Complaints from former staffers of the animal rescue organization the Milo Foundation prompted the Marin Humane Society and the Humane Society of the United States to crack down on operations at the troubled rescue. Marin Humane Society authorities Friday ordered the closure of the Milo Foundation adoption center in San Rafael. The move follows on the heels of Berkeley closing the foundation’s adoption center in that town two years ago. In July representatives of the HSUS made an emergency inspection of the Willits sanctuary of the foundation.
The closure of the San Rafael adoption center Friday was the result of reported violations of the use permit. The inspectors say they found “shocking conditions” at the adoption center including too many animals, poor sanitation, sick and injured animals with lack of medical care and expired medications. The use permit allows the Milo Foundation to have 10 dogs on site and when they raided the center on Fourth Street in San Rafael, they found 30 dogs, many of them sick and injured.
Negotiations between Milo Foundation representatives and the Humane Society of the United States and the Marin Humane Society were held two weeks ago to address the concerns over the health and care of the animals, but apparently conditions were so poor, the raid was ordered. 19 animals were seized during the raid.
The executive director of the Milo Foundation, Lynn Tingle, is quoted as saying the conditions weren’t as bad as cited but admitted having more dogs at the adoption center than allowed by its permit. Tingle says they are going to “fight this.”
Fight what? The right to “rescue” animals with few resources to care for them? The animal rescue world is blessed with many hard working, selfless people who understand county agencies can’t and probably shouldn’t do it all, but with that comes a huge amount of responsibility. An animal that is well cared for during its rescue makes a better pet for adopters.
Despite the recent actions, humane officials are willing to help the Milo Foundation work for a long term management plan that addresses the needs of the animals while they wait for homes.
This blogger is a part time employee of the Marin Humane Society but was not involved in any aspect of the operations involving the Milo Foundation.
