Last week I wrote that a Clallam County judge found Olympic Animal “Sanctuary” founder Steve Markwell guilty of 48 violations of Washington’s charitable solicitation laws.
Since Markwell set up the “Sanctuary,” Clallam County’s largest newspaper, the Peninsula Daily News, rarely, if ever wrote anything critical about it despite hundreds of pictures showing starving dogs living inside crates and kennels on top of filthy straw soaked with their own urine and feces.
Any objective person who spent a day outside the warehouse had to at least have an inkling that something wrong was happening to the dogs inside due to the disgusting, fetid smell emanating from the pink warehouse where Markwell stored the dogs and the constant barking and howling of 120+ dogs inside.
But instead of investigating what was going on there, the Peninsula Daily News, in my opinion, served more as a public relations arm for the “Sanctuary” rather than an objective newspaper.
The News printed a number of old quotes from Markwell and his lawyer defending his treatment of the dogs and blaming his problems “the egregious acts of self-described animal activists” despite the fact that he was found guilty of violating charitable solicitation laws. 48 times.
The News also failed to get any quotes from the people whose work exposed the animal cruelty and financial mismanagement of the “Sanctuary.”
After writing dozens of articles in the last year and a half about the attempts by Markwell to justify what he did to those dogs and demonizing the people trying to save them, I’m not going to address the rehashed quotes in the News’ article about Markwell’s conviction.
Instead, I’ll just use pictures.
“Markwell also told the court he used the funds to buy food for his dogs, which he said numbered up to 164 dogs, for volunteers and for himself. ” Peninsula Daily News, April 8, 2015
The people who sent Buddy to the “Sanctuary” paid Steve Markwell approximately $3000 to build him a kennel. He never built it. Photo from Forks Police.
This is Crockett not long after he was rescued from the “Sanctuary.” You can see how emaciated he was due to starvation.
Even after eating regularly for a couple of weeks after being rescued, this dog still shows the effects of the starvation he suffered at the “Sanctuary.” You can see its spine protruding through its skin. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.
Another starved dog saved from OAS in January 2014. Photo from OAS-Life inside the Sanctuary.
Brinks’ condition clearly shows he was starved at the “Sanctuary.” Photo from Seattle DogSpot.
Order of photos in collage starting with the top row (going from left to right):
1st Row – 1) Buddy 2) Jesse 3) Buddy’s jowls
2nd Row – 1) Crockett 2) Buddy’s back leg (scars, and flat feet)
3) Crockett – loss of muscle mass/atrophy
3rd Row – 1) Puncture wounds on Crockett 2)Crockett’s torn ear 3) Puncture wounds on Crockett. Image from Lionel’s Legacy.
“I lived, by choice, in poverty during the entirety of OAS’s short history. . . . Most importantly, very nearly all the money I raised at OAS was used to care for the animals.” Steve Markwell, Peninsula Daily News, April 8.2015
This is how Bubba arrived in Arizona after he was rescued from the “Sanctuary”. The veterinarian who examined him estimated he hadn’t eaten for 2 months and called it the worst case of abuse he had ever seen. Photo from Protest OAS.
Bubba was so thin his skin began to split. Photo from Protest OAS.
Anna was on the brink of death when she was rescued from the “Sanctuary.” Photo from Protest OAS.
Barry was found dead in his kennel next to a bone dry water pail. Photo from OAS – Life inside the Sanctuary.
Phoenix had his tail ripped off in a fight at OAS. He was never taken to a veterinarian. Photo from OAS-Life inside the Sanctuary.
This is how dogs lived inside the “Sanctuary.” Doesn’t look to me like Markwell spent much money for their care. Photo from OAS-Life inside the Sanctuary.
This is one of many photographs taken by the Forks Police Department. The dog in the center of the photo doesn’t have adequate space to stand fully. He lives in the crate without access to regular food or water. Most of the dogs never go outside. Photo from Forks Police.
Steve Markwell’s new pickup truck bought with OAS donations doesn’t jive with his claim that he lived a “life of poverty.” Photo from Seattle DogSpot.
Steve Markwell sent out a fundraising request for $6000 to buy a refrigerated trailer to store meat for the dogs, but instead he outfitted it with travel crates and used it to escape increasing public scrutiny of OAS. Photo fromSeattle DogSpot.
His attorney, Jackman, wrote to the court, “If anything, Mr. Markwell did a great service to the community by accepting canines who would either be homeless or euthanized without his charity. . . .” Peninsula Daily News, April 8, 2015.
Buddy was adopted after he was rescued and now lives with the director of a rescue/rehabilitation center. Photo credit withheld.
Luke’s personality emerged when he arrived at his new home. Turns out he’s a big goofball. Photo credit withheld.
KING 5 reporter Jeff Burnside adopted former OAS dog Roscoe. Does he look like a mean wild dog to you? Photo from Jeff Burnside.
Thor and Mimi now live happily in New Jersey. Photo from Gentle Giants.
Former OAS dog Rogue thinks nothing better than a car ride in July with your head out the window. Photo from Wolf Spirit Sled Rescue.
Former OAS dog Bailey is finally loved. Photo from Seattle DogSpot.
Goofy has made great strides over the last year thanks to many people who gave him the training and structure he never had before he was rescued. Photo from Safe Haven Rescue Kennel.
Sophie’s new parents took her on a road trip to meet their new grandchild. She was very gentle when they met. Photo credit withheld.
“He has been at a severe detriment since the inception of OAS given how hard he has been wounded financially, emotionally and personally from the egregious acts of self-described animal activists.” Statement from Steve Markwell’s attorney in the Peninsula Daily News, April 8, 2015.
“Animal activists” performing “egregious acts.” Photo from Protest OAS.
More egregious acts. Photo from Protest OAS.
These “animal activists” were out of control! Photo from Protest OAS.
One of the signs OAS supporters put up across the street from the “animal activists” protesting outside the OAS warehouse. Photo from Seattle DogSpot
Robert, Thank you for staying with this story. It is so important that this is kept out there so that animal abuser gets his just desserts. He deserves nothing less than what he did to those dogs. Just tragic.
Thank you. I wish I could stop writing about it.
RESCUE THESE POOR ANIMALS AND PUT THIS AWFUL HUMAN BEHIND BARS WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER!!
And besides the horrid conditons of the dogs, the people who rescued them and voiced their outrage against the cruelty became targets of the few but rabid supporters of OAS. Hate pages were generated to publicly and falsely accuse innocent people of crimes, call them names and post the most vile things. Death threats, calls to people’s employers and families, criminal stalking and harassment were just some of tactics that the Markwell supporters employed.
Thank you, Robert, for your tireless dedication to bringing the truth to light!