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Critics trying to rescue dogs from 'sanctuary of sorrow'
September 23, 2013 KOMO News
FORKS, Wash. -- It's a noble cause: Give sanctuary to dangerous
dogs whose only other option is being euthanized. But critics say the man who
runs the Olympic Animal Sanctuary has failed that mission and the many dogs in
his care should be removed.
Not everyone knows what's going on inside the "sanctuary of sorrow," a rundown
warehouse in the rural town of Forks, Washington. You can hear the dogs. The
Forks City Attorney says he was told there are 120 to 140 dogs. You can smell
them, too.
But Steve
Markwell, the man who runs the Olympic Animal Sanctuary for dangerous dogs,
won't let just anyone inside. So photos, shot last year by volunteers, give a
glimpse: Skinny dogs kept mostly in plastic travel crates and small cages,
although a few dogs are in rather large indoor kennels.
There is dog waste, heavy accumulations of dust and dirt everywhere, and the
facility is strewn with junk and equipment. Crates with dogs inside are
sometimes stacked on top of each other. And the smell, which has been described
by several who have been inside as overwhelming, was enough to make at least one
volunteer vomit.
"A hell hole for these animals," said one former volunteer who asked that his
name not be used. "An absolute nightmare." "It was just so shocking," said Sue
Walshe, a former supporter who now regrets helping send several dogs there.
"It's a torture chamber."
Three former volunteers and supporters, now going public, say they represent
scores of others
demanding action.
"I don't think he realizes what he's doing," said the former volunteer who asked
that his name not be used. He was asked whether the authorities should shut him
down. "One hundred thousand percent yes," he said.
"It was just so shocking," said Walshe, "I don't think I've ever experienced
like that in my life." "It's an ugly, dirty little secret that has come out,"
said former volunteer Pati Wynn, "and people have to be a voice for these dogs.
Something has to be done, to help these dogs."
Former volunteers talk of Buddy, rescued from a California desert, then trained
and adopted -- until Buddy bit a neighbor. They raised $3,000 so the sanctuary
could build him his own run. Buddy was last seen underweight and living in a
tiny cage.
Crockett, found near San Clemente, was too growly to adopt. So money was raised
to give him life in the sanctuary. His rescuers say Crockett, who was videotaped
circling repetitively in his cage inside Markwell's sanctuary. His rescuers now
say Crocket, who was videotaped circling repetitively in his cage inside
Markwell's sanctuary, looks like he's going crazy.
Barry the Saint
Bernard was deemed unadoptable. Later at the sanctuary, Wynn found him dead next
to a dry water bowl and took a photo to document it. She says she got a text
from Markwell saying he'd bury the dog later. Just three stories with so many
more wrapped in secrecy.
KOMO 4 News went to Forks to see what's inside the pink warehouse where the
Olympic Animal Sanctuary is headquartered, but Markwell would not let us in and
would not agree to an on-the-record interview.
While KOMO 4 News was outside the warehouse, Markwell was courteous and chatted
briefly. While our camera was there, he walked several dogs, but former
volunteers say this was not the norm. The former volunteer who requested his
name not be used said, "I said to (Markwell) that I'd like to get them on a
walking schedule and exercise them. And he said that they don't have time to do
that … at all"
Forks police investigated an animal cruelty complaint last year. Police photos
taken in November and released to former volunteers mirror the concerns of
others. "All were crouched, very minimal space," an officer said.
The officer described "an overwhelming odor of urine … so strong that my eyes
began to tear up and I began to cough." Some water bowls were clean, others had
"green slimy residue." "The majority of crated dogs didn't have access to
water," the officer said.
Markwell told the officer the dogs eat every other day, and fed only
unrefrigerated raw animal parts delivered frozen but not kept in a freezer and
refrigerator because it broke down some time ago.
The report said Markwell was "very concerned" conditions would be "publicized or
documented." Other noise and smell complaints were filed. An animal cruelty
citation was written, but "unissued." So the investigation concluded no
violations of law.
"We could - and many of the activists, I'm sure, would like to see us amass the
Army together and go in there and just take all the dogs," said Forks Mayor
Bryon Monohon. "But that opens up a whole variety of other kettles of fish." The
mayor was asked whether that includes lawsuits. "Including lawsuits," he
said.
Monohon says Forks does not have money to fight a legal battle, and they lack
local ordinances with teeth. He told a newspaper that an online petition, now
with more than 7,000 signators, is a "fraud." Markwell has been a good
citizen, he said, even leading a re-write of proposed animal ordinances.
Markwell has plenty of friends in forks.
"They are the love of his life!" said hardware store owner Bob Stark. "They are
his mission in life - is to keep these dogs alive." Markwell's supporters say
photos don't always show the whole story and that dogs don't care if things are
messy. More money would help -- at least they're still alive.
Markwell and his lawyer have attacked his critics, city leaders, the police
report and the officer -- even KOMO 4 News -- believing critics "are engaged in
a vicious campaign of defamation."
So when a New York shelter paid to go bring three dogs back from the sanctuary
in June, shelter workers were ordered to sign a secrecy contract to avoid
lawsuits. Several say they refused and were fired. A dog expert that'd been
contracted by the shelter briefly examined the dogs. His report says the three
were in such bad shape, two were euthanized. He says he filed a complaint with
the city of Forks.
Mayor Monohon was asked "is there not enough reason to get a warrant to go in
and look?" "There is not at this time," he said.
Outside the warehouse, KOMO 4 News asked Markwell directly, "When you look over
at that facility, is that really the vision that you had in mind when you
started?" "It's a starting point," he said. Markwell began to walk away.
"Anyway, I don't want to do an interview," he said.
KOMO 4 News contacted top animal welfare leaders locally and nationwide. All of
them, including the Humane Society of the United States, agree there are big
problems with the Olympic Animal Sanctuary and several are trying to help. It's
unclear whether Markwell will accept that help.
Comment:
The mayor and local politicians have a duty to act. Rather
than making excuses and abdicating their responsibilities to the Forks citizens
and these dogs, there has to be a way to investigate the problems that
complainants have about this ‘sanctuary.’
There will always be people who aid in cover-ups, refusing to
accept solid evidence and facts that reveal shortcomings, including animal
neglect, suffering and death. Some willingly stay ignorant or unbelieving,
enabling a grim day-to-day reality for those innocents dependent on others to do
right. Others will protect the individual, regardless.
Never be afraid to speak the truth – the voiceless need courageous individuals
to step forward and persevere.
Silence is deafening, if not deadly.
Carmina Gooch
December 12, 2013
Head of controversial dog
warehouse arrested after outburst
Beware:
Scam shelters are everywhere
https://www.peta.org/blog/beware-scam-shelters-are-everywhere/
Can
the BC SPCA recommend other rescue groups?
The BC
SPCA does not certify or recommend other rescue groups.
https://spca.bc.ca/faqs/can-bc-spca-recommend-rescue/
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