Updates on the animal abuse case in Buckingham, Florida

Among hundreds of other charges are 60 FELONY COUNTS of animal abuse against the owner....

From the Fort Myers News-Press, October 2nd:

"The floors were covered with urine and feces. Cats were crammed into crates, litter boxes overflowing. One puppy in particular paced obsessively back and forth in a tight circle, a condition known as kennel craze.

These were a few of the conditions described by Lee County sheriff's Deputy William Dunaske, who arrived at My Best Friend's animal rescue in Buckingham on Sept. 23. According to his report, released Wednesday, there were areas of the compound on Jackson Road he could not enter because of the stench.

There have been three arrests, two re-arrests, and sheriff's deputies are searching again for the third, owner Carrie Cagata, 40. She and employees James Cullen, 29, and Shannon Kraham, 25, face 120 counts of felony and misdemeanor animal cruelty charges. Cullen and Kraham are each being held in Lee County Jail in lieu of $160,000 bond.

On Tuesday, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Kelly Worcester, head of the felony division of the state attorney's office, urging her to prosecute the case.
"To have allegedly denied these animals food and allowed them to slowly waste away is horrifically cruel," PETA casework manager Stephanie Bell wrote. "Too often, people who are convicted of crimes against animals walk out of court with a slap on the wrist. Because of the vile nature of this alleged crime, we urge Ms. Worcester to seek a sentence including incarceration if the defendants are convicted."

Deputies have not been able to locate Cagata, who was originally arrested Sept. 25 on eight counts of animal cruelty, and was released on $10,500 bond the same day. Lee County Animal Services, which has taken temporary custody of the 84 animals seized, has begun court proceedings to gain permanent custody of the animals so they can begin adoption proceedings, said spokeswoman Ria Brown. She said that could take as many as 30 days, possibly longer.
"They are certainly in a lot cleaner place, but some are still showing signs of the care that they were in, but we are treating them," Brown said. "But taking in that many at once, it does really affect the amount of space we have here for incoming animals."

She said they have had to send animals to the local Humane Society, as well as Collier County Domestic Animal Services in Naples to help with the overflow. Her agency for a time referred people to Cagata's rescue to adopt, but they began receiving complaints in January.

Three former employees tipped off investigators to the abuse. When Dunaske stepped onto the farm property, he described an overwhelming, sickening smell and dogs so thin that ribs and vertebrae protruded, and water bowls were not only empty but lined with dust.

When veterinarian Christopher Taylor examined the seized animals, he reported 12 of the cats were experiencing "pain, misery and discomfort" because of nasal discharge, eye drainage, eye mites, possible dehydration, lethargy, chlamydia and herpes." Taylor also found 52 of the dogs were suffering from various ailments, including bloody diarrhea, emaciation, wasting of muscles, dermatitis, fleas and ticks.

The rescue's sister clinic in North Fort Myers was closed in August, and has not been able to re-open after the theft of $40,000 in veterinary equipment earlier this month.

The News-Press first wrote about Cagata on Sept. 20 - three days before the search warrant was executed - at the time the theft report was made. She said the equipment belonged to her, and suspected former employees of taking it from her to start their own rescue.
Lee County sheriff's spokesman John Sheehan said that case is still under investigation.
At the time, she said her shelter had facilitated 600 adoptions in the year since she had taken over the shelter.

"Animals will come down with things when they are in large groups," Cagata said at the time. "But we always have had vets there to see them, and I have the bills to prove it. (My accusers) were trying to ruin our reputation." [End News-Press article.]

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From the Lee County Sheriff's website:

Press Release
Friday, October 03, 2008
Buckingham Shelter Owner Arrested Again

***Update #1****

Lee County sheriff's detectives have arrested two people in connection with a scam that left dozens of dogs and cats dead or starving. The investigation reveals that James Cullen, DOB 10-21-78, and Shannon Kraham, DOB 10-31-82, worked with the ringleader of a "rescue mission" called My Best Friend, Incorporated. The ringleader traveled to shelters around the state, taking dogs and cats and claiming she would find them a home. Instead, the ringleader sold the animals she could for a profit and left the others to Cullen and Kraham at a place referred to as "The Farm." Cullen and Kraham were in charge of "caring" for the animals, but allowed the ones they couldn't sell to simply starve to death. Detectives served a search warrant at "The Farm" , 5381 Jackson Road (Buckingham area of Lee County), where they discovered approximately 50 dogs and 30 cats, as well as rabbits and chickens. Dead dogs and cats were found on the premises, including dogs discovered deceased in a freezer. Many of the living animals were emaciated. The animals rescued have been turned over to Lee County Animal Services. Cullen and Kraham are each charged with animal cruelty and animal abandonment. Additional charges are pending. Detectives continue their search for other suspects in the case.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is confirming that Carrie W. Cagata is being sought by detectives on charges of animal cruelty and animal abandonment. She faces four felony counts of animal cruelty and four misdemeanor counts of animal abandonment. Anyone with any information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 477-1000...Additional charges are pending. The case is still under investigation.

***Update #2***

Carrie W. Cagata, age 40, of 8651 Belle Meade Drive, Fort Myers surrendered to authorities at the Lee County Jail tonight. She was wanted on charges of animal cruelty and animal abandonment after a search warrant was served and two other arrested yesterday, Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at a Buckingham residence. Fifty-three (53) dogs, twenty-eight (28) cats, two (2) chickens, and one (1) rabbit were rescued from the location. All of the animals were taken by officers with Lee County Animal Services to a veterinarian for initial examination and treatment. Additional details are listed in the prior releases below. The accused has been booked at the Lee County Jail ....

***Update #3***

Lee County sheriff's detectives have leveled more than one-hundred (100) additional charges against Carrie Cagata, DOB 11-12-67; Shannon Kraham, DOB 10-31-82; and James Cullen, DOB 10-21-78. They are being charged with one count of animal cruelty (felony) and one count of animal abandonment (misdemeanor) for each of the dogs and cats that were recently rescued from a Buckingham residence.

The additional charges follow the receipt of examination reports from the veterinarian. Open booking sheets have been prepared for Cagata and Kraham, who bonded out of jail following their initial arrests. Cullen has remained in the Lee County Jail since his arrest.

***Update #4***

Lee County sheriff's deputies arrested Shannon Kraham at approximately 4:30 pm on September 30th. Deputies are still searching for Carrie Cagata.

**Update #5**

Buckingham shelter owner Carrie Cagata turned herself in to sheriff's deputies October 2, 2008 at approximately 11:00 pm. Cagata was re-arrested after more than one-hundred additional charges were filed against her for animal cruelty and animal abandonment.

[END LCSO DOCUMENT]

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You can read her arrest history at the Sheriff's website. Here's her smug ass smiling for the booking officer.



She's been released on a pre-trial basis. Her first hearing is October 27th. I hope that (upon conviction) her fellow inmates are just as kind to her as she was to the animals she left for dead - starving, sick and in their own filth. C'mon, karma!!!

What's going on here?

Yes, I deleted my more personal posts. It was fun for me to just babble about the things I'd never normally say out loud, but it's not exactly "me", so I thought I'd go back to reporting on crazy Florida shit, which was the original idea for this blog.

So, I will continue to post stuff, but I'll save myself the embarrassment of posting my own insanity! :)

Parent Arrested at JV High School Football Game

So, last night I went to my little cousin's JV football game ("little" doesn't describe him at 6'2", but he's still 13 years younger than I am). It was the Cape Coral Seahawks vs. the Dunbar Tigers. The game was great in the first quarter, sloooooow in the second and third, and really too explosive in the fourth.

The kids on either team were getting more and more hostile with each other. The Tigers kept getting penalties for encroachment, the Seahawks looked pissed, and tension was running high. During the last 30 seconds, the game was tied at 32. The Seahawks, thanks to Tigers' penalties for "unsportsman-like conduct", were poised for 1st and goal. It was at this time that one of the Dunbar parents started screaming at the refs. One ref said that he'd have to kick the guy out if he didn't calm down. The parent had a fit, saying that the ref can't do that. A cop comes over and tells the man to leave. He angrily refuses. The cop tries to escort the man out. The man starts to get a little violent with the cop. The cop arrests him, right there in front of all the kids and parents. Then, the Seahawks kick a field goal in the last 2 seconds and win the game!

On our way out, we see the obnoxious parent in the back of a police car. The cops are running around looking for the man's children and calling their mother to come pick them up while they take the father to jail. Bummer.

The Stupid Horse Owners Who Piss Me Off...

Oh, there are many, many, many horse owners who make me furious. You can see many of them featured on the blog "Fugly Horse of the Day". I guess my rage originates from the horrendous mistreatment and lack of appreciation that some horse owners bestow on their four-legged charges. This anger is compounded by the fact that I cannot afford my own horse at this point. If I could afford my own horse, he or she would be one of the most loved equines on the planet. But, alas, these idiots get to have horses and I don't.

So, I thought I'd feature a few Floridian morons for you.

Here's a lady that works fulltime, so that means she can't care for her horses properly (BULLSHIT!)...

"I have a nine year old Arabian Mare ... I also have a nine year old Mustang Gelding that is a gentle rider. ... Neither one is registered. They both need your TLC. They don't have shoes. Both of them need to be wormed and need someone that has time to ride them regular. I'm working full time and don't have anyone to take care of them when I'm not home."

Folks, lots of horse people have fulltime jobs. It's how they support their horses. If you don't have the time, money, facilities and dedication, DO NOT BUY A HORSE!!!

Cowboys in Florida, Cowboys in Europe.

**Note: I have edited this based on the comment left by Jennifer - I don't usually bother editing anything, but I suppose in my original post I projected my disgust with one person onto a whole group of people. Not cool. So, here you go....**

So, I work with this 30-something woman - we'll call her Tina, but that's not her name - who thinks she knows everything. Tina has bleached blond hair (with 2-inch long dark roots that seem to never change), caked-on foundation make-up that is perpetually shiny, and bright reddish orangeish lipstick. She's really let herself go and has probably gained 50 pounds since I started working with her 3 years ago. However, she never bought new clothes for her new size, so for months she was coming in wearing shirts that she was literally busting the seams on. Her shirts were looking like sausage casing.

So, I know you think I'm just being mean, but on top of all of this outward ugliness, she has the personality to match. Not only is she frequently bitchy for no apparent reason, but she also: knows more about everything than anyone else, is cooler than everyone else, and will talk over you just so that you can't argue. Additionally, she deals out all of her bullshit with a full-on, thick as molasses and not as pleasant Kentucky accent. YUCK.

The public that she deals with has called her a "pitbull". I think that's a compliment, because what they really meant is something far nastier.

So, the other day, I'm in the break room and she walks up to me and says, "I heard you ride horses." Okay, many of my coworkers have seen me leave the building in breeches and half chaps going off to my hunter/jumper lesson, so they've taken on a kind of fascination with how I spend my free time - it's a sport they've never been close to. I have the same interest in skydiving, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, etc. So, I think that Tina might actually be interested - I start going through describing what the Hunt Seat Equitation discipline is and what Jumpers are. Hunters and Jumpers look something like this:

Stadium Jumping at the Olympic Games:



Hunter Seat Equitation:




The difference between these two disciplines:

1. Show Jumping (demonstrated by the Stadium Jumping photo above) is a course of larger jumps where the rider's form is not judged. The horse and rider who clears the course of jumps in the fastest time and without knocking any rails down, or having the horse refuse a jump, wins.
   
2. Hunter Seat Equitation - time is not a factor. Riders and horses are judged on the rider's form and how well the horse "goes", meaning how well he listens and how smoothly he does all the things asked of him. Hunters are judged in classes "on the flat" (no jumps: walk, trot, canter) and "over fences".

I explained to Tina that I have always ridden Hunters, but I am trying to train for jumpers as well. I wasn't bragging, or saying that I was any good at it. I simply said that I'd ridden for 12 years, took 10 years off, and now I've started again. It was at this point that I paused for her to reply...

She proceeded to go off about how she had ridden for years in Tennessee doing some kind of discipline where she had to gallop out and shoot at something and that the people she rode with thought that she did it so well, that they wanted to send her to Europe for training, but her mom said 'no'. For clarification's sake: she was trying her best to brag about this equestrian sport that I'd never even heard of.

An extensive internet search revealed a sport called "Cowboy Mounted Shooting". Um. Okay. Although I admit that it looks somewhat fun, I guess I just don't get it - why are they shooting balloons???

Yeah, you gallop a horse (typically a Quarterhorse, as they can turn on a dime) around a course and shoot balloons with blanks. I also found this photo, just to prove that Floridians dig this hokey shit, too. Here is Denny Chapman, "entertainment horse trainer" (or whatever):



Now, for one thing, this is a COWBOY sport - so why in the hell would you go train for it in EUROPE? That's a blatant lie. Secondly, I think anyone with good aim and a little balance can do this sport. I have ridden Western on vacation a few times, and it is EASY. That's why it was developed - for pack horses and transportation. So, my verdict is that no one really offered to send Tina to Europe for training in Cowboy Mounted Shooting. Verdict #2: I hate this crap. I mean, I can understand the historical preservation of the Wild West aspect here, but there is something fully cheesey about this that I just can't put my finger on.

*Grumble.*

Some Very Pathetic Sharks...

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (AP) --

On Sunday, David Logan was bitten while surfing in New Smyrna Beach. He suffered several small puncture wounds on his foot. Paramedics called it the "weakest shark bite" ever. Man, that shark is going to be PISSED! Just picture mini-Jaws stalking swimmers now like "Weakest shark bite ever? Psh! Wait until you see this..." *CHOMP!*

By the way, that guy didn't think he pushed his luck enough and hopped right back into the surf after the paramedics treated him. (what a lunatic)

Further south, Greg LeNoir was swimming with his 14-pound dog on Friday at a marina off the Florida Keys when he saw a shark approach with its mouth wide open. LeNoir shrieked -- then clenched his fists and punched the shark. (Um - the guy owns a 14-pound dog and shrieked...since he was visiting the Keys, I'm gonna guess he's gay.)

The fight ended when the shark let go of the pooch. LeNoir and the dog safely made it back to shore. The dog was not critically injured.

Wow. So, this shark was punched out by a gay guy (who might be very butch...) and couldn't even eat a 14-pound dog?? Pathetic!

Woman Slashed To Death For Beer Money

In case you need more proof that Floridians are crazy...

According to CBS 12 News, officials in Palm Bay, FL, say a 16-year old boy slashed a woman to death and used her $6 dollars to buy a beer.

Alan Michael Tanguay is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of 58-year-old Patricia Kaliszeski in Palm Bay, about 55 miles northwest of Orlando.

Kaliszeski was found dead at her home on Friday, and policearrested Tanguay on Monday based on information from at least two witnesses. Police say the teen confessed to the slaying. The woman was found in her bed with her throat cut and multiplestab wounds in her neck.

A witness told police that because Tanguay is too young to buy alcohol he asked someone to buy him beer with the money he stole.

More Details on the Animal Abuse Case

More details were released today by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on the squalid conditions in a Buckingham animal rescue organization where 84 abused animals were rescued Tuesday.

[Here is a photo of the house on the property called "The Farm" - the photo is from the Lee County Property Appraiser's website - this photo is from May, 2007]



Carrie W. Cagata, owner of the nonprofit My Best Friends Inc., turned herself in to the Lee County Jail Wednesday night. She faces four felony counts of animal cruelty and four misdemeanor counts of animal abandonment.

The animals were rescued Tuesday. They included:

• 53 dogs


• 28 cats


• Two chickens


• One rabbit

Conditions were also outlined in a complaint made to Lee County Animal Services Sept. 18 by Erin Mitchell, Sandra Hinderliter and Kate LaPointe.The conditions were observed starting nearly one month earlier, on Aug. 28, Then Mitchell went to check on horses she left at the rescue organization at 5381 Jackson Road and observed:





• ”Numerous animals in horrible condition”


• One of her horses weighs 400 pounds less than when she dropped it off.


• The horse’s colt was covered with deep cuts


• The only drinking water the horses had was a children’s pool filled with green slime and two small metal bowls used to feed the horses were filled with dirt.


• A house at the location had dog and rabbit feces and urine all over the floor with no visible food or water.


• The main part of the house had eight to 10 dogs with feces and urine all over the floor and couch. There was no food or water.


• The lanai held a female shepherd mix with her six puppies. The dog’s ribs were showing, the water bowl had slime in it and the food bowl was upside down. There was puppy diarrhea on the floor.


• A kennel attached to the house contained 10-12 thin puppies. The food bowl was empty and there was a three-gallon bucket full of green slime.





When Mitchell returned to the site on Sept. 16, nothing appeared to have changed., the sheriff's report said. She saw two thin goats and a thin pitbull. A blind labrador retriever was running in circles.Hinderliter came to the site on Sept. 16 to look for her cat. She saw 50 sick and malnourished cats in a small white shed behind the house. Most had severe eye infections and were coughing.

Drunken North Fort Myers Family - ALL ARRESTED!

Keeping Cracker Violence All in the Family....

A night of drinking, an altercation and threatening a witness by the suspect's two family members forced Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies to arrest Allan John Rochford, 34, Allen Eugene Rochford, 56, Dorothy Rochford, 16, and Traci Lynn Rochford, 40 --all of North Fort Myers.

According to reports:

Early Thursday morning Geofrey Shimko and a several guests were drinking at his home when Ashley Deming, 18, and Staci Elaine English, 19, became involved in an argument.
During this time, Allan John Rochford went outside and retrieved a baseball bat from a vehicle parked outside the residence. Deming and English pulled the door shut as Allan Rochford forced his way back inside by punching through the front door. As he made his way inside, he struck English on the arm and another woman on the side of the face.

After fleeing the residence, deputies located Rochford and was placed under arrest and charged with alleged aggravated battery.

Later that morning, Shimko and his girlfriend, English, drove to his Shimko's sister's home in Cape Coral with the intent to hide from the Rochford family.

Crystal Shimko told deputies that English was threatened by other members of the Rochford family following their intent to prosecute Allan John Rochford.

English later told deputied that she saw the Rochford's pull in front of their residence where Dorothy and Traci Rochford began yelling and threatening to kill them for calling the police on Allan John Rochford. As the verbal argument escalated, Traci Rochford began punching her in the face and chest.

Allan Eugene Rochford pulled Traci Rochford off English and then fled the residence.
As Allan Eugene Rochford was on his way out the door, he told Shimko that it was "just a matter of time before things calm down and we catch you alone on the street" and "the law dog will be gone soon enough ... That's when you can expect a storm."

Allan Eugene Rochford, Traci Lynn Rochford and Dorothy Rochford were all arrested and charged with alleged assault and retaliating against a witness.

Allan Eugene Rochford, Allan John Rochford and Traci Rochford remain in custody at the Lee County Jail. Dorothy Rochford was released.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I'm outting this pro-violence racist.

So, pictured above is that Carrie Cagata broad who was on the lam after starving and otherwise mistreating animals at her "shelter". She turned herself in last night (see previous posts). Contrary to what some of her "supporters" were afraid of, no witch hunt ensued. Too bad. Might have been fun to dust off the pitchfork and torches and go for a spin! (Ha. Ha.) The mental image of an old fashioned witch hunt is fun - oh! Or the Monty Python skit "She's a witch! BURN HER!!"

Speaking of that: I am not a violent person. I'm a passionate person who gets appropriately pissed off over injustice, but I'm not violent. I might make some jokes about a witch hunt, but c'mon - that's not my style. However, there are some folks who seem to have a violent streak in them and I think it's awful. There is plenty of proof stacked up about Gina Brashear - she's a white supremacist.

Let's get one thing straight: Gina is entitled to her opinions. The beauty of freedom is that no one has to be afraid of what they think and we all get to say whatever we want. HOWEVER, because everyone has the right to live free, it is NOT okay to be violent, and promoting violence is barbaric and STUPID. Intelligent, educated people have a firm foundation of knowledge on which we base our opinions. We may not agree with other people, we might not like some types of people (I hate racists and people who hurt children and animals, for example). However, good strong people don't run around trying to stir up shit by promoting violence and hatred. YUCK!

But, Gina admitted that she "...wanted to be a Vet but [she] wasn't smart enough to go to vet school so [she] went to hair school." So, I guess she claims to not be all that smart - that explains why she prescribes to the violence-promoting white supremacist school of thought (or lack of thought).

Here are some direct quotes with links to the original posts (just so no one can say that I made this up):

In response to Michael Vick's dog fighting ring: "vick is a piece of shit. The dogs he tortured and murdered were of more value than he is. Negroes are not "normal",nor are they human. They simply exist, breed, fight, kill, rape, and have run this country down to the point that they cannot even be controlled. They are a disgrace to the human race. Can you imagine how clean, crime free, moral, the united states would be without them?" (scroll down to comment #11)

Her avatar image on the VNN forum site, which is an uncensored site "for whites" is a photo of Barack Obama with a gunshot wound to the head and the words "Get it over already". I couldn't bring myself to post it, but if you want to see it, here it is. The comment she left on the "Obama's 143 Days of Senate Experience" thread was: "Hopefully it will end in just "1" day with a bullet in the head!" If you click the link, her profile is identified by her email address gbrashear3...

(Please DO NOT email her or otherwise harass her - I do not support that sort of action. IN ALL THINGS, FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE!)

In response to a VNN thread titled "Repost in Light of More Nigger Attacks on College Girls", Gina used the same profile (where she is listed as a Senior Member) and said "Oh my God, I have been watching the news since October hoping to find out if they caught who did this...I knew in my gutt [sic] that it was niggers. I can remember like it was yesterday when this happened, the kwaps were dumbfounded with no suspects. THis is unreal!!! What does it take to wake white people up to the nigger problem in this country!!! It makes me fucking sick to my stomach!"

So what's my point? Look, violence is disgusting. Hatred and cruelty will never get anyone anywhere. I think that if you're going to give your pet to a shelter, or donate some money to help care for abused/neglected/abandoned animals, you have a lot of choices - ALL shelters need it. If you can only pick one to help, I just don't think you should pick this one. My personal preference is that animals go to shelters where the people are peaceful in all things.

Side note for you racist jerk-offs: I am a white woman. I support equality for all. Criminals should be brought to justice and receive a fair trial no matter what skin pigmentation trait they have. I am vehemently opposed to bigotry no matter what color you are and what color you hate. So, I don't dig the "black power" stuff either. The sooner we recognize that we are all different and that's okay, the sooner we can all get together and solve the real issues and get the real bad guys.

Violent people are assholes.

Florida Crackerin'

Is it possible???

With regard to my last blog post below, I posted 2 comments on the discussion board (see link in prior post) about a woman who appears to run the shelter next to My Best Friend, Inc. A Google search implied that she is a RACIST who promotes violence against blacks. She seems to think that all blacks are violent against whites and that the only way to stop that is to go on an' git violent back!

As you will see from my posts, I cannot confirm (nor disprove) that the racist and the animal shelter lady are the same people, but it sure looks suspicious.

It wouldn't surprise me. There are pockets of Old Florida left with some heavy-duty racists. Florida has a special kind of redneck - perhaps I will get you some additional information on this tomorrow.

People who aren't worth their weight in cow shit...

The search is on for one of Lee County, FLorida's most disgusting humans. Carrie Cagata: Come out, come out, wherever you are! The Lee County Sheriff's Office is waiting to arrest you for abusing the "84 animals seized from a home in Buckingham, where deputies say a rescue organization housed dogs and cats in wretched conditions".

Okay, I recommend you read the whole story here. Look at these idiots above. Those people are Shannon Kraham and James Cullen, who were arrested at the scene. Do not, do not, do not allow them to work for you when they get out of jail if you work with animals. YUCK. These people make me want to hurl.

Here's an article from last week describing a theft at "The Farm". I say that if whoever stole that vet equipment did it to bring attention to the horrible conditions there, or to cause My Best Friends, Inc. to fail another inspection and be shut down, well, you're my heroes. At least, you are the heroes of the dogs and cats that were starving to death there.

Here's Shannon's myspace - isn't she lovely?





And here is James' myspace page - another fabulous North Fort Myers resident, pictured with one of the dogs they (hopefully) didn't starve:





Here's a good discussion board on this topic. You might find it interesting. There are a few people on there saying that James has been "trying" to get help out there for months. Um. Really? WTF?! If you TRY to get help preventing animal abuse, you WILL get help preventing animal abuse. If he would have gone to the Sheriff and reported maltreatment and brought some photos, BAM! He would have gotten "help". Just going to other shelters asking for a little food to feed a few of the 100 animals is NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

I will try to provide updates as they come in. Just in case you don't believe the media hype, here is the press release directly from the Sheriff's website.

If you've got the means and the space...please consider adopting one of the mistreated animals these douchebags abused. But, as always, PLEASE DO NOT adopt an animal if you aren't positive that you can provide food, water, clean shelter, proper vet care, and lots of love. Also, if you already have 3 or more animals and you don't live on a farm, then please just take care of what you have! :)

So, here we go...

In the face of a recent job offer still sitting on the table (with its $10k/year salary increase), I have decided to move forward with my "community enrichment" for the Town of Fort Myers Beach. I want to see the island attract new residents, businesses and visitors; I want to see pride prevail over grumpiness. For now, I'm starting a volunteer effort to try and get the positive ideas going. There is a lot of bad blood flowing around this island - people bearing the scars of administrations past. I have worked hard for all the residents and business owners of this island for 3 years, and I want to see their government work for them as well.

I don't know if that job is something I want or not. On one hand, I don't want to move 2 hours away, leave my family and the security of my current job. On the other hand is $10,000.

I am a charitable person. I like to think that I am kind and giving and that I help people. As such, I don't know if I can up and leave this public service and "abandon" the people I serve.

I know this blog is confusing. I will have to write more tomorrow - time to go home to Gizmo!

Just a short note...

Everyone be careful about doing a YouTube search on "horse"...there are some very gross people out there. My search turned up regular videos of horses for sale, and then there were videos of people's reactions to watching "Two Guys, One Horse". I have no idea what that video contains, but you can bet I'm never freaking watching it.

From now on, I'll just take suggestions on people's horse videos - the non-beastiality ones. *barf*

Welcome to ... here.

How in the world did you end up looking at this page? I can't seem to figure out how to search for subjects of other people's blogs, so I guess if you ended up here checking things out, well, you must have wandered in one way or another.

I'm not quite sure what this blog is, but I've got a lot of things to blab about that maybe the people I know are not so interested in hearing about. I read a lot, and write a lot, and daydream too much, and have a lifelong dream of winning the lottery. I'm talking about the BIG bucks - where I don't have to work one job forever and can just putz around wherever I want. Not a life of immense luxury, just total financial freedom.



This is my dog named Gizmo........>
He's 5 and has more personality than most human men 4 times his age (quick! do the math). I adore him. He's such a good boy. I also ride horses (English: hunters/jumpers). Typically, I like animals better than people - much less complicated. I love me some internet and hate me some telephone! I also hate television. I like cooking and wine and good music.

Well, check back again - I might get something else up soon!