Dear Friends of the Big Bear No Kill Movement:

Did you know as residents of Big Bear, our local Big Bear Animal Care and Control facility can remove your animal and label them "vicious" without incident? (SHARE THIS RIGHT NOW...SHARE WWW.NOKILLBIGBEAR.COM) A neighbor can suggest your dog is behaving a certain way and that can lead to your animals being removed from the property and killed without warning (see 6.04.090 - Vicious animals below). In most cities/counties across the country, your dog needs to kill the neighbors chickens or bite someone to receive a "dangerous" or "vicious" labeling. In still other cities or counties, a dog has to be evaluted by an Animal Behavior Specialist to receive a labeling that could result in the ending of their life. Not in Big Bear. None of the above applies. See the Municode Code below labeled 6.04.090 listed at the bottom of this post -- Vicious Animals.

Why Should This Concern You?
Two weeks ago, I was standing in our Big Bear Animal Care Facility and there were 11 kennels filled with dogs. 10 of the 11 animals were UNAVAILABLE to be adopted to the general public. Most had received a labeling of RESCUE ONLY for exhibiting some type of behavior at some point while inside or outside the animal care facility. Do you know the odds involved in 10 of 11 animals being "unadoptable?" Just think about it. Think of 11 dogs you know in Big Bear. Would you say 10 of the 11 you know are unadoptable? Matter-of-fact, we have a Rescue Only dog in the Big Bear kennels right now labeled Rescue Only (medical waiver required) because it came in the shelter with ticks. The ticks have been removed but the dog is STILL labeled "Rescue Only." 

We need to work at changing these rules and regulations to protect our citizens and their animals from being killed by our animal control officiers who without review or judical process are ending the lives of our local pets. I'm dealing with a situation right now where a nosey neighbor has been working for two years to get her Big Bear Lake neighbor dogs removed from the property and killed. And guess what, she is winning. The pet owner can't afford to fight her efforts. She works for a large resort in Big Bear. The pet owner is fighting to simply pay his bills. How does the story end? His dogs are on death row.

How Did I Get Involved?
I was called by the pet owner and he asked me for help. I'm trying to stand up for the pet owner and his dogs. I am trying to find an adopter and a sponsoring rescue for these local Big Bear Lake resident's dogs (see attached photo). They were taken from a Big Bear Lake resident and labeled "vicious" or "dangerous." Sounds scary right. Here is the scary part, the dogs haven't done anything. Instead of placing the animals in our local shelter, they were driven an hour away to Devore and housed in that shelter which manages our Big Bear Animal Care and Control. I called today and asked about their welfare. I asked why the dogs were labeled "vicious" in efforts to help explain to rescues and potential adopters what's going on. Below you can see a transcript of our conversation. They are making dogs available for rescue organizations but not telling interested parties why the dogs are labeled vicious or dangerous. We've made a public information request to get this information more than 48 hours ago from Big Bear but still haven't received ANY information (don't forget I already know the dogs have not done anything). 

It is important Big Bear Lake Council members and other state representatives understand the 'run-around' those of us who volunteer our time and resources get when attempting to help local residents. Just imagine if someone was calling who was interested in adopting these dogs. From this conversation seen below, does anyone see a chance of these dogs ever getting out? Trust me when I say, "It's designed that way."

Here is the transcript of my recorded call. Both parties were recording the call and both parties knew the call was being recorded. As you read the transcript, notice they won't disclose what these dogs did (because there is nothing). Also notice, they claim not to know what these dogs did. Finally notice, they agree to label the dogs VICIOUS or DANGEROUS without giving anyone an explanation. They tell me to call Big Bear and find out my answers (which I already have) when it is Devore that manages all of our Big Bear facilities decisions. Do you think this just might be one person's opinion of these dogs? Maybe someone is using political or business influence to help resolve a neighbor dispute. Maybe someone is helping out a friend. Without transparent, fair and strict Standards of Practice, our entire community and those attempting to save these animals are literally left in the dark. Not only are the dogs tied up but our own community has tied hands as we try to help. This is exactly what causes our dogs and cats to be killed while in our animal care facilities. It's not like this in other counties or cities folks. Please help us change this. Someone. Someone reading this with political influence must have some type of courage to stand up for change.

Here is the transcript of the call...

Ted: I'm calling to get an update on Bear and Foxy.

Operator: Okay

Ted: Can you let me know what is going on with them?

Operator: They are still here and available for rescue.

Ted: Aha. Now they received the label "vicious." Can you tell me about how they got that label?

Operator: I don't have that information. I'm not really sure what why the city of Big Bear deemed them that. Ummmm...That's would be something you'd need to speak to our Captain about. 

Ted: Now I'm calling on behalf of a rescue. How are we suppose to pull these dogs at your facility and not know about what they did?

Operator: Oh I didn't say you couldn't find out that information I said I don't have that information.

Ted: So they are in your facility and we would have to come to your facility to get the dogs.

Operator: Sir let me place you on hold and get you with our manager down at our main facility.

Ted: Okay thank you.

(On Hold Music)

Same Operator: I spoke to the Supervisor down at our main office and he said, I'm sorry hold on one second. Okay. Sorry about that. He said you would have to call down to the city of Big Bear and find out that information because they are the ones that deemed him Vicious so we don't have that information as to what took place to deem him that. They are simply being housed at our facility.

Ted: Okay so the city of Big Bear Lake or Big Bear City because Big Bear City isn't a city. So are you saying the city of Big Bear Lake? 

Operator: The city of Big Bear Lake or the city of Big Bear is that what you are asking? 

Ted: No...you told me to call Big Bear City.

Operator: Yes

Ted: There is no Big Bear City. You mean to call the shelter?

Operator: Not the shelter. It wasn't the shelter that deemed him. It would be their Code Enforcement that would of. I don't know who exactly you contact. But it was them the city that deemed him aggressive or a dangerous animal.

Ted: So you are saying the City of Big Bear Lake, that is the name of the city up there.

Operator: Okay.

Ted: The City of Big Bear Lake has deemed these dogs vicious...

Operator: Correct.

Ted: ...but have not told you anything they have done and they've made them available for rescue.

Operator: Correct. Yeah.

Ted: Okay. And um, in so far as what you know, they're scheduled to be terminated?

Operator: Um. They are on the euthanize list. Yes, they have not been extended as of right now.

Ted: So do you know, its 4 o'clock on Thursday, do you know if you are putting those dogs down today?

Operator: I do not have that information. No. Let me place you on hold and check to see if there is an extension on them. Let me check with our Supervisor.

(Hold Music)

Operator: Okay they have been extended to the close of business.

Ted: What does that mean? They've been extended to the close of business?

Operator: Exactly that. They have been extended to the close of business today.

Ted: What time is that?

Operator: What time do we close? We close at 6:30.

Ted: Do you kill dogs after 6:30?

Operator: We do not no because we go home.

Ted: Okay so that means that...what time do you open on Friday?

Operator: Ummm...our business opens at 10 AM tomorrow.

Ted: So we can assume then that they'll be alive at 10 o'clock.

Operator: You can yes.

Ted: Okay great. That's all I wanted to know. Thank you.

Operator: Alright. Thank you.

READ THE CITY/COUNTY RULES EFFECTING YOU!

https://library.municode.com/ca/big_bear_lake/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=MUNICIPAL_CODE_TIT6AN

FINAL THOUGHT:
WE ARE LOOKING FOR BOTH DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS WHO WANT TO HELP LOCAL ANIMAL LOVERS WIN THIS BATTLE FOR OUR ANIMALS. I DON'T CARE WHAT PARTY YOU BELONG TO, WE NEED YOUR HELP.  BY THE TIME THE NEXT ELECTION ROLES AROUND, THIS PETITION WILL HAVE ABOUT 25,000 VOTERS WHO CAN VOTE FOR YOU. LET'S TALK. MEANWHILE, HELP ME HELP THESE TWO DOGS.

6.04.090 - Vicious animals.

A. 
Whenever an animal suspected of being vicious is reported, the health officer shall investigate the circumstances, and if he finds that such animal has done any of the acts or shown a disposition or propensity to do any of the acts declared in this chapter to constitute a vicious animal, he shall notify the owner or harborer, if known, in writing, stating all of the facts and circumstances. He shall order the owner or harborer to keep such animal within a substantial enclosure or securely attached to a chain or any other type of control which the health officer may deem adequate under the circumstances. If such restraint is impossible or impractical, the animal shall be impounded until the owner or harborer is able to comply with the health officer's order.

B.
If upon receiving notification as aforesaid, the owner or harborer fails to provide adequate restraint or control of the animal as ordered by the health officer within a reasonable time, such owner or harborer shall be liable to prosecution for violation of this chapter and the animal or reptile shall be subject to summary destruction.

C.
If the animal's owner or harborer is unknown, then such animal shall be impounded, and if not claimed within three days, shall be destroyed. A guard dog of any business or firm which is not securely confined during the hours the business or firm is open to the public and which jeopardizes or subjects to hazard any lawful patron or visitor of such business or firm, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. For purposes of this chapter, a "vicious animal" is any animal which bites or attacks or in any way harasses any person or animal without provocation or which has a disposition or propensity to attack or bite any person or animal.

(Ord. 98-285 § 9, 1998; Ord. 82-72 § 1(part), 1982)