. The owner’s husband was also mauled in his attempt to save Cubby’s life. The owner ran outside to assist her husband, and with little Cubby in her arms, was chased through her own home by the culprit dogs.
In total, 3 dogs attacked the tiny Pomeranian pulling his hip from the socket and fracturing many of his ribs. After being rushed to an emergency hospital, being placed on oxygen, and treated for sock little Cubby lost his battle and died during surgery.
When Animal Control went out the Chauncy’s dogs were in the house where Police and Animal Control did not have access. Later, only after Cubby’s owner reported his death and demanded action did animal control go back to Jerassik Park Kennels and seize the animals. One of the dogs actually tried to attack the Animal Control Officer through a window; clearly these dogs do not come from sound temperaments.
As a pit bull owner myself, I am saddened by this because yet again pit bulls have been made villains when I know as a breed they are not. The fact is bad ownership and these dogs will pay the ultimate price with their lives. It is a sad day for bully owners everywhere as once again we must defend our breed and our beloved pets against the degenerates and bad owners.
The fact remains that if Riverside County Animal Services would have done their jobs this accident could have been prevented and little Cubby would have been spared. If we are not safe in our own backyards or homes…..where can we seek refuge?
It’s interesting how Animal Control decides who get immunity and who gets harassed. I am hoping this act does not go unnoticed.
UPDATE: Apparently the act is going to go unpunished the dogs are home and a hearing will be held Tuesday December 22, 2009 at 2:00pm at Riverside Animal County Services building on Jurupa. Meanwhile, the culprit dogs are at home, and the man responsible is refusing to take responsibility and pay the vet bills for Cubby. Are you kidding me? I can think of a few people who had all of their dogs seized and charged with animal cruelty for less that the actions of this Chauncy! Sad to say this story will end up being a “Bad Pit Bull Story” rather than a SCUMBAG OWNER OF THE YEAR STORY or ONCE AGAIN ANIMAL CONTROL IS COVERING UP THE TRUTH STORY!!!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Because It Needed To Be Said
So it has come to my attention that some "rescue" has started up again with the chatter about Angel and her rescue efforts. I decided to add this post because I think these followers and gossip girls (and guys) need to think of it another way. There is a Great Dane rescue in San Diego owned by a man named Renee and I know he is in with John and Cynthia Neet these are the people who I am told called Riverside County Animal Control and told them that I was "harboring" some of Angel's dogs. Silly people! Angel's dogs have not been at my home since 2001, so I have to say I was shocked when Animal Control came out and searched my home. Now let me try to appeal to your conscious (if you have one) YOU are a show person as I am, YOU are over your dog limit, so how would you feel if someone called animal control on your friend Renee and in an act of defending your friend you were thrown into the cross hairs of animal control? I am well aware of the bite incidents that have taken place on your property as are many other exhibitors but the fact remains accidents happen. If I may quote an animal control officer from the Riverside puppy mill ordeal "people have their good days and their bad days." We met briefly at the Santa Barbara show and I was pleasant, but the situation has gotten far out of control, and when quality of lives are being ruined over a misunderstanding, or lack of things to do at home the gossip needs to come to an end. I am asking you to step back and take a long hard reflection of what you (John & Cynthia Neet/Renee) have done and realize that while today it may be Angel that is in the "hot seat" so to speak....tomorrow it may be you. May you be the one who is harassed at any animal function you and animal control happen to be at(such as the pet expo where the took pictures of me at a friends booth), you may be the one having surveillance pictures taken of you IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!, have your animals mistreated and taken away, and you may be constantly harassed in your new county for helping a friend. Believe that, what comes around goes around and with the attitude you have been throwing around you are making quite a name for yourself as well...let's put it this way I don't even show as much as I used to and I am aware of your practices. The bottom line is you can hire all the top handlers you want but in the end you are who you are and YOU have to live with what you do to others. Angel has superior pedigrees, therefore, if you want what she has BREED BETTER DOGS- did you ever really think you would end up with her dogs?
The fact of the matter is, as animal owners/lovers/breeders if we allow this to happen to one exhibitor who's to say it can't happen to ALL of us? Where will the line be drawn and how is it decided who is a friend of Animal Control or a foe? Angel is always willing to help ANYONE- no questions asked and expecting nothing in return. You can only burn so many bridges before you find yourself alone on an island. What would happen to the canine rescue community if facilities like Tracy Ward (Gentle Giants) and Angel's (Dane Haven) go away? Is your San Diego based rescue prepared to take on all of these dogs? Some of them are sad to say homely, abused, scared, sick, special needs? In rescue, you can't rely on only having the pretty perfect Danes needing homes- No! The ones that need the most help are the ones that were in the shelter 2 weeks ago - you know the one, brindle boy, maybe a year old- was it someone from your group that picked him up only to have him euthanized because he had Wobbler's? I was willing to foster that boy and in fact I was on my way to get him, but I guess someone thought it was more important to kill him because he wasn't perfect. God knows there are plenty of rescue dogs to go around so why are you fighting over some while leaving others homeless? Is it really necessary to belittle the actions of others to make yourself feel better?
The fact of the matter is, as animal owners/lovers/breeders if we allow this to happen to one exhibitor who's to say it can't happen to ALL of us? Where will the line be drawn and how is it decided who is a friend of Animal Control or a foe? Angel is always willing to help ANYONE- no questions asked and expecting nothing in return. You can only burn so many bridges before you find yourself alone on an island. What would happen to the canine rescue community if facilities like Tracy Ward (Gentle Giants) and Angel's (Dane Haven) go away? Is your San Diego based rescue prepared to take on all of these dogs? Some of them are sad to say homely, abused, scared, sick, special needs? In rescue, you can't rely on only having the pretty perfect Danes needing homes- No! The ones that need the most help are the ones that were in the shelter 2 weeks ago - you know the one, brindle boy, maybe a year old- was it someone from your group that picked him up only to have him euthanized because he had Wobbler's? I was willing to foster that boy and in fact I was on my way to get him, but I guess someone thought it was more important to kill him because he wasn't perfect. God knows there are plenty of rescue dogs to go around so why are you fighting over some while leaving others homeless? Is it really necessary to belittle the actions of others to make yourself feel better?
Monday, December 14, 2009
Can Riverside County Offer Fair Trials To Those Accused?
As the public may or may not be aware the trial for Angel White and Phyllis Williams started a couple weeks ago. I decided I would go and show support for the women I value as friends. I was also asked to bring a paper that would be entered into evidence. This paper had a quote from Director Rob Miller asking the public to donate funds, and was printed off of the Animal Services website in June. The interesting thing about this quote was not that he was asking for money because with the new fancy shelter that costs about 20 million dollars it is apparent they will be needing money and from what I understand the amount they need is about $50,000 PER MONTH to run this new facility. Anyway…he was asking for the public to donate not to “the Danes” or “July seizure” but to animals in need. The reason Mr. Miller gave on the stand? So Animal Services can use the money for any case not just the Danes in general. Apparently if they money donated for the Danes wasn’t used entirely then it would have to be returned to the donating public- and we can’t have that! Animal Services would lead the public to believe that they do not have the funds to care for all of the animals in their care so they need YOUR money to help out. My thinking: if you don’t have the money to care for these extra animals STOP SEIZING ANIMALS THAT DON’T NEED TO BE SEIZED. The way the media is present at these seizures goes straight to the heart of the issue that Animal Control is pulling at the heartstrings of the public to gain funds. Since no one else wanted to say it….I did. And im sure the Great Dane Club of America wouldn’t mind having their $10,000 donation returned! I feel it necessary to share with the public that Riverside County Animal Services received $13,000 for the care of these Great Danes.
Now as I sat in the audience during the trial I became confused. Angel was given a bill for $50,000 (that magic number again) for the “care” of her dogs. I don’t think I need to remind anyone about the care that was given to Nikki and what about the care of the other dogs who were allowed to fight. Rob Miller was asked if any dogs were injured while in the care of animal control he said no. He was reminded of a dog that was allowed to escape from its kennel and killed by other dogs during a fight. While it looks like Mr. Miller lied on the stand he just said “oh that dog” and gave his usual comeback of “I was unaware.” Phyllis was dismissed from the case due to lack of evidence against her. The fact that Animal Control was not on trial was brought up many times, but maybe they should be. These are the “foremost authorities” telling the public how to care for animals and prosecuting those that make mistakes yet even Animal Control makes mistakes. Rob Miller will pass the blame off onto anyone so he does not have to take responsibility for what goes on in HIS shelter.
Mr. Miller you are the ONLY person in authority I know that is allowed to get away with being completely clueless as to what goes on in your department and/or facility. A leader you are NOT sir!
Moving on to a more interesting topic of discussion, Mr. Steve Merrill, the prosecuting D.A. You gawked at the fact of a “grand conspiracy” by animal control. Im sure you would be interested to know that many friends of Angel have been harassed by animal control. Even more frightening now that this blog is up and running there are more people coming out of the woodwork also claiming to being harassed by officers of Riverside County Animal Services. Even worse, the exact day I turned in that important piece of evidence in Angel White’s case, 12/8/09, I was visited by animal control in my county. I have lived in this county for over a year and a half, so this visit is more than coincidence. I hope, sir, that you were not involved because it is apparent this visit was an act of retaliation.
I have 2 definitions for you although I am sure you don’t need them.
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT- In jurisprudence, prosecutorial misconduct is a procedural defense; via which, a defendant may argue that they should not be held criminally liable for actions which may have broken the law, because the prosecution acted in an "inappropriate" or "unfair" manner. Such arguments may involve allegations that the prosecution withheld evidence or knowingly permitted false testimony. This is similar to selective prosecution.
You knowingly put people on the stand that would lie, Carol Sampson was proof of that, even OJ was able to use prosecutorial misconduct to help earn himself a not guilty verdict. You also showed a picture of a black Great Dane that was taken 8/20/07 showing the dog was in horrible condition. The dogs were taken in July so Animal Control had the dog for a month and was also UNABLE to put weight on the dog, yet you lead the jury to believe the picture was taken in Angel’s care…..shame on you. From the back of the room I noticed the date and I hope they did too! And the tampered vet records? Oh that’s no big deal either…..Animal Controls vet should be turned into the veterinary board for changing records I learned in my Veterinary Office Procedures class that changing records is not allowed a line should be drawn through the wrong information and new information is added under the CORRECT date…..not knowing the system is a poor excuse! They lied and YOU tried to cover it up!
TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS - Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1512, makes it a Federal crime or offense for anyone to use intimidation or physical force to threaten another person with intent to influence the testimony of a witness in any Court proceeding.
A person can be found guilty of that offense only if all of the following facts are proved beyond a reasonable doubt: First: That the witness was scheduled to be a witness in court; Second: That the person used intimidation/physical force against such witness; and Third: That the person did so knowingly and willfully with the intent to influence the testimony of the witness.
To act with intent to "influence" the testimony of a witness means to act for the purpose of getting the witness to change or color or shade his or her testimony in some way; but it is not necessary to prove that the witness' testimony was, in fact, changed in any way.
Like I said …….I hope you were not involved because as you could see from my presence in the remainder of the trial…..I was not shaken by attempts to cover up the truth. I am more disgusted by the actions of animal control than ever.
The moral of the story: If you had a case you would not have to put witnesses on the stand that would lie, you would not have to intimidate witnesses for the defense and you would not have to twist the truth. Mr. Merrill, you are a puppet for Animal Control’s cause I hope you sleep well at night knowing that YOU are just like THEM. Also how many other people will have their animals seized as a ploy to fund this new shelter and the others in Riverside County that are still under construction?
Now as I sat in the audience during the trial I became confused. Angel was given a bill for $50,000 (that magic number again) for the “care” of her dogs. I don’t think I need to remind anyone about the care that was given to Nikki and what about the care of the other dogs who were allowed to fight. Rob Miller was asked if any dogs were injured while in the care of animal control he said no. He was reminded of a dog that was allowed to escape from its kennel and killed by other dogs during a fight. While it looks like Mr. Miller lied on the stand he just said “oh that dog” and gave his usual comeback of “I was unaware.” Phyllis was dismissed from the case due to lack of evidence against her. The fact that Animal Control was not on trial was brought up many times, but maybe they should be. These are the “foremost authorities” telling the public how to care for animals and prosecuting those that make mistakes yet even Animal Control makes mistakes. Rob Miller will pass the blame off onto anyone so he does not have to take responsibility for what goes on in HIS shelter.
Mr. Miller you are the ONLY person in authority I know that is allowed to get away with being completely clueless as to what goes on in your department and/or facility. A leader you are NOT sir!
Moving on to a more interesting topic of discussion, Mr. Steve Merrill, the prosecuting D.A. You gawked at the fact of a “grand conspiracy” by animal control. Im sure you would be interested to know that many friends of Angel have been harassed by animal control. Even more frightening now that this blog is up and running there are more people coming out of the woodwork also claiming to being harassed by officers of Riverside County Animal Services. Even worse, the exact day I turned in that important piece of evidence in Angel White’s case, 12/8/09, I was visited by animal control in my county. I have lived in this county for over a year and a half, so this visit is more than coincidence. I hope, sir, that you were not involved because it is apparent this visit was an act of retaliation.
I have 2 definitions for you although I am sure you don’t need them.
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT- In jurisprudence, prosecutorial misconduct is a procedural defense; via which, a defendant may argue that they should not be held criminally liable for actions which may have broken the law, because the prosecution acted in an "inappropriate" or "unfair" manner. Such arguments may involve allegations that the prosecution withheld evidence or knowingly permitted false testimony. This is similar to selective prosecution.
You knowingly put people on the stand that would lie, Carol Sampson was proof of that, even OJ was able to use prosecutorial misconduct to help earn himself a not guilty verdict. You also showed a picture of a black Great Dane that was taken 8/20/07 showing the dog was in horrible condition. The dogs were taken in July so Animal Control had the dog for a month and was also UNABLE to put weight on the dog, yet you lead the jury to believe the picture was taken in Angel’s care…..shame on you. From the back of the room I noticed the date and I hope they did too! And the tampered vet records? Oh that’s no big deal either…..Animal Controls vet should be turned into the veterinary board for changing records I learned in my Veterinary Office Procedures class that changing records is not allowed a line should be drawn through the wrong information and new information is added under the CORRECT date…..not knowing the system is a poor excuse! They lied and YOU tried to cover it up!
TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS - Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 1512, makes it a Federal crime or offense for anyone to use intimidation or physical force to threaten another person with intent to influence the testimony of a witness in any Court proceeding.
A person can be found guilty of that offense only if all of the following facts are proved beyond a reasonable doubt: First: That the witness was scheduled to be a witness in court; Second: That the person used intimidation/physical force against such witness; and Third: That the person did so knowingly and willfully with the intent to influence the testimony of the witness.
To act with intent to "influence" the testimony of a witness means to act for the purpose of getting the witness to change or color or shade his or her testimony in some way; but it is not necessary to prove that the witness' testimony was, in fact, changed in any way.
Like I said …….I hope you were not involved because as you could see from my presence in the remainder of the trial…..I was not shaken by attempts to cover up the truth. I am more disgusted by the actions of animal control than ever.
The moral of the story: If you had a case you would not have to put witnesses on the stand that would lie, you would not have to intimidate witnesses for the defense and you would not have to twist the truth. Mr. Merrill, you are a puppet for Animal Control’s cause I hope you sleep well at night knowing that YOU are just like THEM. Also how many other people will have their animals seized as a ploy to fund this new shelter and the others in Riverside County that are still under construction?
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Has Our Justice System Failed?
There have been some interesting developments in my mom’s case that I find quite appalling. It seems the transcripts from our animal control post-seizure hearing have gone missing! Interesting enough the attorney that we hired for the hearing, Anne Cunningham, was supposed to have had a copy so we could file our civil suit to regain custody of our horses. So let me summarize this… animal control could not prove their seizure was legal (which it was not because the horses were not in our care at the time of the seizure), they have since gotten a judge to release custody of our horses so they could be adopted and/or euthanized (before the preliminary hearing was even started), and now they are keeping evidence out of court (transcripts, pictures, letters, etc.). They even have the arrest date wrong! They say that they arrested my mom in January 2008. Aside from the fact that my mom was NEVER arrested at all, after the harassment began in January we met with the director of Riverside County Animal Services, Rob Miller, Frank Corvino, and the veterinarian Dr. Drueseys in April and a letter was written stating there were no open cases pending. The horses weren’t even taken until June 2008, so how can someone be charged with a crime they haven’t even committed yet? Wouldn’t that be some swift detective work? So let me ask a question……am I the only one that sees how messed up our justice system has become? From the outside looking in is it not apparent what is going on here? Because my mom has to go to court tomorrow for a rearrangement on misdemeanor charge for a crime she didn’t commit.
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Constitution of the United States of America & The Bill of Rights
In case anyone needs to brush up on their Constitutional Rights I have decided to include the document here...
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article I
Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of Honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time: and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
Section 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Section 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
Article II
Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.
The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Section 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Section 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Article III
Section 1. The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
Section 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;--between a State and Citizens of another State;--between Citizens of different States;--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.
Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Article IV
Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records, and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Section 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.
Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.
Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Article V
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Article VI
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwith-standing.
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
Article VII
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth
In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,
George Washington--President and deputy from Virginia
New Hampshire: John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts: Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King
Connecticut: William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman
New York: Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey: William Livingston, David Brearly, William Paterson, Jonathan Dayton
Pennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris
Delaware: George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom
Maryland: James McHenry, Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll
Virginia: John Blair, James Madison, Jr.
North Carolina: William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson
South Carolina: John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler
Georgia: William Few, Abraham Baldwin
Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, September 19, 1787
And now for the Bill of Rights
Article I
After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred representatives, nor less than one representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than two hundred representatives, nor more than one representative for every fifty thousand persons.
Article II
No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
Article III
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article IV
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Article V
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Article VI
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article VII
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article VIII
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Article IX
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Article X
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article XI
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article XII
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Source: The Laws of the United States, printed by Richard Folwell, Philadelphia, 1796.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article I
Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have at Least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.
When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and the third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one third may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Appointments until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such Vacancies.
No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of Honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by Law appoint a different Day.
Section 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.
Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.
Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.
Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.
Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.
No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such time: and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office.
Section 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.
Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.
Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.
Section 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offences against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings;--And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Section 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.
No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before directed to be taken.
No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State.
No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another: nor shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State, be obliged to enter, clear or pay Duties in another.
No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.
No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.
Section 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.
No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any Duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State, or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.
Article II
Section 1. The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:
Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.
The Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President, the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot the Vice President.
The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.
No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.
In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United States, or any of them.
Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Section 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.
He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.
Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.
Section 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Article III
Section 1. The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
Section 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more States;--between a State and Citizens of another State;--between Citizens of different States;--between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.
Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.
Article IV
Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records, and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Section 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.
Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new States shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress.
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.
Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
Article V
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Article VI
All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.
This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwith-standing.
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
Article VII
The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States, shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratifying the Same.
Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the Twelfth
In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,
George Washington--President and deputy from Virginia
New Hampshire: John Langdon, Nicholas Gilman
Massachusetts: Nathaniel Gorham, Rufus King
Connecticut: William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman
New York: Alexander Hamilton
New Jersey: William Livingston, David Brearly, William Paterson, Jonathan Dayton
Pennsylvania: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Mifflin, Robert Morris, George Clymer, Thomas FitzSimons, Jared Ingersoll, James Wilson, Gouverneur Morris
Delaware: George Read, Gunning Bedford, Jr., John Dickinson, Richard Bassett, Jacob Broom
Maryland: James McHenry, Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer, Daniel Carroll
Virginia: John Blair, James Madison, Jr.
North Carolina: William Blount, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Hugh Williamson
South Carolina: John Rutledge, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, Pierce Butler
Georgia: William Few, Abraham Baldwin
Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, September 19, 1787
And now for the Bill of Rights
Article I
After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred representatives, nor less than one representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than two hundred representatives, nor more than one representative for every fifty thousand persons.
Article II
No law varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
Article III
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article IV
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Article V
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Article VI
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article VII
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article VIII
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Article IX
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Article X
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article XI
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article XII
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
Source: The Laws of the United States, printed by Richard Folwell, Philadelphia, 1796.
The Animal Control Officer Defined
So animal control officers are not police officers- thanks Wiki for clearing that up!
An animal control officer may be an employee of, or a contractor to, a municipality, is charged with the responsibility of responding to calls for service ranging from stray animals to investigations of cruelty to animals and dog fighting, and bringing them to a compound or animal shelter, where the animals are held for a certain time before being returned to their owners, put up for adoption, released back into the wild, or euthanized. Animal control departments are also responsible for investigating incidents of human contact with both wild and domestic animals, such as bites. They may work with Health Departments, police departments, sheriffs departments or parks and recreation departments.
Variations of the historical phrase "I wouldn't vote for him for dogcatcher" or "He couldn't run for dogcatcher in this county" refers to an individual so poorly regarded that the individual in question is not fit to be elected to even a trivial position of public trust. In actuality, this position is usually an appointed one in localities that have a dedicated full-time animal control officer.
The role of the Animal Control Officer has changed over the past few decades. Gone are the days of the big bad "dog catcher". Today's animal control officers focuses more on educating the public on proper animal care, and rescuing animals from dangerous or abusive situations. They also pick up dead or injured wildlife and stray animals for disposal or treatment. The position can either be held through the jurisdiction's police department, or contracted to the local shelter (usually the humane society or SPCA). Depending on the size of the county and the funding they receive, there may be a single animal control officer or a team of them on duty. Usually the requirements for this job are a high school diploma, and some prior experience with animals. Training is done both on the job, and through agencies such as Animal Services Training and Consultation (ASTAC) and the National Animal Control Association, which holds classes around the country. Some states, like North Carolina and Virginia, require state mandated training for Animal Control Officers or specializing as Cruelty Investigators. These courses are typically may be up to 80 hours or more in length and must be related to the job performed.
The amalgamation of animal control with other municipal code enforcement appears to be the latest evolution of the animal control officer's position and governments frequently cite that such an arrangement has allowed them to better streamline services and more effectively enforce local regulations. This has also brought about significant professionalizing of the bylaw enforcement field, and incumbents in these fields are increasingly relied upon to accept greater enforcement roles and responsibilities as police work becomes more streamlined toward criminal law. This has led to a greater dependence on local governments to regulate and enforce animal care, and cruelty investigations are increasingly handled at a local level, as opposed to being the sole responsibility of the state or provincial government. This has created municipal enforcement officers, who previously handled animal control, who are now engaged in a variety of quasi-police activities, especially custodial policing roles that for lack of staffing are not handled by police officers. ACOs and bylaw officers can frequently be found in police and municipal departments providing security to prisoners, guarding court houses, investigating dog fighting or writing parking tickets. This has led to increased police training and arming of these officials. The New York branch of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) employs several animal "cops" who are armed and have policing powers. This arrangement is becoming more common throughout the United States, particularly in larger cities where civilian animal control officers have difficulty conducting investigations due to a lack of cooperation from suspects. Such changes have also made a career in animal control and municipal enforcement more dangerous, requiring more skills and training, and accordingly offering greater compensation. Security clearances have also become the standard requirement, and as such, the process of becoming employed in one of these positions has become more time consuming.
Historically, Dog whippers were charged with keeping dogs out of churches in 16th- to 19th- century Europe; they also sometimes filled a more general animal-control role in villages.
An animal control officer may be an employee of, or a contractor to, a municipality, is charged with the responsibility of responding to calls for service ranging from stray animals to investigations of cruelty to animals and dog fighting, and bringing them to a compound or animal shelter, where the animals are held for a certain time before being returned to their owners, put up for adoption, released back into the wild, or euthanized. Animal control departments are also responsible for investigating incidents of human contact with both wild and domestic animals, such as bites. They may work with Health Departments, police departments, sheriffs departments or parks and recreation departments.
Variations of the historical phrase "I wouldn't vote for him for dogcatcher" or "He couldn't run for dogcatcher in this county" refers to an individual so poorly regarded that the individual in question is not fit to be elected to even a trivial position of public trust. In actuality, this position is usually an appointed one in localities that have a dedicated full-time animal control officer.
The role of the Animal Control Officer has changed over the past few decades. Gone are the days of the big bad "dog catcher". Today's animal control officers focuses more on educating the public on proper animal care, and rescuing animals from dangerous or abusive situations. They also pick up dead or injured wildlife and stray animals for disposal or treatment. The position can either be held through the jurisdiction's police department, or contracted to the local shelter (usually the humane society or SPCA). Depending on the size of the county and the funding they receive, there may be a single animal control officer or a team of them on duty. Usually the requirements for this job are a high school diploma, and some prior experience with animals. Training is done both on the job, and through agencies such as Animal Services Training and Consultation (ASTAC) and the National Animal Control Association, which holds classes around the country. Some states, like North Carolina and Virginia, require state mandated training for Animal Control Officers or specializing as Cruelty Investigators. These courses are typically may be up to 80 hours or more in length and must be related to the job performed.
The amalgamation of animal control with other municipal code enforcement appears to be the latest evolution of the animal control officer's position and governments frequently cite that such an arrangement has allowed them to better streamline services and more effectively enforce local regulations. This has also brought about significant professionalizing of the bylaw enforcement field, and incumbents in these fields are increasingly relied upon to accept greater enforcement roles and responsibilities as police work becomes more streamlined toward criminal law. This has led to a greater dependence on local governments to regulate and enforce animal care, and cruelty investigations are increasingly handled at a local level, as opposed to being the sole responsibility of the state or provincial government. This has created municipal enforcement officers, who previously handled animal control, who are now engaged in a variety of quasi-police activities, especially custodial policing roles that for lack of staffing are not handled by police officers. ACOs and bylaw officers can frequently be found in police and municipal departments providing security to prisoners, guarding court houses, investigating dog fighting or writing parking tickets. This has led to increased police training and arming of these officials. The New York branch of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) employs several animal "cops" who are armed and have policing powers. This arrangement is becoming more common throughout the United States, particularly in larger cities where civilian animal control officers have difficulty conducting investigations due to a lack of cooperation from suspects. Such changes have also made a career in animal control and municipal enforcement more dangerous, requiring more skills and training, and accordingly offering greater compensation. Security clearances have also become the standard requirement, and as such, the process of becoming employed in one of these positions has become more time consuming.
Historically, Dog whippers were charged with keeping dogs out of churches in 16th- to 19th- century Europe; they also sometimes filled a more general animal-control role in villages.
Update: Our Case
I haven't written in a while due to school and our attorney asking me not to write any more letters. Seeing it was the letters that got me in trouble in the first place, I agreed. They didn't mention the blog but I want to be as helpful as I can, so just because I am not posting does not mean that my blog is dormant I would like nothing more than to enlighten the public to the corruption that plagues Riverside County. I was born here but sadly thanks to animal control I can no longer safely live in Riverside County. I will post more updates when possible and I wish all of the others struggling with their cases the best of luck. Please keep in contact with me and let me know when your cases are because I would love to show up and compare notes with you. Also it would be interesting to see if the animal control officers will lie on the stand in your case as they did in mine. Perjury is a punishable offense in case the animal control officers following this blog did not know....I looked it up so you guys can get to know more about it. Enjoy and I'll see you in court!
PerjuryIn civil and criminal court cases, witnesses, experts, and others are often called to testify for both the defendant and the plaintiff regarding the legal matters in question. These individuals will often slant their testimony to further their own interests. Perjury laws are what courts rely on to obtain truthful testimony. Perjury is the crime of willfully and intentionally making a false statement under oath in judicial or administrative proceedings.
For a false statement made under oath to be considered perjury, it must be in regard to a material (or pertinent) fact in the case. For example, lying about your age under oath in a court case will not be considered perjury unless your age is crucial to the question of law at hand. When a person testifies in a civil or criminal case, they will first be sworn under oath to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. To intentionally lie or misrepresent the truth in your testimony is a criminal offense. It is also unlawful to encourage another individual to commit perjury, an offense called subornation of perjury.
When a person is charged and convicted of perjury, they can face criminal penalties including significant fines and incarceration. Each state has their own laws regarding perjury and its consequences. The federal government has a few separate statutes for the crime of perjury. Under federal law, if a person intentionally and willfully states or subscribes any material matter which s/he does not reasonably believe to be true, may be charged with perjury. If convicted of this perjury, the defendant can face a significant fine and up to five years in jail. The same penalty is possible for a subornation of perjury conviction.
While the crime of perjury can be committed in both civil and criminal cases, perjury prosecutions arising from civil lawsuits are extremely rare. It can be more difficult in a civil case to prove that a witness is intentionally misstating or lying about a material fact. A perjury defendant can persuasively argue that they testified honestly, but perhaps from faulty memory, in many cases. Perjury charges in criminal cases are also rare. In 1996, US Sentencing Commission statistics indicated that in federal cases, only 86 of the 42,436 convicted criminal defendants were found guilty of perjury, encouraging perjury or bribing a witness.
In some cases perjury can be used as a threat, typically on the side of the prosecution, to coerce someone to provide more favorable information. While the prosecution will often threaten a witness, the number of actual prosecutions for perjury is diminutive. A prosecution may also try to get a witness in a perjury trap. A perjury trap is when the prosecution deliberately calls a grand jury witness with the goal of gathering information that will later but used to prosecute him for perjury.
PerjuryIn civil and criminal court cases, witnesses, experts, and others are often called to testify for both the defendant and the plaintiff regarding the legal matters in question. These individuals will often slant their testimony to further their own interests. Perjury laws are what courts rely on to obtain truthful testimony. Perjury is the crime of willfully and intentionally making a false statement under oath in judicial or administrative proceedings.
For a false statement made under oath to be considered perjury, it must be in regard to a material (or pertinent) fact in the case. For example, lying about your age under oath in a court case will not be considered perjury unless your age is crucial to the question of law at hand. When a person testifies in a civil or criminal case, they will first be sworn under oath to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. To intentionally lie or misrepresent the truth in your testimony is a criminal offense. It is also unlawful to encourage another individual to commit perjury, an offense called subornation of perjury.
When a person is charged and convicted of perjury, they can face criminal penalties including significant fines and incarceration. Each state has their own laws regarding perjury and its consequences. The federal government has a few separate statutes for the crime of perjury. Under federal law, if a person intentionally and willfully states or subscribes any material matter which s/he does not reasonably believe to be true, may be charged with perjury. If convicted of this perjury, the defendant can face a significant fine and up to five years in jail. The same penalty is possible for a subornation of perjury conviction.
While the crime of perjury can be committed in both civil and criminal cases, perjury prosecutions arising from civil lawsuits are extremely rare. It can be more difficult in a civil case to prove that a witness is intentionally misstating or lying about a material fact. A perjury defendant can persuasively argue that they testified honestly, but perhaps from faulty memory, in many cases. Perjury charges in criminal cases are also rare. In 1996, US Sentencing Commission statistics indicated that in federal cases, only 86 of the 42,436 convicted criminal defendants were found guilty of perjury, encouraging perjury or bribing a witness.
In some cases perjury can be used as a threat, typically on the side of the prosecution, to coerce someone to provide more favorable information. While the prosecution will often threaten a witness, the number of actual prosecutions for perjury is diminutive. A prosecution may also try to get a witness in a perjury trap. A perjury trap is when the prosecution deliberately calls a grand jury witness with the goal of gathering information that will later but used to prosecute him for perjury.
Animals Owned by Man Facing Cruelty Charges Removed Some Stolen,Others Placed into Protective Custody
I know I have posted on this before, but I am going to say it again. I have nothing but disust for animal control and thier "efforts" to proceed in these cases where animals have been seized. Do I need to remind everyone that animal controls way of using the animals as evidence is to discard of the animals BEFORE a prelim has even been conducted. That was the way it happened in my moms case! Our horses were given to animal control by a judge that had no clue what was going on in our case. The judge that is normally assigned to our case looked about as disgusted when he questioned animal control a couple months down the road when the prelim began. Do I also need to remind everyone that animal control left these animals on the mans property with no food, or anyone to care for them. Anza is a rough place with all sorts of predators that could have gotten these animals. I remember getting emails from people begging for help up there when animal control dropped the ball. They spend several hours making sure all of our horses were taken, and when they seized Angel White's Great Danes not a dog was left behind- even if it ment charging the owners with overtime for these officers! I believe my moms overtime charges we $8000!!! Also by judging from the pictures of Nikki (also on this blog) there is no such thing as protective custody in the hands of animal control. Why is it ok for animal control to steal animals, but when it happens to them they don't like it? Play fair kids! lol I took this from the Riverside County Animal Control's website
On Wednesday, Animal Services officers discovered that some individuals claiming to be “rescue groups” removed animals (dogs, birds, cats, goats) from a property owned by Jack Ziniuk.
Mr. Ziniuk is facing animal cruelty charges and remains in custody.
The removal of the animals is a violation of state law. All these animals were taken illegally, said Animal Services Director Robert Miller.
Animal Services officers responded to the Anza property Wednesday afternoon to collect the remaining animals and placed them in protective custody.
All the animals – those in Animal Services’ custody, plus those stolen from the Anza residence – are the property of Mr. Ziniuk.
Animal Services is working with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to locate the illegally removed animals. A sheriff's deputy cited one woman for possession of stolen property and grand theft on Thursday afternoon in the Anza area.
“It's very important that the public have faith in its animal control professionals,” Miller said. “We know how to process these cases. Some of these animals could have potentially been evidence in the case pending against Mr. Ziniuk.”
On Wednesday, Animal Services officers discovered that some individuals claiming to be “rescue groups” removed animals (dogs, birds, cats, goats) from a property owned by Jack Ziniuk.
Mr. Ziniuk is facing animal cruelty charges and remains in custody.
The removal of the animals is a violation of state law. All these animals were taken illegally, said Animal Services Director Robert Miller.
Animal Services officers responded to the Anza property Wednesday afternoon to collect the remaining animals and placed them in protective custody.
All the animals – those in Animal Services’ custody, plus those stolen from the Anza residence – are the property of Mr. Ziniuk.
Animal Services is working with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to locate the illegally removed animals. A sheriff's deputy cited one woman for possession of stolen property and grand theft on Thursday afternoon in the Anza area.
“It's very important that the public have faith in its animal control professionals,” Miller said. “We know how to process these cases. Some of these animals could have potentially been evidence in the case pending against Mr. Ziniuk.”
Agricultural Teacher Arraigned in Animal Cruelty Case
Well it appears that Riverside County Animal Control is on a roll as far as charging people with animal cruelty goes. There is a saying ringing in my head....."Don't point your finiger at me unless your hands are clean.." I took this off of the animal control website it was posted on June 24, 2009. I guess there just aren't enough rapists and criminals to procecute in Riverside because the D.A is relying on animal control to bring in as many frivilous cases as possile to keep up the ratings. The trick is to keep it going long enough so the defendants get tired of fighting and give into a plea. Because we all know these cases will never get to trial, and after animal control has ruined the lives of these people (jobs lost, reputations ruined, and beloved animals taken) the evidence just isn't enough to follow through with a case. The magic number in all of these cases is 2 years and running! I would like to speak with this teacher....I wish her well in her fight to prove her innocence. Because in Riverside County, you are guilty until proven innocent and with the lack of know-how inside the public defenders office she will need all of the help she can get! I know that from experience.
A judge arraigned an agricultural teacher from the Alvord Unified School District on Tuesday on charges of animal cruelty. The teacher pleaded not guilty.
Tracy Michele Putnam, 48, an agricultural teacher at Norte Vista High in Riverside, is scheduled to return to Riverside County Superior Court for a felony settlement conference on Aug. 8.
The criminal complaint stems from a series of calls the Riverside County Department of Animal Services received regarding animal care practices in the Norte Vista High School’s Future Farmers of America program. Animal Services is seeking one felony count of crimes against animals – Penal Code Section 597 (b) – and two counts of animal cruelty for allowing injured animals to go without veterinary care.
Animal Services concluded that Ms. Putnam is suspected of allowing animals to live with severe injuries without getting proper and prompt veterinary care. Also, there were not appropriate ways of dealing with emergency situations during the weekends. Animal Services contends in its complaint. The allegations were first submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review in 2007. The case was filed with the courts in May 2009.
Animal Services Capt. Tammie Belmonte acknowledged that the case took some time to reach the courts, but she said she’s pleased that it is moving forward.
A judge arraigned an agricultural teacher from the Alvord Unified School District on Tuesday on charges of animal cruelty. The teacher pleaded not guilty.
Tracy Michele Putnam, 48, an agricultural teacher at Norte Vista High in Riverside, is scheduled to return to Riverside County Superior Court for a felony settlement conference on Aug. 8.
The criminal complaint stems from a series of calls the Riverside County Department of Animal Services received regarding animal care practices in the Norte Vista High School’s Future Farmers of America program. Animal Services is seeking one felony count of crimes against animals – Penal Code Section 597 (b) – and two counts of animal cruelty for allowing injured animals to go without veterinary care.
Animal Services concluded that Ms. Putnam is suspected of allowing animals to live with severe injuries without getting proper and prompt veterinary care. Also, there were not appropriate ways of dealing with emergency situations during the weekends. Animal Services contends in its complaint. The allegations were first submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review in 2007. The case was filed with the courts in May 2009.
Animal Services Capt. Tammie Belmonte acknowledged that the case took some time to reach the courts, but she said she’s pleased that it is moving forward.
District Court In Kentucky Rules That Dogs Are Personal Property
So what exactly does this mean? It means that before animal control officers can seize dogs from a property, they must first have a warrant signed by a judge. So why are animals being seized without warrants and what can people who have had their animals seized do about it? Seizing animals without warrants is unjust and should not be allowed to continue, therefore, current cases and past cases where animal control officers seized animals without the consent of a judge via a warrant should be thrown out, or at least re-opened for appeal. For far too long, animal control officers have been acting as the judge and jury. The government was structured to be free of factions with checks and balances in place, so why is this behavior allowed to slip by. I do not believe for a second that these actions have gone unnoticed. They are allowed to continue because there is not enough attention on the acts. Here is the article that was emailed to me regarding the District Courts decision, I urge every individual that has been treated unjustly to immediately file their appeals after all, it is actions such as these that has brought Riverside County their very own U.S Attorneys Office.
http://d.yimg.com/kq/groups/6503560/1187908967/name/Order%20and%20Memorandum%20and%20Opinion.pdf%3E
Here are the main points highlighted in the the email:
1. Pets are personal property, under the Constitution. Due process, search
and seizure, etc.. (all protections provided by Constitution) apply to pets.
You are the OWNER of your pets (not the "guardian.")
2. Requirements for housing, treatment, etc.. cannot be mandated by
legislation to be different for intact dogs (vs. altered dogs.)
3. Seizure bond is FLAT-OUT illegal and unconstitutional. This practice
constitutes unlawful taking of personal property. If, after search warrant
is obtained, a person is arrested and their dogs are seized, their dogs
must be held AS IS (cannot be sterilized while held,cannot be sold,
"transferred" or euthanized) unless the owner is found guilty after trial.
Meantime, owner DOES NOT have to pay a dime for their care,until/unless
they are found guilty of the charges.
http://d.yimg.com/kq/groups/6503560/1187908967/name/Order%20and%20Memorandum%20and%20Opinion.pdf%3E
Here are the main points highlighted in the the email:
1. Pets are personal property, under the Constitution. Due process, search
and seizure, etc.. (all protections provided by Constitution) apply to pets.
You are the OWNER of your pets (not the "guardian.")
2. Requirements for housing, treatment, etc.. cannot be mandated by
legislation to be different for intact dogs (vs. altered dogs.)
3. Seizure bond is FLAT-OUT illegal and unconstitutional. This practice
constitutes unlawful taking of personal property. If, after search warrant
is obtained, a person is arrested and their dogs are seized, their dogs
must be held AS IS (cannot be sterilized while held,cannot be sold,
"transferred" or euthanized) unless the owner is found guilty after trial.
Meantime, owner DOES NOT have to pay a dime for their care,until/unless
they are found guilty of the charges.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
55 Dogs Shot Arizona & Left To Rot
So...what I would like to know is how many times this has to happen BEFORE we say WTF is going on??!! Officers not only slaughtered these dogs but, LEFT them dead on the property to rot because "there were feces surrounding the animals" was the feces going to attack? These are the folks that are supposed to uphold and protect so, I am wondering what s happening and why is PETA upset for these dogs but not the the Temecula dogs or the many other animals that have been wronged by "authorities". PETA needs to be more consistent. I hope this case gains more publicity and is investigated leading to the prosecution of the officers involved. Wrong is wrong whether or not you are a member of law enforcement or government. Obviously standards need to be raised. Arizona can be proud to have a prison that humiliates inmates by making them wear pink underwear but their officers are frightened at the sight of some dog poop?? Give me a break, this is asinine I hope the owner of the dogs finds a good lawyer and sues.Dogs Shot Arizona
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Why Riverside Has A US Attorney's Office
I found this on www.holysmoke.org this website is very informative, but I found this article most appealing. It's no wonder the smaller branches of government in Riverside County do not function properly....look what happened at the District Attorney's office. What ever happened to the Checks & Balances system our country was founded on??? Enjoy!
Rampant Corruption in Riverside County Promts New US Attorney's Office
The corrupt Riverside County District Attorney's office run by Grover Trask framed Keith Henson for imaginary "hate crimes" in close cooperation with the criminally convicted Scientology cult. The criminal activities of Riverside County District Attorney Trask and Deputy District Attorney Robert K. Schwarz, in conjunction with Mafia lawyer Elliot Ableson, is detailed at http://www.operatingthetan.com The rampant corruption is why a new US Attorney's office has opened there. Perhaps we'll get some answers finally, though I'm not holding my breath.
Inland Southern California
November 5, 2001
U.S. attorney's office opens Inland branch LAW: Public corruption and environmental crimes top list for new Riverside office. 11/05/2001
By MIKE KATAOKA
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE Dan O'Brien has targeted crooked politicians for most of his 11-year career as a federal prosecutor. As the head of the newly established Riverside branch of the U. S. attorney's office in Los Angeles, O'Brien expects to step up his crusade against public corruption. The recent bribery case filed against San Bernardino and Colton officials may be just a sampling of what's ahead, O'Brien said. The Inland Empire seems more prone to government corruption than the rest of the seven-county Central District of California, he said. Checks and balances
Dan O'Brien is the chief of the new Riverside branch of the U. S. attorney's office in Los Angeles. (David Shea/The Press-Enterprise) His theory is that local governments, many of them relatively new, lack the checks and balances seen in more entrenched systems, such as Los Angeles' massive bureaucracy. "It's not because the people are more corrupt," O'Brien said. But for whatever reason, O'Brien finds himself in the right place at the right time. "This is a great job, especially because of the corruption cases," he said from his second-story office in downtown Riverside's Mission Square. The opportunity to put his mark on a new branch office was so appealing to O'Brien that he's willing to endure a daily commute to Redondo Beach, where he and his wife are raising a daughter, 5, and son, 3. Besides public corruption, O'Brien expects he and his staff will prosecute environmental crimes because of the region's vast deserts, federal lands and agriculture. Federal firearms and major drug prosecutions also will be top priorities, he said. O'Brien already is working with the two local district attorneys to sort out cases that could be prosecuted in state or federal court. "We'll take more cases that might have traditionally gone stateside," he said. Riverside County officials recently turned over an investment fraud case for federal prosecution. Inland Empire presence The Inland Empire accounts for 15 percent of the Central District's indictments. "It's becoming a larger part of our federal practice," he said. But O'Brien acknowledges that the U. S. attorney's office has been slow in establishing an Inland Empire presence. "Government moves slowly and it takes a certain amount of will to get something done," he said. U. S. District Court has been in Riverside since 1995, temporarily housed in Riverside County's Hall of Justice until a permanent courthouse opened in January. With no Riverside office, prosecutors commuted from Los Angeles for court appearances. The federal public defender has had a lawyer in Riverside since the court opened. Robert Timlin, Riverside's first federal judge, said having assistant U. S. attorneys in town should avoid the delays of the past, when no one was available to stand in for someone stuck in traffic. "They will be immediately available, which will be very helpful for the administration here in expediting cases," Timlin said. 'Last piece of the puzzle' Timlin's colleague, Magistrate Judge Stephen Larson, said a U. S. attorney's permanent presence is "the last piece of the puzzle" for the federal court system in Riverside. Larson agreed with Timlin that having to rely on Los Angeles-based prosecutors "created a number of logistical and administrative headaches for people." Larson also is pleased that O'Brien is in charge. Before he became a magistrate judge last year, Larson headed organized-crime federal prosecutions in Los Angeles while O'Brien focused on corruption and fraud. "Dan has an outstanding reputation in the legal community and within the (U. S. attorney's) office," Larson said. "He handled a number of long-term complex investigations while we were both in the office and he gained a reputation both as an effective prosecutor and able administrator," the judge said. While in Los Angeles, O'Brien supervised West Coast operations for a national task force on campaign-finance abuses. O'Brien, 40, is the son of a career prosecutor who formed an organization to clean up government in Louisiana and made an unsuccessful run at Congress before becoming a Justice Department lawyer in Washington, D. C. Move out west O'Brien first practiced law for a New York City firm and moved to Los Angeles because the federal prosecutor's office there was considered one of the nation's elite. Several recruits for the Riverside office are following in O'Brien's footsteps as East Coast lawyers ready to make the move west. Current caseloads justify 20 lawyers, but only eight have been assigned to the Riverside office and it may be several months before all are onboard, O'Brien said. For now, the only other assistant U. S. attorney in Riverside is Jerry Behnke, a Riverside County prosecutor assigned in Indio for four years. Another is training in Los Angeles and three others are undergoing background checks. John Gordon, the Central District's acting U. S. attorney, has been a strong supporter of the Riverside branch, O'Brien said. How quickly the office grows will be up to whoever succeeds Gordon, if he doesn't get the permanent job in the Bush administration, he said. Eventually, O'Brien sees Riverside's staff surpassing the two-dozen attorneys assigned to the other branch office in Santa Ana, which covers a smaller population base than the Inland Empire. Reach Mike Kataoka at mkataoka@pe.com or (909)-782-7560.
http://www.holysmoke.org/kh/kh216.htm
Rampant Corruption in Riverside County Promts New US Attorney's Office
The corrupt Riverside County District Attorney's office run by Grover Trask framed Keith Henson for imaginary "hate crimes" in close cooperation with the criminally convicted Scientology cult. The criminal activities of Riverside County District Attorney Trask and Deputy District Attorney Robert K. Schwarz, in conjunction with Mafia lawyer Elliot Ableson, is detailed at http://www.operatingthetan.com The rampant corruption is why a new US Attorney's office has opened there. Perhaps we'll get some answers finally, though I'm not holding my breath.
Inland Southern California
November 5, 2001
U.S. attorney's office opens Inland branch LAW: Public corruption and environmental crimes top list for new Riverside office. 11/05/2001
By MIKE KATAOKA
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE Dan O'Brien has targeted crooked politicians for most of his 11-year career as a federal prosecutor. As the head of the newly established Riverside branch of the U. S. attorney's office in Los Angeles, O'Brien expects to step up his crusade against public corruption. The recent bribery case filed against San Bernardino and Colton officials may be just a sampling of what's ahead, O'Brien said. The Inland Empire seems more prone to government corruption than the rest of the seven-county Central District of California, he said. Checks and balances
Dan O'Brien is the chief of the new Riverside branch of the U. S. attorney's office in Los Angeles. (David Shea/The Press-Enterprise) His theory is that local governments, many of them relatively new, lack the checks and balances seen in more entrenched systems, such as Los Angeles' massive bureaucracy. "It's not because the people are more corrupt," O'Brien said. But for whatever reason, O'Brien finds himself in the right place at the right time. "This is a great job, especially because of the corruption cases," he said from his second-story office in downtown Riverside's Mission Square. The opportunity to put his mark on a new branch office was so appealing to O'Brien that he's willing to endure a daily commute to Redondo Beach, where he and his wife are raising a daughter, 5, and son, 3. Besides public corruption, O'Brien expects he and his staff will prosecute environmental crimes because of the region's vast deserts, federal lands and agriculture. Federal firearms and major drug prosecutions also will be top priorities, he said. O'Brien already is working with the two local district attorneys to sort out cases that could be prosecuted in state or federal court. "We'll take more cases that might have traditionally gone stateside," he said. Riverside County officials recently turned over an investment fraud case for federal prosecution. Inland Empire presence The Inland Empire accounts for 15 percent of the Central District's indictments. "It's becoming a larger part of our federal practice," he said. But O'Brien acknowledges that the U. S. attorney's office has been slow in establishing an Inland Empire presence. "Government moves slowly and it takes a certain amount of will to get something done," he said. U. S. District Court has been in Riverside since 1995, temporarily housed in Riverside County's Hall of Justice until a permanent courthouse opened in January. With no Riverside office, prosecutors commuted from Los Angeles for court appearances. The federal public defender has had a lawyer in Riverside since the court opened. Robert Timlin, Riverside's first federal judge, said having assistant U. S. attorneys in town should avoid the delays of the past, when no one was available to stand in for someone stuck in traffic. "They will be immediately available, which will be very helpful for the administration here in expediting cases," Timlin said. 'Last piece of the puzzle' Timlin's colleague, Magistrate Judge Stephen Larson, said a U. S. attorney's permanent presence is "the last piece of the puzzle" for the federal court system in Riverside. Larson agreed with Timlin that having to rely on Los Angeles-based prosecutors "created a number of logistical and administrative headaches for people." Larson also is pleased that O'Brien is in charge. Before he became a magistrate judge last year, Larson headed organized-crime federal prosecutions in Los Angeles while O'Brien focused on corruption and fraud. "Dan has an outstanding reputation in the legal community and within the (U. S. attorney's) office," Larson said. "He handled a number of long-term complex investigations while we were both in the office and he gained a reputation both as an effective prosecutor and able administrator," the judge said. While in Los Angeles, O'Brien supervised West Coast operations for a national task force on campaign-finance abuses. O'Brien, 40, is the son of a career prosecutor who formed an organization to clean up government in Louisiana and made an unsuccessful run at Congress before becoming a Justice Department lawyer in Washington, D. C. Move out west O'Brien first practiced law for a New York City firm and moved to Los Angeles because the federal prosecutor's office there was considered one of the nation's elite. Several recruits for the Riverside office are following in O'Brien's footsteps as East Coast lawyers ready to make the move west. Current caseloads justify 20 lawyers, but only eight have been assigned to the Riverside office and it may be several months before all are onboard, O'Brien said. For now, the only other assistant U. S. attorney in Riverside is Jerry Behnke, a Riverside County prosecutor assigned in Indio for four years. Another is training in Los Angeles and three others are undergoing background checks. John Gordon, the Central District's acting U. S. attorney, has been a strong supporter of the Riverside branch, O'Brien said. How quickly the office grows will be up to whoever succeeds Gordon, if he doesn't get the permanent job in the Bush administration, he said. Eventually, O'Brien sees Riverside's staff surpassing the two-dozen attorneys assigned to the other branch office in Santa Ana, which covers a smaller population base than the Inland Empire. Reach Mike Kataoka at mkataoka@pe.com or (909)-782-7560.
http://www.holysmoke.org/kh/kh216.htm
Monday, June 1, 2009
Another Blog To Check Out
I found this blog that I think is very interesting so if you have some time and are looking for more horrifying facts check out this blog by Nathan J. Winograd. http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=1157
"The Case of the Headless Horse"
I finally got a chance to watch this video and I have to say I was a little more disgusted than I was when I read the story. I decided to share it because I think it goes to show what a hypocrite Dr. Druseys and the gang really are. The good doctor made fabulous quotes such as "Just because you don't like something doesn't mean you can go and try to change it." That is interesting Mr. Druseys...isn't that exactly what you and the other folks over at animal control do? How do you explain the new Mandatory Spay/Neuter program and Mandatory Microchipping for animals in Riverside County? I do believe you were part if not all of the brains behind these operations am I right? Stop me when I lie, but aren't your officers seeking out those they don't like and making great attempts to make their lives miserable? It is entertaining to say the least to see who gets arrested and who is immune in the case of Angel White- 2 volunteers (one who sat on the rescue board with Angel and Rob Miller) were arrested just for being there. But witnesses who did nothing to stop the man from hacking up that horse, who also witnessed cruelty going on for months was allowed to remain free. I am not attacking this witness I am just pointing out inconsistencies. The problem is Animal Control has not been held accountable for too long. The arrogance of having these seizure stories put into the paper will one day backfire on you when some individual (or hopefully many) begins to ask questions. Not to worry though, im sure an officer will be send over right away to threaten them or seize their animals. Soon, people will no longer have pets for fear that animal control will come knocking, or the pets we choose to adore will become illegal......then your little jobs will be obsolete. Is that your goal? To have no purpose? But then I guess it doesn't matter to you- aren't you a stand in-mayor somewhere?
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
In Case You Forgot....
Maybe I should spend my energy reminding people what happens to your animals in the care of the authorities that are supposed to be educated in animal husbandry. Maybe Riverside County Animal Services should send the kennel techs to school as well as the field officers, I am thinking that the extra training would teach them that dogs should not be taken from owners to come home looking like this. Thanks for the reminder anonymous poster. If I could award you a gold star I would but, sadly you did not leave your email address...
2007-2008 Grand Jury Report Animal Friends of the Valleys (LEAF)
2007-2008 GRAND JURY REPORT
Animal Friends of the Valley Animal Shelter
Background
Animal Friends of the Valley Animal Shelter (AFVAS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation located at 29001 Bastron Avenue, off Strickland Road, in a rural area near Lake Elsinore. The AFVAS contracts with the cities of Temecula, Murrieta, Canyon Lake, and Lake Elsinore to pick-up unwanted and stray animals in the southwest region of Riverside County.
AFVAS opened a shelter in 1988 formerly known as Lake Elsinore Animal Friends. In the 1990s the AFVAS began searching for a permanent home. In 2005, the four contracted cities agreed to enter into a joint financing authority that would issue bonds for a new shelter to be built at the corner of Mission Trail and Corydon Street in the City of Wildomar. In 2007, all four cities and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors agreed to finance a 39-year bond plus a 5% contingency, allowing the County to cover any missed payments by the cities. The total Bond is $17 million. Issues concerning parking, environment, approvals from the consulting architect, and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors have delayed the start of the building.
AFVAS currently utilizes trailers to house administration, security, and personnel. The night security guard uses his own trailer and has placed it outside adjacent to the chain link fence that encircles the facility.
Large dogs are kept outdoors in chain link kennels, while small dogs are kept in a separate area in smaller kennels. Another building houses cats. There is a brick building for euthanizing animals, as required. Prior to February 28, 2008, a separate trailer was used to house puppies and kittens.
On the above date, at approximately 5:00 a.m., a fire started in the trailer that housed twenty-four puppies and fifteen kittens. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it could spread to an adjoining trailer. However, all 39 puppies and kittens perished. The Riverside County Fire Department Report, Incident #001-8924, indicated the origin of the fire was an “Unspecified short-circuit arc,” in the trailer wall.
1
Findings
1. In March 2008, two dogs died from Parvovirus (Parvo) at the shelter.
A common disease fatal to dogs is Parvo, “a genus of viruses that replicates autonomously in suitable cells.” Parvo manifests itself in canines in the form of vomiting and diarrhea that dehydrates the animal. Death almost always follows. Humans, walking throughout the shelter, can have this virus adhere to their footwear and unknowingly spread the virus. The Parvo virus can exist on floors, cages, and clothing for months and can be carried outside the shelter unless disinfected. The AFVAS does not warn visitors of this potential hazard to animals. The state appointed Executive Director, a Humane Officer, stated that a “disinfectant box” should be used. However, it is not being used.
2. The metal roof above the kennels supports a misting system that provides water mist to keep the larger dogs cool during warm weather. This misting system is attached to the electrical flex conduit that provides electricity to the fluorescent tube fixtures. The fixtures are not designed for outdoor use, and many fluorescent tubes were missing. The misting system has corroded the light fixtures and can possibly cause an electrical short and fire.
3. During a tour of AFVAS, it was observed that large dogs were restricted from normal movement such as being able to lie down, turn around, and sit normally. The cause of the restriction is a large sleeping box inside the kennel. One dog was sitting on top of his sleeping box because of the lack of room to move.
4. It has been reported that when it rains the AFVAS becomes flooded. Because of poor drainage, it is necessary to sand bag areas and use pumps to drain the water accumulations. The AFVAS grounds become muddy and are dangerous to work in and difficult to safely park a vehicle.
• Riverside County Department of Building and Safety, Environmental Compliance Division, recently has been issued a state storm water permit. This permit requires storm water pollution compliance inspections to be conducted at all commercial facilities, including kennels. These inspections began in 2007, and will continue in 2008. No inspection of the AFVAS has been performed as of the date of this report.
5. AFVAS does not have smoke detectors and/or fire alarm systems installed and operating in their trailers.
2
6. The entrance to the AFVAS does not have address numbers visible from the street or the parking lot. The address does not register in computer programs, such as Mapquest.
Recommendations
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Animals Friends of the Valley
Riverside County Fire Department
Riverside County Transportation and Land Management Agency
Riverside County Building and Safety,
Environmental Compliance Division
1. Inform personnel and visitors of the hazard of the Parvo virus by posting signs. Provide a box or platform to disinfect shoes as employees and the public enter and exit the facility. This box must contain disinfectants and germicides such as RX-75 or RX-44 PLUS, both of which have been shown to be effective against Parvo.
2. Provide a well-lighted and safe facility using approved outdoor waterproof light fixtures.
3. Provide room for larger dogs by removing the sleeping box and putting down a pad and blanket as weather permits.
4. Riverside County Department of Building and Safety, Environmental Compliance Division, must, without delay, perform an initial inspection of AFVAS to determine if they are in compliance with all state and local storm water quality requirements. AFVAS management must identify potential and actual sources of pollutants at the AFVAS and insure they do not contaminate nearby waterways that might receive drainage. Correct and redirect drainage to eliminate flooding during the rainy period.
5. Install smoke detectors and a fire alarm system in all structures at AFVAS.
6. AFVAS must post an identifying and clearly visible address sign at the street entrance.
Report Issued: 06/18/08
Report Public: 06/20/08
Response Due: 09/16/08
3
Response from LEAF http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/08resp_animalfriendsvalleyanimalshelter.pdf
Animal Friends of the Valley Animal Shelter
Background
Animal Friends of the Valley Animal Shelter (AFVAS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation located at 29001 Bastron Avenue, off Strickland Road, in a rural area near Lake Elsinore. The AFVAS contracts with the cities of Temecula, Murrieta, Canyon Lake, and Lake Elsinore to pick-up unwanted and stray animals in the southwest region of Riverside County.
AFVAS opened a shelter in 1988 formerly known as Lake Elsinore Animal Friends. In the 1990s the AFVAS began searching for a permanent home. In 2005, the four contracted cities agreed to enter into a joint financing authority that would issue bonds for a new shelter to be built at the corner of Mission Trail and Corydon Street in the City of Wildomar. In 2007, all four cities and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors agreed to finance a 39-year bond plus a 5% contingency, allowing the County to cover any missed payments by the cities. The total Bond is $17 million. Issues concerning parking, environment, approvals from the consulting architect, and the Riverside County Board of Supervisors have delayed the start of the building.
AFVAS currently utilizes trailers to house administration, security, and personnel. The night security guard uses his own trailer and has placed it outside adjacent to the chain link fence that encircles the facility.
Large dogs are kept outdoors in chain link kennels, while small dogs are kept in a separate area in smaller kennels. Another building houses cats. There is a brick building for euthanizing animals, as required. Prior to February 28, 2008, a separate trailer was used to house puppies and kittens.
On the above date, at approximately 5:00 a.m., a fire started in the trailer that housed twenty-four puppies and fifteen kittens. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before it could spread to an adjoining trailer. However, all 39 puppies and kittens perished. The Riverside County Fire Department Report, Incident #001-8924, indicated the origin of the fire was an “Unspecified short-circuit arc,” in the trailer wall.
1
Findings
1. In March 2008, two dogs died from Parvovirus (Parvo) at the shelter.
A common disease fatal to dogs is Parvo, “a genus of viruses that replicates autonomously in suitable cells.” Parvo manifests itself in canines in the form of vomiting and diarrhea that dehydrates the animal. Death almost always follows. Humans, walking throughout the shelter, can have this virus adhere to their footwear and unknowingly spread the virus. The Parvo virus can exist on floors, cages, and clothing for months and can be carried outside the shelter unless disinfected. The AFVAS does not warn visitors of this potential hazard to animals. The state appointed Executive Director, a Humane Officer, stated that a “disinfectant box” should be used. However, it is not being used.
2. The metal roof above the kennels supports a misting system that provides water mist to keep the larger dogs cool during warm weather. This misting system is attached to the electrical flex conduit that provides electricity to the fluorescent tube fixtures. The fixtures are not designed for outdoor use, and many fluorescent tubes were missing. The misting system has corroded the light fixtures and can possibly cause an electrical short and fire.
3. During a tour of AFVAS, it was observed that large dogs were restricted from normal movement such as being able to lie down, turn around, and sit normally. The cause of the restriction is a large sleeping box inside the kennel. One dog was sitting on top of his sleeping box because of the lack of room to move.
4. It has been reported that when it rains the AFVAS becomes flooded. Because of poor drainage, it is necessary to sand bag areas and use pumps to drain the water accumulations. The AFVAS grounds become muddy and are dangerous to work in and difficult to safely park a vehicle.
• Riverside County Department of Building and Safety, Environmental Compliance Division, recently has been issued a state storm water permit. This permit requires storm water pollution compliance inspections to be conducted at all commercial facilities, including kennels. These inspections began in 2007, and will continue in 2008. No inspection of the AFVAS has been performed as of the date of this report.
5. AFVAS does not have smoke detectors and/or fire alarm systems installed and operating in their trailers.
2
6. The entrance to the AFVAS does not have address numbers visible from the street or the parking lot. The address does not register in computer programs, such as Mapquest.
Recommendations
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Animals Friends of the Valley
Riverside County Fire Department
Riverside County Transportation and Land Management Agency
Riverside County Building and Safety,
Environmental Compliance Division
1. Inform personnel and visitors of the hazard of the Parvo virus by posting signs. Provide a box or platform to disinfect shoes as employees and the public enter and exit the facility. This box must contain disinfectants and germicides such as RX-75 or RX-44 PLUS, both of which have been shown to be effective against Parvo.
2. Provide a well-lighted and safe facility using approved outdoor waterproof light fixtures.
3. Provide room for larger dogs by removing the sleeping box and putting down a pad and blanket as weather permits.
4. Riverside County Department of Building and Safety, Environmental Compliance Division, must, without delay, perform an initial inspection of AFVAS to determine if they are in compliance with all state and local storm water quality requirements. AFVAS management must identify potential and actual sources of pollutants at the AFVAS and insure they do not contaminate nearby waterways that might receive drainage. Correct and redirect drainage to eliminate flooding during the rainy period.
5. Install smoke detectors and a fire alarm system in all structures at AFVAS.
6. AFVAS must post an identifying and clearly visible address sign at the street entrance.
Report Issued: 06/18/08
Report Public: 06/20/08
Response Due: 09/16/08
3
Response from LEAF http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/08resp_animalfriendsvalleyanimalshelter.pdf
2001-2002 Grand Jury Report Desert Hot Springs Shelter
2001-2002 GRAND JURY REPORT
Desert Hot Springs Animal Shelter
Background
The City of Desert Hot Springs constructed a 1,266 sq. ft. animal shelter in 1988 at
a cost of $30,000. The facility included 10 kennels and a feline room. In mid
2001, a new fiberglass fabric covered shelter was constructed adjacent to the main
entrance at a cost of approximately $6,300. It has a misting system for cooling
purposes, drainage facilities, four prefabricated dog houses, and a plastic wading
pool for the dogs.
Responsibility for this facility was first assigned to the City’s Community Safety
Division. In July 1999, the city’s financial status resulted in extensive city-wide
layoffs. The animal shelter was then placed under the control of the chief of police.
In January 2001, control of the animal shelter was transferred to the city manager.
The annual operating budget in 1988 was $36,000. By 1999, the shelter’s annual
budget had grown to $141,317. In January 2001, it was increased to $165,000.
The 2001-2002 budget is $194,850 with $150,239 devoted to salaries and benefits
of the shelter’s staff.
The staffing has remained at 2 full-time employees since the facility opened.
Salaries and benefits of these employees compare favorably with similar facilities.
Findings
1. Animals are often abandonded by Desert Hot Springs’ seasonal population.
This results in a considerable fluctuation in the number of animals kept in
the shelter.
2. Training programs and the monitoring of work performance, including
written policy and procedures, are nonexistent.
3. There are no volunteer programs in place.
4. No one is scheduled to care for or feed the animals on weekends or
holidays.
5. The shelter’s computer system is inoperative. This requires all activities
to be logged manually.
6. Personnel records of past and present employees, maintained in the
shelter’s office, are incomplete.
7. No water is carried in the animal control vehicle for the animals.
8. The original outdoor enclosure contains up to 14 dogs. It is covered with
a torn tarpaulin, exposing the animals to the elements year round.
9. The outdoor enclosure’s misting system, used to cool the animals, is
inadequate.
10. There is a strong odor coming from the animal enclosures.
11. The interior ceiling heater has exposed wiring.
12. There is no street number or identifying sign on the outside of the animal
shelter.
13. There is no notification system to inform owners of impounded animals.
14. The animal shelter has not taken advantage of funds by applying for
available grants.
15. Animal food is not properly stored or organized.
16. The proposed Coachella Valley area-wide animal shelter project is not
presently available.
Recommendations
Desert Hot Springs City Council
Desert Hot Springs City Manager
Mayor of Desert Hot Springs
1. Provide a training program for the shelter staff and volunteers.
2. Repair or replace the computer system.
3. Seek out volunteers with computer skills to assist in daily operations.
4. Provide fresh water in the animal control vehicle for animals.
5. Repair or replace the tarpaulin covering the original outdoor pen.
6. Update and maintain personnel records.
7. Develop policies for notifying owners of captured licensed animals.
8. Apply for available grants to be used for ongoing education of the public
in animal care.
9. Use volunteers, or current employees to staff the shelter and to feed and
care for the animals on the weekends and holidays.
10. Install identifying signs at the entrance of the shelter.
11. Partner with other area animal shelters to handle the seasonal overflow of
animals.
12. Investigate the feasibility of utilizing the proposed Coachella Valley areawide
animal shelter project, if it becomes available.
Here is the reponse http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/02respdhsas.pdf
Desert Hot Springs Animal Shelter
Background
The City of Desert Hot Springs constructed a 1,266 sq. ft. animal shelter in 1988 at
a cost of $30,000. The facility included 10 kennels and a feline room. In mid
2001, a new fiberglass fabric covered shelter was constructed adjacent to the main
entrance at a cost of approximately $6,300. It has a misting system for cooling
purposes, drainage facilities, four prefabricated dog houses, and a plastic wading
pool for the dogs.
Responsibility for this facility was first assigned to the City’s Community Safety
Division. In July 1999, the city’s financial status resulted in extensive city-wide
layoffs. The animal shelter was then placed under the control of the chief of police.
In January 2001, control of the animal shelter was transferred to the city manager.
The annual operating budget in 1988 was $36,000. By 1999, the shelter’s annual
budget had grown to $141,317. In January 2001, it was increased to $165,000.
The 2001-2002 budget is $194,850 with $150,239 devoted to salaries and benefits
of the shelter’s staff.
The staffing has remained at 2 full-time employees since the facility opened.
Salaries and benefits of these employees compare favorably with similar facilities.
Findings
1. Animals are often abandonded by Desert Hot Springs’ seasonal population.
This results in a considerable fluctuation in the number of animals kept in
the shelter.
2. Training programs and the monitoring of work performance, including
written policy and procedures, are nonexistent.
3. There are no volunteer programs in place.
4. No one is scheduled to care for or feed the animals on weekends or
holidays.
5. The shelter’s computer system is inoperative. This requires all activities
to be logged manually.
6. Personnel records of past and present employees, maintained in the
shelter’s office, are incomplete.
7. No water is carried in the animal control vehicle for the animals.
8. The original outdoor enclosure contains up to 14 dogs. It is covered with
a torn tarpaulin, exposing the animals to the elements year round.
9. The outdoor enclosure’s misting system, used to cool the animals, is
inadequate.
10. There is a strong odor coming from the animal enclosures.
11. The interior ceiling heater has exposed wiring.
12. There is no street number or identifying sign on the outside of the animal
shelter.
13. There is no notification system to inform owners of impounded animals.
14. The animal shelter has not taken advantage of funds by applying for
available grants.
15. Animal food is not properly stored or organized.
16. The proposed Coachella Valley area-wide animal shelter project is not
presently available.
Recommendations
Desert Hot Springs City Council
Desert Hot Springs City Manager
Mayor of Desert Hot Springs
1. Provide a training program for the shelter staff and volunteers.
2. Repair or replace the computer system.
3. Seek out volunteers with computer skills to assist in daily operations.
4. Provide fresh water in the animal control vehicle for animals.
5. Repair or replace the tarpaulin covering the original outdoor pen.
6. Update and maintain personnel records.
7. Develop policies for notifying owners of captured licensed animals.
8. Apply for available grants to be used for ongoing education of the public
in animal care.
9. Use volunteers, or current employees to staff the shelter and to feed and
care for the animals on the weekends and holidays.
10. Install identifying signs at the entrance of the shelter.
11. Partner with other area animal shelters to handle the seasonal overflow of
animals.
12. Investigate the feasibility of utilizing the proposed Coachella Valley areawide
animal shelter project, if it becomes available.
Here is the reponse http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/02respdhsas.pdf
2002-2003 Grand Jury Report Department of Animal Services
2002-2003 GRAND JURY REPORT
Department of Animal Services
Background
The mission and responsibility of the Department of Animal Services (DAS) is to “protect and serve the people and animals of Riverside County through programs that provide for public education, humane sheltering, responsible pet ownership, and progressive law enforcement.”
The DAS was a division within the Health Services agency until 1999, when it became a department. The department employs 104 personnel serving throughout the county and has an annual budget of over $5 million funded by the county general fund and fees for such services as licenses and pet adoption. A large percentage of Riverside County homes have at least one domestic animal as a pet (usually a cat or dog). The Riverside County Integrated Project shows that the County’s population will increase at a steady rate over the next 20 years. As the County’s human population increases, so may the population of domestic animals, greatly increasing the workload and responsibility of the DAS.
The DAS has six basic programs:
1. A field operation program in which animal control officers (ACO) regularly deal with animal bites, injured, sick, and stray animals as well as protecting animals from abuse and neglect by their owners. DAS employees may assist the California Department of Fish and Game in controlling dangerous animals such as bears or mountain lions.
2. A shelter program in which the DAS manages animal shelters in Riverside and Blythe. There are two additional shelters under contract for dogs and cats located in San Jacinto and Lake Elsinore, and a temporary shelter for large animals (such as cattle and horses) in Nuevo.
3. A program for licensing dogs and inoculating them for rabies.
4. A spay-neuter clinic for preventing the rapid growth of the population of unwanted dogs and cats.
1
5. A DAS educational program to inform children in the public schools about the responsibilities of caring and feeding of animals, as well as the dangers associated with stray animals.
6. A volunteer program in which individuals work in the shelters and in the educational programs, assisting the department’s professional staff.
Findings
1. In late 2002, more than 70 horses were seized from one location because of allegations that the animals were suffering severe neglect. The horses were turned over to DAS for care at a temporary animal shelter in Nuevo. The unexpected and unbudgeted cost to DAS is estimated to be $100,000 before the horses may be available for adoption or moved in a legal manner.
2. The DAS must cope with situations involving groups of large animals (such as horses or cattle) on an average of four to five times per month. This includes cattle that stray onto a highway or horses that are malnourished and suffering from neglect. Training is sporadic as incidents occur.
3. The DAS owns four stock trailers that can transport large animals. Parts of this equipment (such as loading ramps) have not always been in safe operating condition.
4. According to the Director of the Center for Equine Health at U.C. Davis, “West Nile Virus is expected to be a threat throughout the state this summer.” The virus may be lethal to horses and is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. The cost for vaccinating a horse for West Nile Virus is between $75 - $100 for the set of two shots.
5. The DAS states that informing students (K-12) about the responsibility of caring for animals often aids in reducing problems of animal abuse and over population.
6. Each year taxpayer money is spent to cope with pet over-population problems. Increased public awareness for the spay-neutering of pets will result in fewer unwanted animals and eliminate the need to euthanize.
2
Recommendations
Board of Supervisors
Department of Animal Services
1. Provide permanent training to the schedule for Animal Control Officers (ACO) in the handling of multi-animal incidents involving large animals (such as cattle and horses) and ensure that stock trailers are always maintained in proper operating condition.
2. Inform the horse owners in Riverside County of the serious dangers of West Nile Virus, provide information on the need for vaccinating, and be prepared to participate in control or eradication programs with other county and state agencies. Information should be provided on the DAS website and/or newspaper articles.
3. Vaccinate all horses and mules under the control and care of the DAS for West Nile Virus.
3
Here is the response http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/05respcountycounsel.pdf
Department of Animal Services
Background
The mission and responsibility of the Department of Animal Services (DAS) is to “protect and serve the people and animals of Riverside County through programs that provide for public education, humane sheltering, responsible pet ownership, and progressive law enforcement.”
The DAS was a division within the Health Services agency until 1999, when it became a department. The department employs 104 personnel serving throughout the county and has an annual budget of over $5 million funded by the county general fund and fees for such services as licenses and pet adoption. A large percentage of Riverside County homes have at least one domestic animal as a pet (usually a cat or dog). The Riverside County Integrated Project shows that the County’s population will increase at a steady rate over the next 20 years. As the County’s human population increases, so may the population of domestic animals, greatly increasing the workload and responsibility of the DAS.
The DAS has six basic programs:
1. A field operation program in which animal control officers (ACO) regularly deal with animal bites, injured, sick, and stray animals as well as protecting animals from abuse and neglect by their owners. DAS employees may assist the California Department of Fish and Game in controlling dangerous animals such as bears or mountain lions.
2. A shelter program in which the DAS manages animal shelters in Riverside and Blythe. There are two additional shelters under contract for dogs and cats located in San Jacinto and Lake Elsinore, and a temporary shelter for large animals (such as cattle and horses) in Nuevo.
3. A program for licensing dogs and inoculating them for rabies.
4. A spay-neuter clinic for preventing the rapid growth of the population of unwanted dogs and cats.
1
5. A DAS educational program to inform children in the public schools about the responsibilities of caring and feeding of animals, as well as the dangers associated with stray animals.
6. A volunteer program in which individuals work in the shelters and in the educational programs, assisting the department’s professional staff.
Findings
1. In late 2002, more than 70 horses were seized from one location because of allegations that the animals were suffering severe neglect. The horses were turned over to DAS for care at a temporary animal shelter in Nuevo. The unexpected and unbudgeted cost to DAS is estimated to be $100,000 before the horses may be available for adoption or moved in a legal manner.
2. The DAS must cope with situations involving groups of large animals (such as horses or cattle) on an average of four to five times per month. This includes cattle that stray onto a highway or horses that are malnourished and suffering from neglect. Training is sporadic as incidents occur.
3. The DAS owns four stock trailers that can transport large animals. Parts of this equipment (such as loading ramps) have not always been in safe operating condition.
4. According to the Director of the Center for Equine Health at U.C. Davis, “West Nile Virus is expected to be a threat throughout the state this summer.” The virus may be lethal to horses and is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. The cost for vaccinating a horse for West Nile Virus is between $75 - $100 for the set of two shots.
5. The DAS states that informing students (K-12) about the responsibility of caring for animals often aids in reducing problems of animal abuse and over population.
6. Each year taxpayer money is spent to cope with pet over-population problems. Increased public awareness for the spay-neutering of pets will result in fewer unwanted animals and eliminate the need to euthanize.
2
Recommendations
Board of Supervisors
Department of Animal Services
1. Provide permanent training to the schedule for Animal Control Officers (ACO) in the handling of multi-animal incidents involving large animals (such as cattle and horses) and ensure that stock trailers are always maintained in proper operating condition.
2. Inform the horse owners in Riverside County of the serious dangers of West Nile Virus, provide information on the need for vaccinating, and be prepared to participate in control or eradication programs with other county and state agencies. Information should be provided on the DAS website and/or newspaper articles.
3. Vaccinate all horses and mules under the control and care of the DAS for West Nile Virus.
3
Here is the response http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/05respcountycounsel.pdf
Grand Jury Report 2003-2004 Indio Shelter
Here are the pics http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/animal1.doc
2003-2004 GRAND JURY REPORT
Riverside County Animal Control Services Department Indio Animal Control Shelter
Background
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services (DAS) provides animal services in three communities (Riverside, Indio and Blythe) and unincorporated areas of Riverside County. The mission of DAS is to “serve the people and animals of Riverside County through programs that provide for public education, humane sheltering, responsible pet ownership and progressive law enforcement. DAS promises to provide these services with respect, concern and compassion for all”.
The Director of DAS is responsible for the overall operation of the Riverside, Indio and Blythe Animal Shelters and reports to the Director, Riverside County Community Health Agency.
The Indio Animal Shelter is the focus of this report. The Supervising Animal Control Officer supervises the day-to-day operations of the Indio and Blythe Animal Shelters and reports to the Director, Riverside County Department of Animal Services. The Indio Animal Shelter observe the following business hours open to the public:
Shelter Services
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
10:00 am – 7:00 pm Wednesday
Field Services
8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday through Friday
A compendium of animal services provided at the Indio Animal Shelter is below:
ADMINISTRATIVE
• Dog License Fees, Leash Law Violations
• Hearings
1
SHELTER SERVICES
• Vaccinations and Microchip Service
• Animal Turn-In
• Quarantine of Animals
• Upkeep of Impounded Animals
FIELD SERVICES
• Stray, Injured & Dead Animal Complaints
• Kennel License Requests
• Cruelty Cases
• Emergency Response & Investigations
• Dog License Fees, Leash Law Violations
• Potentially Dangerous, Dangerous & Vicious Dog Hearings
• Animal Relinquishment
• Emergency Response After Hours
The Indio Animal Shelter has the following number of kennels and animal capacity:
Kennels/Cages # of Animals
Dogs
30
80
Cats
40
40
Horses
02
02
Findings
1. During the period January through May 2004, Riverside County officials received approximately 100 citizens’ complaints regarding the Indio Shelter concerning the treatment of animals and the negative attitude of employees toward the public and rescue organization representatives.
2. Only 22 of the 2,720 animals impounded in FY 2002-2003 at the Indio Animal Control Shelter were transported to a veterinarian for treatment of their injuries or illness.
2
3. The disposition of impounded animals from the Indio Animal Control Shelter representing seven (7) months in the FY 2003-2004 are reflected below:
DISPOSITION OF IMPOUNDED ANIMALS
Held over
And Impounded
FY 2001-2002
FY 2002-2003
2,720
FY 2003-2004
(7/1/03 – 2/29/04)
1,731
Euthanasia
1,879
69.1%
1,152
66.5%
Adopted
477
17.5%
244
14.1%
Return to Owner
364
13.4%
335
19.4%
*Note: Fiscal Year starts July 1st through June 30th.
4. According to current policy dogs are held (5) days post-impound before the public or rescue organizations can adopt.
5. Currently, the Indio Animal Control Shelter has working relationships with only the following three (3) rescue organizations and a private citizen:
• Save-a-Pet
• Yucaipa Animal Placement Service
• Orphan Pet Oasis
• Private Citizen
6. Evidence shows that the Director of Riverside County Animal Control Services Department rarely visited the Indio Animal Control Shelter and was not well informed regarding the operations of the Indio Animal Shelter.
7. The management for the Animal Control Shelter in Indio failed to utilize an independent and unbiased citizen complaint process to address the public’s issues and concerns.
8. During a visit at the Indio Animal Control Shelter, the Grand Jury observed the following conditions:
a. Most of the 30 dog kennels were dirty with strong unpleasant odor of feces and/or vomit on the floor. (Photographs 1 and 2).
3
b. Soft canned food for very young, elderly or sick animals was unavailable.
c. Towels, blanket or paper to create a more comfortable environment for puppies, kittens, and older or sick animals was unavailable.
d. Upper fencing on some kennels that would prevent larger dogs from jumping into another kennel was missing. (Photograph 3)
e. Drain holes (6-8” in diameter) in the kennel floors were uncovered. (Photographs 4 and 5)
f. Freezer containing euthanized animals was unlocked and accessible to anyone on the property.
g. An outdoor run for overflow had no protective covering to reduce exposure from the sun.
h. The condition of the building showed a need for repairs and has not been repainted since 1974.
i. Cooling misters that surround the outside animal quarantine area were inoperative.
j. Administrative and animal records were observed to be scattered on the floor and spilling out of file boxes in a metal shed that also contained bags of dog and cat food. (Photograph 6)
k. Two (2) of the animal control vehicles do not have the circulating roof swamp coolers on them.
l. Upon reviewing the Riverside County Policy and Procedure Manual there are no procedures for implementation of spay/neuter programs.
4
9. Prior to the euthanasia of animals, the Indio Kennel Attendants do not obtain the name and phone number of private citizens and rescue organizations who have placed a “Hold” on an animal for adoption and therefore, are not in compliance with the Indio Animal Shelter’s Policy Number 326. This policy states, “If there are any holds on an animal (even if they are expired), an attempt will be made, via phone to the person or persons to confirm they are not interested in the animal.”
10. Many animals impounded at the Indio Animal Shelter are not receiving needed veterinary care. This practice is in violation of California Civil Code Section 1834.4(a) and (b) which states, “impounded animals must receive appropriate veterinary care” and also violates Section 559d (a) and (b) of the California Penal Code, which require that “no adoptable or treatable animal be killed”.
11. In accordance with Riverside County Animal Service Policy Number 335, all animals deemed suitable for adoption are administered Bordatella vaccination as well as the 5 in 1 injection. Although this information is recorded on the Animal Cage Card, the rescue organization’s representatives and private citizens are not notified of the vaccinations when adopting the animals.
12. The Supervising Animal Control Officer at the Indio Animal Shelter was unable to provide documentation or clearly articulate the qualifications, behavioral standards, problem solving skills and human relations skills for the Animal Control Officers Position.
13. In April 2003, a person present at the Indio Animal Shelter, documented the following acts of cruelty to animals:
a. “Kennel attendants kicking and punching dogs like they were punching bags that were in the process of being euthanized.
b. Newborn kittens (a week old) were not fed and were allowed to starve to death.
c. Kennel attendants using their animal control sticks to drag cats to the edge of the cage for the purpose of euthanasia.
5
d. Kennel attendants hitting cats with their animal control stick to calm them prior to moving to another cage or euthanasia.”
Recommendations
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Riverside County Animal Services Department
Riverside County Community Health Agency
1. Riverside County Animal Control Department develop and revise kennel operating policies and procedures that specifically apply to the Indio Shelter addressing the following areas:
a. Field Service responsibilities and practices.
b. Administrative and Office Record System.
c. Vehicle maintenance and operation.
d. Care of injured and/or sick animals.
e. Euthanasia.
2. The Indio Animal Control Management install shelves in the metal shed to store administrative records that are currently on the floor in the metal storage shed and in a bathroom.
3. Management at the Indio Animal Shelter provide soft foods for young, elderly and/or sick animals and store all animal food properly in the food storage locker.
4. Indio Animal Control Services Supervisor establish an effective work schedule that focuses on managing the operations at the Indio facility.
5. Replace all missing drain covers to prevent injury to small dogs.
6. Formal disciplinary action be taken against employees who fail to take injured, sick or suffering animals to the veterinarian or abuse or neglect impounded animals.
7. Indio Animal Control Service Supervisor and staff attend appropriate training classes that emphasize public relations and effective communications with rescue organizations.
6
8. Create a schedule of operating hours (staying within budget) at the Indio Animal Shelter to accommodate the working public for increased access to reclaim lost pets and promote adoptions.
9. Develop an effective program to increase pet adoptions, returning lost pets back to their owners, reduce euthanasia by:
Implementation of an aggressive spay/neuter program.
Distribute educational materials to the public regarding pet adoption and the need for spay/neuter.
Aggressive networking with rescues organizations that could incorporate offsite adoptions.
Maintain and update “website” to promote adoptions.
10. Indio Animal Control Shelter establish contracts and expand working relationships with rescue organizations to increase the number of pet adoptions.
11. The Director of Animal Control provide a staff member, with experience in public relations, to serve as the Indio Animal Service Liaison to establish coordination with rescue organizations and pet adoptions.
12. In FY 2004-2005 the Indio Animal Shelter establish and promote a pet adoption program with the goal to reduce by at least twenty-five percent (25%) the number of animals euthanized.
13. Revise the current complaint process through implementing a three-part (3) Citizen’s Animal Service Complaint Form with a tracking number and copies furnished to:
1. Complainant.
2. Director of Animal Control Services.
3. Director of Community Health Agency.
14. The Director of Community Health Agency submit a quarterly report to the Board of Supervisors, which includes a copy of the complaint and corrective action taken.
7
Here is the response http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/04respanimalshelter.pdf
Here is the City of Riverside's response http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/04respanimalsheltercityrvsd.pdf
2003-2004 GRAND JURY REPORT
Riverside County Animal Control Services Department Indio Animal Control Shelter
Background
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services (DAS) provides animal services in three communities (Riverside, Indio and Blythe) and unincorporated areas of Riverside County. The mission of DAS is to “serve the people and animals of Riverside County through programs that provide for public education, humane sheltering, responsible pet ownership and progressive law enforcement. DAS promises to provide these services with respect, concern and compassion for all”.
The Director of DAS is responsible for the overall operation of the Riverside, Indio and Blythe Animal Shelters and reports to the Director, Riverside County Community Health Agency.
The Indio Animal Shelter is the focus of this report. The Supervising Animal Control Officer supervises the day-to-day operations of the Indio and Blythe Animal Shelters and reports to the Director, Riverside County Department of Animal Services. The Indio Animal Shelter observe the following business hours open to the public:
Shelter Services
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
10:00 am – 7:00 pm Wednesday
Field Services
8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday through Friday
A compendium of animal services provided at the Indio Animal Shelter is below:
ADMINISTRATIVE
• Dog License Fees, Leash Law Violations
• Hearings
1
SHELTER SERVICES
• Vaccinations and Microchip Service
• Animal Turn-In
• Quarantine of Animals
• Upkeep of Impounded Animals
FIELD SERVICES
• Stray, Injured & Dead Animal Complaints
• Kennel License Requests
• Cruelty Cases
• Emergency Response & Investigations
• Dog License Fees, Leash Law Violations
• Potentially Dangerous, Dangerous & Vicious Dog Hearings
• Animal Relinquishment
• Emergency Response After Hours
The Indio Animal Shelter has the following number of kennels and animal capacity:
Kennels/Cages # of Animals
Dogs
30
80
Cats
40
40
Horses
02
02
Findings
1. During the period January through May 2004, Riverside County officials received approximately 100 citizens’ complaints regarding the Indio Shelter concerning the treatment of animals and the negative attitude of employees toward the public and rescue organization representatives.
2. Only 22 of the 2,720 animals impounded in FY 2002-2003 at the Indio Animal Control Shelter were transported to a veterinarian for treatment of their injuries or illness.
2
3. The disposition of impounded animals from the Indio Animal Control Shelter representing seven (7) months in the FY 2003-2004 are reflected below:
DISPOSITION OF IMPOUNDED ANIMALS
Held over
And Impounded
FY 2001-2002
FY 2002-2003
2,720
FY 2003-2004
(7/1/03 – 2/29/04)
1,731
Euthanasia
1,879
69.1%
1,152
66.5%
Adopted
477
17.5%
244
14.1%
Return to Owner
364
13.4%
335
19.4%
*Note: Fiscal Year starts July 1st through June 30th.
4. According to current policy dogs are held (5) days post-impound before the public or rescue organizations can adopt.
5. Currently, the Indio Animal Control Shelter has working relationships with only the following three (3) rescue organizations and a private citizen:
• Save-a-Pet
• Yucaipa Animal Placement Service
• Orphan Pet Oasis
• Private Citizen
6. Evidence shows that the Director of Riverside County Animal Control Services Department rarely visited the Indio Animal Control Shelter and was not well informed regarding the operations of the Indio Animal Shelter.
7. The management for the Animal Control Shelter in Indio failed to utilize an independent and unbiased citizen complaint process to address the public’s issues and concerns.
8. During a visit at the Indio Animal Control Shelter, the Grand Jury observed the following conditions:
a. Most of the 30 dog kennels were dirty with strong unpleasant odor of feces and/or vomit on the floor. (Photographs 1 and 2).
3
b. Soft canned food for very young, elderly or sick animals was unavailable.
c. Towels, blanket or paper to create a more comfortable environment for puppies, kittens, and older or sick animals was unavailable.
d. Upper fencing on some kennels that would prevent larger dogs from jumping into another kennel was missing. (Photograph 3)
e. Drain holes (6-8” in diameter) in the kennel floors were uncovered. (Photographs 4 and 5)
f. Freezer containing euthanized animals was unlocked and accessible to anyone on the property.
g. An outdoor run for overflow had no protective covering to reduce exposure from the sun.
h. The condition of the building showed a need for repairs and has not been repainted since 1974.
i. Cooling misters that surround the outside animal quarantine area were inoperative.
j. Administrative and animal records were observed to be scattered on the floor and spilling out of file boxes in a metal shed that also contained bags of dog and cat food. (Photograph 6)
k. Two (2) of the animal control vehicles do not have the circulating roof swamp coolers on them.
l. Upon reviewing the Riverside County Policy and Procedure Manual there are no procedures for implementation of spay/neuter programs.
4
9. Prior to the euthanasia of animals, the Indio Kennel Attendants do not obtain the name and phone number of private citizens and rescue organizations who have placed a “Hold” on an animal for adoption and therefore, are not in compliance with the Indio Animal Shelter’s Policy Number 326. This policy states, “If there are any holds on an animal (even if they are expired), an attempt will be made, via phone to the person or persons to confirm they are not interested in the animal.”
10. Many animals impounded at the Indio Animal Shelter are not receiving needed veterinary care. This practice is in violation of California Civil Code Section 1834.4(a) and (b) which states, “impounded animals must receive appropriate veterinary care” and also violates Section 559d (a) and (b) of the California Penal Code, which require that “no adoptable or treatable animal be killed”.
11. In accordance with Riverside County Animal Service Policy Number 335, all animals deemed suitable for adoption are administered Bordatella vaccination as well as the 5 in 1 injection. Although this information is recorded on the Animal Cage Card, the rescue organization’s representatives and private citizens are not notified of the vaccinations when adopting the animals.
12. The Supervising Animal Control Officer at the Indio Animal Shelter was unable to provide documentation or clearly articulate the qualifications, behavioral standards, problem solving skills and human relations skills for the Animal Control Officers Position.
13. In April 2003, a person present at the Indio Animal Shelter, documented the following acts of cruelty to animals:
a. “Kennel attendants kicking and punching dogs like they were punching bags that were in the process of being euthanized.
b. Newborn kittens (a week old) were not fed and were allowed to starve to death.
c. Kennel attendants using their animal control sticks to drag cats to the edge of the cage for the purpose of euthanasia.
5
d. Kennel attendants hitting cats with their animal control stick to calm them prior to moving to another cage or euthanasia.”
Recommendations
Riverside County Board of Supervisors
Riverside County Animal Services Department
Riverside County Community Health Agency
1. Riverside County Animal Control Department develop and revise kennel operating policies and procedures that specifically apply to the Indio Shelter addressing the following areas:
a. Field Service responsibilities and practices.
b. Administrative and Office Record System.
c. Vehicle maintenance and operation.
d. Care of injured and/or sick animals.
e. Euthanasia.
2. The Indio Animal Control Management install shelves in the metal shed to store administrative records that are currently on the floor in the metal storage shed and in a bathroom.
3. Management at the Indio Animal Shelter provide soft foods for young, elderly and/or sick animals and store all animal food properly in the food storage locker.
4. Indio Animal Control Services Supervisor establish an effective work schedule that focuses on managing the operations at the Indio facility.
5. Replace all missing drain covers to prevent injury to small dogs.
6. Formal disciplinary action be taken against employees who fail to take injured, sick or suffering animals to the veterinarian or abuse or neglect impounded animals.
7. Indio Animal Control Service Supervisor and staff attend appropriate training classes that emphasize public relations and effective communications with rescue organizations.
6
8. Create a schedule of operating hours (staying within budget) at the Indio Animal Shelter to accommodate the working public for increased access to reclaim lost pets and promote adoptions.
9. Develop an effective program to increase pet adoptions, returning lost pets back to their owners, reduce euthanasia by:
Implementation of an aggressive spay/neuter program.
Distribute educational materials to the public regarding pet adoption and the need for spay/neuter.
Aggressive networking with rescues organizations that could incorporate offsite adoptions.
Maintain and update “website” to promote adoptions.
10. Indio Animal Control Shelter establish contracts and expand working relationships with rescue organizations to increase the number of pet adoptions.
11. The Director of Animal Control provide a staff member, with experience in public relations, to serve as the Indio Animal Service Liaison to establish coordination with rescue organizations and pet adoptions.
12. In FY 2004-2005 the Indio Animal Shelter establish and promote a pet adoption program with the goal to reduce by at least twenty-five percent (25%) the number of animals euthanized.
13. Revise the current complaint process through implementing a three-part (3) Citizen’s Animal Service Complaint Form with a tracking number and copies furnished to:
1. Complainant.
2. Director of Animal Control Services.
3. Director of Community Health Agency.
14. The Director of Community Health Agency submit a quarterly report to the Board of Supervisors, which includes a copy of the complaint and corrective action taken.
7
Here is the response http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/04respanimalshelter.pdf
Here is the City of Riverside's response http://www.riverside.courts.ca.gov/grandjury/04respanimalsheltercityrvsd.pdf
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