April, Cooper, Doug, Libby, Toby, Alana, Bunny, Clara, Guido, Gus, Maui, Ralph, Tatonka, Zeus.
These are 14 the 124 dogs rescued from the Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” in Forks, WA in January of 2014. They are the only dogs that haven’t been placed, and they’ve been living in outdoor kennels in Golden Valley, Arizona for about a year-and-a-half.
91, 94, 98, 100, 101, 101, 104, 104.
These are the predicted high temperatures for the next week in Golden Valley.
The dogs are in Arizona because the rescue group Guardians of Rescue convinced Steve Markwell, the founder of the Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” to bring the 124 dogs he had crammed a truck trailer to Golden Valley and sign over custody of them.
These are the 14 dogs from the Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” that have been living outside in kennels since January , 2014. Image from Protest OAS.
The dogs would have probably either died or continued to suffer if Guardians of Rescue hadn’t taken custody of the dogs. Many of them were already near death after being locked inside crates and kennels, forced to live on their own waste, and fed starvation rations for years. In addition, Markwell hadn’t given them food or water for several days on their circuitous journey from Forks to Golden Valley.
While Guardians of Rescue should be commended for taking the dogs, 14 of them still remain in outdoor kennels baking in the harsh Arizona sun. They get food and fresh water (sometimes daily, sometimes less often) but they don’t get much exercise outside their kennels, and when they do, it’s not for very long.
This is exponentially better than the care they received at the “Sanctuary,” but it is still substandard. These dogs need socialization, mental stimulation, training, and lots of exercise.
Sure, finding a place where all of the dogs rescued from the “Sanctuary” could stay temporarily was critically important and much appreciated. However, leaving these last 14 dogs in the desert, virtually forgotten, is wrong and, in my opinion, cruel.
Guardians of Rescue posted last April that it would bring the 14 remaining dogs from the “Sanctuary” to NY because it would be easier to find homes for them. The dogs are still in Arizona. Image from Guardians of Rescue.
Whenever any dogs are rescued from horrific conditions, there is a huge public outpouring of relief, joy, and gratitude. When this happened after the dogs arrived in Arizona, Guardians of Rescue, like many other dog rescue groups, didn’t hesitate to parlay it into numerous requests for donations.
But when the public spotlight shifted away from the dogs in Arizona, Guardians of Rescue shifted its attention elsewhere while rescue groups and individuals not only took in dozens of dogs and found them homes, but also networked the remaining dogs to find places to take them. As far as I can tell, the only thing Guardians of Rescue did was put up posts about the dogs on their website.
It did say on its Facebook page last April that that it would bring the dogs to New York (where its headquarters is located) because it would be easier to find them homes there, but that never happened.
In the meantime, Guardians of Rescues has launched multiple new initiatives such as saving dogs from Korea, matching shelter dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD, helping low income families care for their pets, and helping returning service members adopt pets.
While starting these worthy programs, Guardians of Rescue has virtually ignored the remaining Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” dogs now sweltering in the unrelenting Arizona heat. This is particularly ironic given the mission of some of these programs:
Gimme Shelter “works to ensure that all animal are provided with proper protection from the elements.”
Toby is one of the 14 dogs from the Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” still in Arizona. Photo from Protest OAS.
Sheltering Arms is “developing a Shelter Certification which will be awarded to those animal care facilities that uphold a stringent series of standards for animal care. Guardians of Rescue will be performing unannounced inspections in order to determine which areas, if any, are in need of improvement and will make recommendations based on those visits to each shelter inspected.”
Again, these programs have worthy goals, but the last I heard, the 14 dogs in Arizona are NOT being provided with proper protection from the elements, and the quality of their care would NOT meet stringent standards for animal care.
I believe Guardians of Rescue should focus its organizational attention on finding permanent homes for the 14 remaining Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” dogs. Again, it deserves tons of credit for finding a temporary refuge for the dogs rescued from the “Sanctuary,” but continuing to ignore the dogs still in Arizona contradicts its purported mission “to protect the wellbeing of all animals and their owners, and come to the aid of those in distress.”
April, Cooper, Doug, Libby, Toby, Alana, Bunny, Clara, Guido, Gus, Maui, Ralph, Tatonka, Zeus.
These dogs already had to endure unspeakable hardships at the Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” for years. They do not deserve to spend the rest of their lives virtually unattended in the Arizona heat.
91, 94, 98, 100, 101, 101, 104, 104.
Temperatures in Golden Valley, AZ for the next week. Image from weather.com.
So sad – I commend GOR for the amazing job they initially did, but they now seem to be falling down n their mission. Those difficult to place dogs are never going to find homes in that remote location. Why have they not been moved to NY?
I don’t know. They’ve been quiet about it.
I am in the north east I would be happy to foster some of them if they can provide / help with transport
They can go to experienced rehabilitators and rescues only, but thank you for offering.
I totally agree. I love what the Guardians of Rescue have done in helping the OAS dogs…however, its time to live 100% up to their motto, “Together, we save them”. None of these dogs should be left behind. They do stand a much better chance of rehab and/or rescue/adoption if moved to the Guardians location. If fundraisers need to be done, so be it…lets get them there and on their way to better lives. THEY deserve it and are owed it at this point. I say this as a rescuer who drove cross country to help some of the OAS dogs. It can and needs to be done.
Yes, it can!
Thank you for not giving up on the final14. Now, what an we do to help GoR get these dogs out?
Keep asking them when they are going to find homes for the dogs.
Karen—what you can do is ask rescues to help. Guardians took in the dogs, and needs for all of us to step up—all the people and rescues who screamed to shut down OAS!
Contact every rescue you can think of and ask them to take one or two dogs!
Thanks!
Thank you for this information! How can we contact guardians of rescue to find out how to get the dogs fostered or moved else where? I am willing to take a few of the dogs to foster & rehome here in Seattle- as long as they get along with my dogs. Please let me know if you can.
Thank you, Jen Rosenbrook
You can post on their Facebook page or email them here http://guardiansofrescue.org/contacts/ but they haven’t been great about responding.
Jen—-contact them directly — info@guardiansofrescue.org
They have answered every email I sent to them.
I had no idea that there were still OAS dogs @ the temporary shelter, thank you for getting the word out. United in voice, maybe we can help get Guardians to finish finding homes for those still remaining
Ellen—we need to help! Share the remaining dogs everywhere! Every rescue!
Best Friends said they would take 4—and never took any. Perhaps that is a place to start?
Thank you!
Thank you for your article, Robert, and bringing the spotlight back to these remaining 14 dogs. Their lives have been on hold for over a year and a half, they were living in hell before that … They need to move forward and be settled. They were removed from OAS but they haven’t yet been “rescued.”
I am wondering if any of you have seen theses dogs lately? I did see them on July 6th. All have clean dog run, food, water and an attendant that cares for them daily. They have dog houses and shade. I certainly wouldn’t call it substandard. Are these dogs able to be placed elsewhere? Some maybe, all I am not sure. I do know some are dangerous or have that label…has GOR failed these 14? No.. These animals have been where they are for almost 24 months without compensation to the person who gave them land and a place to stay. Is that wrong you decide. GOR handled this but who else stepped up to help these dogs besides GOR and RUFFF.
Theses dogs are all use to the heat and have adjusted to the weather. They have pools and an exercise area with a large pool where they can play.
My response to Kathy covers the issues you bring up. And the person taking care of them only stays for a couple of hours and isn’t there every day.
GOR’s post from today
https://www.facebook.com/guardiansofrescue/posts/862731880447297?hc_location=ufi
Thanks for all you’ve done and are doing for these dogs Kris.
Have you ever actually been to the rescue you refer to as substandard?? Because I HAVE and it is not substandard. And Hillarie stepped up and took care of these dogs when no one else did. How much money have YOU, personally, donated to their care over the time they have been at this rescue?? How many times have you gone to this rescue to help take care of these or any other dogs? I thought this was going to be a nice article about helping dogs and instead you trash a sanctuary you do not know and say insulting things about the one person who has actually been doing something for these dogs. I really don’t even know what to say except that you really should apologize.
I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who did I insult? I was there when the dogs first arrived. I helped raise thousands of dollars for GOR to care for the dogs. I contributed my own money to GOR. I paid $1000+ transportation costs for several of these dogs to go to rescues all over the country to make it easier for rescues to take them. Many other rescuers paid money out of their own pockets to help these dogs.
Dogs shouldn’t be outside 24/7 when the temp is above 100 regardless of how much shade they have. These dogs get virtually no daily exercise. They’ve have no professional training. The only behavior assessment done on them was paid for by a woman with her own money because GOR refused to do it.
And to say one person has helped the dogs is ridiculous. Dozens of people and rescues helped them. No one person deserves all the credit.
Robert—I have totally appreciated you contributing to the dogs coming to me……thank you!
Thank you for taking them!
How dare you Kathy and Sharon try to call out SDS about this article. Yes the truth is NEVER pretty. Where the heck were you when these dogs were trapped in OAS??? SDS covered this extensively – and yes SPENT all that money, raised money, called out people and politicians to get this covered here in Washington. Relentlessly reporting on this – AND NO ONE WAS PAYING THEM FOR IT. They covered it every day – keeping it in the news so people knew what was happening so it could change. This is exactly right about the conditions and these dogs SHOULD NOT be forgotten. THANK you SDS for all your hard work you have done and continue to do to help these dogs. I’ll spread your story – what else can we do???
Joan I am not calling out SDS. I have been around these dogs since they were brought to Arizona. See what care they are getting and what their caregiver does.
These are what’s left of a terrible situation. Do I wish they could go to homes with fluffy beds and loving owners, I sure do. But I have seen them attack and know that they have issues and must go to other rescues with people who know how to care for dogs with aggression. I was there when the behaviorist came to evaluate them.
I know Bubba who was a miracle. I don’t have any issue with SDS…Just facts about the OAS/GOR dogs first hand. I last saw them July 6th their caregiver was with them at that time for several hours and I’ve never heard he doesn’t come daily.
All just facts. If I thought for a minute they were living in substandard conditions I would be on the phone to Robert at GOR in NY..
I am stating facts. I see these dogs at least twice a month or more. I live in AZ and have dogs that go outside in the heat. If the heat and being outside is such a problem why wasn’t this brought up the first summer?
I also do believe if it wasn’t for Hillarie Allison agreeing to take 124 dogs they would have all died wherever Markwell was going to dump them. No one would take them including “Best Friends”. The dogs that were the most adoptable are gone.
I do know that you and others have raised money for these dogs. But for 18 months RUFFF hasn’t been compensated.
Since you brought it up I was there the day of the assessment by the behavior expert. I am wondering if you were told what happened that day?
I fully agree that these dogs should go to rescues where they can live out their lives hopefully with people who are experts in dog with aggression issues.
I have no problem with SDS and wish you no ill will but hearsay doesn’t cut it with me esp since I’ve seen these animals many times over the last two years….
What I wrote did not mention RUFFF and this problem has nothing to do with RUFFF. These dogs legally belong to GOR and they are responsible for them. If RUFFF has issues with GOR then they can talk to GOR.
You are not stating “facts.” Best Friends DID offer to take all 124 dogs and was turned down.
The heat wasn’t brought up during the first summer because it was very difficult to find homes for 124 dogs. It took a several months.
Yes I know exactly what happened the day the dogs were assessed.
Is it still a requirement that these dogs go only to experienced trainers, rehabilitators, or rescue groups? Are all of the remaining 14 dogs ones with behavioral issues, and if so, were they “the worst?” Do any of them have special needs (health, age, disability) rather than behavioral issues?
As far as I know they have still have to go to rescue groups or rehabilitators. Whatever behavior problems they had have been exacerbated by the lack of human contact and socialization.
I understand (especially the liability issue). This certainly limits who can help. I wrote GOR, and have networked with any groups I’m aware of.
Thank you for writing this up. The update is obviously needed. We can commit to helping fundraise for whatever is needed for these dogs. Do you feel like Guardians of Rescue are open to working with other groups? I would love to know what we can do to help. Generally, we raise money for rescue groups in WA but these dogs began their horror in WA and we love to play a part.
Jaime—thank you! Let GOR know this—perhaps if further training could be provided for these dogs, more would be taken in to other rescues?
I know of some excellent in house trainers who could help some of them—but they are expensive.
If you could raise the money for some of the dogs, I would ask some of these trainers to take them, one at a time.
Then, we would all have to find rescues to take them at the end of the training.
Thank you!
This is Guardians of Rescues post from today
https://www.facebook.com/guardiansofrescue/posts/862731880447297?hc_location=ufi
I personally know Hillarie, and I know that she helps care for these dogs because they don’t get enough care from the person appointed by GOR, who has essentially become a squatter on her property. I also know that GOR is not compensating her. Without her where would these 14 dogs go? While they do belong legally to GOR, they are being housed on Hillarie’s property, using her water, her facilities, her land, her time, etc. The caretaker appointed by GOR is ridiculous. He’s barely there enough to care for the dogs and he does a half-assed job. Without Hillarie these dogs would perish. These dogs don’t belong in 110° weather day in and day out. Not every dog run has a pool and not every run has shade. That is not Hillarie’s fault. It is GOR’s fault for not providing for these dogs. GOR should be living up to their mission statement, and doing more to place these dogs. Instead they have been put on the back burner while GOR pursues other interests that make them look good to the public. Shame on them. People really need to make GOR accountable by addressing this issue. I’ve tried repeatedly to ask them about these dogs and my questions were always ignored and then I was banned from their Facebook page.
I have a hard time stomaching the fact that you feel the need to put rescues in the ‘so called’ news when you are stating your beliefs without contacting the people actually involved. Its a personal blog, not news. You are not privy to everything going on. I’m sure there is much happening behind the scenes and if all the dogs are aggressive with issues like you stated, there are a lot of liabilities and extreme shortages on where these dogs can go. Its hard enough with one dog much less 14. Its great you want to call out bad things but there are 1000’s of dogs in Arizona and they are fine outside. There are lots of good rescues that have a bad situation or make a mistake. You are doing no one any favors coming across like you have some knowledge when you are simply stating facts given by outsiders most likely or your own assumptions. I would assume if you actually talked to the rescue you’d post that.
I have contacted GOR a few times in the last few months and was told each time that a plan was in the works for the dogs but no specifics were given. In April GOR said it was bringing all the dogs to NY, but they never mentioned it again. GOR didn’t answer my latest request for information about when the dogs would leave AZ. No, I’m not privy to everything that’s going on
but I’m more familiar than most people with the situation as I’ve been writing about these dogs for almost 2 years, and my sources for information haven’t been wrong yet.
I can’t speak to the 1000’s of dogs in AZ that live outside – hopefully they have adequate water and shade. These dogs lived in small kennels and were exposed to temps above 100 degrees. Most reasonable people would think that’s not good for the dogs. The dogs are also got virtually no exercise or training for the last several months and their condition deteriorated. A behaviorist saw the dogs in Jan (a volunteer paid for it herself since GOR never spent the money to hire one) and reported the behavior of many of the dogs was regressing. Sitting in kennels 24/7 with virtually no human contact is cruel and inhumane.
And yes, part of this post contains my opinions based on information I know. – that’s was bloggers do.
If there are specific items in my post that you can show are incorrect, please let me know and I’ll look into it.