Portland Shelter Animals Misevaluated

To: Michael Oswald 

      John Rowton

      Multnomah County Commission

CC: Kim Peoples

CC: David Blankfeld, County Counsel

CC: Robert Babcock, Attorney for James Herbold

Sirs:

Neither Mr. Rowton nor Mr. Oswald have responded to or acknowledged Mr Herbold's request for humane options for Mozart. Nor have they acknowledged our identified rehabilitation plans for Mozart after WAMAL's failed due diligence in its poor placement ( a 10 day thoughtless adoption) of Mozart.

Instead on page 18 of the current records ( attached)  we see WAMAL's efforts to bury their mistakes, efforts seconded by MCAS kennel care technician Stephanie Collingsworth's "evaluation" and MCAS management.

First, Ms, Collingsworth is not a behaviorist and is not qualifed to make the judgments she has made.

Secondly. WAMAL is contested as the owner and their behavior: conflicting reports, false and highly misleading statements and disingenousness would give any one pause.

I will address each of the misleading comments WAMAL provides for requesting and agreeing with euthanasia of a dog they hardly knew. Let me remind you that their evaluation of Mozart involved, according to Mr. Herbold, a 45 minute "viewing" of him from a distance ( as one might view a herd of wild elephants or water buffalo).

• " Bite to new owner who was an experienced Malamute owner with three previous Malamutes over the past years. New owners were in their 50's and 60's with no kids or other pets":.Owning three Malamutes over the years hardly qualifies one to own another Malamute. That is not the standard. Each dog is an individual. What WAMAL did not report was that the female owner was partially deaf  -- meaning she could not hear growls or perceive normal warning signs of animal discomfort. In the WAMAL ads ( I will forward them to you) , it clearly notes Mozart, like many malamutes and other similarly assertive breeds, does not like being patted on the head ( commonplace)  and is food protective ( correctable; not a death sentence).
•  
•  The new owners ignored all cautionary statements. The  bite incident occurred on the second pat to the head by the partially deaf female partner who ignored explicit cautions noted even in the adoption advertisement. One cannot cure failure to abide by instructions. It was her failing as an owner. The owner should be smarter than the dog. The owner was bitten on the hand on the second pat. Surprisingly there is no picture of the bite at all. Why not?

• "Assessment at the shelter by Luana who is a long time- volunteer for CAMEO who is the Oregon affiliate for WAMAl" How is that a qualification: friends of friends? No one with any credentials offers a :"shelter" evaluation by a rescue as a qualification.Luana has no credentials. Mozart has been confined to small space without exercise for a month now.No fair evaluation is possible.

•  " Assessment at the shelter by Stephanie Collingsworth, CPDT-KA Behavior and Training" Ms. Collinsworth is a kennel care technician. CPDT-KA is a certificate in dog training in private settings. It does not qualify one to conduct shelter assessments.

• "Case review by Christopher Pachel,DVM, DACVB, Animal Behavior Clinic, Animal Behavior Clinic 809 SE Powell Blvd, Porland, Oregon,97202." What records did Dr. Pachel review? Did he interview James Herbold, a normal expectation? Was he informed of a rehabilitation rescue plan? I have requested the report.

• "New conversations with James outlined below that says ( sic) had several previous human bites that were not disclosed ot WAMAL during our home assessment [the 45 minute vigil] or on his signed Owner Listing document."' Provide the documentation: quarantine notices, dates, persons, times.  Mr. Herbold vehemently denies the allegation.

WAMAL indicates" As you know, we have been contacted by other groups interested in Mozart..."  Indeed several qualified groups interested in helping Mozart have contacted WAMAL including one of WAMAL's own partners. WAMAL has not responded or, at best, responded dismissively as in the case of Thunder ridge Rescue, an MCAS  long term qualified rehabilitation rescue partner stating without ever speaking to the rescue director that Thunder ridge "didn't know malamutes" but then never called the rescue. Thunder ridge knows dogs, all breeds.

WAMAL will have to provide their  evidence of the reported "horrible conditions" at Songdog. That is a patently false statement that could easily be considered libelous and prosecutable  Songdog is a reputable  501(C)3 with multiple recommendations from shelters and rescues. Most dogs are in foster care. What sort of "evidence" does Ms. Bailey think having 67 dogs listed on Petfinders means?

 It certainly is not evidence that the dogs are overcrowded.  One documented incident several years ago involved a caretaker who was successfully criminally prosecuted by the rescue, the responsible action. Ms. Bailey is no research or fact finding expert. That is slander,easily construed as an aggressive efforr to interfere with and damage a rescue's work. When I asked for documentation Ms. Bailey provided none, an indictment of WAMAL.

This case will not be resolved behind MCAS's and WAMAL's closed doors. It is an appalling example of rescue malfeasance and government collusion .

Gail O'Connell-Babcock, PhD

Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation/Watchdog

Sherwood OR 97140

Telephone: 503.625.4563

Brief background

.Mozart's owner James Byrd Herbold of Byrd Guitars ( He has a guitar website;so does Kelly Herbold his ex wife, ceramics, sells Mozart tiles for $18 each)  was in an accident and became crippled and went on disablity. His life changed in a terrible way. He asked Washington Malamute Rescue League to help find Mozart a new home. They did a careless adoption and although the new owners were told not to pat him on the head, the partially deaf partner ignored the caution and the second time she did Mozart bit her hand. It was not a catastrophic bite; a few stitches, back to work that day. No picture of the bite . 

 

The 10 day owner signed Mozart over to be killed on November 29. Then he said it was up to WAMAL. WAMAL I don't think wanted him to leave alive .They knew but never contacted MCAS until we contacted them 2 days before the MCAS scheduled euthanasia date.We put together a rescue proposal; the long term owner Herbold wants a humane option: that he to go to rescue ; he does not want him to be killed, he loves his dog and feels betrayed by WAMAL. Mozart still remains in limbo. I have no idea where MCAS stands and what games or cards they are playing but ownership is legally disputed. 

 

Mozart is on U Tube too. Vibrant videos . Just google Mozart the malamute Kirkland WA and multiple videos come up.

 

WAMAL's adoption fee was $300. No screening (no home visit with this dog etc; WAMAL just came and stood 12 feet away and watched Mozart according to owner as the eval). That is an irresponsible rescue not an irresponsible dog. There was no due diligence.

 

Gail O'Connell- Babcock, PhD

Watchdog/Citizens for Humane Animal Legislation

Telephone 503.625.4563