No Wonder I've Never Liked Animal Care & Control: Dumping Miss Daisy
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
March 25, 2009 9:36pm CST
A fellow MyLotter told me about this story that just aired on Fox-5 Arnold Diaz's segment of Shame On You.
The story is, is that that a cat owner's beloved pet snuck out of her Jersey City apartment and wound up in the next door brownhouse apartment building. Never having seen the cat around before some tenants assumed it was a wild or lost cat and called the Animal Care & Control to take the cat away and place it in the nearby Liberty Humane Shelter. But instead of taking "Miss Daisy" the AC&C agent simply opened the van and dumped the cat in Lincoln Park to fend for itself...a park noted for owls, opossums, hawks and so forth.
Setting a trap filled with food to lure Miss Daisy, the cat made it's way into the trap and was reunited with its owner....but the story doesn't end there.
Upon further investigation by Arnold Diaz, this wasn't the first time this AC&C agent simply dumped a cat into the park instead of taking it to the shelter, and two other agents were caught in the act of doing the same thing and actually admitted to dumping cats for a long time. Animal activists, upon hearing this story laid out traps to capture the cats. They trapped over 20 cats, 14 of them were already spayed/neutered meaning that they had once been owned by people, the rest were feral cats and set back out into the Lincoln Park wooded area. The ones caught that were spayed/neutered are now up for adoption.
However, an investigation is being conducted and the agents involved for dumping the cats into the woods when it was their PAID job to rescue them and bring them to the shelter are suspended (big fricking deal)---the irony? The investigation is going to be conducted by none other than Animal Care & Control itself...like duh? Sure that's going to be real fair...NOT
Here's an article about it and a video showing Miss Daisy and her owner.
http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/shame/090325_Cats_Dumped_in_Jersey_City_Park
{Warning: This link is NOT a referral but a link to the article and video discussed here}
6 people like this
22 responses
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
26 Mar 09
That is just not right. Those people should be fired and an outside agency should be conducting the investigation. They are getting paid for a job they are not doing. Had they done what they were supposed to maybe some of those pets could have been reunited with their families.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
Seems like a real irony that the very organization that was behind the problem is going to conduct the investigation....sounds kind of biased to me, doesn't it?
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
Bingo...just found the webpage to contact the New Jersey SPCA itself
http://www.njspca.org/contact-spca-njspca.htm
{Warning NOT a referral link but a link on how to contact the SPCA}
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
26 Mar 09
This is so bad. Is Human society non for profit? But people working for Human society are taking money for their job. Means they are fooling animal lovers.
The story makes me very mad....
(indoor cats have no chance to survive outdoor, specially in the woods)
(indoor cats have no chance to survive outdoor, specially in the woods)2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
Animal Care & Control are usually city government run organizations, at least they are here and unfortunately most "agents" that work for them it's just a "job"--I have my own horror story in relation to AC&C so have no love for them
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
26 Mar 09
government job? no wonder...some of the are double dipping...
again is from taxpayers money....
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (208906)
• United States
26 Mar 09
I think there are some animals that are going to do what they are going to do. Ijust think tht cats should not be trapped. They are sweet and special animals and just should not be trapped and treated badly. I think animals are really nice and should be taken to a shelter if unwanted.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
I don't think you understand what I was saying here. This cat, Miss Daisy was owned by a person and was mistakingly taken by Animal Care & Control, then the agent driving the van with Miss Daisy in it, instead of taking it to the shelter the way he was supposed to merely dumped it in the woods...watch the video for the whole story.
1 person likes this
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
26 Mar 09
Hi pye,
Whats it called/ ah yes, ANIMAL CARE CONTROL. What a farce and they are getting paid? it just makes me spit, the people should e fired or better still fire the lot of them and let the real animals lover care take over the centre, I am glad that Miss Daisy was found and the owner has her back.
Bright Blessings.
Tamara
xxxx
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
Yes an ironic name isn't it? Most AC&C's are city government run and most of the people working for them, it's just a paying job and aren't always animal lovers. Yes, but glad that Miss Daisy was reunited...such a cute kitty, reminds me of so many of mine that I had in the past
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
26 Mar 09
Seems to me that an organization like PETA should conduct the investigation. Then it would be more objective. Having Animal Care & COntrol investigate itself is like the Catholic church investigating their pedophole priests, or having the KKK investigate incidences of racism.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
ASPCA would be a good organization as well...going to look them up, as they usually have a means to contact them in each state.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
How about the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) as well??? They're a pretty good organization. Did you see their recent undercover video of how chimps and apes are treated in a major Laboratory? Disgusting doesn't begin to describe it
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
26 Mar 09
ASPCA would be a good choice as well. I was looking for an organization that might view the incident a bit harsher...to set an example. When I hear stuff like this, I think less of fairness and more of justice...with no loopholes.
If a criminal investigates his own crime...and pleads the 5th...what happens? We can't know if these drivers were acting with the knowledge of their superiors, right? I mean, the less of the taxpayer money that gets spent on the animals it's intended for, the more that can go in their own pockets.
1 person likes this
@Anora_Eldorath (6028)
• United States
26 Mar 09
That's just insane. No wonder the ASPCA has so many headaches you know. I understand we have a lot of owners who don't take care of their pets, but the majority of owners do. Our cat got out once and jumped from the second story balcony! Lucky for us she was not hurt and stayed under the balcony all night waiting for us to find her.
Namaste-Anora
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
ASPCA is different as you know from Animal Care and Control. At least now ASPCA is no-kill and non=profit (wasn't always so)--AC&C on the other hand is a city run organization and is a kill shelter.
1 person likes this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
26 Mar 09
We have a better system in Australia.
We microchip the kitten before selling it.
The number of the microchip is listed in a database with the owner's name, address and phone number.
If you see a lost cat... you take it to the nearest vet. The vet scan the cat to retrieve the microchip number and calls the owner.
If it is a decent vet... he won't even charge you for the service.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Mar 09
Yeah great in theory, but if some yahoo like this AC&C agent picks up a cat that he might think as a stray and NOT take it to a shelter/vet to scan to see if it has a chip and instead just dumps it like this one did, then the good intentions and purpose of the microchip is kind of negated.
@moondancer (7431)
• United States
26 Mar 09
This is awful. How can they repeatedly do this and get away with it? These people should loose their jobs, since they aren't doing them anyway. Leaving a poor defenseless animal to fend for itself. Shame on them!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Mar 09
I just hope an outside source investigates into this and not AC&C itself, and yes, it'd be great if those "agents" were fined for animal cruelty
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
28 Mar 09
lazy slackers..they should all be fired.
those poor lost animals..
at least they weren't throwing them off an overpass like that other place though..
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
29 Mar 09
i think it might have been puerto rico.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Mar 09
I remember that story...that was in a South American county wasn't it where animal rescuers dumped them off an overpass??
1 person likes this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
28 Mar 09
I seriously would have fired these AC&C officers and made them pay fines for ever call they went on up to that point to drive it home to them and had a case brought against them for animal cruelty and that they wouldn't be able to own pets for the rest of their lives.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
29 Mar 09
I certainly hope some action is taken against those agents, but they need to have an outside agency/organization investigate into it, not the AC&C itself
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
30 Mar 09
I totally agree that there should be a third party that is a nuetral party and has no stake in the outcome and can't be swayed.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
27 Mar 09
I still think there need be a really good investigation about this as it makes me wonder if this type of thing happens elsewhere with AC&C
@Vladilyich1 (1454)
• Canada
29 Mar 09
There's absolutely nno excuse for this action!!! Even though a cat is better suited to becoming feral than a dog is (anyone who thinks a cat has been "domesticated" has never been owned by one), it is cruel and unusual punishment to take an animal who is used to being provided for (food, shelter, love) and turning it loose in the "wild". Cats wont go up to a strange person as readily as a dog will, and is ill-equipped to fend totally for itself.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
30 Mar 09
It's one thing when a person dumps a pet (any kind) and this happens all the time unfortunately...the pet owner not wanting the pet takes it in their car, goes to a strange neighborhood and dumps it...but to have a pet rescuer do this really is inexcusable.
@dreamweaverjan (3471)
• United States
26 Mar 09
HI Pye honey: Nothing surprises me anymore; What a scumbag of a "humanbeing"
he should be taken somewhere and "DUMPED" and let's see him survive; The JERK!!
I'm glad things turned out ok for Miss Daisy she is one of the lucky ones I guess;
That Animal Care & Control place should be shut down or they should fire the lot of them and start over with a kind caring group of people;
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Mar 09
Since most AC&C's are city/govt run unfortunately it attracts people who consider working for them as just a job and not real animal lovers. They need to change the whole AC&C system
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
26 Mar 09
That story made me really angry however it seems that having "the fox guarding the hen-house" is the politically correct thing to do. We have a tax evader guarding our tax money so the animal investigation is probably following suit.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Mar 09
Well I hope it doesn't follow suit. I actually emailed both the NJSPCA and HSUS and asked them if they can somehow conduct an investigation into this...I'm sure this isn't an isolated incident and probably happens with a lot of AC&Cs--like I said I hate this organization as I have my own horror story connected with them
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
26 Mar 09
Hi pyewacket! I am glad that Miss Daisy was reunited with her owner and hopefully those agents should suffer the consequences of what they did. It is their job to care for the animals and they are not doing this for free but being paid for it. I hope their agency will not cover up for them but be fair in their investigation.
Take care and blessings to you.
lovelots..faith
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Mar 09
I certainly hope there's a fair investigation about this and I hope to track the story.
@joyceshookery (2057)
• United States
26 Mar 09
A lot of outrageous acts of animal cruelty take place every day, everywhere. I watch Animal Planet. If the animal welfare authorities are for real, a few are doing a good job. It's just not enough. I'm appalled that the Jersey guys have been shirking their jobs and for no apparent reason. After all, they pick the cat up. What's the big deal taking the cat to the shelter instead of dumping it in the park. Too much paperwork? A lot of people out of work now would be happy to have their jobs and do a good job.
I'm glad Miss Daisy was a fortunate kitty and got reunited with her owner.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
Yes, Miss Daisy was one lucky kitty to be reunited with her "mom"--Maybe you're right though, maybe the AC&C just didn't want to be bothered with the paperwork
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
26 Mar 09
I saw that story, and am glad Miss Daisy was reunited with her family. I am also glad that the officers were suspended, especially when the one officer said that was what they were supposed to do, that is, let the animals loose in the park.
I was a little concerned when they said that they gathered some of the cats, and the ones that were spayed or neutered were placed in the shelter for adoption, but the other ones were left in the park.
I understand there is a cost for neutering and spaying, but I think those poor stray cats deserves a chance to get adopted too.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
28 Mar 09
I think the unspayed/unneutered cats were wild feral cats which is why they re-released them..feral cats usually aren't very adoptable to begin with
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
26 Mar 09
Pye,
I am so blown away by the attitudes of these people who are not just being paid but should be caring for these animals! Why would they even want a job like this if they care so little for animals. I say kick them to the street and give the jobs to someone who not only love animals but need a job as well. I'll never understand these kind of heartless people.
leenie
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
Unfortunately to most AC&C "agents" it's just a "job". Most AC&C are city/govt run organizations so usually don't attract people to work for them that genuinely love pets and care for them
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
26 Mar 09
OMFG! How could they! How dare they! Those poor cats! They
just dumped them without even caring what happened to them!
I so with there was some way that these people could be
punished, but sadly I know that they can't be! I do hope
that now that they have been caught that this will not dare
happen to any other unfortunate cats! Right now I have my
own cat Star in my lap and he watched this horrible video
with me and it just broke my heart to see what these miserable
people did to so many poor kitties! Please make them stop!
My poor baby is so sad now and so am I!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
26 Mar 09
I managed to find the NJSPCA website and emailed them about this. I basically said the same thing in my email as in this discussion and provided a link to that article/video...a separate animal organization should investigate into this and NOT AC&C...sheesh, that's not very brilliant is it?? I know...Miss Daisy looks so much like some of my former kitties
At least she's reunited with her "mom"
At least she's reunited with her "mom"