Book Description
Gus was a lucky dog. Injured and abandoned, he could have become another of the 7 million animals euthanized every year. Then Stephanie Williams entered the picture. A successful journalist, she had been diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer at the age of 30. On medical leave and living alone, she wanted a warm four-legged companion. When she saw Gus's soulful eyes and goofy grin, it was love at first sight: she would rescue him, and he would return the favor.
Just Gus is about how much one dog did to make a dying woman happy — giving tireless love, comfort, and support. This extraordinary story shows how one dog brought joy and hope to a woman's last days.
Customer Reviews:
A Heartfelt Book.......2007-08-16
This book, although sad, makes you feel so good. The devoted love an an unwanted dog helps a dying woman to get through her last two years of her battle with cancer. Written well and with photographs.
Very moving story.......2007-05-14
I absolutely loved this book. It was a quick read, but very moving. Another perfect example of how therapeutic and healing having an animal in your life can be. Bravo!!
Sweet story disappointing book.......2007-03-23
This was a very sweet, compelling story. But I read the book in a metter of 20 minutes, way too short! My fault for not reviewing the number of pages.
A very touching story........2007-02-23
Not many pages but what the book says is very powerful. It makes you wonder how much fate and destiny really does factor in our lives. Hope was given to a woman in the form of a dog and hope was given to a dog by someone who I believe was meant to be the one. They found and needed each other is a under statement. The story will make you laugh and cry. Worth every dime and I would recommend it to anyone.
just gus: a rescued dog and the woman he loved.......2007-02-12
a wonderful story, very well told and covered beautifully in photographs. it reminds us that taking just one poor little lost pup from an animal shelter and giving it love and understanding, can so enrich our lives, no matter what our situation is or what lies ahead.
Customer Reviews:
pipi.......2007-08-14
A beautiful book about some unknown hero's of Setpember 11.
A must read for all.
Wonderful tribute and RIP Jake..........2007-07-31
Received the book on the same day that Jake (page 58) crossed the rainbow bridge. He will be missed...
Dog Heroes.......2007-03-24
I sat down and could not put this down until I finished reading. Anybody who loves animals (especially dogs) will love this. I cried at several of the dog stories.
Phenomenal job on an inspiring subject.......2007-02-22
Nona Kilgore Power signed her book at BookExpo America and bought some of the hero dogs along -- the animals and their handlers received well-deserved respect from people in the long autograph line.
The author has done a fine job collecting beautiful photos of the dogs and interviewing their handlers on what they did at Ground Zero, the Pentagon, Fresh Kills and in Shanksville, Pa. There is undeniable heartache in the fact that so few dogs found bodies let alone survivors. But the search was necessary and the fact that some search teams couldn't hide their disappointment just demonstrates that courage requires forging ahead even if the outlook is bleak.
Some of the notable stories here include that of Piper, a shepherd hero from New Jersey who helped find the bodies of 15 firefighters.
More often, the dogs' role was like that of golden retriever Bretagne (Brittany), from Texas. Her handler Denise Corliss relates in the book, "Sometimes she would leave my side and go sit next to a firefighter. Not just anyone ... she was very deliberate about whom she chose." Often she found a silent firefighter and joined him in a solemn moment.
Corliss remembered how unexpected the dogs' roles were. "One man especially stands out. He started petting Britanny and told me he didn't even like dogs. He knelt down beside her and told me his best friend was missing. His friend really loved dogs and would be very upset if he didn't pet this dog."
Other dogs consoled the families of victims at the Pentagon.
"Dog Heroes of September 11th" is certain to inspire more Americans to get involved in canine search and rescue and to help us remember those dogs, many of whom have retired or passed away in the past five years, who didn't hesitate, despite conditions infinitely worse than those they had seen in training, to search deep voids in hopes of finding people they could help.
Inspiring.......2007-02-12
If you're a fan of K9 helpers like me, you'll love this book. It was a great look at so many dogs, their trainers, and their stories. Truly great to see and read about all these dogs, their efforts make you feel warm inside :)
Book Description
Winner 1991 Maxwell Medallion
Best Special Volume
ABOUT THE FIRST EDITION
"...the techniques and the case studies here are so interesting that a read will prove rewarding to ordinary trainers and fanciers alike." —Publishers Weekly
From the devastation of the World Trade Center to earthquakes in Central Asia, search and rescue dogs have proven invaluable in helping to find victims of disasters-whether man-made or natural.
First published in 1991 to critical acclaim, this newly expanded and revised edition of Search and Rescue Dogs: Training the K-9 Hero, contains original, updated content. Chapters describe cutting-edge training techniques used for wilderness, disaster, cadaver dogs, and water searches, and by state and federal disaster organizations such as FEMA.
Search and Rescue Dogs: Training the K-9 Hero, 2nd Edition provides:
- Clear, step-by-step lessons on training your dog for a variety of search and rescue operations
- Ways to keep your dog-and yourself-safe in the face of disaster
- Practical information on procedures and equipment for dogs, handlers, and human volunteers
- The ultimate experience of the interdependence of Human and Dog
Extensive photographs illustrate real-life missions, including images of Ground Zero and the Pentagon taken by ARDA volunteers after September 11, 2001.
Customer Reviews:
A logical approach.......2007-09-26
In training any dog, the biggest challenge always is how to 'connect the dots' in the dogs mind for what you want to see repeated and ignore what you don't want repeated. You then move on to giving the dog space to make his own choices based on what you taught him. This book fits perfectly into the philosophy.
I have owned two purebred dogs. Field Springers and Border Collies. Both breeds I had to trust to make their own decisions at one point as both had to ultimately operate off a lead. Establishing that connection is key with any dog to keep them safe, and to keep the enjoyment factor high. I give high marks to this book for making this point.
I disagree with a previous reviewer that this is only about German Shepherds. Certainly the pictures are, but anyone who has ever trained a dog should know that personality, drive, and disposition are all factors in training and that trumps breed every time. If the dog is interested he/she is limited only by his ability to smell.
The strongest part of this book is that it begins with simple puzzles for the dog, then offers more complex puzzles as they gain confidence. Like the writers, I agree that the dog has to want to do this. For my border collie it is now a passion. What I used to call 'hide and seek' with my dog has now jumped to a different level thanks to this book.
I'm grateful to the reviewers of this book who gave this such high marks. It made all the difference in choosing the right one. AND, I chose the right one.
Search and Rescue Dogs: Training the K-9 Hero, 2nd Ed........2006-07-01
An excellent book on the role of dogs in rescue. Differentiates tracking dogs from the wider term rescue. Very well written.
if you like German Shepherds..........2005-12-28
This is a really good book. But, if you don't have a German Shepherd than you still might want to look elsewhere. The book can absolutely teach you a lot but the concentration on GSDs will likely grate on you. The bias is such that there is no mention of the fact that the public tends to be frightened of German Shepherds, and that Labradors and Goldens can do the work just as well without the unfair but widespread stigma of Shepherds. Or that Retrievers excel at this work BECAUSE they are retrievers and because they genuinely adore people! Anyway, it REALLY does have a lot of good information, I just can't give it five stars because there are lots of great breeds in the world, many of which are suitable for SAR work. Why discount and ignore them?
Great Search and Rescue book........2005-01-29
This book was great, it helped me be able to learn how to trian my dog to track using the air scenting method. It gives step by step instructions on how to succeed in training you dog to become certified in Search and Rescue. Published by the ARDA you know that the material it contains is up to date and current. The other great feature in this book is that is specializes in ground tracking, air scent tracking, disaster search, avalance search, cadaver search, and water search and rescues. Can't speak more highly of this book, the only book that compares with this book is Search Dog Training by Sandy Bryson.
Search and Rescue Dogs: Training the K-9 Hero.......2004-08-10
A very well written book on the overview of the selection, training and care of the search and rescue dog. The authors provide addtional information on subjects such as how to form a rescue team (unit) and how to train for an actual incident. Wilderness searches, urban disasters, avalanche and cadaver training, and water rescues are all covered, and the case studies of actual missions make this a very interesting read.
Book Description
The inspiration for Rescued was the tragic situation with pets during the Katrina disaster — thousands refusing to leave without their pets, and many animals dying due to official indifference to these “disposable” creatures. Extensively trained in animal rescues, Allen and Linda Anderson interviewed hundreds of volunteers, hurricane survivors, and government officials for this book. Rescued offers both hope and practical suggestions, as well as the latest information on official policy and how to help in future catastrophes. It goes beyond the recent tragedies to talk about the various rescue and sanctuary operations, what volunteers and staff do, and how to help. Using a dramatic structure and photos, the book presents the before, during, and after journeys of people separated from their animals. Rescued puts attention on an unheralded world of animal shelters, organizations, and brave individuals who made a difference during the largest animal disaster in American history.
Customer Reviews:
Not a true picture............2007-09-10
I was one of the many people the Anderson's interviewed for this book and was eager to read it when it came out. When there was not one mention of the toll of the animals and the groups who tried to save them in MS I was severely disappointed. It wasn't as important to mention WHO was there but that Mississippi's animals, their shelters and rescue groups were destroyed in the hurricane...and no one even knows that by reading this book. Overall this book was NOT a clear or true depiction of what happened in New Orleans and MS. This book was a sugar coated pandering attempt to increase sales and appease the ever almighty HSUS, who by the way left New Orleans and the Gulf Coast at the end of Sept. of 2005. The end of Sept. 2005. There are STILL many groups saving the animals of the Gulf Coast today (and as a lingering result of the devastation wrought by the hurricane)...that's right Sept. 2007.
Saving Animals from Disaster.......2007-07-24
This book deals with tragedy and hope. It concerns itself with professionals in the animal control business and others who volunteered to help and who found a new calling. It concerns itself with the mundane and heroism. As well, it provides recommendations for the average pet owner in case disaster strikes.
A Wealth of Knowledge.......2007-04-13
As somone who was detailed to New Orleans in the hurricane aftermath and being a huge animal lover, I found this book very valuable. After seeing so many markings on the houses for animals that didn't make it, it gave me a sense of closure knowing that there were many who were saved and people there who made the animals a priority.
The book also paints a realistic picture of the steps you need to start NOW in order to be qualified to help after the next diaster and also how to prepare your own household for disasters that find their way on YOUR doorstep.
Enjoyed this book!.......2007-01-09
This book was very eye opening. I learned so much about what really happened to people and their pets. Some parts I would find myself smiling and in others I was fighting mad. Every doglover should read this book. It should motivate you to want to help in the next disaster.
Great book..........2007-01-06
If one loves animals, this will inspire others to volunteer or seek employment to work with animals. Excellent insight into the plight of animals in the time of natural disasters.
Book Description
There are approximately seven million horses in America. Each year, over seventy thousand are abused, abandoned, and fated to slaughter by callous and irresponsible owners. With a heart as big as a pasture, author Melanie Bowles takes some of these horses into her sanctuary called Proud Spirit. Here, horses that arrive listless and broken find a home where they finally know safety.
The bond between horse and caretaker does not happen overnight. It hangs by a fine thread of trust that the author earns with endless patience and a full commitment to the well-being of the horses in her care. The horses, some of which have suffered severe abuse, astound her time and again with their ability to trust, return the love they are given, and enjoy the companionship of other horses.
You will meet a whole stableful of remarkable horses:
Dusty, a Thoroughbred who recovered from severe injuries to reveal a rambunctious personality and a knack for stealing hats;
Maddy, an old mare, and Dancer, a gallant Appaloosa, both of whom had been isolated for years but whose ecstatic first acquaintance at Proud Spirit was, mysteriously, like the reunion of two soul mates;
Annie, a little sorrel mare who will break your heart with her weary kindness and who found peace and compassion, at last, under an old oak tree in a pasture at Proud Spirit;
Wrangler, a Miniature whose premature separation from his dam turned him into a tiny tormentor. His rowdy innocence helped Marshal, a huge Palomino gelding with neurological trauma, become playful and engaged as he educated Wrangler in horsy manners. Horses of Proud Spirit is an homage to the spirit of these alluring creatures and a moving memoir of lessons learned in compassion, strength, and loss.
Customer Reviews:
. . . knowing this story.......2007-09-21
Melanie and her husband, Jim, are to be commended for all their work with these wonderful, great, grand animals - HORSES! Horse lover all my life, but never worked with them although had one in early teens. Worked summer of '06 on horse slaughter bill which I got involved with while doing research on horse book I am writing - story of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner of 1966 - Kauai King. Have been to rescue farms and send money as I have it to help support. From all the reviews of this book, Melanie, besides being a good woman with a tremendous heart, she must be a good writer also. I am going to order this book, but must admit that it may be a while before I read it. I am sure there will be lots of new stuff I will learn about, but the "stuff" that, at this time, I do not want to know more about, is how man has abused the horse - I, all to sadly, KNOW THIS STORY. I thank Melanie for her courage in writing this book, for herein, (and books like hers), lies any and all hope for better treatment of our wonderful horses - the love and respect they deserve, the rescue when this is not given. Again, to Melanie and Jim and all like them, all those special souls out there in this hard world, who when they hear of an abused or neglected horse (or any animal for that matter) will go and get them, bring them "home" in their arms as if these massive creatures were no more than a kitten and give them safe harbor and peace - THANK YOU! Shelby Staples - Virginia
If you think you love horses.......2007-08-11
If you love horses or even think you love horses, read this book. Sue can break your heart and heal it again on just one page. A great book for kids and adults, just starting with horses. Sue takes readers with her as she grows from rank beginner to one who not only loves horses but learns to understands and appreciates their amazing minds, hearts, and spirits.
Great book for animal lovers.......2007-07-05
I thought this book was really good, especially for people who love horses. The stories in each chapter are very interesting and different from each other, so you don't leave off on a chapter wondering what will happen next.
Great book!.......2007-06-27
I am involved with a horse rescue here in Michigan & bought the book after seeing the tv show about Proud Spirit on PBS. I can identify fully with this book - I was an inexperienced horse person & was thrilled to find out that the author was too when she started, and is from Michigan herself! The book is an easy read & will stir up emotional reactions from any animal lover. I have cried while reading this book several times - please keep in mind that I do horse rescue, so I've witnessed some of these things firsthand. The book is so well written in my opinion that you feel like you're there.
A Special Book by a Special Person.......2007-06-09
The Horses of Proud Spirit is really three stories in one. First, it's Melanie Sue Bowles' story as she tells us about her experiences with some of the first horses who came to live at Proud Spirit. We follow Melanie's progress from pure novice to knowledgeable caregiver, and she tells of her experiences just as if we were sitting on a porch, swapping horse stories with friends who are nonjudgmental because at one time or another in the course of our own learning process, we've been in Melanie's shoes. Melanie becomes our friend on the very first page of The Horses of Proud Spirit, and that's because she has the ability to make us feel her horror and disgust at what humans do to horses, whether out of ignorance or pure malice.
In what I consider the second story within the story, Melanie tells us the tale of each horse, unfolding the sequence of events in her comfortable, down-to-earth manner, even when the events are tragic. We rejoice with her when the outcome is good and weep with her when a horse is lost.
The third story is ours, the reader's, because if we've been insulated from the terrible things humans do to horses, Melanie opens our eyes to reality, so perhaps, if faced with signs of abuse, we will be quicker to take action. For those of us having cared for an abused horse (and hopefully, never as many as Mel and her husband, Jim) we share our understanding of what she goes through with each horse.
Depending upon whether you're new to horses or an old-timer, you'll either learn what's right when it comes to being responsible for the care of a horse, or, like what happened with me, Melanie's story brought back warm comforting memories of horses I've known in my lifetime.
You will enjoy The Horses of Proud Spirit and the way in which Melanie tells her story. You will turn the last page and wish she would tell you more. You will also use up one or more boxes of tissues by the time you close the back cover. And, you will never again take your horses for granted.
Book Description
North Carolina native Raine Stockton, a dog trainer and the ex-wife of a deputy sheriff, knows the woods of Hanover County as well as anyone. She stopped volunteering for Search and Rescue work after a tragic loss, but now she reluctantly returns to active duty-along with a young and inexperienced Golden Retriever named Cisco-to help find a mother and six-year-old girl who have been kidnapped and taken deep into the wilderness. Suspecting there's more to the case than meets the eye, Raine must struggle to overcome her personal demons, turn her search in new directions-and learn to trust Cisco to lead the way.
Customer Reviews:
Good Dog Mystery-much better than average.......2007-07-27
As the first in a new series, this is very good and very interesting. It is very similar to Virginia Lanier's Bloodhound series. The same type of main character although this takes place in the Smokey Mountains rather than Georgia. This isn't a bad thing since Lanier's books were probably the best in the genre. Like Lanier, the characterization takes second place to the mystery, which I happen to enjoy. Bad mysteries and not enough characterization as in Susan Conant's dog mysteries are too boring.
A great new series!.......2007-06-05
Ms. Ball will grab your attention with the first line of the book, and you won't be able to put it down til you have finished the last page. This is the 1st of a great new series. How can we not love a book with such a wonderful dog featured.
Solid.......2007-05-12
A solid mystery with good characters, good pacing, interesting backstory (more revealed in next book) a likeable protagonist and wonderful overlay of information about search and rescue dogs.
Its a......DOG COZY!!!.......2007-03-20
Travelling outside my regular crime series is always interesting. With this book, Donna Ball's first "Raine Stockton Dog Mystery", I am amazed to find that there is a already a full-blown sub-genre of crime fiction in existence: dog cozies. Donna Ball has apparently written near one hundred other books as well under pseudonyms. It shows. She obviously knows and loves her hounds also and the reader can't help but be drawn in. Her protagonist, Raine, is a dog trainer who is lured back into search and rescue work out of a sense of duty to her community and a missing child. Her reticence is tangible as she battles with doubts about her latest canine companion, Cisco, a golden retriever.
The reader is presented with a carefully thought out set of characters and Ball really does well with establishing her setting, a small community in the Smoky Mountains. She obviously also loves them mountains, because her descriptions have you feeling the mountain air and picturing the colours. The tension she sets up around her feelings for her heroic Cassidy, dead in action and her replacement dog, Cisco - a gift from her sometimes ex-husband Buck - is quite remarkable, I really felt for her. I enjoyed learning about the role dogs and their handlers play in search and rescue and also the different roles they play ie. Raine and her dog do search and rescue, Cisco is NOT a cadaver dog (thankyouverymuch)!
I devoured this book and immediately picked up her next, "Rapid Fire" and will be looking out for "Gun Shy". The three star rating just reflects small imperfections: some of the characterization is a little stock standard (such as Maude, her British 'lady companion') and the writing is a little 'lumpy' ie. it doesn't always flow. However, I believe Ball is really onto a winner for this series, in this genre. Dog lovers are an assured audience, and crime lovers will also wander across it as I did in the never ending quest for 'something to read'. My preference is more hard-boiled (again reflected in my rating), but Ball's work will do very nicely thankyou in the meantime.
fun and a new dog lover's mystery!.......2007-01-04
a sassy new heroine and her search and rescue dog -- good story, great characters, fun read.
Book Description
Not Left Behind is the story of how Best Friends Animal Society rescued thousands of pets from the storm-ravaged, flooded streets of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The story is told through the images of Best Friends photographer Troy Snow and the words of five Best Friends rescuers—frontline troops representing thousands of volunteers across the country who helped save lives and reunite families.
Customer Reviews:
Very nice........2007-07-05
Troy Snow and the Best Friends Animal Society, Not Left Behind: Rescuing the Pets of New Orleans (Yorkville Press, 2006)
After Katrina hit, thousands upon thousands were forced to flee New Orleans and leave their pets behind. (The prevailing attitude of "we'll only be gone a few days, we'll leave a big bowl of food and some extra water" is reiterated here.) As the military worked on trying to get the city back into habitable condition and rescue any surviving people in the city, the best Friends Animal Society went to work trying to rescue the pets. Troy Snow, the group's photographer, documented the weeks they spent outside New Orleans, boating into the city every day to rescue animals that had been trapped by the flood. These are not happy fluffy bunny animal pictures, folks. If you prefer to think of your pooches as gamboling in the breeze, you might want to avoid this one. But Snow's pictures capture the dogged (pardon the pun) determination and will to live of the animals, and are a fitting tribute to their ability to survive. ****
Captures The Moment (and Piglet as the covergirl!).......2007-02-28
Having worked at the sanctuary in Tylertown, MS where many of these animals were taken after the rescues documented in these extraordinary photographs, this book helps one vividly see what so many of these animals went through after the hurricane and before they arrived at our base camp. More can be said by these photos that captured how these beasts survived the days, weeks and sometimes months after Hurricane Katrina, than any written text can state.
I was also pleased to see that one of the dogs we cared for in the Back 40 in Tylertown whom we named "Piglet" turned out to be the covergirl on this book! She was always so happy to see us when we'd approach her kennel and loved to have suntan lotion rubbed all over her belly -- it is really something to see her story in detail before she came to us at Tylertown. The happy ending is that she was adopted by a family and now has a very happy forever home. :)
Memories.......2007-02-01
Memories of when people come together to help those in need, no matter how many legs they have. It's great to see the results of human compassion.
Beautiful & Inspiring.......2007-01-18
This book is amazing! The photographs are enough to bring you to tears, dozens of gorgeous, helpless dogs left stranded to fend for themselves in New Orleans. It's a wonderful narrative of the huge responsibility of rescuing these thousands of animals, and the immense amount of time and effort it took. Very inspiring as tales of generosity, and amazing rescues are told firsthand.
My sister bought the book, and after looking through it once, I had to buy it, and an extra copy to give to the SPCA I was working at. A gorgeous rescue story of deserving dogs.
RSC to KCG.......2007-01-16
I sent this book to a friend and she said it is wonderful.
Book Description
Drs. Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak have developed an exceptional method of training search and rescue dogs, which they have successfully used for all types of search operations: Wilderness Searches, Disaster Searches, and Avalanche Searches. This book covers their entire training method from basic training through the specific methods required for each type of search operation. Also included are tips on search preparation, safety in search operations, disaster operations coordination, information on the scent capabilities of dogs, and a brief history of canine search and rescue. The book winds up with International Test requirements from the IPOR and a bibliography for further research.
Customer Reviews:
search and rescue instructor.......2005-03-06
Great book...
Even the instructors may learn more from it!
Customer Reviews:
About the Noah's Wish Investigation.......2007-06-05
This is in response to the post about Terry Crisp's organization being investigated by California's Attorney General's office. This is what's posted on her website:
Noah's Wish Board of Directors, March 26, 2007
We are writing to inform you that Noah's Wish is in the midst of an ongoing civil investigation by the California Attorney General's office concerning funds received by Noah's Wish during Hurricane Katrina. The California Attorney General has taken the position that certain funds donated to Noah's Wish during this period, and its immediate aftermath, are restricted and may only be used for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina, rather than the animal victims of other disasters or for general disaster preparedness. Noah's Wish disagrees with the Attorney General's position with respect to those funds, but is working cooperatively with the Attorney General toward a timely resolution of the dispute.
In response to the California Attorney General, Noah's Wish has set aside the disputed funds and agreed not to use those funds pending final resolution of the investigation. Noah's Wish is unable to predict when the matter will be resolved. Because Noah's Wish does not presently have access to the disputed funds, it is unable at this time to continue with its efforts to provide disaster preparedness services and volunteer training.
We will provide you with an update once we have resolved this matter.
We appreciate your patience and also wish to express our gratitude for all that you have done to support Noah's Wish in carrying out our charitable mission.
Crisp is Toast.......2007-04-08
State probe forces animal-rescue nonprofit to close
Queries $8M raised in wake of Katrina
Sacramento Business Journal - March 30, 2007
by Kelly Johnson
Staff Writer
A local animal-rescue nonprofit that gained national attention for its work after Hurricane Katrina, sparking more than $8 million in donations, was shutting down this month amid a state investigation into how it used that money.
Noah's Wish, which rescues and cares for animals in disasters, was preparing this week to close its El Dorado Hills headquarters. About a dozen workers have resigned or been laid off since late last year.
The California Attorney General's Office has been investigating the organization since last summer, examining how Noah's Wish used donations that might have been designated for relief efforts in the hurricane-ravaged area. The probe led to most of the nonprofit's funds being set aside in accounts where they couldn't be used for other operations.
The nonprofit contends the funds were used properly and said it is cooperating with investigators.
The group received millions in donations after news stories showed its efforts in an area devastated by the August 2005 hurricane. Former Noah's Wish insiders allege those millions were intended to relieve suffering in the storm-battered zone but were improperly used for other purposes.
According to documents obtained by the Business Journal from a former employee, an accounting firm hired by Noah's Wish to examine its books concluded that it would be impossible to conduct a reliable audit because so many records were missing from the period when the group and its volunteers were working on the ravaged Gulf Coast.
Documents filed by the nonprofit or provided by the former employee indicated Noah's Wish had about $210,000 in revenue in the year ended June 30, 2005, and almost 40 times that much -- $8.4 million -- in the next six months.
Expenses shot upward, too, from about $212,000 in 2004-2005 to more than $2 million in the last six months of 2005, including almost $400,000 to purchase vehicles. In early 2006, the group bought a storage building in East Alton, Ill., for $65,125 and leased office space in New York City, according to documents provided by the former employee.
Terri Crisp, founder of the group and its executive director until this week, was paid $6,200 in 2004-2005, tax records show. The documents supplied by the former employee covering July through December 2005 indicated Crisp received compensation of almost $141,000.
The nonprofit's board this week acknowledged the investigation on the group's Web site. "The California Attorney General has taken the position that certain funds donated to Noah's Wish during this period (of Katrina), and its immediate aftermath, are restricted and may only be used for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina, rather than the animal victims of other disasters or for general disaster preparedness," a letter posted online said. "Noah's Wish disagrees ... but is working cooperatively with the Attorney General toward a timely resolution of the dispute."
Noah's Wish has agreed not to use the disputed funds while the investigation is pending, and the nonprofit cannot continue its work without access to the money, the letter said.
A spokesman for the state's top lawyer would not confirm or deny an investigation.
Ralph Nevis of Downey Brand Attorneys LLP in Sacramento, who represents the group, would not discuss the nature of the inquiry.
Founder was asked to leave board
Staff members are being paid through April 11, but this week only the office manager remained at the El Dorado Hills headquarters to close things down over the next couple of weeks.
At one point, the nonprofit had 15 employees working at offices in El Dorado Hills and New York City and from homes in other states. The three-person office in New York closed in January.
"They've reduced the staff because of funding. It's everybody," Crisp said Wednesday. She said she's taking her remaining days as sick leave, but by Wednesday evening a message on the group's Web site said she was no longer connected with Noah's Wish.
Crisp also served on the organization's board of directors from its founding in 2002 until February. She's no longer on the board, she said, "partly because it's a conflict of interest." The Attorney General's office "had asked for me not to remain on the board."
Because she's no longer on the board, Crisp said she did not have the latest information on the investigation or details about what it covers. Investigators, she said, have not interviewed her and were working only through the nonprofit's attorney and its board chair, Amy Maher.
Maher did not return calls Wednesday. Board members Lyn Kendrick, Gail Monick and David Lesser declined to comment on the investigation; another, Heather Hathaway, did not respond to a request for an interview.
Asked about allegations that the nonprofit inappropriately used money, Crisp said, "I don't know of any misuse of funds."
Lori Polk, chair of the Noah's Wish board during Katrina, left it the month after the hurricane. Before and after Katrina, she said, she voiced concerns about "the organization and the allocations of the donations we were collecting." She said she felt she was "fighting a losing battle trying to maintain my fiduciary responsibility to the organization."
The group "did not make decisions based upon board approval," she said, and made "expenditures without approval."
The former employee, who would only speak on condition of anonymity, said that "the amount of money that was spent by the organization was unbelievable."
The Attorney General's authority over charities includes investigating the loss of substantial funds during one year, illegal use of funds, diversion of funds from their intended purpose and excessive amounts paid for salaries, benefits, travel, entertainment, legal and other professional fees, according to the agency's Web site.
Raising money last month
Noah's Wish was soliciting funds as recently as February. In a letter to potential donors, Crisp wrote the nonprofit had "made a concerted effort to only ask for donations when the need truly exists, and not become a pest with repeated appeals."
Later, the letter said, "So why am I contacting you now? Noah's Wish is prepared for the next disaster, but lately this has become increasingly challenging." Because 2006 was a "fairly uneventful year," Crisp wrote, donations declined significantly.
Tax documents for Noah's Wish obtained by the Business Journal reported revenue of $8.4 million, almost all of it from contributions, between July 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2005. Some $4.8 million was in unrestricted assets and $1.5 million in temporarily restricted assets at the end of that year, financial documents indicate.
In June 2006, the accounting firm engaged to audit the books wrote the board that it could not express an opinion on the 2005 financial statements, according to documents provided by the former employee.
"A significant portion of corroborating evidence such as vendor invoices, receipts, deposit slips and other supporting data were not maintained during the period that the organization was responding to the needs of animals during Hurricane Katrina. The records that remain are not sufficient to permit the application of auditing procedures that would be adequate for us to express an opinion on the accompanying financial statements," according to the letter from John Waddell & Co. CPAs.
For the second half of 2005, Noah's Wish paid $405,948 in salaries and compensation, according to the Form 990 supplied by the former employee. Of that, Crisp received $140,900, while the second-highest compensation went to Sheri Thompson at $118,125, the tax documents show.
If the numbers are correct, it appears the compensation for Crisp and Thompson is well above the norm for nonprofits of this size, said Ann Lucas, executive director of the Nonprofit Resource Center. The annual median base salary for the executive director of a nonprofit of this size is $130,000, according to the 2006 Compensation and Benefits Survey of Northern California Nonprofit Organizations, which is produced by the Center for Nonprofit Management in Los Angeles.
Noah's Wish committed $1 million to the city of Slidell, La. for construction of a new animal control center; the old one was severely damaged by Katrina. The city has not received any of those funds, Slidell City Attorney Tim Mathison said.
Okay.......2007-02-17
I thought it was an okay book, but as I was reading, I found myself skipping through all the blah blah blah to get to the actual animal stories. The stories about the animals were great, but you have to wade through a lot to get to them.
FOR THOSE WHO'VE WONDERED.......2007-01-20
Terri Crisp has been in the forefront of animal rescue for many years, and her gripping accounts of freeing animals caught in disasters make for compelling reading. All of us who love animals and who have ever wondered what it's really like to work in disaster relief will enjoy this book and be informed by it. A wonderful addition to the library of anyone who is interested in animals, animal rescue, and disaster relief work.
One Person.......2006-10-10
'Mom, do you have any good books I can read? Maybe one about animals?' I asked my mom one day when I was bored. When my mom handed me this book, about a year ago, I didn't know what to expect. I read the first chapter and was hooked. The author is so dedicated to animals and has experienced so much, it's hard to put the book down. I think it only took me a few days to read it and I just finished reading it for a second time. This is a book that makes you want to go and make a difference in the world. It makes you realize how much the news doesn't talk about animals in a disaster. When I graduate collage, I want to become an animal disaster volunteer. Right now I'm only 14 so I have a few years but, while I wait it's nice to know there are people like Terri Crisp making a difference in the animal world. Before I read this book I didn't think I could make much of a differance, after reading this book, I've learned how much of a difference one person can make.
Product Description
Two expert parrot owners point out the pros and cons of adopting a bird that has had a previous owner. All Complete Pet Owner's Manuals are heavily illustrated with color photos and line art, and are filled with reliable, easy-to-understand information on pet care. The many titles in this series show and tell pet owners how to care for dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles, gerbils, hamsters, and virtually every other animal that is kept as a pet. The books give advice on purchasing and otherwise acquiring a pet, maintaining health care, housing, proper feeding, and where applicable, grooming and training. Clear, straightforward text comes with high-quality, full-color photos and anatomically accurate line art, as well as helpful tables and charts. Paperback / 96 Pages / 6 1/2 x 7 7/8 / 2002
Customer Reviews:
Second hand birds.......2006-03-22
I run a second hand parrot rescue and I must say this book is really on the ball. So many times people don't really know WHY is my bird acting like that, Does this bird hate me etc. This book lends knowledge to the behavior and how to handle a rehomed bird. I recommend this book to anyone considering a pet bird, especially a rehomed one.
Not Second Rate.......2005-09-08
This was a very helpful book for my husband and me as we had just adopted a second-hand parrot and we had not idea what we were doing. This book was recommended by our Veterinarian and we really rely on it. Thank you so much for all the info.
Important Reading for Adopters and Rescuers.......2005-07-08
If you're adopting an older parrot, much of the information in breed specific manuals will not be relevant for you, since it pertains to hand fed babies. This book contains information that is specific to parrots that have lost their home for one reason or another. Much of the information is recycled from Mattie Sue's previous books on parrot behavior, so if you've read them and commited them to memory, you might not need to add this one. If, however, you are not an expert on parrots, but simply want to open your heart and home to one of these wonderful creatures, this book will help make the transition smoother for both of you. It will also alert you to potential problems. There is also new information about integrating a new parrot into an existing flock. Personally, I think this book should go home with every bird adopted from a rescue organization.
Now, I'm a believer..............2005-01-01
In THE SECOND-HAND PARROT, Mattie Sue Athan makes a good case for taking on a previously owned parrot as a feathered adoptee. While it is true some adoptees are less than civil, Athan has shown through her own experiences that there may be a diamond in the rough underneath those bristling feathers. (Mattie Sue Athan's experiences with her two adopted Grey Parrots, Bongo I and Bongo II are documented on her web site).
Many pet birds are passed on by owners who are dead, too old, too sick, or move to less accommodating quarters. Many of these older birds need only a short period of getting to know you and TLC to become your best buddy. I've become a believer. Having adopted two Cockatiels two years ago who had terrorized everyone at the animal shelter and had them become two big sweeties I know what a little TLC can do. The sweetest bird I own, however, is a "hand-me-down Conure" with two previous owners. My Conure is also the biggest bird I own and the least nippy. Every morning he says "Give me a kiss" which I happily do with a "Thank-you" as my reward. "Used" birds frequently can talk and have learned cute tricks.
Athan offers all sorts of tips on how to get your birds to comply with various challenges you might offer such as bathing, destroying toys instead of your books, and kissing not nipping when you offer your cheek or stick your hand in their cage. In her section on "The Corrective Environment" she shows how many of the tics the new-old bird learned were brought on by cramped, boring, and/or dirty quarters. It is amazing what a little space and a new toy will do to improve an outlook.
Read this book even if all your parrots are "first-hand"!.......2003-12-30
Please don't let the title convince you this book is only for people with "re-homed" parrots! It also offers valuable information for AVOIDING losing your companion, and what to do if you find a lost companion parrot. Parrots are lost not just to "fly-aways", but to changing life circumstances in their human flock. This book provides practical tips to help keep the parrot in its home even during times of shifting family responsibilities. Then, of course, it also provides important advice for building trust in the "re-homed" parrot. I HAVE HAD A HARD TIME TRACKING THIS BOOK DOWN IN BOOKSTORES, so I am pleased to find it readily available on Amazon.
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- Marlene Koch's Sensational Splenda Recipes: Over 375 Recipes Low in Sugar, Fat, and Calories
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- Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution
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- Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease
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Books Index
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Motivational
| Self-Help
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
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The Dogs Who Found Me: What I've Learned from Pets Who Were Left Behind
From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava
Woman's Best Friend: Women Writers on the Dogs in Their Lives
Dog Years: A Memoir
Mostly Bob
