OT - Good Samaritan Charged in Pet Flap

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

Oh this makes me mad...

This blow against tyranny is for you Old Git.

I've got a good mind to call Municipal Attorney Steve Offen at his firm: Schachter Trombadore & Offen at 908.722.5700 and express my dismay at this mean and cruel hearted gesture. Zoning laws aside, Ms. Zdeb rose to the occasion and did the right thing.

From the Associated Press. For educational use only...

------------------- Good Samaritan Charged in Pet Flap

November 20, 1999 Filed at 12:39 p.m. EST

By The Associated Press

MILLSTONE, N.J. (AP) -- When Tropical Storm Floyd struck, flooding out thousands of people, Lorraine Zdeb rushed to the aid of friends, neighbors and strangers and took in nearly 100 of their pets.

``Animals were dying; people were calling me in tears, hysterical that they didn't want to abandon their pets, begging me to come get them,'' said Zdeb, a professional pet sitter. ``What could I do? I did what I had to do, and I did it quick.''

For her trouble, she was issued a summons for violating the borough's zoning ordinance by operating a temporary animal shelter, a non-permitted use in her residential neighborhood. She could face a fine of up to $1,000.

Zdeb used her home and 5 1/2 acre lot as a temporary treatment center and clearing house for 97 animals that had to be relocated because of the flooding in September.

She and other volunteers in 4-wheel-drive vehicles rounded up dogs, cats, birds, turtles, and even snakes, brought them to her home, fed, cleaned and gave them medical treatment if needed, and sent them out to temporary foster homes.

They set up little intravenous kits in a back room, hauled in dozens of blankets, and took in more than 9,000 pounds of pet food.

Municipal attorney Steve Offen said Zdeb is charged with doing something she was already told not to do last year when the planning board rejected her application to open an animal shelter on her property.

Zdeb's attorney, Drew Hurley, said there is a question as to whether what she did is forbidden by the zoning law, and also questioned whether the emergency situation created by the storm temporarily superseded the local zoning ordinance.

``Believe me, the last thing on my mind was violating any zoning ordinance,'' Zdeb said. ``I had a higher calling.''

The case is scheduled to be heard Dec. 1.

-- pet lover (imsomad@this.bs), November 20, 1999

Answers

Gawd, another example of NO COMMON SENSE. I just can't believe that this won't get thrown out by the judge, especially if the media gives it rightful attention.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), November 20, 1999.

She's a pet-sitter, right? Pet sitters charge a fee for their services right? All this non-sense could disapear if she charged everyone of the pet owners she helped a $10 fee for her good hearted service. If those pets are so dear to the owners, they'll gladly pay the $10 to the good samaritan to get her out of her jam.

Or she can go on her crusade and keep feeling like a martyr.

-- Pet owner with common sense (not@now.com), November 20, 1999.


Too bad they didn't schedule the case to be heard, oh, say at the beginning of February. Heeheeheheheheheh.

When we saw the thread title we thought Chicken Little got busted ;^)

Who will take in all the wet starving trembling pollys?

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), November 20, 1999.


Thanks for the head's up.

Common Sense--the article states the woman wanted to open a SHELTER last year. Now if you can find me an example of a money-making shelter,--or even one that breaks even--animal, avian, reptilian or human, please let me know. I can send the information to millions of shelters all over the world--they'll be thrilled to bits to learn how to do it.

If the woman was charging anything for her rescue services, it would have been mentioned in the article. Perhaps she pet-sits because she loves animals but needs to generate some income to pay for things like rent, lights, food--you know. Her customers and friends were calling her to take care of their pets after the floods--many of them will reclaim their pets. Frankly if I were in their position and had a little money to spare, I would GLADLY pay her what I could to board my pets until I could care for them again.

There is no way the eastern North Carolinians could take care of all the pets and farm animals made homeless by Floyd. The vast majority are being cared for up here in the Trinagle area, by the Vet School in Raleigh. I'm sure New Jersey is in a similar position. This woman is actually performing a public service and saving taxpayers money. What boneheaded stupidity on the part of the DA's office!

Yes, I shall call and I hope others do the same. And Common Sense--what a misnomer!--don't bother to post an answer aimed at me because I won't be back to this thread.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 20, 1999.


I wouldn't sweat it if I were her. All she has to do is get a few of the families she helped (preferably ones with little kids holding their kittens and puppies) to appear before the judge on her behalf. It'll get dismissed in a heartbeat...

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), November 20, 1999.



How many here would want to live next door to this woman while the 97 animals were on her property? Think about it.

How many here have been driven crazy by just a single dog's incessant barking?

I give the woman a great deal of credit for acting out of compassion.

Perhaps she could have brought the local government in on this. Perhaps she tried & was rejected. Perhaps she burned her bridges while going for the shelter license the previous year.

Etc., etc., etc.

Why jump to conclusions with so little information?

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), November 20, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ