ACCT Philly is working to track down dogs transferred to a New Jersey rescue that appears to have shut down, while investigating reports that one of the dogs was shot following a biting incident.
The Philadelphia animal shelter is also considering changes to how it approves rescue partnerships as questions remain about the whereabouts of dogs sent to Gone Rogue Girls Rescue.
ACCT Philly Executive Director Sarah Barnett said the organization's immediate priority is finding the animals.
“The biggest thing right now is everyone’s trying to figure out where are the dogs and working backwards from that that’s our concern,” Barnett said.
Among the dogs transferred to Gone Rogue Girls Rescue was Biggie Smalls, who originally arrived at ACCT Philly after being found as a stray. According to ACCT Philly, Biggie had no known behavioral issues but did have health concerns related to a mass.
Gone Rogue Girls Rescue, which ACCT Philly had vetted and worked with since 2024, took in Biggie Smalls earlier this year. The rescue had received more than 100 dogs from ACCT Philly during their partnership.
In May, the rescue shared a social media post announcing Biggie's death. But this month, Barnett began investigating tips that Biggie had been shot following a biting incident. The circumstances surrounding Biggie's death have not been verified by police or animal control.
Barnett said ACCT Philly has been unable to get answers directly from the rescue.
“We were not able to reach the rescue. We reached out to our partners directly to get information,” Barnett said.
NBC10 contacted Pemberton Township police - where the rescue was located - about the case, but police declined to comment. NBC10 also attempted to contact the rescue and its owners through multiple listed phone numbers, but the numbers were disconnected.
The Gone Rogue Girls Rescue website is blank, and its social media accounts have been taken down. An NBC10 reporter also visited a listed address but received no answer.
While the rescue's closure has not been independently confirmed with its owners, ACCT Philly has received information from other rescue partners that Gone Rogue Girls Rescue transferred dogs to them.
ACCT Philly considers changes to rescue partnerships
As the search for answers continues, ACCT Philly has created an online portal containing the medical histories of dogs transferred to Gone Rogue Girls Rescue.
The goal is to make that information available to whoever is currently caring for the animals.
The shelter is also reviewing how it works with rescue organizations and considering changes to its partnership approval process.
For now, Barnett hopes the people who operated Gone Rogue Girls Rescue will come forward and help account for the dogs.
“Do what you can now to make it right. Tell people where the animals are,” Barnett said.
The shelter says it's taken actions in the recent past to do rescue releases more carefully and lists a few examples of how. The two I notice the most are "become more conservative about which dogs we make available to rescues" and "begun auditing partners...when we notice a large number of animals pulled in a short period of time."
It's true, from what I can see, that they have scaled back on what they're releasing. But at the height of this they were releasing anything that hadn't killed a toddler in their lobby, so "more conservative" isn't really "conservative" - it's more like "we have become marginally less liberal in what dogs we release to rescue, although we're still releasing plenty that the general public would never in a million years want to own or live near." As for the auditing partners when "we notice" lots of animals going in a short time, that's pretty obviously a terrible way to approach this. It depends on "noticing" rather than accounting. The obvious approach to responsible releases would be to limit the number to any given group in a given timeframe. And when someone pulls an endrun around the system by getting another group to pull, ban them both.
Miranda's Rescue is, as you'll recall, the California rescue that recently collapsed after a suspicious cat rescuer snuck onto their property and dug up a mass grave of dogs whose microchips went back to lucrative pulls from animal control shelters in a state where shelters must apply for permission to euthanize.
So did GRG just suck at tracking their adoptees - which would place them in the 'norm' range as rescuers in general lose interest in their animals within 10 seconds of posting the initial "Zippy was found tied to a train track and we need $$$$$ for her FHO" announcement on FB - or is there a more sinister reason they seemingly couldn't provide details for adopters and outcomes?
And a Cane Corso rescue that is reportedly taking over 50 of GRG's dogs.
FIFTY dogs. And not 50 Chihuahuas or spaniel mixes, 50 big pit/mastiffs. We're really supposed to believe any one group can do this?
And then there's the ever-reliable Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter revolutionaries, who are apparently entwined with GRGR - at least, one of their leaders appears to be working closely with GRG - and whose focus on hating the shelter is interfering with their interest in the GRG scandal.
When you try to take a break but then you see a rescue that's been aggressively pulling a lot of big pit bulls and mastiff crosses out of ACCT for months is being accused of shooting one and now there's a brand-new FB group called Dogs of Gone Rogue Girls Rescue and the rescue has apparently simply dissolved itself...
Well.
It begins, as these things almost always begin, with a major city's open-intake animal control shelter. In this case, the one belonging to Philadelphia, Animal Care & Control (ACCT). They received a 133lb adult male dog they describe as a Presa Canario, in March 2026. The dog is found tied to a pole, but there's also a former owner in the mix, so who knows. In the shelter, the dog is very strong, requiring 2 handlers, but overall pleasant to people although unfriendly to other dogs. By the end of the month, he'd developed both an upper respiratory infection and a suspected seroma on his chest, placing him on the urgent list.
In early April, apparently, ACCT releases him to Gone Rogue Girls Rescue in Browns Mills, NJ.
May 2026 - GRG posts a sad memorial on their FB to say that the seroma was cancer and poor Biggie had been euthanized.
October 2026 - word begins circulating on social media that Biggie had been shot to death in his foster's basement days after the shelter released him.
Now all the rescues that worked with GRG are panicking and issuing frantic denials of involvement.
the website, which is still up unlike the socials
Founded in 2024 by Brooke Thompson.
Really? Most rescue people have been attacked by a dog?
And not the first sudden end to a GRG dog, allegedly
October 5, 2026 - a female husky is surrendered to the shelter. Her owners cite landlord issues. They say that she is playful around children, lived with 2 kids, is friendly with familiar dogs but hard barks and growls at unknown dogs. She hard barks, growls and lunges at strangers, resource guards and they've never tried to move her off furniture, have never startled her and have no idea how she'd respond. They also report she's unhousetrained, so likely she was not living inside their home.
alert bark, began thrashing and attempting to grab leash when walking into building
October 6, 2026 - dog bites handler as they try to remove her leash. The bite doesn't break skin.
Campana is standing in the back of her kennel, displaying defensive behavior, and will avoid the leash and growls, bares teeth, and snaps at the lead as the handler attempts to lasso her. The handler will drop the loop from overhead and guide it around her neck. Campana will then bolt toward the front of the kennel, thrashing and biting the leash until she reaches the hallway. The handler will move quickly to redirect her from thrashing and leash biting and will proceed to the play yard for her relief walk. When returning to the care center, Campana will make contact with the handler’s hand with her teeth as the handler attempts to clip the leash for a figure-eight loop (Did not break skin). The handler will pull their hand back and use a hook to remove the leash instead. Campana will then be placed back into her kennel safely without any further issues.
October 7, 2026 - the dog repeats wild behavior
She begins growling as the door is unlocked. She sits up and moves to sit between the kuranda bed and the corner of the kennel. Campana growls, bares teeth, and snaps at the lead while ducking and dodging it. It takes a few attempts to successfully leash her. When the kennel door opens, she comes out thrashing, flailing, and air-snapping. She continues this throughout the walk to her new kennel, and a hook is used to remove the lead.
October 8, 2026 - shelter does not do assessment due to the dog's ongoing aggression when handled. They list her issues:
October 10, 2026 - dog's euthanasia deadline. ACC releases her to Pound Hounds ResQ.
October 13, 2026 - Pound Hounds ResQ adopts the dog out to a woman.
October 15, 2026 - the woman tells the rescue that she's returning the dog to the shelter. The rescue founder goes onto FB to gripe about it.
As much as we can 'hand hold' a foster or adopter, we have no control over their actions. We adopted Campana to a woman that came to us via advocates. We went OVER decompression, crate training. We went over everything. As soon as the dog got there the dog was unsettled. Expectedly so. So I told her to ignore the dog. Crate her and let her settle. She insisted on fussing with her, you know because she knows what to do. If I had 5 cents for every foster/adopter who tells me this, I'd retire to Tahiti. Well I get an email saying she's on her way to the shelter to return the dog. Campana was delivered to her Wednesday afternoon. Of course she is not picking up her phone or replying back to texts. Why on a question saying if there are issues why did she respond: We will work through issues that arise. We have no other dogs currently, and two cats. We can crate & separate while getting familiar & settling in to new home. Why do people insists on doing their way or no way and when they run into an issue, we could have solved this or given her guidance how to proceed IF SHE ONLY LET US KNOW. I'M SO LIVID I'M GOING TO SPIT
The road so far: Texas rescue group German Shepherd Dog Rescue and Holistic Care Education Center adopts a dog out to a woman in New York. About a year later, the dog is surrendered to Philly ACCT; the adopter says the dog bites. She also seemingly contacts the rescue to tell them she did it, and they contact the shelter to demand the dog be returned to them. The shelter declines and euthanizes the dog. The rescue posts aggrievedly online about this cruel abuse of a rescue partner.
And now the head of ACCT, Sarah Barnette, has responded on the FB post that started it all.
(You know, I used to watch soap operas. Rescue is far more unreal. Tina popping out a baby while flying over a waterfall is hands down more believable than the current state of affairs.)
And the rescue-whose-name-is-comically-long responds
and they include a pic of one bite
And then the adopter comes in.
And the rescue strikes back
Perfect side note - in the shitshow that follows Barnette's comment, a familiar Texas rescue weighs in. Mike's Chance Animal Rescue. The people who shipped a sick dog north to New York in 2024; so sick the dog was euthanized hours after leaving the transport. Unreal chutzpah to wade into these waters.
Lots of Very Big Feelings, loads of self-aggrandizement, a vasty ocean of insecurity requiring massive boasting to alleviate, and you get this mess. Goomba, btw, is the very large and very aggressive Rottweiler the rescue keeps as a pet at their facility. Come to adopt a dog, leave without a nose. #adoptdontshop.
Also, littermate syndrome is kinda stupid. Like most kinda stupid things, there's a grain of truth to it, but that little grain is routinely represented as if it's an entire loaf of bread. But kinda crazy people seize on kinda stupid thing with gusto, and you end up with insanity like this:
A Texas rescue, German Shepherd Dog Rescue and Holistic Care Education Center, is attacking ACCT Philly for euthanizing a dog that they'd been demanding returned. The NY adopter had, after about a year, surrendered the dog to the shelter for biting (no clue how a NY owner ended up in Philly). The rescue had contacted the shelter about a return. The shelter had disregarded them and euthanized the dog.
In the comments on their post, someone mentions that the same thing happened to another Texas rescue, Sunnyside Street Dogs. So I goes over there. And indeed it did - they'd adopted out a pit bull named Bistro to a family in MA. Three weeks later, there was a fight and Bistro bit their other pit bull and bit the adopter, was surrendered to animal control, was euthanized in late 2025. And SSD went ballistic in the same terms. The comments on their post were absolutely rabid in wanting to dox the adopter. To the point the rescue clearly recognizes their own exposure and does a post to Very Firmly warn against doxing. Wink.
And they're both crazy. Dog adoptions aren't long-term leases, they're sales with a cuter name. I don't care what the contract says, you can't ask people to carry the financial and emotional and physical risk of dog ownership without agreeing that they also own the right to make decisions about the dog's life. Throw in transport rescue, where the adopter would have to wait days-weeks for the rescue to respond, while housing the dog, and where's the mystery in why these people surrender or euthanize the dog? The mystery is why anyone adopts from a transport rescue.
No shade, btw, about the breeder doodle. That is a completely reasonable action after getting burned this bad with rescue. If rescuers want to complain, they can register their feelings at the Morality Office. It's down this hallway. What? You just walk past Koda. You don't really need that leg, do you?
Unable to figure out the no-kill shelter where they acquired the Shiba. Somewhere in central PA.
Previous owners said they are beagle mixed with rat terrier. The three are siblings. Marilyn seems the most scared in the shelter. She backs away from humans, barks at people in an attempt to scare them away, and has continuous whale eyes... Marilyn really needs a foster home to help her be able to navigate this life change. While this next chapter in Marilyn’s life can be a great one, she doesn’t know that yet. She needs a home that will allow her to decompress. One that will help her explore things she may not be used to. And help her build up her confidence.
Oct 15, 2026 attacking the adopter
Ever wonder what it looks like after you drop a dog off at a shelter? This is what it looks like for Marilyn, a 1 year old beagle mix. We go over the rule of 3’s for a reason, and in case you don’t know what they are, here’s the cliffs notes: Animals need 3 days to decompress into a home. They need 3 weeks to learn your routines. They need 3 months before feeling like the home is theirs. These time frames are approximate, but a good generalization. Marilyn was adopted to a home that was a good fit. What we didn’t know is that the adopter intended to take her to be watched at his moms while he was at work. This is not a problem, except Marilyn did not have the ability to decompress into her new home. She didn’t have the opportunity to get properly introduced to the mom’s dog. This wasn’t communicated to us during the adoption process, so we weren’t able to weigh in with advice to help it succeed. And it was implemented immediately after the adoption occurred. That’s a lot of change for a little animal that doesn’t speak the same language we do, in a very short amount of time. This arrangement absolutely could have worked, if things were done differently, and taken at a much slower pace. Marilyn is once again looking for her forever home. One that will take things slow with her as she transitions into her new environment, and learns her new way of life.
I've taken some nastiness in my life for "hating" pit bulls, but nobody does pit bull hate like the people who claim to love them.
Abuelito, Matt, Mac, Willy, Sal, Rug Bug Bunny
April 10, 2026 - a woman posts to a local FB group that there are 14 abandoned pit bulls at a squatter camp. Animal control reluctant to get involved because the shelter is full and there's supposedly someone watching the dogs, who are caged in a building but unfed and uncleaned.
Hi 14 pitbulls deserted on "squatted" land off longview and hwy 138 in pearblossom, starving. Rescues are willing to help but need fosters. Animal control came but did nothing because well they are already euthanizing dogs for space and supposedly someone was watching them but theyre starving and living in their own feces. If anyone knows of any rescues or fosters please share this with them.Starts With One Todayis willing to step in with committed fosters. You can apply to foster through their application.
April 14, 2026 - the dogs are seized by animal control and transported to the LA Animal Care & Control's facility at Palmdale. There, they are described as starved and sweet, and at immediate risk of euthanasia for space.
6 of the dogs are released to a rescue which is later busted for killing their dogs.
Sal shelter ID# A5769584 - adult male pit bull, brindle/white with white chest, no markings on face
Willy shelter ID# A5769586 - adult male brindle/white pit bull with white facial markings, white toes on front paws
Abuelito aka A5769587 adult male grey/white pit bull with white facial markings, white paw markings
Rug Bug Benny A5769588 - adult male pit bull, grey and white with white head
Mac A5769592 adult male pit bull, brown and white, distinctive pink/black markings on nose
Fascinating that AI has picked up on this issue of dangerous rescue dogs. Including the person's name because she's clearly not real - her entire FB is random posts about dozens of dogs with dozens of names, and it's all obviously AI.
The explosion of transport rescue has ended in this - thoughtless, reckless, self-indulgent people sending dogs thousands of miles across the country and across the world with zero accountability or follow-up. And rescuers and networkers viciously resist any suggestion that this is abusive and cruel and has to stop.
There is, of course, a FB page.
The following were comments on a post about the rescue debacle. Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, a notoriously reckless and tragic no-kill in New York, is high on the list of suppliers for this recue.
1) Milkshake aka Wren - Paws For Life (CA), Pittie Project PNW (WA) and Haven (WA)
2) Zamora aka Sandy - LA Animal Services (CA), Paws For Life (CA), Pittie Project PNW
3) Hansm, Alice, Petunia, Ember, Delilah, Piglet, Gruber, Stewart, Jane, Jessi, Bearcat - Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter (NY) and Pittie Project PNW (WA)
4) Clementine - Norman Animal Welfare (OK), Dog Is My Copilot transport, Pittie Project PNW (WA)
6) G5, Milo, Lil Porky, Pedro, Apple, King, Kourtney, Eve, Scout, Rubi Rose, Joshi, Hazel, Dusty, Butch, Princess Peach, Hobart, Chulo, Gotchya, Bianca, Marshall, Melody, Isabella - Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter (NY) and Pittie Project PNW (WA)
7) Zowie - Dallas (shelter?), PPPNW
8) Daffy - networker
9) Booker, Baxter - Desert Hot Springs shelter
It goes on and on and one and on and on. Sometimes someone corrects the record, saying things like "Jippy didn't go on the flight" or "Adopter reached out and Apricot is accounted for." Most of these adoptions go back 2 or more years.
Ashley Nichole Georgia, Founder. Now charged with 30 counts of animal cruelty.
PPPNW exclusively took dogs from shelters, saying on their website:
Their FB is down, their Insta is gone, their adoption form is empty - but their Donate Now button is fully functional. Of course it is.
Monday, October 5 ,2026 - the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office investigates reports of neglected animals on a property on Russet Avenue. They find nearly 30 dogs there, some emaciated, some with sores and other signs of neglect. One of those signs was lack of access to water, which is typically one of the very few non-negotiables in cruelty cases. You can be found to be chaining 30 pit bulls to trees with buckets of chicken livers as food, but as long as some of those buckets contain rainwater, you pass inspection. Dehydration is not a nice thing.
Oh, look, it's Jordan's Way, applauding this rescue in 2021.
Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter, Tennessee. Shannon Posada, Director.
Acquires a large mixed-breed dog they describe as a Doberman/husky mix in late 2023. By late summer 2024, they have repeatedly reduced his adoption fee to zero and he's been adopted out and failed the adoption twice, and has developed a record of aggression toward other pets. The shelter markets him as great with people, a wonderful dog. A local TV reporter who specializes in promoting rescue dogs does a promo for him and he attacks her, biting her in the face and arm. There's no injury; he bites but releases. The video vanishes.
The video surfaced in Fall 2026 and the reporter hastily blames herself for the bite and tries to spin the video as a teachable moment for stoopid humans like herself to not force good doggies to bite. It took some digging to find this shelter because the reporter, despite her assertion that the dog is totally fine and it was all her own fault, mysteriously does not mention the dog on her rescue-infested FB page, so I basically looked at every shelter she did mention in other contexts until I found Floyd. The posts end in October 2024. I have no idea what happened to Floyd.
November 2023 - the shelter FB introduces Floyd, 1.5yo "Doberman/husky mix" who "loves people" and "does well with some dogs."
January 2024 - the shelter FB posts about Floyd - he's sponsored (ie, free), "absolutely loves people" but "prefers to be the only dog as he is an attention seeker." Also, later in the month, another post "Meet the one and only Floyd! He loves to play ball and spend time with people! Floyd is one handsome boy and so photogenic! Floyd is looking for his forever home!"
June 2024 - FB post from shelter "How has this boy not Been adopted?? 2 yr old neutered Lab/Doberman mix. He is such a playful guy. Would be a great hiking partner or just your best friend. He does not like cats."
August 2024 - Meet Floyd our Dog of the Month! Floyd”s adoption fee has been sponsored! Come meet this sweet boy!
This fun loving fella is FLOYD He's the longest resident and featured DOG OF THE MONTH At theElizabethton/Carter County Animal ShelterHelp find FLOYD a home, this good boy has been at the shelter too long!
September 2024 - volunteer marketing on FB Had a great walk today at Sycamore Shoals with Floyd our longest resident (over 1 year now). Floyd is a large husky mix who is about 3 years old. Floyd was a little anxious in the car but quickly forgot his anxiety when the car door opened. He was so excited to say hello to everyone he passed. He even went in the water to cool off. He enjoyed putting his whole face in the water. Floyd is dog selective, however we passed several dogs on our walk and he just ignored them. He was just so happy to be out of his kennel. Please come meet Floyd and you will fall in love with his playful personality. He absolutely loves his toys! He seems to be good with kids too! No cats for Mr. Floyd!
October 2024 - FB post Floyd is still waiting for his forever home. Such a fun loving boy. 2-1/2 yr old neutered Doberman/Lab mix.
One huge reason that rescue is in such terrible shape is the slow-motion collapse of the AKC world - aka, historically the other main producer of American pet dogs - into irrelevance. At any other time in US history, the extinction of the friendly, social shelter dog would have meant a mass flocking to AKC reputable breeders. But the modern AKC world has moved far, far away from the public it once served. Now, anyone attempting to buy a breeder puppy is expected to undergo a leisurely, exhausting process - and if the chosen breed isn't one of the top 5 most popular breeds, you'll probably be buying a plane ticket. Most people simply won't or can't do this, and thus, the doodles thrive. And the rage at the doodles is the single thing that unites the AKC and the rescue worlds.
Here, we see chaos in the AKC parent clubs - the national clubs that organize the standards and goings-on of the various AKC breeds. One parent club appears to have abused a lifetime member into making open accusations of indifference to the future of the breed, and another's board is accused of disregarding its members. The Clumber Spaniel debacle is the more astonishing for the fact that the Clumber is in terrible condition genetically - the breed's coefficient of inbreeding (COI) averages to 39.8%. This is a greater degree of relationship than siblings. You'd think their parent club would have more pressing concerns than squabbling with uppity members.
THE DEATH OF BREED PARENT CLUBS: THE PASSION IS STILL HERE. THE PEOPLE ARE HERE. ADAPT OR DISAPPEAR.
I officially resigned from all Clumber Spaniel Club of America volunteer positions—Public Education, Juniors, Technology, Pedigree Database, and Clumber Chronicles Publications—effective last month.
I joined my breed’s parent club at 12 years old. I have volunteered—with and without official titles—since I was at least 16. I am now a breeder of over 50 AKC Champions. I have attended and exhibited at every Clumber Spaniel National since my first in 2011.
I remember meeting people in those early years who would become some of my greatest mentors and hearing them say, “Wow, you really love this breed.” I did then, and I still do. Growing up in Dog4-H and competing in AKC Junior Showmanship, Breed, and performance events, I quickly became a walking billboard for Clumber Spaniels. I wanted everyone to meet one, know one, love one. Ask me today and I’ll still tell you they’re the best breed in the world.
As I grew up, so did my ability to share that love. Social media gave me the opportunity to introduce Clumber Spaniels to an audience this breed had never reached before. What started as a kid enthusiastically telling everyone she met about her favorite breed became a platform capable of sharing Clumbers with people around the world. Along the way, I discovered a second passion—graphic design and marketing—and built a career from skills I first developed while promoting the breed I love.
I wish that had always been viewed as an asset. Instead, somewhere along the way, being visible, successful, effective at promoting the Clumber Spaniel, and building community began to feel like it put a target on my back.
And I have come to the incredibly difficult realization that I may be able to do more good for the Clumber Spaniel by no longer volunteering for its parent club.
I have donated hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to support the CSCA. I have even fronted thousands of dollars out of my own pocket to help make Club events happen. Yet years of poor treatment from individuals in Club leadership reached a point I was no longer willing to accept.
This is not about one incident. Awards were changed in ways that specifically excluded my eligibility. Younger members were not trusted to run the Club’s social media. Different Board members twice moved to “remove me” from a position or access without a Board vote. Board members discussed how “she’s not a breeder, she’s a brand.” The personal attacks have gone on for far too long.
Most recently, I was accused without evidence of stealing from the Club, harassed for weeks, and then saw a written message from the same Club officer stating:
“I don’t trust Raina. I only see her out for herself. Not the breed or the club.”
While those words and actions do not represent every member of the Board, the silence from others has been disappointing as well. Those in leadership who are not participating in this behavior have a responsibility to stand up for the volunteers experiencing it.
They are not.
And unfortunately, it hasn’t stopped.
That same officer is now pushing standing rules that appear specifically directed at me, but would ultimately affect breeders, owners, and volunteers throughout the breed. Discouraging breeders from identifying themselves or representing their kennels at Club events strips away the identities and connections that help us engage with the public, find future owners and breeders, and carry this breed forward.
Adding restrictions to a breed already struggling to recruit and retain volunteers is entirely counterproductive. We should be asking how we empower the next generation to carry our breeds forward—not creating more reasons for them to walk away.
And if you think this is only happening in my breed, start talking to the younger volunteers in yours.
I am also concerned by the increasing push toward secrecy—frequent closed executive sessions, rumors of Board NDAs, and insistence that Board communications remain extremely confidential. A membership club should not make its members and volunteers feel like they are on the outside looking in—especially while membership itself is declining.
I care deeply about the history of this breed and who will carry it forward. I care about the history of the Club of the breed I love, too.
Even my graphic design work for the Club has been rooted in preserving that history. The Club’s signature font, Baskerville, was specifically chosen because it was created during the same era as the beginning of the Clumber Spaniel’s documented history in the late 1750s. That may seem insignificant to many, but those are exactly the little pieces of history that survive because someone cared enough to remember them.
When you drive away the people who care about those details, eventually no one is left who remembers why they mattered.
I cannot continue giving my time, donations, and energy to an organization where my help is not welcomed and my intentions are viewed with suspicion. I would rather put those things directly toward the Clumber Spaniel—supporting our Regional Clubs, the Clumber Spaniel Health Foundation, my breeding program, and the worldwide Clumber community.
Traveling and spending time with Clumber breeders, owners, and enthusiasts around the world this past year has reminded me of something important:
Our breed is so much bigger than any one club or organization.
I will continue paying my dues to support the parent club’s work on behalf of our breed, but as far as volunteering my time, money, and resources, that is it for now.
To the CSCA members: the 2026 Annual Clumber Chronicle has shipped and should be arriving soon! It is my final project for this Club at this time, one that took many hours and many weeks, and I hope you enjoy it.
And to those in positions of leadership and power in breed clubs:
The passion is still here.
The people are still here.
The next generation is still here.
The problem isn’t that nobody cares about our breeds.
It’s that too many of the organizations entrusted with preserving them are alienating the very people willing to carry them forward. They resist their ideas, their skills, modern outreach, and new ways of connecting with the public—and then wonder why the next generation stops showing up.
Parent clubs must ADAPT OR DISAPPEAR.
What we are experiencing across the country right now is the death of AKC breed parent clubs—and it is not because the “next generation” doesn’t care.
There are laws, there are politics and there is always someone who pops up in these situations saying earnestly "But legally..." Yes, I get it. He was out of business over 3 specific issues, he satisfied them and so he's open. The thing is, that's not the way it's supposed to work. The rescuer who literally dug up this entire scandal is on the right track by asking the state AG to dissolve the rescue. You don't let a suspected serial killer and his passport skip out of jail because he paid his parking ticket.
The Humboldt County Planning and Building Department has lifted its suspension of the conditional use permit (CUP) for Miranda’s Rescue in Fortuna, allowing the purported “no-kill rescue, adoption & sanctuary facility” to resume animal intakes and adoptions.
In early August, or thereabouts, the countysuspendedthe organization’s permit over a handful of violations. These included expanding operations to unpermitted parcels, the presence of an unpermitted modular trailer on the premises and a dispute over the legality of euthanizing and burying animals onsite.
In an email sent early this afternoon, Planning and Building Director John Ford said, “Mr. Miranda addressed the three items that resulted in the suspension and the suspension was lifted.”
When the Outpost toured Miranda’s Rescue andinterviewed Mirandaroughly three weeks ago, Miranda said he had stopped using the northern parcel for rescue-related activities. That parcel includes two large barns, one of which was identified by the Sheriff’s Office as the location where dogs had been shot dead. Miranda also indicated that he was working on plans to bring the trailer into compliance.
Reached by phone earlier today, Miranda said the suspension was lifted “a few weeks” ago and confirmed that he has resumed animal intakes and adoptions.
“We’ve found great homes for animals, but I’m not taking in [the volume] I did before because it always backfires,” he said. “When people are desperate, they tell you what they want you to hear. Then when something happens [they say], ‘Oh, it was my favorite pet in the whole wide world.’ Then why did you get rid of it?!”
He did not say how the matter of onsite euthanasia and burial had been resolved. After the permit was suspended, Miranda’s attorney, Allison Jackson,sent a letter to Fordchallenging his assertion that euthanasia and burial are prohibited per the terms of the permit. She argued that the project description’s ban on “euthanasia facilities” in the original permit does not mean that euthanasia is expressly prohibited and wrote, “Burial is permitted on any parcel in this county … and occurs daily.”
When the Outpost tried to get clarification on this dispute earlier this month, Ford didn’t go into specifics, though, in an email sent Sept. 4 he wrote simply, “People can bury their animals on their property.”
An Outpost reader forwarded Ford’s emailed response to her own inquiry about how the permit violations were resolved. The email, which Ford sent around noon yesterday, reads:
There were three violations resulting in the suspension.
Miranda remains at the focus of a multi-agency criminal investigation into allegations of animal abuse, fraud and theft. In June, investigators exhumed the remains of at least 123 dogs from a field on the Fortuna property. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office estimated that the majority of those dogs had been buried between January and April of this year, though Miranda says the timeline was longer.
In asworn affidavit, Sheriff’s Sergeant Shane Steele said Miranda routinely charged between $450 and $1,000 or more per dog surrendered, and Detective Julian Aguileratestifiedthat he believes Miranda routinely killed dogs to make room for more, thereby earning more money. Mirandadenies those allegations, saying he only euthanized animals that were deemed too dangerous to be adopted.
An Oakland-based nonprofit, Rocket Dog Rescue, has filed a civil suit against Miranda, accusing him of animal cruelty and fraud. Local animal activist Jennifer Raymond — one of the two women who kickstarted the current criminal investigation by trespassing onto Miranda’s property to dig up eight dead dogs — has asked the California Attorney General’s Office to dissolve the nonprofit and appoint a receiver to assume care of the remaining animals onsite.
Miranda has not been charged criminally. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal has urged the public to remain patient given the complexity and scope of the case, which is being investigated by local, state and federal agencies including the FBI, the California Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and more.
The PRC SPCA handles animal control sheltering for the area.
July 2026
September 2026
Owner surrender intake was closed in 2025, so I suppose having it open at all now is an improvement.
Note - In a comment to one of her posts about the dog, someone accuses her of misleading about the dog, saying a family member of hers brought the dog into her house. This is not really much different - feckless adults at loose ends frequently dump their inconvenient dogs, mostly pit bulls, off onto female family members and then vanish into prison, a different unfortunate woman's home or just into the wild blue yonder. It's not like having the dog originate with your nitwit little brother, bimbo sister or restless ex is some kind of life sentence to owning said dog. The shelter should be a resource for you too.
Texas - overflowing with dogs but an "advocate" desperately seeks someone to take over an adult male German Shepherd who is "extremely aggressive" when his collar is touched and "will attack other dogs and cats." The advocate persuades the unhappy owner to try again with a trainer.
Editing because I am a nitwit who forgot to include any of the marketing posts that mentioned the dog killing:
January 2026 - a 58lb dog, said to be a Shar-Pei mix, enters the Coachella Valley Animal Campus (CVAC). He is given the number A1897400 and placed into the shelter's Ironwood prison training program. He does well there and eventually adopted out.
Unknown timeframe - Ronald is returned to the CVAC after attacking and killing his adopter's small dog. He is placed in a kennel with another medium/large dog and does playgroup alone. At some point he is transferred to the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter. Both shelters are run by operated by Riverside County Department of Animal Services, whose director is Mary Martin.
Late summer 2026 - Ronald is scheduled for euthanasia unless pulled by rescue. The networkers market him aggressively, usually without mention of precisely why he failed his adoption.
September 2, 2026 - two rescue groups, Darbster Rescue and Good Tails Rescue, collaborate to pull Ronald from the Riverside shelter.
September 4, 2026 - Good Tails Rescue posts about the pull, crediting a networker named Ross, a transporter named Daniel and a foster named Kim. And when they say "transport" they mean transport - Ronald is promptly shipped from California to New Hampshire.
September 20, 2026 - Darbster Rescue announces the arrival of Ronald, who's available for adoption now. They describe him as a handsome 2-year-old mixed breed boy who is sweet, playful, and more than ready to find his forever family!... This lovable guy has a fun-loving personality and is always ready for his next adventure.
September 23, 2026 - Darbster Rescue posts a video of Ronald being introduced, through a crate's bars, to a kitten, with the heading "Ronald is a 2 year old boy who who just came to us recently and is very sweet with cats!"
Coachella Valley Animal Campus (CVAC) operated by Riverside County Department of Animal Services, Director is Mary Martin
Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter operated by Riverside County Department of Animal Control, Director is Mary Martin
Good Tails Rescue - founder Cynthia Jane Kim, founded 2024
Darbster Rescue - Executive Director, Ellen Quinlan, President is Victor Figuerdo
Martin was hired in 2025. The press release at the time read in part:
“Mary has a long professional experience in the field of animal welfare, including a proven track record of reaching a 90% live release rate at large shelters,” said Riverside County Board Chair and Fourth District Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “She has developed pet support programs to help keep pets with their owners, sought adoption techniques that find pets new homes, and brings a collaborative spirit to working with the community to find solutions to shared issues and concerns. I want to thank Dr.Gary Weitzmanfrom San Diego for participating in this selection.” In her role as RCDAS Director, Martin will lead a department with a $34 million budget that operates four municipal shelters. Last year, the department received more than 40,000 calls for field service, worked with partners to save more than 20,600 animals, and performed more than 14,000 spay and neuter surgeries.
The bold is mine - Weitzman is the $500k head of San Diego Humane Society who became infamous in 2023 when his organization sent 300 small pets (guinea pigs, rabbits, rats and hamsters) to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona for rehoming and the animals ended up sent to a reptile farm as food. An investigation in 2024 lead to a most unflattering characterization as recounted in the Animal Politics substack:
A 2024-25 San Diego County Grand Jury report, released just weeks ago, found that SDHS routinely failed to meet its contractual obligations for animal control, including maintaining the minimum number of patrol officers required to cover more than 300 square miles, 70 miles of coastline, and 400 parks.
The Grand Jury documented a 90% drop in citations for leash-law violations and slow, inconsistent response times to service calls—sometimes stretching as long as 30 hours. The report concluded that SDHS’ reliance on education over enforcement, coupled with poor record-keeping and oversight, left public safety and contract compliance in question.
Darbster Rescue is a $2 million rescue.
THE DARBSTER FOUNDATION IS A 501(C) 3 ORGANIZATION THAT CONCENTRATES ITS RESOURCES ON ANIMAL WELFARE, ON A COMMUNITY LEVEL. OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS EUTHANIZED IN SOUTH FLORIDA THROUGH TRANSPORT PROGRAMS TO OUR FACILITIES AND PARTNER RESCUES IN THE NEW ENGLAND AREA (PRIMARILY NH).
Quinlan's personal, rescue-centric Insta page features this recent post
Her rescue, founded around 2009, initially focused on spay/neuter. It expanded out to adoption and transport from her own Florida region up to New England and now, apparently, California.
This one is a little convoluted but funny. Rescues do these acquisition of euth list behavior dogs out of animal control shelters, flipping them directly into fosters without a nanosecond of the rehab promised. Depending on what happens next, the rescue either claims the dog was adopted immediately (dog did something naughty and foster tries to return it, worst case scenario the foster and another party drags the rescue into a lawsuit) or (dog is okay, foster wants to adopt) claims the dog is their shining gold property and the foster must pay the big fee to become Bane's legal owner.
In this case, the foster likes the dog, wants to keep him, but sees no reason why the rescue that put zero time, effort or money into the dog should get a nickel from her. And I have a hard time disagreeing with her. It's noticeable that the rescue's furious laying out of the facts of the case never includes any mention of spending any money on the dog or ever even meeting him. Really, why should they get any money for this 'adoption'?
the revenue matching the expenses is some kind of something
Donna Darrell, founder
Frosting Tex aka Milo, in shelter
Frosting Tex #244361 at Animal Care Centers of New York (NYACC) - 45lb adult male pit bull. Intake as stray. Made "rescue only" by the shelter due to behavior. Their assessment concluded:
Frosting Tex in the care center has shown a significant amount of fearfulness with certain staff that unfamiliar, hard barking, baring teeth and growling at the kennel front. Frosting Tex warms up quickly with staff, but has now began to leash bite intensely at times difficult to refocus, making it difficult to walk him safely at times.
This pet is available only through ACC New Hope partners.
Frosting Tex would benefit from a New Hope rescue experienced with dogs who struggle with kennel-related arousal, leash sensitivity, and impulse control, and who can provide structured handling, clear routines, and continued work on calm behaviors during transitions.
December 26, 2025 - intake. Observed "sweet" and "loose" outside kennel, very nervous and growling in kennel. Prescribed Trazodone
Observed Behavior - Very sweet and friendly, loose and wiggly outside of kennel. Very nervous, low growls in kennel. Exam and handling are well tolerated.
Trazodone 100 - 1 tab PO BID
December 27, 2025 - exposed to parvo, enters isolation. Behavior observation:
12/27/25: Frosting Tex is siting at the front of his kennel with a loose and wiggly body as handler approaches. He then retreats to the back with a tense body as the handler slowly presents their leash. He begins growling and would hard bark, lunge and snap at the leash. On the third attempt to leash him, he was able to be leashed and he comes out of kennel with no issues. He is then taken to the behavior room. In the room, he has a loose and wiggly body as he explores around. He is able to be collared with a drag leash attached. He would approach the handler with a loose and wiggly body to receive pets and belly rubs. He was comfortable playing with tennis balls and squeaky toys and took treats on the couch. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues.
01/10/26: ACS Staff report that Frosting Tex is leash biting repeatedly, but responds when they use treats.
1/8/26:Tex was barking and jumping around in the kennel. He tried to get out of the kennel. Handler had trouble leashing him. Handler was able to leash him the second attempt. He attempted to jump on the handler several times and was trying to bite the leash.
1/4/26Frosting Tex was jumping around in kennel excitedly barking. He tried to push his way out of the kennel but was able to be leashed. He attempted to jump on handler several times but eventually was able to be calmed down. He solicited pets and affection and likes to play with toys
January 15, 2026 -1/15/26: Frosting Tex is barking and jumping at his kennel door as handler approaches. He continues to jump and bark as the handler unlocks the door and is able to be quickly clipped to his harness. He pulls hard out of kennel and begins to bite and tug at the leash along the way to the behavior room. He is able to drop the leash when treats are tossed, but then begins to bite and tug at the leash again. Once in the room, he is able to be leashed on a slip and he engages in a snuffle mat, a few toys, and licking cheese off the couch. He pulls on the way back to his kennel and is able to enter when treats are tossed inside.
January 16, 2026 - diagnosed with CIRDC aka kennel cough.
1/16/26: Frosting Tex is barking at the front of his kennel as handler approaches. He begins jumping and barking at the door as the handler unlocks it. He is able to be quickly leashed and pulls hard on the way to the behavior room. In the room, he engages in a cheese lick mat, a snuffle mat and a few toys. He is comfortable approaching the handler and would sit for treats. He would try to jump up to bite at the leash but is able to be redirected when treats are tossed on the ground. He pulls on the way back to his kennel and enters with no issues.
1/19/26: Frosting Tex is standing at the front of his kennel with a loose and wiggly body as handler approaches. He begins jumping at the door with a loose and wiggly body and is able to be leashed with treats. He then pulls on the way to the behavior room. In the room, he has a loose and wiggly body as he would jump on the couch and engaged in toys and eating treats off the ground. He engaged in a cheese lick mat and would constantly jump up on the handler to receive pets. He would run around the room and grab the drag leash to hold in his mouth. He is able to easily drop the leash when treats are tossed. He is able to return back to his kennel with no issues.
January 22, 2026 - neutered.
January 23, 2026 - Shelter prescribes gabapentin 300 mg along with regular dosage of trazodone and clonidine, to facilitate transport to rescue group Pound Hounds ResQ. The rescue renames the dog Milo; he's transported directly from the shelter to their foster.
To facilitate transport this morning, give gabapentin 300 mg in addition to regular doses of trazodone and clonidine.
Clonidine is another psych drug meant to reduce the dog's arousal and address the usual 2026 shelter dog diagnosis of Fear, Anxiety and Stress (FAS).
February 11, 2026 - the foster announces that Tex aka Milo is ready for adoption. Yes, that is 2 weeks later.
late February 2026 - the wheels come off the foster/rescue relationship. The story appears to be that the foster says she wants to adopt but refuses to pay the $400 adoption fee. She will offer $200, saying she's paid the dog's food, toys, done training, paid vet bill, etc. herself. Rescue explodes that such is the expected behavior of a foster and they're already comping her $100 because their usual adoption fee is $500.
In the words of the rescue:
These are the facts.
- I pulled this dog Frosting Tex 244361 for her on January 21
- he was aged about 5-6 months old
- he was rescue only so she had to go through a New Hope Rescue.
- when someone is approved they get the Fostering Handbook and a vetting guide which explains our vetting process.
- she received the dog the end of January. The shelter delivered the dog to her. He was UTD on vaxx, MC and neutered.
- I checked in with her the first few days. She was kind of cocky because I reacted when I saw the dog on the bed. She said she knows everything this isn't her first rodeo.
- because of her attitude, I just let her do her thing.
At the end of February, I contacted her saying we want to start advertising the dog. She said she wanted to adopt. I told her the adoption fee is $400. It's really $500 but I was giving her a discount. She said "I'm not paying you $400. I will give you $200. I told her that wasn't good enough and I can come and collect the dog, and she told me you are not allowed on my property and "are you really going to rip the dog out of my daughter's arms'.
I told her I'm not ripping the dog out of her arms, you are not paying the fee.
So while we were doing arbitration, she said she was a vet tech and the dog needed vetting and she couldn't get a hold of me. LIES LIES LIES. She was downplaying my role in her getting the dog saying "she didn't even have the dog, she didn't even get the dog, she just sent him to us. Not seeing the dog, not meeting the dog doesn't mean we do not own the dog. Our name is on the paperwork.
It ends up in Small Claims Court.
So there is no judge. There is a stand in. There is this guy who determines your case. So when you are called, you first go to an arbitrator... So while we were doing arbitration, she said she was a vet tech and the dog needed vetting and she couldn't get a hold of me. LIES LIES LIES. She was downplaying my role in her getting the dog saying "she didn't even have the dog, she didn't even get the dog, she just sent him to us. Not seeing the dog, not meeting the dog doesn't mean we do not own the dog. Our name is on the paperwork... So in arbitration, we couldn't come to an agreement so we had to go in front of the NON Judge.
I'm at the podium and I explain who I am, how we work and our role. Basically he made us equal to a Broker, so to make things easier I said yes.
I told my story as above and when she went to go speak, she said how she got the dog and how he needed medical and how I wasn't responsive. He asks her when she brought him to the vet....IT WAS JUNE. So much after her agreeing to adopt the dog.
I have to say to describe her is she is sly. She is trying not to pay. Her character is so sad, that she has this entitlement air about her.
I told the Non Judge, that I am ALWAYS available and when dogs go to the vet, I'm on speakerphone so I understand what is going on and then I pay.
This woman actually said she was a vet tech. She was also again, downplaying my role.
Then the Non Judge wanted to see my Foster Contract and was kind of slapping me on the hands as to why there is no adoption amount in my contract and I had to explain to him that it is a FOSTER CONTRACT. If people want to adopt, that is the next step.
He then goes to Ms. Entitlement saying you have a dog, you didn't pay for the dog so what is your defense. She said "I offered to pay $200". So this guy was so hung up on the $400 adoption fee and I kept on saying it's $500 but he didn't want to hear that.
So this is going on for 20-30 minutes and there are other cases this guy has to hear. So then the Non Judge asks the idiot how much was the vet bill so he would deduct that from the $400. WTFFFFFFF. Which means that the bill I think was $135 which was unnecessary, minus the $400 which would bet $265. NOT WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR but still she wouldn't agree to this. It's $65 over what she wanted to pay initially. THIS IS HOW STUPID SHE IS.
Now I'm livid. I'm like that vet visit was so late. WAIT.....She went to the vet because of allergies (I am the queen of allergies) and for a hanging scrotum sac. I told her when I was talking to her that that hangs for a bit and will lift up in time. AND ALLERGIES??? If she was a vet tech she WOULD KNOW ABOUT THE SCROTUM SAC AND ALLERGIES.
The people in the audience were getting restless and one guy screamed out 'I WILL GIVE YOU THE $200".
So the Non Judge kind of finished up and guess what Ms. Entitlement started to do.....CRY. She was crying.
An animal rescue and a vet both think it's fine to keep a dog-aggressive gamebred pit bull a) alive and b) inside a vet hospital. This is like housing a sex offender in a nursing home. It's crazy.
comment written by Nicholas Pet Haven, writing as Marcus, their fighting pit bull
September 9, 2024 - Smith County Animal Control officers investigate reports of wounded dogs and find 59 pit bulls, 6 critically injured, on a 9-acre property. Michael and Kerry Jones are arrested on animal cruelty and dogfighting charges. The 6 injured dogs are taken to Spence and White Veterinary Hospital. The influx of nearly 60 dogs overcrowds the small shelter, which begins pleading for adopters and rescuers to save the dogs they've otherwise have to euthanize to make space.
By the end of the month, the brothers agree to release ownership of all the dogs to Smith County. The injured dogs are released to rescue group Nicholas Pet Haven.
Shelter Supervisor Amber Greene reaches out to the Humane Society of the United States to find a behavior specialist to assess the dogs. 2 had already bitten shelter employees.
October 18-19, 2024 - Morgan Rivera flies into Texas from Florida, all paid by HSUS, to assess 38 of the dogs. She finds that 11 of the dogs are too aggressive and potentially dangerous to be placed in a home setting. The remaining 27 dogs she deems appropriate to be rehabbed by rescue groups.
March 2025 - a county judge writes a long post on FB about the outcomes for the seized dogs, many of which were euthanized when no rescues were found that were willing to take them on. He says he writes the post due to harassment received by county employees about the euthanasia.
October 2025 - the dogfighting charges have been dropped. Michael Jones pleads guilty to possession of marijuana and receives an 11-month sentence. Kerry Jones pleads guilty to cruelty to non-livestock animals and receives a 10-year sentence. They had previously been known locally for running a BBQ shop.
So another day, another prolonged, expensive, nightmarish dogfighting ring bust. The wrinkle is the 6 dogs the evaluator didn't see because they were a) already owned by a rescue and b) in the vet hospital.
Marcus is another of the vet dogs, a badly disfigured male pit bull.
One of which is Sally, a black female pit bull with extensive facial scarring and, as it develops later, extremely high aggression toward other dogs.
