UPDATE: I have spoken to the Otsego County SPCA and it is indeed true and very sad. It is hard to get through on the telephone number because the phone is ringing off the hook for them, as the word has gotten out only today. But please, please, please consider doing all that you can to help these poor animals.
I found this on facebook just a few minutes ago, and I want to get it to all people who may read anything and may be in the New York area. Please consider donations, fostering, and help.
Donald D. Brown
I’m trying mobilize the rescue organizations for the different breeds mention below. Can you help?
We have a terrible, heartbreaking situation in Upstate New York with Frank Popolizio’s Southside Kennels located in South Worcester, NY. The Otsego County SPCA has been called in, as well as NY State Troopers, to remove over 130 dogs that are staked out w/barrels for shelter and no bedding in the barrels in subzero weather. The dogs are emaciated, eating their own feces, and in horrible physical condition and unable to fend for themselves. There are vizslas, GSP’s, Weimaraners, and Rhodesian Ridgebacks in peril that I know of. There may be other breeds at this puppy mill as well.
Please help me get the word out to the neighboring rescue people. The Otsego County SPCA is overwhelmed with the number of dogs they are going to have to take in and they have asked for help. The director, and contact person for this SPCA is a lady by the name of Liz Mackey; her phone number is 607-547-8111. This is a Cooperstown, NY number and the SPCA is located just south of Cooperstown.
Thank you for any help you can lend in this sad situation.
Can this be confirmed by other than a facebook post?
ReplyDeleteYes, as I have updated, I found out through the SPCA directly that there are many dogs in need of loving homes and they need LOTS of food!
DeleteThe purebred rescue groups need to be contacted. The majority of these rescue groups can handle large numbers of dogs as they have members all over the country that can help.
ReplyDeleteHow come I can not find this on the news....Anyone have a link to this story?
ReplyDeleteDear ScottRiggi, I am afraid it hasn't made the news yet. My impression is that it has only JUST happened and word of mouth is spreading it. I know about this only because the breeder for our Rhodesian Ridgeback found out through a friend who works with the local animal rescue. We are doing what we can to get the word out to as many people as possible. As it is, I've confirmed it with the SSPCA (Susquehanna SPCA) and their phones are ringing off the hook. They took my name and number today and will call back once the chaos settles to tell me how to go about the process of taking in one of the dogs.
DeleteThank you so much...I don't want to post it without proper info...Thank you so much..I will do what I can over here in Schenectady to get the word out..Thanks I will keep looking and get this to my friends in the press...especially if it the Frank Popolizo from Schenectady..
ReplyDeleteScottRiggi, I am relatively sure it is, because his receipts were always postmarked Schenectady. I have emailed CNYCentral.com about this and urged them as dog lovers to publicize the info. You can always also contact the SSPCA and they will give you any information you need, plus you might be able to get a nice dog out of it. :)
DeleteThank you so much! God willing they will all be taken care of...
ReplyDeleteThere is a new post Scott. Sadly things are still tied up with the courts right now, so dogs are still in limbo, but at least the SPCA is controlling things... Thank you so much for your support.
DeleteThanks...I sent this over to my reporter friend from the Albany Times Union and he gave the story to the #2 guy at the paper..so we will see what happens in getting the word out...it is always tough to get a story out on Friday and the weekend...they don't have many people on the weekends doing work...I will let you know as I do...I am so glad the SPCA is controlling things...we have a little territorial thing going on with our city's Animal Control, the Police Department and the County Sheriffs in taking care of any animal issues right now....The SPCA is supposed to be the lead in all matters...
ReplyDeleteThe upside of this whole matter..will be the publicity...and that they are pure breeds...I would hope they will be able to be placed quickly under the circumstances...I feel things are going to work out...I want to see this guy prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law..
ReplyDeleteHe is also involved with miniature horses as well....http://www.gypsyhorseassociation.org/salescolt.html
ReplyDeleteAnd miniature cattle...http://www.southsidestables.com/Contact.htm
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/southside-dogs-new-york-c566006.html
ReplyDeleteHi, here is the Albany Times Union story reported today after I contacted her Saturday...http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Schenectady-property-owner-s-kennel-under-2681104.php
ReplyDeleteSchenectady property owner's kennel under investigation
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer
Published 06:31 p.m., Monday, January 23, 2012
WORCESTER — Underweight dogs were seized from a well-known Schenectady property owner at a breeding kennel he owns in Otsego County.
State Trooper Walter Schliermann of Oneonta said police received a complaint about South Side Dogs, owned by Frank Popolizio Sr., and found animals that appeared thin on a visit Dec. 22. The Susquehanna SPCA and a veterinarian made a separate visit. Police and the SPCA visited again Jan. 13 to inspect the dogs and found their condition unchanged, Schliermann said.
Over the course of a few days, 26 dogs were removed from the kennel, which breeds German Shorthaired Pointers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Weimaraners and Vizslas.
No charges have been filed in the case, but police are working with the Otsego County District Attorney's Office, Schliermann said. The kennel remains open with approximately 50 dogs.
The case has caused a flurry of activity on Facebook and pro-animal websites, with further accusations flying about the poor conditions the dogs are living in. Even the Susquehanna SPCA addresses the issue on its website, saying it does not know the source of the "rumors" being disseminated, but that it won't comment on the case.
Popolizio said Monday that a former employee made the complaint to police, and he believes that "jealous breeders" are spreading the story over the Internet.
He said the dogs were switched to a more expensive organic dog food. By the time the workers had changed dog foods again, police had already begun their investigation, Popolizio said. He could not comment on why his dogs were seized if he has been working with a veterinarian on the food issue.
"I have a perfect record. We do a good job up there," Popolizio said about his kennel, which he has owned since 1987. "We never have had any issues up there until three months ago."
Popolizio was in the news a year ago when a Schenectady house he owned caught fire. The body of a man who lived there wasn't discovered until the house was demolished 21 days later. City public safety officials confirmed the victim was on Popolizio's tenant list, but that they didn't know the man was missing.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Schenectady-property-owner-s-kennel-under-2681104.php#ixzz1kKYp8blz
Thanks for sharing nice post.Dog Rescue was born in February 2011 after the City of Detroit refused to allow access to a network television series that would have documented the stray dog situation.
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Thanks for sharing nice post. i have been looking information on "The Real Fussy Foodie". This discussion has slove my concern to a great extent. i am very grateful.
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Has anybody heard anything else about these dogs? I had contacted the ASPCA when it first happened and they took my number and e-mail stating that when the procedings were over then the dogs would be sent to their respective rescues and those people would get a hold of me however no one has said anything and I have been looking through the news and so forth to find any information that I can.
ReplyDeleteThere are further entries on this blog that update on the situation.
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