Multnomah County Animal Control Unlawful conduct and civil rights violations

Multnomah County Animal Control

Unlawful conduct and civil rights violations

Recent cases

Lulu: After asking every responsible county official on July 31 (e-mails below: Michael Oswald; Jeff Cogen; Kim Peoples) for help and a sensible solution for Lulu, a beloved pit bull dog belonging to a poor family, James and Emma Lavine, a family whose problem in these hard economic times is common; they could not afford a secure enclosure or fence, Lulu was instead killed. All that was needed was a secure fence or secure enclosure for which resources were available (Fences for Fido is focused on helping low income families and I had a secured kennel donation).

On August 03, at 8:29 AM Lulu was administered 11 ml of FATAL PLUS and died. Her family believed accurately that they had had several days left before the end of the appeal time. They had no car and depended upon others for transportation. I had found a kennel donation for them.

By law, citizens have 30 days to appeal from the date of service (in this case the date of service was July 08, 2013; Lulu was killed August 03, almost a week before the appeal time ran out.) If Multnomah County citizens are poor, homeless or minorities (in effect powerless). MCAS with full county commission approval (and vast county indifference) defies the lawful requirement for appeal dates and takes advantage. They know citizens struggling to survive cannot afford a legal challenge.  Vulnerable populations are fair game. They take advantage every time with full immunity.  

Lulu was killed and labeled “unhealthy/untreatable” a designation so dishonest it can’t even be logically addressed. MCAS with the capacity to help instead destroyed. That is part of the Multnomah County Commission’s culture.

Lucent and Loki:  Wendy Young was charged $1000 (July 27 notices of infraction attached) by Officer Cherry, accompanied by a demand that a kennel be built before redemption. Wendy Young only recently found a job after a long term search; she has no car; she is poor and losing her home. One of her children left the gate open. The charge that led to this ticket was that the dogs were at large (a recurrence). 

She is terrified, and rightly so, that her husky and malamute will be killed. She cannot afford MCAS fees for impoundment and penalties. But that is what MCAS does: take hostages; prey upon fear and poverty. I wrote to the county about the excessive fees as well. You did nothing.

Multnomah County government’s lack of morality and neglect of its humanitarian responsibilities is shocking and violates its claimed mission: defending the vulnerable. MCAS violates the county’s mission every day when the subjects are African American; Hispanic; homeless or just poor: disposable categories. There is a lack of moral core and also caring boundaries altogether in a county that behaves like a privileged club.

Please cross post. Supporting material available upon request.