A scandal unfolds as the San Diego Humane Society discovers that more than 250 small animals, transferred to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, were likely fed to reptiles.
In what can only be described as a horrifying turn of events, the San Diego Humane Society (SDHS) is grappling with the disappearance of over 250 small animals that were transferred to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) in August. What was meant to be a hopeful journey to find these animals “forever homes” has turned into a scandal that has led to high-level departures, investigations, and the shocking revelation that the animals were probably fed to reptiles. This betrayal has left the SDHS reeling and raises serious questions about the ethics and transparency within the animal rescue community.
A Desperate Transfer Gone Wrong
The SDHS, one of the oldest and largest shelter organizations in the United States, found itself in a dire situation in August. With the shelter at 160 percent capacity and its staff overtaxed, the decision was made to transfer over 300 small animals to the HSSA. The hope was that the HSSA, despite being much smaller, could provide a solution by finding these animals new homes. The transfer was unprecedented for the SDHS, which typically acts as a safety-net shelter for smaller organizations.
Elaborate Assurances and Red Flags
The transfer seemed like a lifeline for the SDHS, but questions about the fate of the animals arose within weeks of their arrival in Arizona. Despite assurances from HSSA officials, including then-chief operating officer Christian Gonzalez, that the animals would be transferred to trusted rescue partners, concerns grew as no adoption listings appeared online, and no major adoption events were publicized. Animal welfare activists and volunteers, such as Kelly Paolisso, began to question the transparency of both organizations.
The Mystery Deepens
As local broadcast stations started investigating, HSSA CEO Steve Farley insisted that the animals were in good hands and enjoying their “forever homes.” However, when pressed for proof, HSSA could not provide adoption records or evidence that the animals had even been processed for intake at the shelter. SDHS grew increasingly concerned and sent formal legal requests to extract information from HSSA. Animal welfare activists, including Paolisso, took matters into their own hands and eventually discovered that the animals had been sent to a family-run reptile breeding business in Apache Junction, Arizona.
Devastating Revelations
Last week, investigative reporter Chorus Nylander obtained a text message sent by Colten Jones, one of the owners of the reptile breeding business, to a Phoenix reptile breeder. The message asked if they had the ability to freeze guinea pigs and rabbits, suggesting that the animals were likely dead and either frozen or already fed to reptiles. This text message provided the strongest indication yet of the tragic fate that befell the missing animals.
Conclusion:
The disappearance of over 250 small animals from the SDHS has left the organization and the animal rescue community in shock. The subsequent revelations that these animals were likely fed to reptiles have raised serious questions about the ethics and accountability within the animal rescue world. Both the SDHS and HSSA are now working together to seek answers and hold those responsible accountable. The possibility of civil action and potential criminal charges looms, but the lingering question remains: how could those entrusted with the welfare of these animals betray them in such a horrific manner?
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