Slim - one of my two Milo cats.
The news that one of California's most popular animal rescue groups has been 'shut down' by another popular animal welfare agency, Marin Humane Society (that happens to have the animal control contract for Marin County and is therefore empowered to oversee other agencies in their jurisdiction) has caused shockwaves around the Bay Area and beyond.
No beating about the bush here. I have known Lynne who runs the Milo Foundation for 10 years, and I've seen Milo at its most extraordinary and I've seen it at its most compromised. I've spent many days at the Sanctuary outside Willits, and have had my heart broken by the situation there but on other days have had my hopes fulfilled by the unlimited generosity of the woman who started out as a breeder of purebred Aussies and after her eyes were opened to the cynicism of the breeding industry (of which she was a part) turned her considerable skills to saving as many of those discarded lives and haunted eyes staring out from a cold concrete kennel as she could. I met the very first dog she had rescued - he was called Trainwreck and he came from the then high kill Berkeley Animal Shelter.
The story of the successes and the failures of Milo are as large as the characters who gravitate to this animal rescue group which broke many molds, which built a 300 acre sanctuary where dogs and cats that had no other chance could go - for life if need be (including some who came from me), but which could not keep up with their own express train form of rescue; Lynne, with her sense of style and design created a 'brand name' as powerful as many better funded organisations and whose zesty lively, exuberant adoption days on 4th Street were like a favorite carnival coming to town.
Milo was and is the best and sometimes the worst of animal rescue. There's no other way to say it. The biggest heart, the widest arms, the most enthused and energised volunteers, the most determined leadership - never knew when to say 'enough'. And faced with the bottomless pit of need - where animals who were once the new prize possession are discarded like garbage dumped by the side of the freeway - Milo waded into this morass and came out dirty. Rescuing animals from some of the worst, most shameful taxpayer run shelters can be a nasty business. Disease is high in areas where vaccines are a rarity, there is distemper, parvo and virulent forms of flu, there are skin mites and ear mites and ringworm and parasites, and worms and strange clinical conditions, flea allergies that leave kittens anemic and on the verge of death, there are pups which have been stuffed into crates and need surgery for deformed legs. The list of human inflicted abuse and neglect is shocking and baffling. And the level of institutional carelessness and deception is even worse.
But Milo - heroic yet understaffed and underfunded - kept saying 'yes' and on varying occasions over the last few years, lost control of the situation. And Lynne and everyone else at Milo knows that I lost my emotional center two years ago when I watched a litter of six healthy pups get sick while they were in Milo's care and all but two died. They died painful deaths. And when I begged Milo to stop for a while, they did not. And it destroyed a part of me. As Milo moved to San Rafael after having to sell their Berkeley property, I didn't ask 'if' it would happen again, but 'when?'
I believe Milo's greatest mistake was in misunderstanding what people want from an animal rescue group. I truly think that most people want to 'adopt' rather than buy or breed, I believe that people want to be proud that theirs is a 'rescue' dog but they want that dog to be healthy and relatively well behaved. They don't want to see those who are going to die, they don't want to walk through the rivers of piss in shelters that stink of death. They want the 'rescue' to happen before - when Lynne walks through the kennels of pathetic animals and she has to choose who lives. When she leaves, those she leaves behind may be dead within hours.
People want to adopt a little furry companion that has been vaccinated, spayed or neutered, microchipped, treated for parasites, groomed, and the fearful look in their eyes replaced by a grin with a new dental treatment shining off those pearly whites. There's nothing wrong with that.
Milo's decisions to adopt out sometimes wildly unhealthy animals made 'rescuers' out of people who want to support the effort but do not want to go down onto the battlefield.
And don't misunderstand - every group, every one has these problems. It just comes down to numbers.
And the numbers of abandoned animals is rising as the economy takes a toll at the most fundamental levels - people losing jobs, housing, health care, having to choose between putting food on the table for their kids or filling the dogs bowl on the floor. And increasingly, as the cost of veterinary care skyrockets and low cost care is not available, the animals are flooding into the shelters in shocking conditions.
This is a dirty business and Milo has tried as best it can with a heart as big as a canyon to bring joy to people and life to animals whom we selfishly allow to be born and then dump when they become an inconvenience, or sick, or old, or don't match the carpet, or when the baby is born.
Accusations about Marin Humane closing down a 'competitor' and feeling the effects of Milo's adoption numbers may or may not have validity. But I feel considerable anger towards the Marin Humane Society who closed Milo's adoption center in San Rafael and confiscated 19 animals. What gave Cindy Machado who heads up the MHS, the right to accompany the American Humane Society when they did an investigative tour of the Milo Sanctuary in Mendocino County? What arrogance that MHS showed photographs of staffers treating Milo animals transferred from the San Rafael adoption centre as if they were animals from a puppy mill or fighting dog ring. Marin Humane exploits the suffering of people and animals and this is simply the latest self aggrandising act. Who can forget their photo ops on the tarmac of San Francisco airport as the first Katrina dogs were flown in under the glare of TV lights and dramatic late night arrivals? A gorgeous money raising gimmick, just as the Michael Vick dogs and the latest puppy mill busts form the basis for the next fundraising appeal.
Ultimately it is all about the money. We have a terribly broken system of animal sheltering in California. Anyone remember a searing series of exposes in the San Francisco Chronicle a few years ago when newly elected Assmblyman Mark Leno swore we would see radical and fundamental change in the municipal publicly funded shelters of our state? Our system is riddled with waste, lack of cooperation between agencies, non profits out to stab each other in the back, brutality, excess, top heavy administrations, police run facilities where budgeting is done at the whim of a police chief and not an animal care professional. And where the animals - completely oblivious of the careers they are furthering and the money they are raising - pay the only price that really matters.
Time for change. Milo is flawed. But without their bravery, without the passion of their founder, without the blind selfless devotion of their volunteers, what we would be left with is the climate controlled cooler of the Marin Humane and that would be a shame.
Hi Jill
As you know, in addition to our role as a non-profit animal shelter, MHS, as designated by the County of Marin, is responsible for the county’s animal services. When complaints about the health and safety of animals are made, as was the situation with Milo, we are legally obligated to respond. In this case, numerous serious concerns about the Milo facility in San Rafael were brought to our attention.
Prompted by these complaints, MHS Animal Services conducted an inspection of Milo’s facility on the morning of Thursday, October 1. We inspected the facility before a morning cleaning had been completed, but the conditions we found were the result of weeks, if not months, of inadequate cleaning and sanitation. MHS Animal Services Officers discovered numerous other problems related to improper housing of animals, an inappropriately high number of animals housed, insufficient staffing, expired medications, illegal possession of controlled substances, procedural issues, and lack of veterinary treatment for sick animals – many of whom had infectious diseases. One dog found to be in need of urgent medical care was immediately transported by MHS to an emergency veterinary facility.
Top among our concerns was Milo’s continued transferring of animals in and adoption of animals out of their facility despite not having isolated those with contagious diseases and infections like ringworm, mange, and giardia. To continue this flow of animals without proper isolation protocols in place seriously compromised the health of animals and the people they came in contact with.
Given the magnitude of problems, MHS conducted a follow-up inspection on Friday morning (October 2) that focused on health issues. It was during Friday’s inspection that Milo’s director, in an effort to help relieve the high volume of animals at the facility, surrendered 18 animals to the Marin Humane Society. A number of these animals are being treated by MHS for various medical conditions, including ringworm. All of the animals surrendered by Milo are being given a thorough medical and behavior evaluation, and will then be placed for adoption.
What is Milo’s current status in Marin?
Milo’s temporary use permit issued by the City of San Rafael expired many months ago. Further, MHS advised Milo that they could not continue operations in Marin until further notice.
MHS has offered to assist Milo in their efforts to comply with these requirements. We have offered to accept additional animals currently in their custody, regardless of medical needs, to help facilitate achieving conditions that meet the health and safety needs of animals in their care.
What is the status of the Milo sanctuary in Mendocino?
In July, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) invited Captain Cindy Machado, who heads our Animal Services Department, to participate in a consultative capacity in an HSUS-led inspection of this sanctuary. Captain Machado was asked to do this because of her extensive experience in such inspections. The evaluation was prompted by concerns received by several sanctuary staff and volunteers who claimed that animals were being kept in inadequate housing with exposure to inclement weather and predatory animals, and were not receiving proper care and socialization. The HSUS inspection validated numerous problems with Milo’s sanctuary related to the care, treatment and housing of animals. Both HSUS and MHS remain concerned about Milo’s operations at the Willits sanctuary. Milo has told representatives of MHS that it has requested a full evaluation of its Willits sanctuary to assist them in identifying deficiencies at this location.
Is MHS reacting to competition in Marin?
There is no such thing as competition when it comes to saving animals’ lives. In fact, MHS works with and values the wonderful contributions of numerous rescue organizations. As many of you know, we have actively partnered with other shelters and rescue groups for many years through our Pet Partnership Program, assisting overcrowded shelters with spay/neuter education, provision of consultative support, etc.
When Milo came to Marin from its former East Bay location a little over a year ago, MHS did not oppose the move or view Milo’s presence as a threat. There is more than enough room for both MHS and Milo in Marin County. But given our enforcement responsibilities we need to be sure that Milo complies with proper health and safety requirements and we will not shirk those responsibilities.
Did MHS report this situation to the media?
No. MHS was contacted by the media after a local news organization had been notified by an anonymous party of their concerns about the Milo Foundation. We did not issue a widespread news release simply because we did not want to hurt the Milo Foundation. After learning that a local news organization was going to air a story about Milo, MHS issued a limited-release statement to the Marin Independent Journal.
As with many rescue organizations throughout the Bay Area, the Milo Foundation has been instrumental in rehoming numerous dogs and cats since its inception. MHS is committed to doing anything that we can to assist Milo staff in correcting the problems that currently exist and developing operational procedures that meet the ongoing needs of animals in their care.
Our top priority remains – as always – to ensure the health, safety and welfare of animals in Marin.
Thank you.
Carrie Harrington
Marin Humane Society
Posted by: Carrie Harrington | October 07, 2009 at 03:30 PM
Jill, thank you for sharing both the good and bad sides of animal rescue. I hope readers understand that no organization is perfect and all need improvements. The community needs to share in the responsibility of helping homeless animals and pursue solutions rather than creating drama.
Carrie, I'm disappointed that MHS sensationalized the findings using terms like "shocking conditions". Shocking suggests abuse and neglect and that could not be farther from the truth. I'm a former shelter director from Seattle and while Milo needs improvement you've done the group and community a disservice. If you are a leader in the animal welfare community, I would expect you to work to solve the problems before making harmful statements to the press. MHS is well funded and well staffed relative to most shelters, use these resources to help more animals rather than harm their chances at a new home. Did your announcement to the press help solve the problem?
Posted by: Steve Siadek | October 07, 2009 at 05:01 PM
Carrie Harrington,
"Shocking Conditions"?
You and MHS should be ashamed of yourself.
Pixie
(rescued dog by Milo)
http://www.twitter.com/pixienoodle
Posted by: Pixie | October 07, 2009 at 10:49 PM
Jill, thank you for this piece. Steve (and pixie), thank you for your comments. I'm also outraged.
Carrie, who told the Journal to remove comments made about this article on their website?
susie
Posted by: susie fought | October 08, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Thank you for this Jill... Your clarity and honesty is really valuable right now.
Lynne was over watching my kids for a bit last night and we had a moment to catch up some on all this highly inflamed drama.
To quickly address a couple of the issues that Ms. Harrington raises: The expired meds were in a container label, "Expired Meds" because you can't just throw that stuff away in the garbage, so it was up on a shelf awaiting the time when someone could properly dispose of it.
As to the animal who was in bad shape--that is because he arrived to Milo in that condition, and, as the documents that Milo (and undoubtedly MHS by now) have indicate, the dog's wounds were being treated, but he hadn't had the time to recover from whatever horrible situation he had been RESCUED from...
And, the cats with ringworm were in an isolated area, and had been treated for ringworm but hadn't recovered yet.
It's truly unfortunate to witness this infighting and damaging behavior when assistance is clearly what is needed. How about an article from the Marin Journal asking what may the community and MHS do to help an organization that does incredible work but is overwhelmed?
Tracy Tingle
Posted by: Tracy Tingle | October 08, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Thank you for your balanced and insightful story.
Milo sounds like many other independent rescue shelters. Trying to do right, but it is so easy to justify anything if the alternative is "this puppy/kitten would have been dead if we didn't take them". That is true, but that black/white comparison is often used to justify doing exactly what the shelter is doing, the way it is doing it, and to avoid ever having to consider whether things should be done differently. That comparison justifies the status quo, however bad the status quo happens to be.
I have seen horrible conditions at another non-public shelter, conditions that could be improved with fairly simple changes in procedures justified by "but all these animals would have been killed". It avoids any responsibility for working to improve. And it is not always about money or volunteers. Bad management drives away good volunteers (like Jill). I've seen this many times. Unfortunately, because of the way these places are run, positive improvements seem to be impossible, so I can understand the frustration of people who leave these groups, and official groups, who then might end up using enforcement instead of negotiation.
Important question for MHS: what happened to those cats with ringworm? Are they being treated? Ringworm is unfortunate, but it is no big deal....Ringworm is like athletes foot, for heavens sake!!! Or were these cats euthanized? If euthanized, you have pretty much undermined your case against Milo, and shame on you.
Posted by: Dee Gattina | October 08, 2009 at 11:45 AM
I'm moved by the comments that have been made here and on my Facebook Page where this blog also appeared. My history with Milo and with Lynne is complex, and I have been a vocal critic but an unswerving supporter - believing that there really are solutions to the problems our communities face with regard to domestic animal overpopulation and that MILO is a vibrant part of that solution. But it will take the whole village to combine its resources and take on the whole problem - starting with the complete lack of coordination at state level (there is NO California department which oversees animal shelters - really), continuing with inter agency cooperation that currently is stymied by vanity and jurisdictional obstruction; then let's talk about the wildly differing fundraising capacity of the huge schoolyard bullies of the animal welfare movement and their resistance to their smaller cohorts, let's take on the fact that most municipal shelters are run by POLICE DEPARTMENTS (this is flat out wrong, it doesn't work!) Enough already - I'm sick of it.
And when Carrie deigns to talk about the 'numerous' animals MILO has adopted out, let's get real with the numbers and talk about the 10,000 plus animals in new homes. Including the two beautiful declawed cats that Marin Humane Society was going to euthanise. Fuck this bullshit. You wanna know how I really feel?
Posted by: Jill Posener | October 08, 2009 at 11:49 AM
How about those adoption fees? The price of adption vs. purchase are not too far off. If the rescues could make adoptions more affordable they could help many more. The fact is that regardless of income most people think that helping out the rescues and taking an animal consideribly flawed by nature or by invironment is plenty with out the $300 adoption fee.
Posted by: Marie | October 11, 2009 at 08:58 PM
Marie: The adoption fee is actually meant to protect the animal, by raising the cost of the adoption to a "below retail price" point, but high enough that the animals aren't considered "free".
Without adoption fees, many rescues find that their animals are adopted by people on a whim (a $300 fee is high enough to not spend on a whim!) and then returned later, or worse - "adopted" by breeders or resellers who then sell the animals for profit.
Posted by: Matt | October 14, 2009 at 04:20 PM
I dropped in to the Milo Foundation in San Rafael on a Saturday afternoon about two weeks prior to the "raid" in October. The animals were clean, and the area was clean. There were two puppies in a wire pen,approximately 6 cats in separate cages along one wall, and three adult dogs in an enclosed courtyard supervised by staff. Lynne Tingle, the director,was there, and we discussed a dog I had seen on their website but who was not on site that day. Lynne was familiar with the dog and her traits, and we discussed whether the dog would be a proper fit for my home and schedule.
I sincerely hope that MILO can re-open in San Rafael.
Posted by: Linnea Sosa | November 07, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Hi Jill, I don't know if you remember me, My name is Ginger and I now work and live at the Milo Sanctuary. I cannot tell you the mess this place was in when the Last manager left. I and the rest of the staff here have been working our finger's to the bone to make things right again. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate what you had to say. Thank you, Ginger and all the beautiful animals here at the Sanctuary
Posted by: Ginger Ray | November 21, 2009 at 11:22 AM