Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
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people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
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Hi Veronica.
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How are you?
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Veronica: Hi Dixie.
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I'm great.
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Thanks so much for calling.
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Dixie: You're welcome.
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Thank you for joining me today.
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So we could talk about the work
you do as an animal advocate.
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I understand you work for several
organizations, so tell me a
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little bit about yourself and
the groups you volunteer with.
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Veronica: I try to lend my time to anybody
I see reaching out on social media.
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First off, that big easy animal
rescue is one and chat that cat
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and, animal rescue New Orleans.
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This most recently I've been doing
work with investigative, work with
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the Humane Society of Louisiana.
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And that's been very rewarding
and I feel like we're really
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making a difference there.
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And how did you get started in this?
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Were you always into animals?
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As a, when I was about 12, I've always
been into animals, and at age 12 I've
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joined a program at the zoo, which
now as an adult, I'm not a fan of
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zoos, but at the time they took us
to the SBCA as part of the training
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program to be a junior zookeeper.
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And at the SBCA, they showed us
a film about what happens to.
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Animals one, they're euthanized
and it was really jarring.
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And ever since then I've been, tried
to be an advocate and donate, know
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and give time as much as possible.
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Dixie: Yeah.
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I was actually a volunteer
at the zoo as well.
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Veronica: Oh, you were?
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Okay.
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Yeah.
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. I was in this junior zookeeper program
and I did, I'll say to their credit, I
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learned the training program was great.
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I learned a lot.
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But as I mentioned, now
I'm not such a fan of.
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Any
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enclosures?
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Dixie: Yeah.
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When I was a junior in high school,
we had to pick a volunteer program.
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We had to go there for two
weeks, so that's what I ended
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up doing I picked the zoo.
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I went to the zoo and I ended up
staying there the whole summer, and
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I went back the following summer.
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I really enjoyed it.
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But you're right.
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Veronica: That's funny.
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I did the same thing really.
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I went back yeah.
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We might have even known each other.
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Dixie: Yeah.
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I did mine 92 through 94
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Veronica: yes.
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I think that's pretty close to me.
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I enjoyed it as well.
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I I got to work in the nocturnal exhibit.
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Is it the type of thing you did?
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Dixie: Actually it was right before
the release of Jurassic Park, so
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they had the dinosaur exhibit.
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Oh, cool.
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Yeah, they put me in
dinosaur exhibit area.
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And they had games that they would
play for all the kids coming.
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I was tyrannosaurus white
instead of Vanna White.
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That's a like, that's really cute.
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And yeah, but they would
bring out some animals.
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I wasn't trained for the mammals,
but they would bring out the insects.
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And oh yeah.
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It was funny because I was there for maybe
two days and they tell me, oh, you're
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gonna be in charge of the roaches today.
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And I'm terrified of cockroaches.
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So I was like, oh my God,
this is gonna be horrible.
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I'm gonna quit.
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But they brought out the hissing ones
and then they brought out a giant one
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and those they're totally different.
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I wasn't scared of 'em at all.
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They were actually both really cool.
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But yeah.
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That's funny.
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How
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Veronica: big are, is a giant cockroach.
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Dixie: He was probably about
like maybe eight inches.
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He's big, but he looks nothing
like the ones that we have
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coming out of the sewers here.
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So it was like totally different.
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And I actually held him and he would
walk around my hand and then I would
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hold the little hissing ones too.
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I think it was the Madagascar
hissing cockroaches.
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But yeah those were really cool too.
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And I was fine with those, but if I
see one of the flying ones that come
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into your house or one of the ones
coming up by the sewers I freak out.
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I still can't handle those.
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Veronica: Me too.
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You're like the roach whisperer.
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Dixie: Yeah, I don't think so.
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Could you share what drew you to the
different roles that you're doing cause
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you said you work with three or four
different groups and how that has changed
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your overall perspective on animal welfare
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. Veronica: I didn't realize, I guess
it was about three years ago, there
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was a feral cat outside my apartment
that needed help badly, could barely
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walk, was dragging its back leg.
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Its eyes were crusted shut.
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It was deaf.
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And so I started reaching
out to all these groups.
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I had already volunteered at
the time for Animal Rescue New
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Orleans, but I, I just needed help.
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What to do with this cat, how to
trap it, what's the best way, and
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reached out and really the only one
that got back to me was Trap Dat Cat
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So I got involved with them, and helping
trap and also to transport all the cats.
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And it was, it's such
an amazing organization.
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Nina Hemeter has, at any given time,
40 cats on her front porch waiting to,
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go get fixed and she's just tireless.
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So watching her work and then realizing,
just getting more and more, little
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by little I started seeing just.
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people don't realize that
how rampant animal abuse is.
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And it's like when I got involved in one
group, then I would see more and more
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on social media and then that would open
me up to another group that I joined
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and then that would open me up to see.
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It's horrific and I feel people
have been, society as a whole has
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been so sheltered from it because
it doesn't often get a lot of press.
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And I started really.
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Thinking to myself, I know that what
I'm good at, and what I'm not good at,
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and I know that I'm good at writing
and lobbying and tenacity, if you will.
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So I started to write letters and
proposals to the city council and
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trying to, create an animal, task force.
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That you can better,
go out and investigate.
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Abuse and neglect and also a registry
I've been working on because I'm
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really very frustrated that people
can abuse an animal and easily go
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back out and adopt another one.
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I just don't see any reason
why there's, there should
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always already be one in place.
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It seems very basic, to have a registry
that you can share between shelters and
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rescue organizations across the country.
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So I've been working on that and realizing
that's the, probably what I'm best at is
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lobbying and advocating, at a state level.
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But it's really just opened my eyes to,
the irresponsibility of people these
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days and the lack of accountability, the
surrenders and the rehoming have been so
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normalized and it's really just pathetic.
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There are reasons to rehome and
surrender if you cannot care for your
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animal, if you have a dire circumstance.
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But what I'm seeing is
this, just constant just.
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I don't feel like I have time or I'm
moving and I need to rehome in two days
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or I'm bringing to a shelter and I feel
as though I, I get a lot of pushback
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on social media because I'm very,
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aggressive with these people and
explaining like, exactly, okay,
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you're gonna drop it at a shelter.
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Euthanize is a really pretty word for what
actually happens, so let me tell you, you
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know what's going to happen to your pet?
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And I get some pushback, but I feel
like it's time is a society that we stop
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normalizing and accepting this behavior.
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Dixie: I agree with you on that.
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And I see it all the time too.
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I do cat rescue.
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And I find a lot of people don't
really understand what a rescue is for.
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A rescue isn't for the people that are
just abandoning their responsibilities.
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Like, if you're gonna move,
you know you're gonna move, and
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don't expect a rescue to take it.
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That's not a dire circumstance,
I guess maybe I'm looking at
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things different too with.
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How a rescue should actually be.
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A rescue is gonna be for the
animals that are actually abandoned.
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The animals that are like falling out
of car engines on the street need help.
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The sick animal that you see
on the corner that's neglected.
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But I get calls too for people,
oh, I'm moving tomorrow.
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Can you take my animal?
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You're a rescue.
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Veronica: And then they're angry if
you don't have space, like you're
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just, people just are not educated,
they just think there's this utopia
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at the rescue where there's just all
this space and money and time and
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Dixie: Right.
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Veronica: It's
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just not reality.
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Dixie: Exactly.
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And then what you're saying too about the
registry, I think that's a wonderful idea.
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But a problem that I often see
is a lot of the rescues not
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wanting to work with one another.
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Veronica: Yes.
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So I see it too.
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Dixie: Yeah, they have that information
there, but it's like for some reason
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there's just a reluctance to share.
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And that's in part why I wanted
to start this podcast was to
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help bring rescues together we're
all working for the same goal.
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Veronica: I think that's a great idea.
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And I think that hopefully, eventually,
they'll be pressured enough.
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'cause I feel like that goes along with
transparency to be able to share with
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other rescues and network with them.
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And some of them do come
off as elitist to me.
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And, closed off.
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And I think that's gotta change.
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I think there's so many changes,
we have to make, we, one foot
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in front of the other turtle
runs the race, we'll get there.
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Dixie: Yes, exactly.
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So do you do active investigations
with the Humane Society of
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Louisiana as a cruelty investigator.
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Veronica: Yes, and I attended
a certification class just the
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other day, and it was put on
by Humane Society of Louisiana.
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I was at in Livingston Parish,
Sheriff's Office, and Humane World
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for Animals, which was formally.
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Humane Society of the United
States, and it was so informative.
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I enjoyed it so much.
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I took a whole notebook of notes.
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They went from, how to
spot signs of neglect.
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To how to make your report so that
it's, it will hold up in court.
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And dog fighting is, I'm happy to
say I see a lot of it getting cracked
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down on at this point, starting to,
but the dog fighting portion of the
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certification was very eyeopening and
interesting, and I wanna share as much.
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Many of the tips as I learned, with
people, because even just a citizen, a
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neighbor could see one of these signs
and potentially, out a dog fighting ring.
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Dixie: Yeah, I'd love to talk
about that if you wouldn't
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mind going over that with us.
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Veronica: Yeah.
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Then, first off, like neglect, people
always, and I understand people, just
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a citizen, in their neighborhood is.
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Reluctant to call the police
because they don't really know
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if the dog's being neglected.
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But some signs that they can look
for would be, by Louisiana law.
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Animals must cats and dogs must have a
solidly built shelter if they're outdoors.
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And that doesn't mean
it's tarp or wire crate.
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It has to be something solidly built.
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That rain cannot get through, that
protects them from the sun, protects
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them from the colds and has soft bedding
in it, and things people can look for.
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For instance, if the dog looks a
little thin or if there's, they don't
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see food and water bowls nearby.
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If the dog, the animal has changed.
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And also, spots.
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This was interesting to me on their
backside, on either side of the tail.
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That gets worn down.
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And it's definitely something that all
neglected dogs have that characteristic
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of the hair wears off and it's from
not having a soft place to sit.
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So over time, and they're also somewhat
skinny, so there's no fat padding there.
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So that's something people can look for.
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And let's see something else
interesting I thought was that.
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For livestock horses, for instance, if,
people should look for if there's hay
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or grass or water buckets available,
and if the tree bark is missing,
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I thought this was interesting.
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The horses already look skinny
and there's tree bark missing
238
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from the bottom of the trees.
239
00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:26,010
It's because they're starving and
they're peeling the bark off to survive.
240
00:12:26,410 --> 00:12:27,280
Dixie: I didn't know that.
241
00:12:28,210 --> 00:12:29,230
Veronica: I didn't either.
242
00:12:29,230 --> 00:12:33,250
And I thought that was one of these
things may not be cause for concern, but
243
00:12:33,250 --> 00:12:35,710
several of these things absolutely are
244
00:12:36,010 --> 00:12:36,340
Dixie: right,
245
00:12:36,390 --> 00:12:37,980
Veronica: several of
these things together.
246
00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:41,410
And it's just if they see
something, say something.
247
00:12:41,410 --> 00:12:44,530
And a lot of people have this
attitude of nothing well they're
248
00:12:44,530 --> 00:12:46,000
not gonna do anything about it.
249
00:12:46,330 --> 00:12:49,870
And that angers me because they
definitely won't if we don't speak up.
250
00:12:50,945 --> 00:12:55,235
And if the more people that you know,
instead of commenting on Facebook,
251
00:12:55,235 --> 00:13:00,485
maybe email or call their district
attorney or their local sheriff's
252
00:13:00,485 --> 00:13:05,225
office or their city council and demand
change, it takes as much time to do
253
00:13:05,225 --> 00:13:11,495
that as it does to say, oh, the hope
somebody helps this poor animal, online.
254
00:13:12,155 --> 00:13:13,895
That doesn't help the animal at all.
255
00:13:14,135 --> 00:13:19,040
Your energy would better be better,
much better utilized to send a message.
256
00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,940
Dixie: And I find a lot of people
on social media do find that
257
00:13:23,940 --> 00:13:28,290
they think that they're helping
by doing that, and they're not.
258
00:13:28,680 --> 00:13:32,170
That's like one of my biggest pet
peeves ever is that you're gonna
259
00:13:32,170 --> 00:13:36,120
sit down and you're gonna comment
something like, oh here's this.
260
00:13:36,150 --> 00:13:37,050
Can you go help?
261
00:13:38,985 --> 00:13:40,320
Veronica: I hope someone helps them.
262
00:13:40,540 --> 00:13:41,535
I'm like, you are someone.
263
00:13:42,380 --> 00:13:45,720
Dixie: And like you said, it could
just be something as simple as that,
264
00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:50,400
that if you see something that's wrong,
then post it on social media, but
265
00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:52,140
also try to do something about it too.
266
00:13:53,490 --> 00:13:54,120
Veronica: Absolutely.
267
00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:56,700
And I'm grateful for people
that, bring awareness to it.
268
00:13:56,700 --> 00:14:00,490
Like, oh, I saw this dog doing
this, I've seen hundreds of
269
00:14:00,490 --> 00:14:02,980
comments when 90% of 'em are.
270
00:14:03,310 --> 00:14:06,850
Lengthy enough it would take maybe
less time to write just a little
271
00:14:06,850 --> 00:14:10,750
quick email and it's just, they're
saying, oh, this is terrible.
272
00:14:10,750 --> 00:14:12,160
I hope someone helps them.
273
00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:14,320
And, put your money where your mouth is.
274
00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,120
I'm getting tired of it, honestly.
275
00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:20,555
'cause it's gonna take effort from all
of us to make a difference because we put
276
00:14:20,555 --> 00:14:25,095
ourselves in this position as, a whole
by being irresponsible with our pets.
277
00:14:26,775 --> 00:14:29,655
So that we're overpopulated
and now it's an epidemic.
278
00:14:29,995 --> 00:14:30,295
Dixie: Yeah.
279
00:14:30,295 --> 00:14:33,560
And then another issue with that,
when people do those posts and
280
00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:37,550
everybody is commenting on it,
like you said, this is terrible.
281
00:14:38,270 --> 00:14:41,450
If it's a situation that I might
actually be able to go help with.
282
00:14:42,185 --> 00:14:46,115
It's hard for me to go through and look
to see if the situation has actually
283
00:14:46,115 --> 00:14:50,045
been taken care of already, because
you gotta go through 30, 40 comments
284
00:14:50,385 --> 00:14:50,925
Veronica: you're so
285
00:14:50,925 --> 00:14:51,255
right.
286
00:14:52,035 --> 00:14:52,245
Dixie: Yeah.
287
00:14:52,245 --> 00:14:55,905
And there's none in there where somebody
actually has helped, or there might be
288
00:14:55,905 --> 00:14:59,665
a comment in there where it looks like
somebody, did help, but they didn't help.
289
00:15:00,595 --> 00:15:03,875
And so it just really does
make things more difficult.
290
00:15:05,450 --> 00:15:06,470
Veronica: And I've noticed that too.
291
00:15:06,470 --> 00:15:11,040
And I have to go to the top and I have
to hit like new comments, 'cause I don't
292
00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,370
wanna drive, honestly, two hours , if
somebody's, helped and I have to look
293
00:15:14,370 --> 00:15:16,340
at, and try to siphon through them.
294
00:15:16,590 --> 00:15:19,020
I think it brings more
awareness to the post.
295
00:15:19,020 --> 00:15:23,250
I think the algorithm, I'm not really
savvy ab I don't know much about that,
296
00:15:23,250 --> 00:15:27,250
but at the same time, yes, absolutely
people sometimes offer to help and
297
00:15:27,250 --> 00:15:29,040
I think it gets lost in the fold,
298
00:15:29,090 --> 00:15:29,960
Dixie: absolutely.
299
00:15:30,725 --> 00:15:33,395
So what were other signs
of neglect from your class?
300
00:15:35,145 --> 00:15:40,855
Veronica: Basically, ribs showing and,
animals should not have prominent ribs.
301
00:15:40,915 --> 00:15:45,535
Animals that are taken care of and they
shouldn't have a spine that you can,
302
00:15:45,815 --> 00:15:48,335
see from a distance or see up close.
303
00:15:48,335 --> 00:15:50,435
They shouldn't, you shouldn't
be able to see their bones.
304
00:15:50,985 --> 00:15:56,345
Also, any dog, we learned that
a lot of things about, there's.
305
00:15:57,350 --> 00:16:00,410
Oftentimes like dog fighting,
for instance, if people hear dogs
306
00:16:00,410 --> 00:16:04,010
barking and they don't see them
and they're hidden from sight.
307
00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,460
We learned that, anytime that's happening
and you don't see, say you're a neighbor
308
00:16:08,460 --> 00:16:13,260
and you don't see this dog ever get walked
or come out, but you can hear it barking.
309
00:16:13,710 --> 00:16:15,780
Like that's something to be aware of.
310
00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:20,690
And also, a lot of times
people are hesitant to ask.
311
00:16:21,545 --> 00:16:25,415
About their, if they see a pet,
say, tied in a side yard, they're
312
00:16:25,415 --> 00:16:27,935
hesitant to ask Hey, is that dog okay?
313
00:16:28,415 --> 00:16:33,695
But you can always make something
up like, oh, I was just checking.
314
00:16:33,695 --> 00:16:34,685
I have a dog.
315
00:16:34,925 --> 00:16:39,455
I wanted to see if maybe y'all wanna
do a play date or, I'm pretty bold.
316
00:16:39,455 --> 00:16:43,205
Like I'll find my fence in the
middle of the night and just go look.
317
00:16:43,265 --> 00:16:45,275
But I don't expect everybody to do that.
318
00:16:46,430 --> 00:16:51,730
But yeah, neglect the food, the water
very little to no human interaction.
319
00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:56,000
I just met a dog walker in
one of the neighborhoods in
320
00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,650
New Orleans, and she's great.
321
00:16:57,650 --> 00:17:00,920
She seems to keep a really sharp eye out.
322
00:17:01,130 --> 00:17:02,810
She said, oh, there's this dog.
323
00:17:02,810 --> 00:17:04,730
It doesn't have any
access to food or water.
324
00:17:04,730 --> 00:17:05,569
It's chained up.
325
00:17:05,569 --> 00:17:08,420
It has very little
shelter I've never seen.
326
00:17:08,420 --> 00:17:11,390
She, and I said, how wonderful
that while you're walking your
327
00:17:11,390 --> 00:17:13,280
dog, the dog's doing your job.
328
00:17:13,625 --> 00:17:18,005
You're paying attention, to what and
it turns out that she wouldn't end up
329
00:17:18,005 --> 00:17:19,865
getting the little dog from the people.
330
00:17:20,464 --> 00:17:22,655
So that was really a great story.
331
00:17:22,655 --> 00:17:24,785
And I was, I couldn't believe
she's a wonderful person.
332
00:17:24,785 --> 00:17:28,474
I was really, I said, if everybody
would do that on their walks,
333
00:17:30,185 --> 00:17:31,025
Dixie: Absolutely.
334
00:17:32,805 --> 00:17:37,175
Veronica: As far as like the neglect,
obviously, dogs are in fighting are
335
00:17:37,385 --> 00:17:43,555
neglected and we learned a lot about, what
to look for signs of dog fighting as well.
336
00:17:44,335 --> 00:17:45,685
Dixie: And what would those signs be?
337
00:17:47,595 --> 00:17:50,315
Veronica: One of the things that
stuck in my mind that really stood
338
00:17:50,315 --> 00:17:55,775
out is if you see a dog that's,
possibly, maybe part pit bull.
339
00:17:55,775 --> 00:18:02,955
Even with heavy chains, there's no
reason for any animal, to be on a chain
340
00:18:02,955 --> 00:18:05,895
that can tow up a 5,000 pound boat.
341
00:18:06,465 --> 00:18:12,425
A heavy chain is, from what we learned,
it's a sign for sure, and they do
342
00:18:12,425 --> 00:18:14,765
that, so that the dogs are conditioned.
343
00:18:15,275 --> 00:18:16,715
They build more muscle.
344
00:18:16,715 --> 00:18:20,285
And honestly, anything that people
think, I know people think dog
345
00:18:20,285 --> 00:18:24,575
fighting is horrific, but times
it by a million because the things
346
00:18:24,575 --> 00:18:29,635
that we saw in this class were so
barbaric and these are the people that
347
00:18:29,635 --> 00:18:31,250
do this are absolute monsters and.
348
00:18:33,340 --> 00:18:37,120
Yeah, the people have no idea
how actually horrible it is.
349
00:18:37,120 --> 00:18:41,680
And they do things like break the dog
a dog's front legs and throw it in the
350
00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:45,640
pen, poke its eyes out so it's blind
and throw it in the dog fight pen.
351
00:18:46,070 --> 00:18:47,540
It is horrible.
352
00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:50,060
And these are not people
that just dog fight.
353
00:18:50,060 --> 00:18:53,660
These are people that rape and
murder and sell drugs to children.
354
00:18:54,180 --> 00:18:56,010
I'm glad to see they're
cracking down on it.
355
00:18:56,010 --> 00:19:00,060
But one thing people can look for,
especially in rural areas, is.
356
00:19:01,005 --> 00:19:03,855
The dogs are barking, but they're
pretty much hidden from sight.
357
00:19:03,855 --> 00:19:07,935
This person has dogs, but you don't
see them ever out in the open.
358
00:19:08,595 --> 00:19:14,665
And if you can get a visual, another sign
is a dog with a heavy chain that's on
359
00:19:14,665 --> 00:19:21,065
this circular or or worn down area of the
ground where it's just dirt because that
360
00:19:21,065 --> 00:19:23,615
indicates that is the dog's whole life.
361
00:19:24,425 --> 00:19:28,865
There's, just an area where the dog
is existing is all worn down to dirt.
362
00:19:29,585 --> 00:19:32,855
You pretty much know the dog
doesn't go anywhere else, ever.
363
00:19:33,275 --> 00:19:34,415
That's his whole life.
364
00:19:34,925 --> 00:19:37,865
And so that was another thing I found.
365
00:19:37,895 --> 00:19:39,125
I found that very interesting.
366
00:19:39,125 --> 00:19:40,385
I did not know that.
367
00:19:40,775 --> 00:19:42,935
And then the scarring is something.
368
00:19:43,950 --> 00:19:44,940
Didn't know.
369
00:19:45,180 --> 00:19:50,100
What I learned is that black
hair on a dog, once they get a
370
00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:52,980
wound, the hair grows back white.
371
00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:57,440
Yeah, and you can see for the
most part, scarring from a dog.
372
00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,860
Fight's gonna be on the head
and the front legs because
373
00:20:00,860 --> 00:20:02,510
they're going into for the hill.
374
00:20:03,365 --> 00:20:07,905
And the examples we saw were dogs,
black dogs had these little white
375
00:20:08,265 --> 00:20:13,065
kind of cuts all over, and it was
white hair that had grown back because
376
00:20:13,065 --> 00:20:14,895
they're, I guess it's their pigment.
377
00:20:15,765 --> 00:20:18,615
The hair doesn't once the
follicle is damaged, it doesn't
378
00:20:18,615 --> 00:20:20,935
grow back with the same pigment.
379
00:20:21,385 --> 00:20:24,985
So I thought that was, I thought
that was pretty interesting.
380
00:20:24,985 --> 00:20:26,095
I did not know that.
381
00:20:26,845 --> 00:20:28,015
Dixie: Yeah, I didn't know that either.
382
00:20:30,220 --> 00:20:34,090
Veronica: So it's just the dog fighting
is definitely people that if you
383
00:20:34,090 --> 00:20:35,890
think, oh, that could be dog fighting.
384
00:20:35,890 --> 00:20:36,940
It probably is.
385
00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,450
Because, and it's usually like I
said, you don't see those dogs, you
386
00:20:41,450 --> 00:20:44,660
see her barking, you know they're
dogs, but you don't see them anywhere.
387
00:20:44,930 --> 00:20:45,770
And it happens.
388
00:20:45,830 --> 00:20:46,670
It's amazing.
389
00:20:46,670 --> 00:20:52,160
It happens next door to perfectly
nice, good citizens and they just don't
390
00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:53,845
even realize it's happening next door.
391
00:20:54,470 --> 00:20:57,440
And it, it is a billion dollar business.
392
00:20:57,660 --> 00:21:01,230
Dixie: So do you think it's that
more people are just oblivious or
393
00:21:01,230 --> 00:21:04,410
they just don't wanna accept that
it actually could be happening?
394
00:21:06,210 --> 00:21:07,380
Veronica: I think it's both.
395
00:21:07,380 --> 00:21:14,550
And I also think that people have a hard
time with thinking that their judgment
396
00:21:14,550 --> 00:21:16,910
was off, or people have a hard time.
397
00:21:17,555 --> 00:21:19,865
being wrong if they're
wrong about something.
398
00:21:19,915 --> 00:21:23,275
And I think that also people have
a hard time with say there is
399
00:21:23,275 --> 00:21:25,015
a dog fighter living next door.
400
00:21:25,445 --> 00:21:29,075
That makes my neighborhood
in my home look like shit.
401
00:21:29,195 --> 00:21:30,125
Excuse my language.
402
00:21:30,135 --> 00:21:30,765
You know what I mean?
403
00:21:30,815 --> 00:21:34,385
And I feel like they're hesitant in
that way as well because of how it
404
00:21:34,385 --> 00:21:37,020
looks on, them and the neighborhood.
405
00:21:37,020 --> 00:21:40,455
But I think people are just
also just not educated to.
406
00:21:41,505 --> 00:21:43,755
how prevalent and how widespread
407
00:21:43,995 --> 00:21:44,385
right dog
408
00:21:44,385 --> 00:21:45,165
fighting has become.
409
00:21:45,925 --> 00:21:48,715
Dixie: And I think a lot of people
don't trust their intuition.
410
00:21:49,205 --> 00:21:53,945
If you think something is wrong, it's
because most likely something is wrong.
411
00:21:54,215 --> 00:21:57,245
But I believe that goes back to that
whole judgment thing, like you said,
412
00:21:57,275 --> 00:22:00,605
because people don't wanna say something
because, oh, what if I'm wrong?
413
00:22:00,605 --> 00:22:04,305
But I find from my personal
experience, I like to follow my gut.
414
00:22:06,100 --> 00:22:07,420
It, it usually doesn't fail me.
415
00:22:07,420 --> 00:22:07,540
Veronica: And
416
00:22:07,590 --> 00:22:11,550
I agree, and I'm trying to get better in
my own personal life with that, because
417
00:22:11,650 --> 00:22:17,340
my gut , it's never been wrong, but I
still, am working on trusting it because
418
00:22:17,340 --> 00:22:20,580
it's, a scary thing because what if
you're wrong or what if you make this
419
00:22:20,580 --> 00:22:22,650
decision and it's comes back on you?
420
00:22:22,650 --> 00:22:25,330
But really, the police are never going to.
421
00:22:25,855 --> 00:22:27,205
be mad at you.
422
00:22:27,205 --> 00:22:29,365
And people need to realize
that our elected officials
423
00:22:29,365 --> 00:22:31,015
and our police work for us.
424
00:22:31,585 --> 00:22:33,145
They're not the other way around.
425
00:22:33,395 --> 00:22:38,015
Dixie: When it comes to the fighting,
is it more prevalent in rural areas,
426
00:22:38,015 --> 00:22:39,755
city areas, or could it be both?
427
00:22:41,105 --> 00:22:42,155
Veronica: It can be both.
428
00:22:42,205 --> 00:22:43,885
It is more prevalent in.
429
00:22:44,150 --> 00:22:48,540
A lot of rural areas, but you can,
there's few other houses well within site.
430
00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:52,230
And then a lot of times in a city
environment, they'll have dogs,
431
00:22:52,230 --> 00:22:54,510
not as many, but they'll have dogs.
432
00:22:54,510 --> 00:22:59,220
And that's usually like a transporting,
I didn't realize they transport dogs
433
00:22:59,220 --> 00:23:01,530
across state lines constantly for fights.
434
00:23:02,115 --> 00:23:02,295
So
435
00:23:02,295 --> 00:23:05,955
oftentimes they'll go from a
rural area to like a holding home,
436
00:23:06,435 --> 00:23:06,465
Dixie: uhhuh,
437
00:23:06,945 --> 00:23:11,445
Veronica: sometimes often in a city area,
and then they're taken from there across
438
00:23:11,445 --> 00:23:13,695
state lines or to their next fight.
439
00:23:14,085 --> 00:23:14,325
Dixie: Yeah.
440
00:23:14,325 --> 00:23:18,765
I know in a lot of the small rural
parishes in Louisiana don't even
441
00:23:18,765 --> 00:23:22,095
have animal control, and some of
them don't even have a shelter.
442
00:23:22,145 --> 00:23:25,105
So that's why I was wondering,
if it's more under the radar
443
00:23:25,105 --> 00:23:26,935
if they do it in a rural area.
444
00:23:28,255 --> 00:23:28,885
Veronica: For sure.
445
00:23:28,885 --> 00:23:32,365
And I think that, that brings me to
like, one of the training things in
446
00:23:32,365 --> 00:23:36,685
a rural area that they use for dogs
that are being trained to fight up
447
00:23:37,555 --> 00:23:42,645
is, they put either wildlife like
a raccoon, but most often cats.
448
00:23:43,890 --> 00:23:45,840
Or kittens and a little, okay.
449
00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:49,270
They use them for dog fighting
bait, and the dog will, let the
450
00:23:49,270 --> 00:23:54,215
dog them chase the, they hang them
from like a stick or a metal rod.
451
00:23:54,725 --> 00:23:59,765
And once the dog has done enough
work, they allow the dog to have the,
452
00:23:59,895 --> 00:24:01,485
whatever they're baiting it with.
453
00:24:01,515 --> 00:24:03,555
And I think people need to really.
454
00:24:03,870 --> 00:24:06,840
Stop giving oh, it's all day long.
455
00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:07,710
Free kittens.
456
00:24:08,070 --> 00:24:09,450
Free, puppy free.
457
00:24:09,450 --> 00:24:14,880
That's inviting a torturing
sicko or a dog fighter.
458
00:24:15,345 --> 00:24:16,485
You just can't do it.
459
00:24:16,485 --> 00:24:19,965
And if you do it, you've got to,
actually be proactive and check the vet
460
00:24:19,965 --> 00:24:26,235
references and go to the home and ask
for photos in the future because it's
461
00:24:26,235 --> 00:24:28,425
just, it feeds the dog fighting industry,
462
00:24:28,645 --> 00:24:29,035
to keep
463
00:24:29,305 --> 00:24:31,075
doing this with the free animals.
464
00:24:31,125 --> 00:24:33,105
Dixie: You tell people though,
but they don't wanna hear that.
465
00:24:33,700 --> 00:24:37,930
There's situations where I've seen
posts where they're giving away kittens
466
00:24:38,170 --> 00:24:40,630
and I'll go in and monitor the post.
467
00:24:40,640 --> 00:24:42,530
I cannot always take 'em in.
468
00:24:42,530 --> 00:24:45,620
But if it looks like it's a dire
situation and it looks like somebody
469
00:24:45,620 --> 00:24:49,830
who may be doing fighting or something
like that, is commenting on that
470
00:24:49,830 --> 00:24:51,300
post, I'll be like, Hey, I'm a rescue.
471
00:24:51,300 --> 00:24:52,080
I'll take those kittens.
472
00:24:53,775 --> 00:24:54,870
Veronica: I love that you do that.
473
00:24:54,930 --> 00:24:56,160
Yeah, I try to do that too.
474
00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:59,310
If I say, I'm like, this person
looks dangerous, I'll take it.
475
00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:00,340
Yeah.
476
00:25:00,340 --> 00:25:00,820
I'll go,
477
00:25:01,220 --> 00:25:03,810
Dixie: I'll go look on the profiles
and I hate to say that 'cause I
478
00:25:03,810 --> 00:25:07,726
don't want people to go put their
profiles private now, but yeah, no,
479
00:25:07,780 --> 00:25:11,980
I'll go look and see and you can go
through some of those photos and tell
480
00:25:12,030 --> 00:25:12,960
Veronica: just like I love that you do
481
00:25:12,960 --> 00:25:13,350
that.
482
00:25:13,410 --> 00:25:13,740
Dixie: Yeah.
483
00:25:13,740 --> 00:25:17,670
Just like I have some groups that
I run and I've had breeders try
484
00:25:17,670 --> 00:25:22,080
to go push animals in my groups
for rehoming, and I'm like, yeah,
485
00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:23,550
this looks like a breeder to me.
486
00:25:23,550 --> 00:25:25,200
So they end up getting
banned from the group.
487
00:25:25,250 --> 00:25:25,610
Veronica: I love it.
488
00:25:25,925 --> 00:25:29,705
So I do look at people's profiles
too, and if I see it, I'm like, please
489
00:25:29,705 --> 00:25:30,965
don't give this person a kitten.
490
00:25:30,965 --> 00:25:32,735
All they have is pictures of pit bulls.
491
00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:36,340
And I hate to make that judgment
and I apologize to them.
492
00:25:36,340 --> 00:25:40,030
If I've made it from, if
I'm wrong, then I apologize.
493
00:25:40,030 --> 00:25:45,370
But if it saves one animal, I don't really
care what people think of me or if I
494
00:25:45,370 --> 00:25:47,590
hurt somebody's feelings, to be honest.
495
00:25:47,595 --> 00:25:49,125
Dixie: I understand that for sure.
496
00:25:50,340 --> 00:25:54,210
Veronica: I'm not worried with humans'
feelings because they have a voice
497
00:25:54,210 --> 00:25:55,740
and they're able to make choices.
498
00:25:55,860 --> 00:25:58,230
All I care about is the
animals, quite frankly.
499
00:25:58,470 --> 00:25:59,760
Dixie: Yep, I understand that.
500
00:26:00,250 --> 00:26:03,790
, When you see these signs, should
you be getting the authorities
501
00:26:03,790 --> 00:26:05,230
involved, or who should you call?
502
00:26:06,710 --> 00:26:10,880
Veronica: They were clear with us that
one, one of these signs, if it's something
503
00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:14,310
like, the dog looks a little thin.
504
00:26:14,820 --> 00:26:16,860
You have to use your
judgment one of those times.
505
00:26:16,860 --> 00:26:22,640
If the dog looks a little thin and it's
got a tarp for a shelter or it's, the dog
506
00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:27,140
looks a little thin and there's multiple
other dogs on the property, or you can
507
00:26:27,140 --> 00:26:29,120
hear multiple other dogs on the property.
508
00:26:29,970 --> 00:26:33,120
Somebody that's a neighbor,
let's say, who's in a rural area,
509
00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:34,560
you can hear the dogs barking.
510
00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,390
You never see them out in the open.
511
00:26:36,630 --> 00:26:39,510
The neighbor is not very neighborly.
512
00:26:39,945 --> 00:26:41,835
Mostly keeps to themselves.
513
00:26:42,485 --> 00:26:46,435
Sometimes maybe has on a, any
given night, multiple cars.
514
00:26:46,435 --> 00:26:50,275
There you just, you see the signs
and then you call the police.
515
00:26:50,275 --> 00:26:54,505
You can call the non-emergency
number or, 'cause a lot of people,
516
00:26:54,505 --> 00:26:57,775
like you said, don't have animal
control or shelters to call.
517
00:26:58,105 --> 00:27:01,765
So in that instance, they would
call the police because, and
518
00:27:01,765 --> 00:27:03,055
like I said, dog fighting.
519
00:27:03,910 --> 00:27:05,650
They're starting to crack down all over.
520
00:27:05,650 --> 00:27:07,270
They're getting very angry about it.
521
00:27:07,270 --> 00:27:13,760
Finally, and neglect I was happy
to say that see multiple rural
522
00:27:14,330 --> 00:27:18,860
sheriffs, sheriff's offices
represented at the certification.
523
00:27:19,220 --> 00:27:25,580
Lots of police from different parishes
in Louisiana that don't have shelters.
524
00:27:25,850 --> 00:27:30,490
So they had sent some of their
police officers to get training.
525
00:27:31,705 --> 00:27:35,965
So I really believe it's starting
to turn around and you just call the
526
00:27:35,965 --> 00:27:37,375
police, just tell them what they saw.
527
00:27:37,375 --> 00:27:39,745
It's called the Humane
Society of Louisiana.
528
00:27:40,045 --> 00:27:44,975
If you're not getting any reaction,
because Jeff Dorson is amazing and
529
00:27:44,975 --> 00:27:49,055
he's really, he's got connections
all over the state and he's very
530
00:27:49,055 --> 00:27:50,525
good at getting something done.
531
00:27:50,975 --> 00:27:55,985
If he gets a complaint, he'll send
one of us to follow up with it.
532
00:27:56,765 --> 00:27:58,775
There was recently a guy in Monroe.
533
00:27:58,965 --> 00:28:03,045
He didn't have anyone to call as far as
animal control, so he called the Humane
534
00:28:03,045 --> 00:28:09,645
Society of Louisiana, and it was about
some sheep that were in a field and it was
535
00:28:09,645 --> 00:28:12,495
dirt field and one of a baby one was dead.
536
00:28:12,495 --> 00:28:13,665
It had been starved to death.
537
00:28:13,665 --> 00:28:15,045
And he said, I didn't really know.
538
00:28:15,045 --> 00:28:17,835
I didn't really wanna get
involved, that's just not right.
539
00:28:18,525 --> 00:28:21,645
And he said, thank you guys
so much for following up and.
540
00:28:21,975 --> 00:28:23,655
Turns out, they were being starved.
541
00:28:23,655 --> 00:28:27,465
Somebody had rented the land and
just disappeared and left these
542
00:28:27,465 --> 00:28:29,265
animals just to starve to death.
543
00:28:29,685 --> 00:28:29,775
Dixie: Oh, wow.
544
00:28:29,775 --> 00:28:29,955
Veronica: And I
545
00:28:29,955 --> 00:28:32,675
said, sir, we're so
grateful when people call.
546
00:28:33,095 --> 00:28:34,475
I said, thank you so much.
547
00:28:34,475 --> 00:28:36,065
He said they were in a dirt field.
548
00:28:36,770 --> 00:28:40,310
That was, that gentleman sign:
a dirt field and then he said he
549
00:28:40,310 --> 00:28:44,030
came, he drove by again two weeks
later and there was the dead baby
550
00:28:44,030 --> 00:28:45,530
sheep in the middle of the field.
551
00:28:45,580 --> 00:28:46,750
And he said, I just feel terrible.
552
00:28:46,750 --> 00:28:49,360
I waited that long because
obviously a dirt field doesn't
553
00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:51,010
have any food for the animals.
554
00:28:51,130 --> 00:28:55,270
He's like, I should have called
a long time ago right now.
555
00:28:55,270 --> 00:28:56,075
Dixie: Who taught the class
556
00:28:57,850 --> 00:29:02,110
Veronica: that was a trainer from
the Humane World for Animals the
557
00:29:02,110 --> 00:29:03,850
Humane Society of the United States.
558
00:29:04,195 --> 00:29:05,155
She was great.
559
00:29:05,185 --> 00:29:10,675
She's been an investigator for years,
I believe, and then of course I went, I
560
00:29:10,675 --> 00:29:15,655
love to like research, so I looked her
up and I saw multiple YouTube videos.
561
00:29:15,655 --> 00:29:20,095
She had actually been an animal
control officer and now was
562
00:29:20,095 --> 00:29:21,505
a trainer in the program.
563
00:29:21,505 --> 00:29:25,075
And she was really
informative and wonderful.
564
00:29:25,075 --> 00:29:28,555
I just really she gave us
different cases to look at.
565
00:29:28,735 --> 00:29:30,475
For instance, like one had I.
566
00:29:31,105 --> 00:29:34,145
I think that, it's rampant
where people move out of their
567
00:29:34,145 --> 00:29:38,405
homes and leave their pets in an
abandoned house to starve to death.
568
00:29:38,405 --> 00:29:44,465
And she just really kept reiterating
how important it is as investigators
569
00:29:44,465 --> 00:29:46,865
to be thorough with our reports.
570
00:29:46,865 --> 00:29:51,525
A dog was left to starve
to death in a mobile home.
571
00:29:51,605 --> 00:29:55,745
And she, that time they got
there, the dog was liquified, but.
572
00:29:56,210 --> 00:29:58,550
She said, we were so thorough.
573
00:29:58,550 --> 00:30:04,070
We took video of absolutely everything,
and they found the dog's teeth and
574
00:30:04,070 --> 00:30:07,820
the, it's a horrible story, the teeth
and the walls, because the dog was so
575
00:30:07,820 --> 00:30:09,830
panicked as it was starving to death.
576
00:30:09,830 --> 00:30:09,831
And
577
00:30:09,874 --> 00:30:14,074
the dog's nails were worn down to
nubs from scratching to try to fight
578
00:30:14,074 --> 00:30:17,464
its way out of the house as it was
starving to death, which is the worst.
579
00:30:18,364 --> 00:30:19,504
Most painful death.
580
00:30:19,804 --> 00:30:24,774
And she said they were able to prosecute
because of how thorough they were
581
00:30:24,774 --> 00:30:29,464
and getting samples of the wood from
the wall and then that matched the,
582
00:30:29,744 --> 00:30:33,494
under the nails and they found like,
583
00:30:33,494 --> 00:30:37,364
I said, his, the teeth and nail bits
in the wall and it was just horrible.
584
00:30:37,364 --> 00:30:41,294
But she was trying to make the
point that every little thing counts
585
00:30:41,744 --> 00:30:43,634
when you are doing investigations.
586
00:30:44,199 --> 00:30:46,389
Dixie: I believe I've actually
heard about that case too.
587
00:30:47,319 --> 00:30:51,393
I don't know if I saw a video or something
about it, but that sounds very familiar.
588
00:30:52,203 --> 00:30:53,823
Veronica: I was openly crying.
589
00:30:54,123 --> 00:30:55,863
I was like, okay, I think
I'm gonna go to the bathroom.
590
00:30:55,863 --> 00:30:56,493
Take a break.
591
00:30:56,793 --> 00:30:59,708
It was tough, but like, it's
hard to see and she said, I don't
592
00:30:59,708 --> 00:31:02,558
like to show a lot of graphic
videos and these trainings, but.
593
00:31:03,173 --> 00:31:04,793
Some of them I feel are necessary.
594
00:31:04,793 --> 00:31:07,283
And I feel, I wish I could
show the whole world.
595
00:31:07,283 --> 00:31:11,513
I wish I could sit the whole world down
and make them watch those kind of things.
596
00:31:11,513 --> 00:31:14,573
'cause I think then maybe
something will click
597
00:31:14,993 --> 00:31:15,443
right in their
598
00:31:15,443 --> 00:31:16,013
brains.
599
00:31:16,013 --> 00:31:19,823
Dixie: And unfortunately that seems to
be a thing when people move out, they
600
00:31:19,823 --> 00:31:21,623
just will leave their pets inside.
601
00:31:23,093 --> 00:31:23,483
Veronica: Yeah.
602
00:31:23,543 --> 00:31:24,893
It's just bizarre.
603
00:31:24,893 --> 00:31:29,153
And I mean that I just feel like
the big thing, that will maybe stop
604
00:31:29,153 --> 00:31:32,783
that is just, harsher penalties.
605
00:31:32,793 --> 00:31:35,393
I feel like it definitely
should be mandatory jail time.
606
00:31:35,393 --> 00:31:38,153
These animals feel the same
emotions as human beings.
607
00:31:38,483 --> 00:31:43,403
I don't understand why the jail
time is different for animal abuse.
608
00:31:45,158 --> 00:31:45,428
Dixie: Yeah.
609
00:31:45,428 --> 00:31:48,878
And they just seem to just get like
a slap on the wrist most of the time.
610
00:31:49,088 --> 00:31:53,718
Veronica: And then, I, the FBI
themselves say that 81% of people
611
00:31:53,718 --> 00:31:55,338
that abuse or neglect animals.
612
00:31:55,893 --> 00:31:59,043
81% of them will go on to commit a crime.
613
00:31:59,283 --> 00:32:01,563
Often the next crime is against a child.
614
00:32:01,923 --> 00:32:05,853
And then it goes to domestic violence and
then it goes to bigger ones like murder.
615
00:32:05,853 --> 00:32:07,593
And I just feel like why?
616
00:32:07,653 --> 00:32:08,403
I'm nobody.
617
00:32:08,453 --> 00:32:14,573
I'm not trained in any kinda legislation,
but it seems to me like it's law 1 0
618
00:32:14,573 --> 00:32:16,913
1 to cut the problem off at the knees.
619
00:32:16,913 --> 00:32:18,638
Like why wouldn't they stop it?
620
00:32:19,583 --> 00:32:23,123
Animal abuse with a harsher
penalty so that they can't go on
621
00:32:23,123 --> 00:32:25,163
to commit crimes against people..
622
00:32:25,443 --> 00:32:27,873
I just feel like that's the
most simple way to have crime
623
00:32:27,873 --> 00:32:30,433
go down in cities, period.
624
00:32:30,433 --> 00:32:34,053
Cut the problem off at the knees
before it gets any worse, and I
625
00:32:34,053 --> 00:32:36,393
don't get why that's not happening.
626
00:32:36,483 --> 00:32:40,533
Dixie: Yeah, I don't either because
you always hear that statistic.
627
00:32:41,883 --> 00:32:43,893
But then it's never taken seriously.
628
00:32:43,893 --> 00:32:46,628
So I don't know.
629
00:32:47,708 --> 00:32:51,318
Veronica: I think too, if people,
were more vocal about, It there's
630
00:32:51,318 --> 00:32:52,998
a great page on Facebook.
631
00:32:52,998 --> 00:32:56,118
. It's Citizens Against
Animal Abuse and Neglect.
632
00:32:57,033 --> 00:32:57,933
It is awful.
633
00:32:57,933 --> 00:33:00,573
I get all my news from there every
morning when I wake up on animal
634
00:33:00,573 --> 00:33:05,418
abuse and the admin of that page
provides a link that you can find
635
00:33:05,418 --> 00:33:10,788
your legislator and it gives you their
email, their contact email and stuff.
636
00:33:10,788 --> 00:33:14,748
And I think it's very helpful 'cause
I think the more noise that's made,
637
00:33:15,228 --> 00:33:16,758
the more they're gonna pay attention.
638
00:33:17,448 --> 00:33:22,098
So I really encourage, like
I said, people to contact.
639
00:33:22,593 --> 00:33:26,943
Legislators and just one sentence, even
like harsher sentences for animal abuse,
640
00:33:27,213 --> 00:33:30,933
because whatever these people are loud,
the most loud about is what's what
641
00:33:30,933 --> 00:33:32,883
they're gonna put on their priority list.
642
00:33:33,213 --> 00:33:37,533
Dixie: The registry that you're working
on, what are your plans with that?
643
00:33:37,563 --> 00:33:40,173
And have you started putting
this registry together yet?
644
00:33:41,713 --> 00:33:42,073
Veronica: Yes.
645
00:33:42,293 --> 00:33:45,373
One of my weaknesses, is
any kind of, administrative,
646
00:33:45,373 --> 00:33:47,533
like spreadsheets and such.
647
00:33:47,533 --> 00:33:50,203
So what I started doing
is just collecting data.
648
00:33:50,593 --> 00:33:55,823
I take screenshots and then record the
names of each person that's, convicted.
649
00:33:56,093 --> 00:33:58,043
And then I went to charge.
650
00:33:58,043 --> 00:34:00,083
And I'm starting it just in Louisiana.
651
00:34:00,533 --> 00:34:06,323
But I'm hoping, that it's gonna be, I
have a friend that says Rescue in Florida.
652
00:34:07,208 --> 00:34:08,348
She's very involved.
653
00:34:08,348 --> 00:34:12,297
So we're back and forth talking about,
so it can be shared between states.
654
00:34:12,748 --> 00:34:14,998
And so I've, now, I've got the data.
655
00:34:14,998 --> 00:34:20,498
Basically all I need next is for it to be
in the full right format, and a shareable
656
00:34:20,498 --> 00:34:23,078
kind of website where people can log on.
657
00:34:23,588 --> 00:34:28,007
And of course it has to be I'm
just still struggling with how
658
00:34:28,007 --> 00:34:34,038
to make sure that it's not just
somebody claiming there was abuse.
659
00:34:34,098 --> 00:34:35,058
You see what I'm saying?
660
00:34:35,058 --> 00:34:37,668
Like, 'cause I don't wanna do it
just for people that are convicted
661
00:34:37,697 --> 00:34:39,228
'cause so few get convicted,
662
00:34:39,438 --> 00:34:39,828
right?
663
00:34:39,862 --> 00:34:43,398
So that's where I'm struggling, it's
just how do you make sure it's not,
664
00:34:43,447 --> 00:34:46,027
somebody just being mad at someone else.
665
00:34:46,058 --> 00:34:48,938
Oh hey, they abuse their
dog, put 'em on the registry.
666
00:34:50,318 --> 00:34:54,217
That's something that I'm gonna look
to people that know a little more than
667
00:34:54,217 --> 00:34:58,878
me about these things that hopefully
I can get some advice on, how to
668
00:34:58,878 --> 00:35:05,588
prevent that and make it, a completely
legitimate and reliable source.
669
00:35:05,838 --> 00:35:08,988
Dixie: So what kind of support or
collaboration do you think would
670
00:35:08,988 --> 00:35:12,378
be the most helpful in bringing
these registry ideas to fruition?
671
00:35:14,118 --> 00:35:17,388
Veronica: I think, first to,
just to get the registry created.
672
00:35:17,388 --> 00:35:21,858
If there's anybody out there that's
good with Excel spreadsheets and I'm
673
00:35:21,858 --> 00:35:27,298
willing to put money into it and I have
to hire help, of course there's a limit
674
00:35:27,298 --> 00:35:30,438
to that, and I I can't pay several
hundred dollars an hour to anybody,
675
00:35:30,438 --> 00:35:36,368
but, I think just the basic format, the
basic skeleton of the actual website.
676
00:35:37,253 --> 00:35:41,703
The format of how you would put in,
the names of people and what city.
677
00:35:42,063 --> 00:35:44,943
And I've gotten a lot of help
with that from Chat, GPT.
678
00:35:45,493 --> 00:35:47,773
But there's only so much he can do for me.
679
00:35:48,193 --> 00:35:55,523
And then at once it's created I'm going to
market it to rescues and animal shelters.
680
00:35:56,033 --> 00:36:00,143
And then what I want is crime
stoppers to step up and.
681
00:36:00,698 --> 00:36:05,678
Take a more active role and people you
can call Crime Stoppers now to report
682
00:36:05,678 --> 00:36:09,938
animal abuse, but I want them more
visible and more actively involved.
683
00:36:10,428 --> 00:36:13,578
Lee County and Florida is
doing an incredible job.
684
00:36:13,968 --> 00:36:16,968
They have an animal abuse task
force, they have a registry.
685
00:36:17,268 --> 00:36:19,158
Crime Stoppers is very visible.
686
00:36:19,158 --> 00:36:25,668
They put up billboards and I'm trying
to model the program after them.
687
00:36:26,483 --> 00:36:26,723
Dixie: Okay.
688
00:36:26,793 --> 00:36:27,303
Veronica: It's a lot.
689
00:36:27,633 --> 00:36:27,993
Dixie: Yeah.
690
00:36:28,048 --> 00:36:29,308
I didn't know anything about that.
691
00:36:29,358 --> 00:36:30,918
. Veronica: It's Lee County in Florida.
692
00:36:30,998 --> 00:36:32,798
It's right around Sarasota, Florida.
693
00:36:32,888 --> 00:36:34,898
And they have a whole animal cruelty task.
694
00:36:34,898 --> 00:36:35,138
Force.
695
00:36:35,478 --> 00:36:36,678
And their own page.
696
00:36:36,738 --> 00:36:39,228
The sheriff started and
they've been really nice.
697
00:36:39,228 --> 00:36:42,408
I said is I'm trying to do
the same thing and they were.
698
00:36:42,783 --> 00:36:43,713
Said, email us.
699
00:36:43,713 --> 00:36:46,983
So I did, and they've been
very nice and helpful about it.
700
00:36:46,983 --> 00:36:49,983
And so that's one state that I
could share the registry with.
701
00:36:50,173 --> 00:36:51,013
Dixie: So that's good.
702
00:36:51,013 --> 00:36:51,403
Yeah.
703
00:36:51,403 --> 00:36:51,763
Yeah.
704
00:36:51,763 --> 00:36:53,383
At least it's one step closer, right?
705
00:36:53,433 --> 00:36:55,263
Veronica: Yeah, I'll get there.
706
00:36:56,503 --> 00:36:58,453
Dixie: It's, it sounds
like a wonderful idea
707
00:36:59,753 --> 00:36:59,903
Veronica: thank
708
00:36:59,903 --> 00:37:00,083
you.
709
00:37:00,108 --> 00:37:03,818
I, yeah, I think it's necessary,
don't you think, would we need that?
710
00:37:04,043 --> 00:37:04,343
Dixie: Yeah.
711
00:37:04,343 --> 00:37:06,563
I think it would be something
that would be needed.
712
00:37:08,093 --> 00:37:09,323
I think it's a really good idea
713
00:37:10,493 --> 00:37:13,853
Veronica: because I just asked, how
do we know that these people that also
714
00:37:13,853 --> 00:37:16,103
people surrendering for no good reason.
715
00:37:16,513 --> 00:37:18,523
They move to a new apartment
and they decide to get another
716
00:37:18,523 --> 00:37:19,873
pet and they just can do it.
717
00:37:19,873 --> 00:37:20,953
That's not right.
718
00:37:21,443 --> 00:37:24,593
And , I just feel like there's
gotta be more accountability when
719
00:37:24,593 --> 00:37:28,573
you surrender a pet for, 'cause
you don't have time, quote unquote.
720
00:37:28,783 --> 00:37:31,423
You need to be doing more
than signing a paper and I've.
721
00:37:31,933 --> 00:37:36,133
Called out the SPCA for that, and I said,
you need to at least have them volunteer
722
00:37:36,133 --> 00:37:42,773
a day, make them watch a film, have, some
kind of educational awareness brought to
723
00:37:42,773 --> 00:37:47,513
them when they surrender so that they just
don't think it's, and oh, no big deal.
724
00:37:48,063 --> 00:37:53,043
Dixie: And I believe there are
cases when people need to surrender,
725
00:37:53,043 --> 00:37:54,933
medical issues, things of that nature.
726
00:37:54,933 --> 00:37:56,103
I understand that.
727
00:37:56,808 --> 00:37:59,208
But like you said, for some
of these things where it's
728
00:37:59,208 --> 00:38:00,368
just like, oh, we're moving.
729
00:38:00,368 --> 00:38:01,628
Let's go get rid of the dog.
730
00:38:01,628 --> 00:38:02,888
Let's go surrender the dog.
731
00:38:02,888 --> 00:38:04,398
Or, I'm having a baby.
732
00:38:04,398 --> 00:38:05,688
Let's go get rid of the cat.
733
00:38:06,138 --> 00:38:09,048
And I think that definitely
is a part of the problem.
734
00:38:09,238 --> 00:38:14,038
I, I do wish people understood what went
into it when they do surrender an animal.
735
00:38:14,548 --> 00:38:18,168
And in a lot of the times it's
not so much with the dogs.
736
00:38:18,168 --> 00:38:18,948
It does happen.
737
00:38:18,948 --> 00:38:21,858
But like with adult cats, they
grieve themselves to death.
738
00:38:22,338 --> 00:38:23,388
They'll stop eating.
739
00:38:25,188 --> 00:38:26,598
Veronica: I know it's horrible.
740
00:38:26,598 --> 00:38:29,388
I love cats are, like the
forefront of my heart.
741
00:38:29,388 --> 00:38:32,688
I try to help as many as
possible and people just don't
742
00:38:32,688 --> 00:38:34,668
understand how bonded cats get.
743
00:38:35,098 --> 00:38:38,988
And there's been some little research
done on cats so I can't even imagine.
744
00:38:38,988 --> 00:38:42,288
I think probably 50 years from now
people are gonna find out the cats.
745
00:38:42,903 --> 00:38:49,753
Are like these deeply feeling, highly
intellectual, beings that we have
746
00:38:49,753 --> 00:38:52,543
discounted for so long, and they do.
747
00:38:52,553 --> 00:38:57,183
They grieve, they stop eating, they
start having behavior issues using
748
00:38:57,183 --> 00:38:59,163
the bathroom outside the litter box.
749
00:38:59,583 --> 00:39:03,273
It's just very sad because
cats do not do well in new
750
00:39:03,273 --> 00:39:05,153
environments, a lot of the time.
751
00:39:05,643 --> 00:39:08,283
Dixie: What message would you like
to share with our listeners who are
752
00:39:08,283 --> 00:39:09,783
passionate about helping animals?
753
00:39:12,243 --> 00:39:15,603
Veronica: I would say please get
involved because the problem is
754
00:39:15,653 --> 00:39:20,843
so overblown now that it's gonna
take a lot more than us in rescue.
755
00:39:21,998 --> 00:39:23,078
To make a difference.
756
00:39:23,078 --> 00:39:28,538
We need every single person who you
know, cares about animals or thinks that
757
00:39:28,538 --> 00:39:31,778
it's sad when they see an animal abuse.
758
00:39:32,618 --> 00:39:35,618
Write a letter, write an email,
keep the same email, copy
759
00:39:35,618 --> 00:39:37,208
and paste it if you need to.
760
00:39:37,208 --> 00:39:42,338
I often put emails that I send online
and on social media, and they can
761
00:39:42,338 --> 00:39:45,818
copy and paste that or make a call
and just say, I'd like to leave
762
00:39:45,818 --> 00:39:48,508
a message for mayor so and okay.
763
00:39:48,508 --> 00:39:49,348
What's the message?
764
00:39:49,858 --> 00:39:52,288
We need stricter penalties
for animal abuse.
765
00:39:52,288 --> 00:39:55,558
And I voted for him and I
expect to see it happen.
766
00:39:56,188 --> 00:39:57,388
It's very simple.
767
00:39:57,388 --> 00:39:59,758
They work for us, put 'em to work.
768
00:40:00,838 --> 00:40:01,678
We need help.
769
00:40:02,308 --> 00:40:02,998
Dixie: Definitely.
770
00:40:03,848 --> 00:40:06,638
Thank you for sharing all
that information with me.
771
00:40:06,638 --> 00:40:08,168
It was very informative.
772
00:40:08,538 --> 00:40:10,428
Some things definitely that I didn't know.
773
00:40:11,868 --> 00:40:14,538
So I'm so glad that you were able
to come on the show with me today.
774
00:40:15,723 --> 00:40:16,803
Veronica: Thank you Dixie.
775
00:40:16,803 --> 00:40:18,873
I'm so excited that you have this show.
776
00:40:18,873 --> 00:40:19,473
I love it.
777
00:40:19,473 --> 00:40:20,523
I always listen to it.
778
00:40:21,033 --> 00:40:21,183
Dixie: Oh great.
779
00:40:21,183 --> 00:40:23,513
Veronica: So thank you so much for
doing all this hard work because I
780
00:40:23,513 --> 00:40:27,773
know it's not easy and thank you for
being, bringing awareness, to people.
781
00:40:27,938 --> 00:40:28,238
Dixie: Sure.
782
00:40:28,238 --> 00:40:30,608
If you know anybody else that wants
to be on the show, please let me know.
783
00:40:31,868 --> 00:40:32,888
Veronica: I will.
784
00:40:33,068 --> 00:40:34,568
Thank you so much for having me.
785
00:40:34,658 --> 00:40:35,828
Dixie: Alright, you're welcome.
786
00:40:35,828 --> 00:40:36,758
It was good talking to you.
787
00:40:38,848 --> 00:40:41,728
And that's all the time we
have for today's episode.
788
00:40:41,835 --> 00:40:45,845
If you are in animal rescue, or if
you know someone that has a story that
789
00:40:45,845 --> 00:40:48,025
should be told, please contact us.
790
00:40:48,095 --> 00:40:50,915
We would love to have
you or them on the show
791
00:40:51,145 --> 00:40:54,715
. Thanks for listening, and please
join us next week as we continue to
792
00:40:54,715 --> 00:40:57,015
explore the world of animal rescue.
