UPDATED WITH PICTURE! Murder Hollow Basset Hound Pack was heard before a PA judge yesterday. Cruelty charges still pending…
Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and wanting the latest news lovers….
UPDATE 1-15-09 THIS IS A PICTURE JUST IN OF ONE OF THE MURDER HOLLOW BASSET HOUNDS. IT IS HARD TO LOOK AT.
This is what the defense was begging for. 10K a month to fight for Wendy to get her hounds back. This is what the BHCA was supporting! Despicable. Go ahead, if you can and click on the picture. See the ticks all over the face? See the floor where this hound was forced to sleep?
Do not, under any circumstances contact the owner of this pack. The judge has ordered the PSPCA to handle this. I will keep everyone posted. I have a more detailed account of all of this on my forum.
I have been following this case for months on my forum so I was sitting down to report the latest news and a google alert came across from a blogger and hunter in PA about case. His Blog is called Terrierman’s Daily Dose.
His summary and update say it all. I even had a few good laughs so I am going to bring it over here for my readers. I am also going to link to his blog so you can read and leave comments if you wish:
Murder Hollow Bassets Fail Court Inspection
Murder Hollow Bassets Fail Court Inspection
Some months back, a handful of knee-jerk reactionaries went off half-cocked and contrived a manufactured crisis. It seems the “Animal Rights” folks in Pennsylvania had “raided” Wendy Willard “without warning” and seized her legally kenneled pack of Basset Hounds.
Eh? And what was the supposed reason for all this? Ostensibly it was because the “Animal Rights” loons hated hunting.
Eh?
Something was clearly wrong with this story, and from the get-go I urged caution and a go-slow-and-get-the-facts approach.
For one, Basset Hounds are generally not used for hunting in this country. The activities of a Basset Club are mostly comprised of overweight and aged matrons playing dress-up as they walk around a hay field with their dogs ambling around in front of them. After an hour or so, there is a break for lunch and tea. No one has a gun, and “no animals are killed in the making of this movie.”
The second issue is that all this was supposed to be happening in Pennsylvania, were hunting deer, duck, rabbit, geese, turkey, elk, fox, raccoon, bear, and coyote are wildly popular, entirely legal, and heavily promoted activities. If you were to wage a war on hunting or hunting dogs, Pennsylvania is NOT where you would want to start that fight.
The third issue is that it was not PETA doing the “raid” on this kennel; it was the Pennsylvania SPCA. These folks have a regular television show on national TV where they rescue animals from cruelty and abuse, and they are funded by the state of Pennsylvania to act as Animal Control officers.
But never mind. The pack mentality of the paranoid took over and all kinds of nonsense made its way onto the Internet thanks to the breathlessly inflated right-wing nuttery of a blogger by the name of David Zincavage, who describes himself as a “right-wing web aggregator and purveyor of unpopular opinions.”
In fact, he is simply a man who has a very casual relationship with the truth, and it soon tumbled out that almost everything he claimed and said about the Murder Hollow Basset pack on his blog was demonstrably wrong.
For example, Mr. Zincavage said Wendy Willard’s dogs were seized without notice. Not quite. In fact, the PSPCA had stopped by and given Wendy written notice that she needed to contact them, and she ignored that notice. Then, when the PSPCA stopped by again, Ms. Willard went “Mad Woman of Shiloh” and started throwing rocks at the officers and screaming at them. Needless to say, those officers came back very quickly with police officers in tow, and what they found at the kennel was shocking enough that they seized the dogs, took pictures, and filed criminal animal cruelty charges.
Zincavage said Willard’s kennel had always been in compliance until a recently passed law that was passed in the dead of night changing all the rules. In fact, there was no new law, Willard’s kennel has been wildly out of compliance for a very long time, and Philadelphia’s dog laws are some of the most permissive in the nation, as I pointed out by actually doing the research.
So what’s the update?
The short story is that Wendy Willard and the PSPCA went to court yesterday, and Ms. Willard lost after a judge looked at the pictures and heard the evidence.
Ten of the 11 seized dogs are to be permanently rehomed by the PSPCA. The PSPCA may consider rehoming suggestions made by Ms Willard, but they do not have to follow her suggestions; the PSPCA has the final say. Ms. Willard will be allowed to have one dog back — the dog she said she kept in her house.
The criminal animal cruelty charges are still pending against Ms,. her, but provided she cleans up her Kennel, fixes the roof, installs a watering system, and allows unfettered inspection by the PSPCA, those charges will be dropped in six months.
This is the kind of sentence a judge will impose on someone caught drunk driving or with illegal drugs in their luggage: “If you check yourself into rehab and go to Alcoholics Anonymous for six months (and get signed notes at each meeting saying you attended), we will drop the charges.”
In a sentence like this, there is no question a serious violation occurred, but the judge is tempering his justice by trying to train the offender to go in a different direction in his or her life. The judge is saying: Show me six months worth of real change, and maybe you won’t have to go to jail. But jail time is still hanging out there, which is why those criminal animal cruelty charges have NOT been dropped.
The judge was apparently NOT amused by the kennel pictures he saw. What he saw was real abuse. And while he may be sympathetic that folks do, occasionally, get over their head with dogs or cats, there is a place to draw the line. And the line is a simple one: take care of the animals. Run a clean kennel. Make sure the roof doesn’t leak, that parasites and bugs are kept at bay, and that dogs get veterinary attention. On all of these counts, Ms. Willard had been failing, which is why the order for remedial work is in place, and the criminal animal abuse charges are still in place.
End of his blog posting…..
Also, I will add the blog posting from the Philly Dawg. This is a blog about all things dog in Philly! Boy I am pretty sharp!
OK – here is the posting. You can see the link above so you can again, go read or leave comments.
PSPCA, kennel owner reach compromise….
A Philadelphia kennel owner has six months to clean up her property, take better care of her dogs and allow inspections at any time. In return, animal cruelty charges will be dropped if she follows through. That’s the deal struck yesterday between Wendy Willard and the Pennsylvania SPCA with the help of a judge – who had a few stern words for those who reportedly posted death threats against humane officers investigating the case on the Internet.
My colleague Nathan Gorenstein reported the story for today’s editions of the Inquirer.
Animal-cruelty charges filed against a woman known for running a successful pack of sporting dogs have been continued until June and will be dropped if she complies with an agreement to clean and maintain her kennel in Roxborough.
In July, the Pennsylvania SPCA raided the property of Wendy Willard, owner of Murder Hollow Bassets. The agency filed 22 citations against her for failing to adequately care for 23 dogs on her property, 11 more than allowed under city ordinances.
Philadelphia Community Court Judge Joseph J. O’Neill negotiated the agreement between Willard and SPCA officers.
O’Neill said from the bench that Willard must install a drainage system, keep her property “reasonably free from feces,” repair the kennel ceiling, change standing water the dogs drink from at least once a day, and have the dogs checked for parasites.
O’Neill said the SPCA would have to consult with Willard over where to permanently place the dogs removed from the property.
“This is something that will benefit everyone,” O’Neill said.
Willard’s pack, formed in 1986, has been included among a handful in the prestigious Chronicle of the Horse, the bible of the horse-and-hound crowd. The kennel’s bassets have won awards at the Bryn Mawr Hound Show.
A small group of Willard’s friends appeared at the hearing in Community Court, as did a half-dozen neighbors called to testify about conditions at the property.
O’Neill also sharply criticized reported Internet death threats made against animal-control officers for the raid on Willard’s property.
“You should contact animal people,” O’Neill said to Willard, and tell them “that this matter is resolved.”
O’Neill said he was not suggesting Willard had a role in the threats.
“You’re entitled to have your dogs,” O’Neill said to Willard, “and she is entitled to inspect,” the judge said with a nod toward SPCA Officer Tara Loller.
On the day of the raid, Willard was accused of throwing stones at vehicles driven by SPCA and state dog officers.
O’Neill said the SPCA would make monthly, unannounced inspections to ensure Willard was following the negotiated agreement.
Willard declined to comment, but her attorney, Charles Geffen, said the SPCA also had agreed to return to her a dog named Osh Kosh, who lived in her house….
End of blog posting by Amy Worden
So there you have it. Some light reading for lunch. LOL
This is one of the dogs in her pack in much better days. As you can see from the picture above the hound looks near death.
They mostly look like basset mixes to me which is not uncommon in hunting packs. Some experts have told me that this looks like a basset harrier hound mix which is common.
More Murder Hollow updates to follow. Talk about making a mountain out of a mole hill. I have said it over and over. If Wendy had answered the notice from the PSPCA posted on her door none of this would be happening. Just think of the tax payer money that is being spent.
Cat, Chaps and Emma (glad they are not in a foot pack)
Comments(14)
Cat,
I sent you an email with this story. I think there should be some fines and jail time to prevent future cruelty problems with animals.
Maureen – The case is not over yet. The Cruelty Charges are still pending for six months. If she chooses to proceed with a kennel she has to comply or charges will be filed. I have a feeling she will shut it down. It is already proven she cannot care for that many hounds. I always knew the pictures would tell the tale. The judge was not pleased when he saw those pictures.
The only reason this thing is still pending is because of Wendy’s lawyer who is charging 10K a month to keep this thing going. Yes, 10K a month.
Cat
This may be redundant but my brother just sent me this which was in the Inquirer this a.m.:
http://www.philly.com/philly/living/pets/20100113_SPCA_and_kennel_owner_reach_a_compromise.html
Mary, Harley, Biggs and Leo
Thank Mary. I just went over and it is the same but there are different folks commenting which I always find enjoyable.
Cat
I didn’t know about “Philly Dawg”, thanks for that link, Cat! (Although I can’t stand going into Philadelphia–thank doG it’s a rare occurrence;)
M.
I don’t know how you can call that picture a basset mix based solely on looks. A short google search for hunting bassets revealed that conformation for the show ring and the qualities that the hunting folks use are not necessarily the same. See the American Hunting Basset Association website and the AKC site for starters. My recollection was that the field bassets tended to be taller and less wrinkled, but not exclusively so. I also have read laments from breeders that even the best breeding program/plan produces unexpected successes and failures.
As a practical matter, the dogs that I see in rescue transport are of all shapes, sizes and looks. A few minutes in the Basset photo section of the Daily Drool will show that it is very tough indeed to tell ‘pure bred’ status from looks alone. Breeders breed for different results and different traits. My two Bassets (at best they are mole hunters – so long as it is not too hot or cold outside 🙂 ) are a good example. looking at them, the one that has the most dubious background is the one that looks most like a “Basset”, while the one that I KNOW is pure bred because I have here papers looks a lot more like the picture you posted (except Molly is a beautiful honey, black and white as opposed to the more common Mahogany brown/blk and wht)
I just think that your casual dismissal of Hunting Bassets undermines an otherwise well thought out article.
Jeff
Jeff my comment was not a casual dismissal. It was just my opinion. I stated mine and you can state yours. I had a basset that looked just like the one I posted and she was a basset mix. Wendy had unaltered hounds all living together in a barn. She had to have some mixes in her pack. I have seen more pictures than just this one.
I think the link is in my forum.
BTW – I think that hound is very cute and is probably laying on a couch right now instead of on some damp hay in a cold barn.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Cat
Cat,
You are off base with your comment that the only reason the case is still pending is because the lawyer is collecting 10K a month. I can tell you that is not accurate. From what I’ve heard the total amount collected has fallen far short of what the attorney has already spent on the case and he is continuing to work without getting paid.
BHCA donated $500 and only $500 to the cause not because of the specifics of this one particular case, but because it is what could be a landmark case about government agencies authority over pet owners rights. In this case whether warranted or not, the PSCPA siezure of these dogs was illegal. If this is allowed to stand, agencies all over the country will start doing this to reputable pet owners who have more than the legal limit of pets. This case was viewed as an opportunity where pet owners as a group could take a stand. BHCA did agree to accept donations from anyone (not only BHCA members) but from what I’ve heard, the amount collected by BHCA and sent to the lawyer is a very small percentage of the overall funds collected for this effort.
HD –
I disagree with what you think I said. I will point that out in more detail later. The BHCA is accountable for what they put out on the internet and I want answers. Again, I will respond to this comment in more detail later today.
As you can see from the forum on this topic many people are reading about this. I for one think they are depending on me to get some facts. There are plenty of folks verbally vomiting their alarmist views but very little pure facts have been presented. The Judge heard some of the facts and made an initial ruling of cruelty charges still pending. I asked the BHCA to put the judges ruling in the in the BHCA speakers corner and I am still waiting to hear what their decision is. It only took hours for them to direct Barbara Wickland to flood the internet with a request to besiege the PSPCA with threats and demands regarding the rescue of the MH basset hounds.
HUGE MISTAKE. The judge was not pleased. Who would think that an elderly woman just voted as BHCA sportswoman of the year would be told to, call it off, by the judge.
For anyone who wishes to read more about this topic please visit my forum. Also check back here later today for a more detailed reply to HD. Yes, I have more details.
http://www.bassethoundtown.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=399
Thanks for your comment
Cat
OK – here is my more detailed reply to HD’s comment on this blog posting……
HD states,
“You are off base with your comment that the only reason the case is still pending is because the lawyer is collecting 10K a month. I can tell you that is not accurate. From what I’ve heard the total amount collected has fallen far short of what the attorney has already spent on the case and he is continuing to work without getting paid.”
Response from Cat
You are right HD – It is not the only the reason that the case is still pending. There are many others including the judge giving Wendy a break so she can avoid cruelty charges. The Judge is allowing Wendy to clean up her act and he will drop those cruelty charges. Meanwhile the other hounds are at her mercy for SIX MONTHS. That gives her attorney, Julian time to beg for more money, not for the hounds or her kennel repair but for his “landmark” case. Julian just recently sent out another plea to the internet begging for money.
Julian and his team should do this case pro bono. The reason the amount collected has fallen far short is that for the most part people are not going to part with their money without a few facts. There were none in this case. Just supposition and fire flaming. That is why the BHCA should be ashamed. They had no right to lend credibility and money to this case without finding out the facts. Now that the Judge has made his ruling the begging still continues.
Here is the e-mail that was sent after the Judge’s ruling…….
It may seem like just a few e-mails but folks, this is going to Yahoo hunting and breeding groups that have thousands of members.
START OF E-MAIL SENT ON 1-21-10
—-
From: Barbara Reichman
To: GRCADC@yahoogroups.com; GRCADE@yahoogroups.com; GRCAMA@yahoogroups.com;GRCAMD@yahoogroups.com; GRCAME@yahoogroups.com; GRCANY@yahoogroups.com;GRCAPA@yahoogroups.com; GRCARI@yahoogroups.com; GRCAVT1@yahoogroups.com; GRCA CT ; GRCA NJ
Sent: Thu, January 21, 2010 7:37:36 AM
Subject: [GRCANY] Murder Hollow
Despite news articles to the contrary, the Murder Hollow Basset Hound case is not over. The attorney is still working on Wendy’s behalf. An infusion of funds is needed so the case can move forward. Donations are being accepted at three locations. At NAIA Trust, follow the links for the Legal Defense Fund,
http://www.naiatrust.org/donationForm.htm
To send donations directly to the lawyer:
Charles Geffen, Esq.
The North American Building
121 S. Broad St.
13th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107 Indicate “Murder Hollow” on the memo line.
And last, the Basset Hound Club of America is accepting donations as well. Make checks out to BHCA, with “pack legal fund” on the memo line. Send to:
Brian Pechtold, treasurer
Basset Hound Club of America
44W985 IL Route 72
Hampshire, IL 60140-8271
Thanks to all for your help. PSPCA has taken some hits in the past few months. It’s crucial that this case move to a successful conclusion instead of being dropped for lack of funds.
End of plea….
Comment from Cat…..
But you see there is a blatant lie in this plea. There is no news that this case is over. That is a lie by the person sending the e-mail. They want to make it appear that people stopped donating because the case was over. Julian is not working on Wendy’s behalf. He is working on his “landmark” case. This e-mail does not even link to the “news” of the Judges ruling. Are folks that potentially donate to this folly that STOOPID?
BH continues on in his or her comments…..
BHCA donated $500 and only $500 to the cause not because of the specifics of this one particular case, but because it is what could be a landmark case about government agencies authority over pet owners rights. In this case whether warranted or not, the PSCPA siezure of these dogs was illegal.
Comment from Cat…..
I had no idea that the BHCA donated 500.00 dollars to the Murder Hollow Defense. I will have to go back and look through the Tally Ho and look at the motions again. I do not recall seeing a motion requesting 500.00 dollars for Wendy’s defense. Very interesting. In my opinion that was a waste of 500.00 dollars of my money. A big fat legal waste. You say that it was not just for Wendy but for pet owners rights vs government agencies and their authority. The PSPCA is not a government agency and the rescue of these hounds was not illegal. The judge never said that in his ruling. This is the type of information that ran rampant over the internet without one single fact being found out. If you read the topic regarding Murder Hollow in my forum you will learn all about the case. The details are still coming out. The money is still being collected for a case that has no merit (in my opinion) regarding pet owner rights vs government agencies. If this is a case dog breeders want to fight they need to find a case that is remotely associated with that cause. This was not and is not the case. As a matter of fact, I think that this case actually caused damage to what is supposed to be “landmark”. Again, the rescue of the hounds was not illegal. The shame is that someone did not turn in Wendy years ago. Finally, someone was “intact” enough to stand up for the hounds. I would like to applaud that person.
Next comment from HD in original blog posting.
If this is allowed to stand, agencies all over the country will start doing this to reputable pet owners who have more than the legal limit of pets. This case was viewed as an opportunity where pet owners as a group could take a stand.
Comment from Cat……
HD, HD, HD……This is just not true. There is not one shred of truth in this statement. “Agencies” all over the country do not want your hounds. Also, Wendy was not a reputable pet owner, see picture as proof at top of this blog posting. She was, however, way over the limit of allowed pets for her town and had been for years. Pet owners need to find out what the legal limit is in their town. It takes one phone call. If you are over the legal limit you are breaking the law. If you are abusing your hounds, your are breaking the law. Wendy could not accept that. She thought she was above the law. Her excuses were many. But we all know, ignorance is no excuse for the law. Why did he pick this case for his “landmark”? Because there were and are no others for him to latch onto. Try as Julian may, he picked this case and tried to force his point into it.
I did not buy it and neither did the Judge. Cruelty charges are still pending for Wendy. 10K a month is not going change that fact.
Cat Woman
Why no updates?
All of my updates were on the forum and I took the forum down for awhile. I am trying to find a way to re-work it. Regarding MH – I have not been keeping up with it 100%. I do have some very good contacts that alert me when something is happening and I have not heard anything. If you have any please do tell. I know that the woman (Barbara Wicklund) who was flaming fires all over the internet about MH and howl Willard was wronged had been hospitalized recently. I am sure it is not over and lots and lots of money is flowing into the pockets of attorneys. If Willard still has hounds I am sure they are living in the barn, hopefully with a functional french drain.
I have 2 of the Murder Hollow dogs that were confiscated. They have a myriad of health problems due to their horrible conditions in which they were raised. They are mentally scarred and very, very damaged. If we weren’t long time basset owners, we would have given up a long time ago. I don’t understand this case not being cut and dried. These animals suffered and williard should have been punished.
Harriet I could not agree more. It was criminal what was done to those hounds and Willard got off. The 2 hounds you have are so lucky to be with you. Bless you for taking them in. They were abused, neglected and so sick. Even the Basset Hound Club of America stuck up for Willard and even collected money in her defense. Bunch of no good phonies. I have an entire forum on the topic if you care to read it. Let me know and I will send you the link.
Willard should be forced to live in the conditions she subjected these poor hounds souls to and anyone who donated money should be right next to her. Scum bags.