GFAS Sanctuaries: News Updates
GFAS Verified Linn County Animal Rescue Founder Wins Sheriff’s Award of Merit
Linn County Animal Rescue (LCAR) has a focused mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment for abused, abandoned, neglected and elderly horses. It works closely with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office Livestock Investigation Team, Linn County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, Oregon Horse Welfare Council and public citizens. Shortly after LCAR worked with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office to bring in its largest horse seizure of 31 horses, LCAR’s founder Cindy Kingsberry was awarded a special “Sheriff’s Award of Merit.”
The citation read: “In honor of your outstanding dedication to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office in its investigation of animal neglect. Your enthusiastic assistance to the deputies on the Livestock Abuse Investigation team and your establishment of the Linn County Animal Rescue, have significantly aided the Sheriff’s Office and have had a positive impact on the successful prosecution of suspects arrested for animal neglect. Thank you for all you do.” -Tim Mueller, Linn County Sheriff.
Sergeant James Welch of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office added: “Without Linn County Animal Rescue Organization’s generosity, knowledge of good animal husbandry skills and compassion for animals, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office would not be as successful in of our cases with seized animals. Before the Linn County Animal Rescue Organization, there were no seizures and the animals were left in the hands of those neglecting and abusing them. I believe if there were other similar organizations like the Linn County Animal Rescue for these other jurisdictions, law enforcement agencies would be actively investigating animal crimes if they had a place to take the animals.”
Congratulations to Cindy Kingsberry and Linn County Animal Rescue!
GFAS Accredited Habitat for Horses’ President Speaks Out on the Three Strikes Ranch Trial
At long last, the trial of Jason Meduna is over. Jerry Finch of Habitat for Horses wrote the following:
“The jury finds the defendant guilty as charged.”
Of all the scenes from hell through which I have walked, those from the Three Strikes Ranch were undoubtedly the worst. I haven’t said much about it, for the specific reason that Meduna’s fans and supporters were wanting anything they could find to hang me. To them I was the villain, the intruder, the ultimate bad guy and had it not been for me, their idol would never have fallen.
I received three calls in the middle of the night, all letting me know the jury’s decision. There was a joy, a celebration of good over evil, a strong sense of justice and a stamp of validity for all we have been through and our decisions to make it right for those horses, no matter what.
In the end, 220 horses, donkeys and mules walked out of that place, some giving birth within minutes of leaving. Left behind were an unknown number of once beautiful animals, now nothing more than bones and tufts of hair. Two of those, Voodoo and Itchy, are still at the ranch, both now fat and healthy once again.
Jason Meduna lost. His stupidity, his arrogance, his threats and those of his friends have been proven, in court, to be worthless. To all of them, this was about EGO and SELF. It was never about a single horse. It was never about life.
To us, the vets, Jim, Hillary Wood, the Husses, to those who worked so hard at HSUS and to those rescues that took in the horses to rehab them and find them new homes, today celebrates life. Our combined measure of the value of life were measured by a court of law and found to meet the same criteria as those who wrote the laws, and one bad guy is found guilty 145 times over.
And for that, I give thanks.
GFAS Accredited Foster Parrots’ Co-Directors receive “Hero of the Year” Award at 2009 MSPCA-Angell Animal Hall of Fame Dinner
GFAS congratulates Marc Johnson and Karen Windsor, Co-Directors of Foster Parrots based in Hope Valley, Rhode Island. They were presented with the 2009 “Human Hero of the Year Award” at the MSPCA-Angell Animal Hall of Fame Dinner.
The high profile annual gala was held at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library on October 22, 2009. For more information, see the press release!