(October 2, 2006) -- Friends of LB Animals has announced that it's raising funds for the medical care of 290 dogs and cats being held in protective custody by LB Animal Control, after their seizure from Noah's Ark, a non-government rescue organization.
"Animal Control has provided and will continue to provide all necessary medical care and treatment for these animals; however, many animals still require ongoing treatment and medical costs are building," says Friends of LB Animals in a release.
Friends of LB Animals adds that "100% of monies donated for these specific animals will go toward their care" and checks can be made out to "Friends of Long Beach Animals" -- marked in the memo line "Special Medical Fund" -- and mailed to: Friends of Long Beach Animals, P.O. Box 92736, Long Beach, CA 90809.
On August 23, LB Animal Control seized 299 animals from Noah's Ark, contending they were living in deplorable conditions. Noah's Ark denied Animal Control's contentions and obtained a temporary restraining order preventing LB Animal Control from killing the animals pending a court hearing. On September 8, a Superior Court judge sided with Animal Control and declined to extend the TRO into a preliminary injunction.
On Sept. 30, LB Animal Control bureau manager Wesley Moore told LBReport.com that Noah's Ark had released three of the animals to their former owners or new owners and only a few of the seized animals had to be euthanized and a few died on their own...and if the remaining 290 animals are released to LB Animal Control (after completion of a still-ongoing administrative matter involving LB Animal Control and Noah's Ark), LB Animal Control's goal will be to place them in good homes or with appropriate animal support groups.
While noting that "we have to see what happens" in the administrative matter, Mr. Moore said that if the animals are released to LB Animal Control, it "would follow the normal adoption procedures for the facility, which is they would end up going out through the SPCA." "[B]oth the SPCA and Long Beach Control have programs in which we adopt through 501(c)(3) [tax-exempt] animal rescue groups. We could go through one of those programs as well. Our goal is that we put these animals into real homes so that animals that have been through so much will go directly to a new home and live its life in that new home," Mr. Moore said.
Friends of LB Animals says on its website (www.friendsoflongbeachanimals.org) that it supports the August action by LB Animal Control and LBPD in removing the animals from Noah's Ark.
Meanwhile, supporters of Noah's Ark have fired back on the internet.
A blog has appeared under the name "Noah's Ark Justice Committee". An I-Petition has also been posted by the "Noah's Ark Justice Committee" (420 signers as Oct. 2 at 11:00 p.m.) at IPetitions.com "Noah's Ark Justice Committee" page
And emails to LBReport.com indicate that supporters of Noah's Ark plan to speak at the Oct. 3 LB City Council meeting [we presume during period for public comment on non-agendized items]...and has invited media to attend an Oct. 4 "candlelight vigil" at 7700 E. Spring St. (outside LB Animal Control location).
In a release, the "Noah's Ark Animal Justice Committee" says Noah's Ark "has maintained during the past month that it would have signed a release for all the animals allowing Long Beach Animal Control to place them or release them to their registered owners if the City Attorney would simply remove the clause that would allow them to euthanize animals without an independent veterinarians authorization."
The Noah's Ark-supporters' release (listing as "committee chair" Scot Hicks and "committee member" Lisa Holcombe, with OC and Sac'to contact phone numbers respectively) says "people from around the southland and even from central California" will attend the vigil "for the the many animals they suspect will be killed in the coming days."
