Both careers can be traced back to a single dog named Snoopy. Let me tell you about him. I saw Snoopy, a purebred Akita, for sale through a local animal rescue site over 20 years ago now. As an experienced Akita owner and AKITA RESCUER, I felt I could give him a good home and applied to adopt him. I thought it would be simple. I never thought it would radically change my life.
My application entered me into hell in which I was interrogated by vegans, had my home thoroughly searched and my background plumbed before I could see him in person. When I was finally cleared to visit a hidden property in Aldie, Virginia, I saw him warehoused in a small cage among over a hundred others and was covered from head to foot in urine. He was sopping wet. All of the white parts of his body were stained dark yellow from the urine. He was housed in such a small filthy kennel, he couldn't get away from his own waste. I was crushed to see the living conditions he was being held in. I apparently didn't have a good enough poker face at that point in my life because unknown to me after that visit, Snoopy was immediately moved to another hidden location. I never saw him again.
"I got so big my owners didn't want me anymore."
Real truth?
Snoopy had a history of attacking other dogs and killed a cat.
25 years ago I worked in the animal rescue field. From the inside out, all I saw was fraud, waste and abuse. I saw streams of untraceable cash going straight into 'rescuers' pockets instead of to the animals. I saw more animal abuse on the part of rescuers than I saw animal owners committing. I saw people putting a halo on themselves and sitting on a pedestal. Completely untouchable as long as they claimed to be 'rescuers'.
I learned from what I saw with my own eyes that America does not have a 'overpopulation' problem, it has a retail rescue market problem. Let me introduce you to the straw that broke this camel's back and turned me against retail rescue forever.
It started with a dog named Snoopy as I said above. Snoopy was living in a no-kill shelter, run by animal rights extremists (a mixture of vegetarians and vegans) warehoused in a cage for years. The "rescue" had no clue how to handle him and his breed, they refused to LEARN about his breed, or how to correctly place him, but they “thought” they knew it all. I could tell from my prior experience owning a hypothyroid affected Akita that Snoopy was also probably severely affected and needed medication. I told these clueless veg-idiots absolutely everything I knew about hypothyroidism in Akitas and referred them to Dr. Jean Dodd's of Hemopet who was studying hypothyroidism in the Akita breed. FOHA didn't want to hear it. Snoopy had also degenerated so much in the 3 years warehoused at FOHA that he had seizures and a liver infection.
Because of their attitude, he had already spent the majority of his life caged among hundreds of other dogs. This is the dark side of 'no kill' that the warm and fuzzies don't tell you. Dogs are warehoused until they die. It's not unicorns, love and kisses. It is a terrible life sentence to these dogs.
At the time I didn’t know that the place that was housing Snoopy had a long history of criminal charges. Snoopy taught me a hard lesson in life.
About this time I made friends through one of my writers organizations with a man who was the husband of a long time Standard Poodle breeder, Absolute Standard Poodles, and though him I met all their Standard Poodles and it was love at first sight!! Until this time in my life.... believe it or not, but I had NEVER met a Standard Poodle before!
I saw a cross roads in my life, with two radically different paths in front of me. A path filled with abusive criminals calling themselves 'good' and a path filled with dog breeders called 'bad' but in reality INCREDIBLY GOOD.
The bad guys in this story are Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA) of Aldie, Virginia. (True legal name: Friends of the Animal Shelter and Guardians of the Homeless Animals) What you will read here is NOT what you will see on their warm and fuzzy website. The true ugliness of the 'no-kill' movement and my first time going up against wacked out vegans.
Let me introduce you to some of the circle jerk that made up FOHA.
At the time I didn’t know that the place that was housing Snoopy had a long history of criminal charges. Snoopy taught me a hard lesson in life.
About this time I made friends through one of my writers organizations with a man who was the husband of a long time Standard Poodle breeder, Absolute Standard Poodles, and though him I met all their Standard Poodles and it was love at first sight!! Until this time in my life.... believe it or not, but I had NEVER met a Standard Poodle before!
I saw a cross roads in my life, with two radically different paths in front of me. A path filled with abusive criminals calling themselves 'good' and a path filled with dog breeders called 'bad' but in reality INCREDIBLY GOOD.
I choose reality over myth.
I chose facts over heart warming fuzzies.
I chose facts over heart warming fuzzies.
The bad guys in this story are Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA) of Aldie, Virginia. (True legal name: Friends of the Animal Shelter and Guardians of the Homeless Animals) What you will read here is NOT what you will see on their warm and fuzzy website. The true ugliness of the 'no-kill' movement and my first time going up against wacked out vegans.
Let me introduce you to some of the circle jerk that made up FOHA.
- Anne P. Lewis - Founder and President - Convicted Criminal.
- Sue Gilbert - Called herself "Acting" President and also behind "Companion Animal Rescue & Education (CARE) of Reston, Virginia an outlet of FOHA - Convicted Criminal.
- Riccado Wright - Owner of the FOHA property - Criminally Charged.
- Judy Kraft - aka "Judy the Vegan Vegetarian," best buddies of Sue Gilbert, also behind "Companion Animal Rescue & Education (CARE) of Reston, Virginia an outlet of FOHA.
- Katie Barr - Owner of one of FOHA's warehouses - Convicted Criminal.
Through the 1990's and until at least 2002, many of the major players of FOHA were criminally charged over and over again. The Wrights and the conditions at the Aldie facility came to public light when they (and Anne Lewis of FOHA) were sued in 1991 over a vicious dog mauling. The victim, a kennel employee, who was mauled by a dog named "Calgary" alleged in the lawsuit that he had a known vicious history with bites on record and she was not informed that he was dangerous.
They were raided and criminally charged in 1995 after investigation into another dog mauling in December 1994 led to the discovery of a number of emaciated dogs.
Their defense was a standard ploy, they just took in those 30 animals and 'someone else did it.' Oh and of course their secondary backup excuse, they are operating on a 'shoe string' and have good intentions.
"Lewis, Wright, the Stonehead corporation, and Friends of Homeless Animals initially were charged with at least 75 counts of failing to provide adequate food, shelter, and medical care to 14 dogs at the ranch. Prosecutors called the facility squalid and said it often housed two dogs in kennels designed for one."
The Washington Post, February 1995.
The Washington Post, February 1995.
Their defense was a standard ploy, they just took in those 30 animals and 'someone else did it.' Oh and of course their secondary backup excuse, they are operating on a 'shoe string' and have good intentions.
FOHA spun the situation as they were innocent rescuers trying to 'save' animals being framed by overzealous authorities. The same defense their long time Fairfax County, Virginia outlet run by Katie Barr ran with.
In 1997, Riccardo Wright once again faced 21 charges of failing to provide water and clean kennels when the conditions continued. Days before his trial, he committed suicide and FOHA purchased the Aldie property from his estate where it resides today with the same 1972 constructed buildings.
Besides 1995, Anne Lewis also fought charges in 1997 and 2000. One of the 1997 charges was over FOHA selling a vicious dog to a woman in Fairfax and the dog bit her 3 times. Loudoun Court Judge said, "Not Guilty." The dog bit the woman 3 times in a single week and Lewis got a free pass from lenient judges once again.
In April 2001, FOHA got into trouble for possessing stolen property when FOHA magically got custody of 2 'lost' Labrador retrievers and refused to return them to their legal owner. The owner went the authorities and they forced FOHA to give up custody of the 2 dogs to their legal owner.
In 2001 and 2002, "Acting" President Sue Gilbert was found guilty of possessing vicious dogs after two additional dog maulings by FOHA dogs. One of the dogs bit the victim in the face.
In 2001 and 2002, "Acting" President Sue Gilbert was found guilty of possessing vicious dogs after two additional dog maulings by FOHA dogs. One of the dogs bit the victim in the face.
Unlike Wright and Lewis who mostly kept getting a free pass from local judges, authorities in neighboring Fairfax County spent almost two decades trying to shut down Katie Barr's house of horrors.
Barr was criminally charged several times over the years as locals tried to figure out how to stop her from abusing and warehousing animals. This was back in the day in which extensive animal protection laws didn't exist but they do now thanks to Barr. In 1980 her house of horrors burned down and 33 dogs died in the fire. She immediately started back up again collecting dogs like Tupperware and being paid to house dogs by FOHA.
"Man, I wish you would clean up your kennel so that we wouldn't have to go through this."
Judge Robert M. Hurst, April 9, 1991.
Judge Robert M. Hurst, April 9, 1991.
There were a number of animal seizures on Barr's property starting in 1991 and several criminal trials after law enforcement seized 82 animals in 1993. Supplemental testimony includes numerous interesting statements such as the one dated June 4, 1986 that noted active rat burrows were in almost every dog enclosure and dog feces in some areas was as much as 5" deep. A memorandum from the Fairfax County Health Department dated July 1, 1987 noted that Barr had failed to clean up any of the debris from the kennel burning down 7 years earlier and simply built new make-shift enclosures (some made out of barbed wire) next to the burned remains and the entire property was in severe disrepair. Barr sued the zoning department in 1987 demanding the right to keep even more dogs than she was permitted to have, one of several suits over the years.
After years of letters back and forth between Barr, Zoning, the Health Department etc., all documenting the filth, the rats, the suffering dogs, the unsafe conditions that Barr refused to clean up, in 1991, county officials attempt to criminally charge Barr.
She managed to successfully get the warrant thrown out and the case dismissed twice. She then tried to sue a number of the witnesses and failed. She of course never cleaned up her kennel so in 1993 she was raided and charged again.
After years of letters back and forth between Barr, Zoning, the Health Department etc., all documenting the filth, the rats, the suffering dogs, the unsafe conditions that Barr refused to clean up, in 1991, county officials attempt to criminally charge Barr.
She managed to successfully get the warrant thrown out and the case dismissed twice. She then tried to sue a number of the witnesses and failed. She of course never cleaned up her kennel so in 1993 she was raided and charged again.
Court records reveal stories like the dog, "Brownie," whose coat was so matted to the skin and nails had not been trimmed in so long that when animal control saw him, his LEG WAS EMBEDDED IN HIS COAT and he could no longer stand. He had taught himself how to walk on 3 legs in order to move around. Law enforcement stated that it looked like he had tried to scratch himself but his leg became entangled in his own matted fur and he could not free himself. Barr never noticed. After his leg was cut free, he had to be retaught how to walk normally on 4 legs.
Another dog seized, a Labrador retriever named Rob, had such a massive untreated gum infection that his teeth were falling out into people's hands. He had already lost his upper teeth before being seized.
An Australian Shepherd seized had to be humanely put down after he was found covered in his own urine and feces and was unable to move. Additionally, he was suffering from an untreated severe skin disease SO BAD that he had maggots all around his genitals and in open wounds on his body.
Yet FOHA insisted everything was just fine and sued to try and get some of the dogs back.
An Australian Shepherd seized had to be humanely put down after he was found covered in his own urine and feces and was unable to move. Additionally, he was suffering from an untreated severe skin disease SO BAD that he had maggots all around his genitals and in open wounds on his body.
Yet FOHA insisted everything was just fine and sued to try and get some of the dogs back.
Lawsuits flew over the years. If local newspapers dared to print even the smallest bit of negative news about Barr, she'd sue them. Barr loved suing people. She even sued her investment broker when the value of her stock portfolio went down. As a interesting side note, FOHA was sued for racial discrimination in 1988 for refusing to adopt a dog to a Nigerian couple solely because of their race.
Yet Barr never stopped warehousing and reselling 'rescued' dogs in horrific conditions with FOHA supporting and supplying her with dogs.
She was finally found guilty and sentenced to 75 days in jail. She just continued on as if nothing had happened.
Maggots are extra good care? Dogs that can't even walk are extra good care? IF that's 'extra good' what's bad?
Time and time again Barr got nothing but a slap on the wrist when her house of horrors was investigated. Even when Barr continuously threatened to shoot county officials she was not held accountable. Here's the ruling in her 1993 trial after investigation was conducted into a vicious dog named "Dexter" that FOHA was warehousing on her land. Dexter was such a vicious dog with numerous bites on record that all of his teeth were ground down so far that the pulp and nerves was exposed. It took two people and 'control sticks' to even enter his pen. Yet because these extremists believe so strongly in 'no kill' that Dexter was just warehoused until he could die 'naturally.'
She was finally found guilty and sentenced to 75 days in jail. She just continued on as if nothing had happened.
After decades of running hell on earth, and non-stop battles with Zoning, the Health Department and Animal Control, Fairfax County finally got a judge to order Barr's kennel closed in 1998. Of course they had to go back to court repeatedly charging her with contempt of court because she still refused to shut down. They also continued to seize dogs from her as they found them on the property. Katie Barr finally sold her Centreville, Virginia property in 2002 for $625,000 and retired to Florida.
Back to Snoopy. After being turned down to adopt him, I called Loudoun County Animal Control and filed a complaint. They asked for full particulars of Snoopy, where he was caged, etc., and conducted an unannounced inspection. Snoopy was NOT housed at the Aldie property. Shortly after I had seen the conditions there, FOHA moved him. The story was worse than that. An Akita-mix named Cody was listed by FOHA as being in their care but was also missing. FOHA told animal control that they had two Akitas but both were in the hospital and had been for over a month suffering from seizures. Neither of them matched the dog I had seen with my own eyes and why do all of the Akitas in FOHA's custody seem to suffer from seizures? FOHA of course figured it out that I was the one that reported them to animal control and their supporters came after me HARD.
The more they threatened me, the more I investigated and reported them. Even "Amy the Wiccan" (Sue Gilbert's daughter) threatened that I had better stop my investigation. Fat Chance. The threats from FOHA supporters continued for months until I filed a police report with the Fauquier County Sheriff's Department. A week later I got a letter in the mail from FOHA threatening to sue me for libel and defamation unless I shut up.
Back to Snoopy. After being turned down to adopt him, I called Loudoun County Animal Control and filed a complaint. They asked for full particulars of Snoopy, where he was caged, etc., and conducted an unannounced inspection. Snoopy was NOT housed at the Aldie property. Shortly after I had seen the conditions there, FOHA moved him. The story was worse than that. An Akita-mix named Cody was listed by FOHA as being in their care but was also missing. FOHA told animal control that they had two Akitas but both were in the hospital and had been for over a month suffering from seizures. Neither of them matched the dog I had seen with my own eyes and why do all of the Akitas in FOHA's custody seem to suffer from seizures? FOHA of course figured it out that I was the one that reported them to animal control and their supporters came after me HARD.
The more they threatened me, the more I investigated and reported them. Even "Amy the Wiccan" (Sue Gilbert's daughter) threatened that I had better stop my investigation. Fat Chance. The threats from FOHA supporters continued for months until I filed a police report with the Fauquier County Sheriff's Department. A week later I got a letter in the mail from FOHA threatening to sue me for libel and defamation unless I shut up.
I consider it a Badge of Honor when crooks threaten to sue me.
Bring it on I say! 'Discovery' gonna be a real good time.
Bring it on I say! 'Discovery' gonna be a real good time.
I have one last thing to say about Snoopy. If you look at his two Petfinder Ads previously shown in this article, Snoopy CAME FROM TEXAS. Even 20+ years ago, the Retail Rescue pipeline from Mexico to Texas and then shipment to the Northeast for resale was already active. I have emails from that period showing that I questioned them as to whether Snoopy came from Texas and they never answered.
Another interesting side note to this story was my interview of animal rights extremist Hilleary Bogley in 2001. I tried to interview as many people that would agree to talk to me that had interactions with FOHA over the years. Bogley claimed to have done undercover investigations into FOHA several times. She referred me to her buddies the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) for help. They just sent me a propaganda package filled with PETA fact sheets and others. Nine years later Bogley would attempt to destroy me.
Ultimately I did not save Snoopy. He disappeared and his fate is unknown, but I started writing about retail rescue and the horrors within it and 21 years later I'm still writing about it. You can thank FOHA for all of that.
As for FOHA, they are still in business, still raking in the cash (over $2 million in assets while sitting on 20 tax exempt acres valued at $700,000+) and still getting in trouble for housing and reselling vicious dogs. They currently have at least 1 dog registered with Virginia's Dangerous Dog Registry.
As for FOHA, they are still in business, still raking in the cash (over $2 million in assets while sitting on 20 tax exempt acres valued at $700,000+) and still getting in trouble for housing and reselling vicious dogs. They currently have at least 1 dog registered with Virginia's Dangerous Dog Registry.
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