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Foundation faces financial challenges
The slumping economy coupled with several neglect/cruelty cases involving a large number of animals have decimated resources at the Middleburg Humane Foundation.“This has been our worst year in [the last] 15 years,” said Hilleary Bogley, the organization's founder and president. “We've had the most people [ever] that need help because they can no longer care for their animals due to their financial situations — and the most animals needing help.”
One case, in particular, has been extremely costly, Bogley said.
On Dec. 31, 2007, local authorities, including Bogley, an humane investigator for Fauquier County, seized dozens of dogs from a Warrenton man. Some of the adult dogs then had puppies.
The animals were taken to the Fauquier SPCA and Middleburg Humane Foundation.
Since then, the owner, Charles E. Settle Jr., has been convicted in General District Court of failing to provide proper care for the large-breed dogs. A circuit court judge upheld the ruling, but Settle turned to the Court of Appeals.
One judge at that level recently denied the appeal, but court records show Settle has now requested that a three-judge panel review the case. A date for the hearing has not been set.
The animals can't be put up for adoption until the case is resolved, Bogley said. The humane foundation must continue to pay for their care as long as the litigation is pending, she added.
While the case has dragged on, Bogley said it has cost her organization about $85,000 to care for the animals. Since so many of the puppies were born with genetic disorders due to poor breeding, the bulk of the expenses incurred are for medical treatment, Bogley said.
Specifically, she said some of the dogs have needed surgery for hip displasia. Each operation costs $3,000. Other dogs have genetic disorders including cherry eye, hemophilia and wobbler's syndrome ( a disorder involving instability in the cervical vertebrae). One of the puppies cannot produce any collagen due to a rare condition. He requires special care every day, Bogley said.
“This has taken all of our savings; it is killing us on every level,” Bogley said, noting that staff is also inundated with paperwork associated with having approximately 40 puppies and dogs in foster care.
In addition to the costs stemming from the Settle case, Bogley said her organization incurred significant expenses from a case in which 65 animals were removed from a Sumerduck residence in July.
Approximately 42 of them were seized; the rest were surrendered voluntarily.
The owner, Christopher Mark Dowd, agreed not to try to reclaim any of the horses, dogs and kittens, according to court records.
“For the Dowd case alone, we incurred $7,000 in vet bills in the first 10 days,” Bogley said. “[In these cases], we have to take the animals, and we have to provide for them.”
Consequently, Bogley said the foundation needs more supplies — canned dog and cat food, cleaning supplies and even postage stamps — as well as monetary donations.
“Some people would rather give supplies than [monetary] donations,” Bogley noted. “People who do want to send monetary donations can give targeted ...or general donations.”
Either way, the foundation is now relying on the public's generosity more than ever, Bogley said.
“We're pretty nervous about 2009, but we will continue to hold our heads high and do what needs to be done for these animals,” she said. “People need to realize it's a community effort, and a little help will go a long way.”
E-mail the reporter: abogdanovic@timespapers.com
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