On the paved road that points the way leading to Long Beach Animal Control--there are no foot prints depicted on the way out.

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My wife and I and our Wonder Dog Chauncy (he's alpha of our five canine compadres) attended the rally for Noah's Ark Animal Rescue, held this past Saturday, September 2nd, near the entrance to El Dorado Park in Long Beach, California--the same entrance that Long Beach Animal Control navigates as it brings the tempest tossed cats and dogs on their way to Hotel Euthanasia. LBAC's seizure of Noah's Arks cats and dogs has unleashed (pun half-intended) an outcry from the animal rescue community, in Long Beach and across the country. Harsh words? Not as harsh as a death-bringing needle sticking into the only life you know and removing you from it. Dance around the kennel all we will, where death comes aplenty a profit most surely can be found in the margins of the graves.

Earlier posts can be found here and here and here.

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WARNING to our dial-up users: it could be a longish slog as there are large files for the pics.

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My wife and arrived around 11:30 a.m., about a half hour after the scheduled "rally" that took place began. It was a largely mellow and respectful affair of NAAR supporters, comprised of 35 to 40 sign-holding, concerned individuals at its peak. Messages were conveyed by homemade signs, media did interviews and sympathetic passers-by honked their horns in support of Noah's Ark Rescue. There was an overall sense that behind all of the events, from the arrest of founder Alexia Kyrklund, to seized animals denied medications, food and water during the first twenty-four hours under the care of LABC that these events were stained with a coat of an as yet undefined political enterprise. It seems rather obvious that LBAC NO LIKEY Noah's Ark, and that they in return have been viewed negatively by the many volunteers, staff and ad hoc supporters who are adamant in their support of NAAR.

Alexia Kyrklund with mother and supporter

I listened to many anecdotal stories regarding how the story has been framed by LBAC and by the media, an example of which was the Long Beach Press Telegram going so far as to characterize the seizure as a "rescue."

All I can say is: where is the partnership? Where is the place where good, decent and caring people can work together to aid and comfort some of our most helpless animal citizens? Something is hinky in the way the seizure was supposedly "spontaneous" and yet police, news and LBAC arrived with the kind of synchronicity airport managers dream of. No notice, no warning to fix a problem noted by an inspector. Big time raid kind of stuff--for a facility that is the Last Chance Good Samaritan for hundreds of hard luck animals with zero options.

There is a familair human-specific trail here as well: an unknown amount of money is collected by LABC for what is known as rendering, the process where flesh is turned into a food product for other animals to consume, among other nonfood-related uses. There is also how the issue of much money LBAC can charge for each animal seized, and how much more cash they are entitled to through city funds. LBAC is commonly referred to as a "High Kill" shelter, and so may have a reflexively defensive response to suggestions that they kill not kindly but too much.

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Tuesday evending, September 5th, a Long Beach City Council meeting will be held.. One of the issues to be discussed will be the LBAC seizure of the NAAR's dogs and cats--the meeting starts at 5:00 but if you wish to comment you must be there by 4:30 to sign up.

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I don't know where this story will go, but I hope that the comedy team known as Reason and Compassion can get its shit together enough to guide the City Council, the LBAC and NAAR to a satisfactory and fair resolution to any and all issues. The animals are currently being held at LBAC, many of whom have fosters lined up, as well as some adoptive homes. They are being held as "evidence." Nothing more chilling than being held in animal jail as "evidence"--a jail that has execution powers without benefit of counsel.

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Stay tuned: oh, and by the way, Chauncy says hi...

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