Woman wants seized dogs back

published in the
Galveston Daily News
04/18/06
Leslie Contreras

Santa Fe – A woman from whom 20 dogs were seized by the county last week claims she is being treated unfairly and wants the animals back.

Galveston County Animal Services on April 11 took away the dogs, two cats, a pig and a goat from Sabrina Fesler’s property, where, she said, she was running an informal rescue program.

The county allowed her to keep four animals, the number permitted under county regulations. Seizure of all animals is a standard procedure when a warrant is issued to take away animals, a county health official said.

Fesler called herself a “true rescue person” who had been taking in dogs whose owners no longer wanted them or were temporarily unable to take care of them. She said she would post adoption notices online at various sites and hoped to find homes for most of the dogs.

“I was truly trying to do a good thing, and I got in trouble,” she said. “I personally feel like I’m being singled out.”

The county issued Fesler 41 citations on April 11 for being over the limit of animals allowed per household and for not having rabies vaccinations or county registrations for some of the dogs.

Fesler said that although she had registered four of her dogs the morning of April 12 and found the documentation of their rabies vaccination, she was not allowed to keep those dogs when officers returned later that day.

She will now have to wait to hear the outcome of a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday, when a judge will decide if she can keep any animals.

“For years I’ve done what you call rescuing an animal,” Fesler said. “I’ve always loved animals. I’ve always picked up an animal in the street.”

Fesler began keeping the dogs on her property about a year ago when people, through word-of-mouth, heard that she found animals homes if owners could no longer care for them, she said.

She said she had already found homes for at least three of the dogs seized by the county.

Fesler said she didn’t think shelters in the county were equipped to rescue animals.

“How many animals were put to sleep to make room for the 20 dogs, the two cats, one goat and a pig?” she asked.. “These dogs had a nice land to lay on, and they were safe. Who’s going take these dogs for a walk, play ball? They had ball play everyday.”

The county shelter is not a no-kill shelter, although the rate of euthanasia has decreased by 8 percent last year, said Kurt Koopmann, spokesman for the Galveston County Health District. Animals were euthanized the day Fesler’s dogs were brought in, but not specifically to make room for the seized dogs, Koopmann said.

Ronnie Schultz, the director of environmental health programs with the county, said that euthanasia depends upon many factors, including overcrowding and the adoptability and health of the animals. The shelter also works with local rescue organizations to get animals adopted, Schultz said.

Fesler is hoping that she will qualify as a legitimate rescue organization and will be able to go through the kennel permit process.

Schulz said people housing more than four animals can apply for a kennel permit by contacting the health district at (409) 938-2411 and beginning the application process. Kennels must have the proper structure to house the animals and owners’ properties will need to be inspected by the county, he said.

Fesler said she was willing to do what it takes to make sure the dogs get homes. In the meantime, she said, she and her family are distraught over the loss of the dogs.

“I feel my family was attacked personally. My children are devastated. I don’t know how long it will take them to recover from this,” she said, noting that her two sons helped care for the animals.

“I have my moments were I break down. I was attached to every dog here,” Fesler said.

For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
409-938-2211 or 409-392-0007
kkoopman@gchd.org