Shelter raided, 250 cats and dogs seized - Long Beach, CA

Wednesday, Aug 23, 2006

County: Los Angeles

Charges: Misdemeanor, Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted

Defendants/Suspects:
» Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund
» Gloria Ramos

Case Updates: 20 update(s) available

Authorities on Aug 23 emptied Noah's Ark of its animals and arrested its owner. About 250 cats and dogs from Noah's Ark Animal Rescue were seized by Long Beach Animal Control hours after police grew suspicious of a strong odor emanating from the nonprofit's bright blue building, said Animal Control Lt. Michelle Quigley.

Police were first called to the area to respond to a silent alarm adjacent to the shelter in the 1300 block of Redondo Avenue.

Owner Alexia Kyrklund was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty, a charge her volunteers and several neighbors vehemently protested. She was held on $20,000 bail.

"What's going on is that Long Beach Animal Control is trying to run out a non-killing operation," said Michael Brewer, Kyrklund's friend.

Volunteer Gloria Ramos said Kyrklund's nonprofit takes in strays, as well as purchases sick and older animals from animal pounds and shelters where they would have been euthanized when owners could not be found.

Police, fire and animal control conducted separate investigations for violations under the jurisdiction of each respective agency, said Assistant Chief Robert Espinosa of the Long Beach Fire Department.

Such joint efforts are not unusual in cases like this, he said. Each report would be inspected by the city prosecutor.

Wednesday wasn't the first time Kyrklund and authorities crossed paths.

Quigley said Kyrklund was in a similar situation - but not arrested - more than a year ago when her animal shelter in Signal Hill was investigated for violations that included animal cruelty. The case was brought to court, where zoning violation charges stuck but not animal cruelty, Brewer said.

The Signal Hill rescue shelter was shut down, but Kyrklund opened another at the current location near the intersection of Redondo Avenue and Anaheim Street.

As the afternoon deepened, Noah's Ark supporters began to flock to the shelter, where they comforted a tearful Seyhan Vurgun, 69, and countered allegations of animal cruelty by describing Kyrkland as a miracle worker who loved animals and spent her own money to care for them. Vurgun is Kyrklund's mother.

Some, frustrated with Animal Control and suspicious of their authority to enter Noah's Ark without a warrant, yelled obscenities over the yellow crime-scene tape separating the rear of the building from an adjoining Walgreen's parking lot. Animal Control officers continued to examine, vaccinate and tag each animal, while bystanders gathered on the other side of the tape or watched television media interview volunteers.

Quigley said Animal Control received permission to enter from a volunteer. Brewer said the volunteer in question told him otherwise.

Authorities are allowed to investigate serious matters if the problems are in plain sight, Quigley said, adding that the animals' safety and health were a concern.

Those present when authorities arrested Kyrklund also voiced their displeasure with police officers whom they said treated them with unnecessary roughness.

"They treat me like I am the worst criminal in the world," Vurgun said. "They didn't give us a chance to get in there to clean up the place, give (the animals) water and food."

According to a news report by ABC channel 7, "Officers described the premises as unsanitary. The urine odor was so strong it caused irritation to officers as they entered the facility".

Case Updates

The former owner of a "no-kill" animal rescue shelter and a volunteer were ordered Thursday to pay close to $100,000 in restitution to the Long Beach Animal Control to cover the cost of treating hundreds of animals seized from the shelter. Even as Long Beach Superior Court Judge Jesse Rodriguez was handing down the final decision in what has been an emotionally-charged animal abuse case, attorneys for the defendants - Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund and Gloria Ramos - were drafting their appeal and vowing to pursue charges against authorities who raided the clinic in 2006. Lt. Michelle Quigley testified for about half an hour in Thursday's restitution hearing, detailing the extensive costs involved in the treatment of 152 dogs and 147 cats found in various stages of suffering when authorities raided Noah's Ark Animal Rescue at 1333 Redondo Ave. on Aug. 23, 2006. Authorities described a sweltering, poorly ventilated and overcrowded shelter smeared with urine and feces; filthy animals with severe respiratory, skin and ear infections, open wounds, matted fur and runny eyes; animals whose paws were soaked in urine; and dogs with severely overgrown nails, indicating they had not been allowed to walk around for long, if at all. Animal Control workers were able to save all but three animals, which had to be euthanized immediately after the raid. But the costs for the medical care, room and board and extra staff were steep. At the end of the hearing, Rodriguez ordered the shelter's owner, Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund, 40, and her co-defendant, Gloria Ramos, also 40, to pay $94,614.12 in restitution to Long Beach Animal Control. Both defendants were charged with 13 felony counts and two misdemeanors. The jury in their case split its verdict, convicting each woman of three counts of animal cruelty relating to the dogs only. They issued acquittals on eight counts, and deadlocked 11-1 in favor of guilt on another two, which related to cruelty to the cats. They also convicted Tiraki-Kyrklund of one misdemeanor count of operating an illegal kennel. Last month, Rodriguez sentenced Tiraki-Kyrklund to 16 months in state prison and sentenced Ramos to one year in county jail and five years probation. Because of the pending restitution hearing, Tiraki-Kyrklund has yet to be transferred from the county jail system to prison to serve her term, explained Deputy District Attorney Mark Burnley. Ramos, however, was released from her jail sentence earlier this month - well short of the 365-day sentence, Burnley noted - and walked into court a free woman for Thursday's hearing. As a condition of her probation she cannot own any pets or work with any organization devoted to the care, boarding or adoption of animals. Both defendants - and a host of supporters - maintain Noah's Ark was the victim of an illegal raid and that authorities had cast the shelter's conditions in the worst possible light to satisfy a personal vendetta. They downplayed evidence that some dogs and cats were suffering at the time of the raid and argued that their mission always has been to save so-called "unadoptable" pets from certain death at government-run animal shelters. Defense Attorney Todd Krauss said he is filing an appeal on behalf of both clients based on what he called errors made by the court during their sentencing and during the trial. Krauss said he is also conducting an investigation into Animal Control, and Quigley specifically, and will turn his findings over to the U.S. Attorney's office next week and ask that obstruction of justice charges be filed. Quigley denied any part of the investigation was personally motivated and said the defendants had ample opportunity in their trial to discuss their allegations of wrong doing by Animal Control, but never argued the matter or provided any evidence. If anyone has made the matter personal, she said, it has been Krauss, the defendants and their supporters, some of whom have posted vicious comments about Quigley on the Web and have hurled accusations inside and outside of court. Although she remains proud of the job her department did and its ability to save almost every animal, Quigley said the case has made her question her career. "I am burned out," Quigley said.

Source: Press-Telegram - Jan 31, 2008 Update posted on Feb 1, 2008 - 4:31PM

Both women were charged with 13 counts of felony animal cruelty following a raid of Noah's Ark in August 2006. Long Beach Animal Control seized nearly 300 dogs and cats from the no-kill shelter (then located at 1333 Redondo Ave.), claiming many of the animals were ill and living in filthy conditions. On Dec. 3, jurors found Tiraki-Kyrklund and Ramos guilty of animal cruelty on three counts (one pertaining to a female black-and-tan cocker spaniel mix, one pertaining to a female brown pit bull terrier and one pertaining to dogs 1-152). They were deadlocked 11-1 in favor of guilty on two animal cruelty counts (one for a cat and one for cats 153-299), and they acquitted the defendants on the remaining eight animal cruelty charges. Tiraki-Kyrklund also was convicted of a misdemeanor city ordinance charge of operating an illegal kennel. On Thursday, the court dismissed the two counts jurors had deadlocked on, meaning that the defendants cannot be retried on those charges. "The sentence is improper," Defense Attorney Todd Krauss said. "We don't feel that all of the evidence came out." Krauss said animal control blew the charges out of context to cover up its own illegal actions, mainly illegal killings - he had stated during trial that Tiraki-Kyrklund and Ramos were about to expose the illegal activities at the time of the raid - but that unfortunately, the judge excluded the evidence. Deputy District Attorney Mark Burnley said he was very pleased with the sentence. "(But) I was surprised, I didn't think the judge would send either of them to state prison," Burnley said. "I thought this was a probation case." Burnley said he recommended probation rather than jail or prison for Tiraki-Kyrklund and Ramos because it would allow animal control to keep better tabs on the defendants. Burnley added that he also told Rodriguez he considered Tiraki-Kyrklund more culpable than Ramos because she'd had previous dealings with animal control. In fact, in July 2005, animal control Lt. Michelle Quigley visited both defendants at Noah's Ark, did a walk-through of the shelter with them and made recommendations on what they could improve at the facility, Burnley said. "She should have known that what she was doing was wrong," Burnley said of Tiraki-Kyrklund. According to Burnley, Tiraki-Kyrklund most likely will serve about half of her sentence in prison (since hers was a non-violent offense) and then be placed on parole for up to three years. Ramos most likely will serve only a few months in jail out of her sentence (she already got 27 days credit on Thursday), he added. Under the terms of her probation, Ramos cannot own, care for, or have any contact with animals; cannot be employed by, start up, or volunteer at any animal-related business; and must complete a counseling program, Burnley explained. Both Tiraki-Kyrklund and Ramos will return to court on Jan. 31, 2008, for a restitution hearing. Long Beach Animal Control is asking the defendants to pay roughly $94,000 to cover the costs of seizing and caring for the Noah's Ark animals, Burnley said.

Source: Gazettes.Com - Dec 27, 2007 Update posted on Dec 29, 2007 - 1:18AM

Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund was sentenced Thursday to 16 months in prison for animal cruelty. Judge Jesse Rodriguez imposed the term on Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund, 40, despite a prosecutor's recommendation that she be sentenced to probation. "The victims in this case were vulnerable," Rodriguez said. "They just want to be treated fairly. I do believe that animals have feelings and emotions... They don't control themselves. They expect other people to care for them. And, in our society, we do. They are a part of us, and they are part of our families." Tiraki-Kyrklund's co-defendant, Gloria Ramos, received a term of one year in county jail and five years' probation. The judge said he believed Ramos was less culpable than Tiraki-Kyrklund, who owned the shelter and had been warned in the past about the proper way to care for animals.

Source: Press-Telegram - Dec 20, 2007 Update posted on Dec 20, 2007 - 8:08PM

Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund and shelter volunteer Gloria Ramos were convicted Monday of three felony animal cruelty charges. The charges against them stem from an August 23, 2006, raid on the 1333 Redondo Ave. shelter, in which Long Beach Animal Control seized 299 cats and dogs from a facility found in deplorable conditions. Its floors were slick with urine and feces and animal carcasses were found in a freezer. It has since been closed. The defendants were found guilty of cruelty to a black-and-tan female cocker spaniel, a brown female pit bull terrier, and cruelty to dogs 1 through 152. Tiraki-Kyrklund was also convicted of a misdemeanor charge of operating an illegal kennel at the location. The two defendants were acquitted of eight other charges, and the jury was deadlocked 11-1, in favor of guilty, for two of the charges: count 10, cruelty to a feral gray tabby cat, and for count 13, cruelty to cats 153 to 299. The defendants face a maximum of four years each in prison. The sentencing date has been set for Dec. 20. The court will also hear on that day whether the prosecutor would like a retrial on counts 10 and 13. "No matter what any of us said, the juror wouldn't change their mind," said Juror No. 3, Tom Dearing of Long Beach. "We really tried. I wish we could have changed the last juror's mind," Dearing said. The jury began deliberations Thursday afternoon. Deputy District Attorney Lori Carnahan was in court Monday for the verdict because Deputy District Attorney Mark Burnley could not be present. Carnahan requested on Burnley's behalf that the defendants be held without bail. Judge Jesse Rodriguez approved the request, and the women were immediately handcuffed and taken to prison. "I believe justice was served. Today is a fabulous day for the animals," said Lt. Michelle Quigley of Long Beach Animal Control. "I feel like the animals didn't suffer in vain." Since the trial began on November 9, the jury has listened to both sides and examined photos of filthy walls and floors at the shelter. Jurors heard several witnesses detail the shelter's unsanitary condition on the day of the raid. Noah's Ark volunteers contradicted that testimony, emphasizing the care they took to keep the facility clean daily. Veterinarians also testified that the shelter's animals suffered from overgrown nails, parasites and bloody diarrhea, among other ailments. Jurors also listened to an audio recording of Animal Control Lt. Tonya Elliot tell Long Beach Police dispatch of a sting on the day of the seizure. The recording had Elliot telling LBPD dispatch that Animal Control was working on a Noah's Ark sting but did not want to respond August 23 because Animal Control authorities would not get the "desired outcome." However, Quigley testified that there was no such sting. Defense Attorney Todd Krauss had also pointed out several times during the trial that Noah's Ark had never received any kind of warning or citation before the raid. After the trial was over, a supporter of Noah's Ark, who refused to give her name, said the defendants were "fine people who have done a lot to help animals." "It's a sad day for all of us," she said, adding that she remained convinced that Quigley had a personal vendetta against Tiraki- Kyrklund. "Justice failed, 100 percent," she said. The defendants have maintained their innocence from the start of the trial, stating that the facts would come out to prove their innocence. Krauss echoed their claim outside the courtroom on Monday. "We don't feel the true evidence came out. One way or another, the facts are going to come out," he said. Unhappy with the verdict, Krauss insisted that the case was not closed. "It's never over until it's over. (Quigley) may be happy now, but she won't be happy later, if I have anything to do about it," he said. Quigley said this was case was especially difficult and was glad it was finally over. "It's been a very challenging time for the entire (Animal Control) staff. This is a huge weight off our shoulders," Quigley said. Of the 152 dogs and 147 cats seized from the shelter, 144 dogs and 109 cats were successfully been placed in homes and rescue centers. Quigley beamed outside the courtroom and thanked the DA's office for its work. "If you're going to abuse animals, don't come to Long Beach."

Source: Press-Telegram - Dec 4, 2007 Update posted on Dec 4, 2007 - 1:48PM

Jury deliberations in the case of two women facing 13 felony counts of animal cruelty continued for the second day Friday with no resolution. The jury, which began its deliberations after closing arguments ended Thursday afternoon, was ordered to return Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. to resume deliberations. If found guilty on all counts, defendants Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund, who owned Noah's Ark animal rescue shelter, and shelter volunteer Gloria Ramos would face a maximum of 39 years in prison.

Source: Press-Telegram - Nov 30, 2007 Update posted on Dec 1, 2007 - 3:33AM

Jury selection is expected to begin today in the felony animal cruelty trial of an owner and employee at no-kill animal shelter who allegedly abused nearly 300 dogs and cats. Jury selection will likely last through Friday and will be followed by the opening statements, which are expected to begin Monday. Co-defendants Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund and Gloria Ramos were arrested in August 2006 following the seizure of 152 dogs and 147 cats from the unlicensed and now-defunct Noah's Ark Animal Rescue, 1330 Redondo Ave. Tiraki-Kyrklund has been described as the owner and Ramos as a volunteer in charge of most day-to-day operations. Animals Control authorities discovered the animals - most of them severely ill and malnourished - after neighbors reported a foul odor coming from the building. Nineteen animals were found dead in the freezer. Two more died after the raid. Each woman has been charged with 13 felony counts of animal cruelty and two misdemeanor counts of operating an illegal kennel and failure to maintain a property. If convicted, they each face a maximum sentence of more than 39 years in prison.

Source: Press-Telegram - Nov 6, 2007 Update posted on Nov 6, 2007 - 6:32PM

A felony animal cruelty trial stemming from the alleged abuse of nearly 300 dogs and cats by the owner and an employee of a no-kill shelter was postponed Wednesday. A new trial date for co-defendants Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund and Gloria Ramos was tentatively set for October 1, said Deputy District Attorney Mark Burnley. Tiraki-Kyrklund and Ramos were arrested following the August 2006 seizure of 152 dogs and 147 cats from the unlicensed and now-defunct Noah's Ark Animal Rescue, 1330 Redondo Ave. Tiraki-Kyrklund has been described as the owner and Ramos as a volunteer in charge of most of the day-to-day operations. Animal Control authorities, alerted to the problems at Noah's Ark by neighbors who reported a foul odor, said they seized the animals - most of them severely ill and malnourished - from a filthy warehouse with few windows and no ventilation. Nineteen animals were found dead in a freezer. Two more later died. In addition to 13 felony counts of animal cruelty, each woman has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of operating an illegal kennel and failure to maintain a property. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of up to 11 years in prison.

Source: Press-Telegram - July 12, 2007 Update posted on Jul 14, 2007 - 12:47PM

A judge ordered a pair of animal rescue workers to stand trial on animal cruelty charges stemming from the discovery of nearly 300 sick cats and dogs in a shelter they ran in Long Beach. Superior Court Judge J-D Lord said he found sufficient evidence for Alexia Selma Tiraki-Kyrklund and Gloria Ramos to go to trial on 13 felony counts of animal cruelty. The women -- both 39 -- ran Noah's Ark Animal Rescue. Animal control officers found 152 dogs and 147 cats in the company's warehouse after a police officer responding to an alarm smelled a foul odor. Prosecutors say most animals were emaciated and covered in urine and feces and at least one animal had to be euthanized.

Source: NBC 4 - April 13, 2007 Update posted on Apr 15, 2007 - 7:33PM

The preliminary hearing in the Noah's Ark animal abuse case took a bizarre turn Thursday in Long Beach Superior Court when two opposing attorneys sparred over an alleged threat made by one of them using the words, "What goes around comes around." The exchange, which also involved the judge, came after the hearing had technically ended. Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund and Gloria Ramos are charged with 13 counts of felony animal cruelty in the case. Tiraki-Kyrklund owned Noah's Ark at 1333 Redondo Ave. and Ramos was a volunteer when the animal shelter was raided on Aug. 23, 2006. City Animal Control found 152 dogs and 147 cats in allegedly unsanitary and unhealthy conditions. Tension in the case has been evident at least since Feb. 7, when Judge J.D. Lord ordered witnesses' personal information be temporarily sealed because Long Beach Animal Control Lt. Michelle Quigley, the investigating officer in the case, had a tire on her car slashed and received "vicious" phone calls and e-mails. The heated exchange Thursday involved Dr. Salah Saleh, a potential witness defense attorneys said needed to record his potential testimony because he has life-threatening cancer. A special hearing was held March 29 to record Saleh's testimony after defense attorney Todd Krauss submitted an affidavit explaining the doctor's condition. The hearing included a videographer who was prepared to record Saleh's statements. But at the hearing, the doctor testified that while he had recently been tested for cancer, he had not yet received confirmation. As a result, the hearing came to an end. But Thursday, as the preliminary hearing was about to end for the day, Prosecutor Lakeri Patankar raised the issue of the contradiction between Saleh's testimony and Krauss' affidavit stating Saleh did have cancer. Patankar called the previous week's hearing a "colossal waste of time," citing the use of court time and a videographer for the hearing. The attorneys then went to speak with the judge in private. When they emerged, appearing to have resolved the matter, the judge dismissed the attorneys and the hearing ended. But as attorneys and supporters of both sides began to stand up and walk out of the room, Patankar called to the judge and said, "Your Honor, defense counsel just said, `What goes around comes around."' Everyone sat back down. Lord, visibly surprised, asked Krauss to explain. The court reporter who was also about to leave, began typing again. Defending his comment, Krauss said that by asking for clarification on Saleh's health, the prosecution had implied he perjured himself the week before. "If they want to come after me for sanctions I will defend myself," Krauss said. "Including threatening me?" Patankar shot back. "It's a matter of courtesy," Krauss said. The judge responded, saying attorneys have a duty to bring perjury to the judge's attention. "There no such thing as courtesy when it comes to perjury," Lord said. Krauss then explained that he was not making the remark to Patankar but to Quigley, the Long Beach Animal Control officer who was sitting next to Patankar and who had testified earlier in the day. Krauss said his remark was referring to his intention to prove next week through another witness that Quigley had perjured herself on the witness stand. "It's completely unacceptable for opposing counsel to issue a response such as `What goes around comes around,"' Lord replied. Later Thursday, Krauss clarified that he did not intend to threaten either Quigley or Patankar with his comment. When the exchange was through, Lord instructed Krauss to get medical records to show that Saleh has cancer and get transcripts from the Saleh hearing, which had occurred in front of a different judge, to see whether there was any discrepancy. Then for the second time, the court was dismissed. Earlier in the hearing, Krauss cross-examined Quigley. Krauss asked Quigley why an earlier visit by an Animal Control officer on Aug. 10 did not result in any citations against Noah's Ark, if conditions were as bad as Quigley said they were. Quigley responded that she was gathering resources to make a full investigation of Noah's Ark when she got the call on Aug. 23, 2006. Krauss also asked Quigley why Gavin Sebits, who is listed as an owner or operator on a Noah's Ark business license and other documents, was not deemed responsible for the conditions in the building but his clients were. Patankar objected, saying Sebits has not been charged in the case, and Quigley did not have to answer. The preliminary hearing will continue April 12.

Source: Press-Telegram - April 5, 2007 Update posted on Apr 6, 2007 - 6:58AM

A Long Beach Animal Control officer was moved to tears during a preliminary hearing Thursday as she described one case of alleged abuse at a Redondo Avenue animal shelter last year. While on the stand in Long Beach Superior Court, Lt. Michelle Quigley talked about a cat that was seized from Noah's Ark Animal Rescue on Aug. 23, 2006. "This specific animal was so severely matted - its mats were caked with urine and (feces) - it had to be sedated," Quigley said. "The skin was so urine-burned it was red-thin and literally peeling and tearing away." Quigley then took off her glasses and wept. Quigley's emotional reaction ended an often stomach-churning first day of the preliminary hearing for Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund and Gloria Ramos, each of whom is charged with 13 counts of felony animal cruelty. Tiraki-Kyrklund owned Noah's Ark and Ramos was a volunteer. The defendants were joined in the courtroom by several supporters. After Quigley finished her testimony for the day, one female supporter who did not want to be identified said of Quigley, "Those were crocodile tears." The supporters were members of the so-called Noah's Ark Justice Committee, an independent group not affiliated with the defendant, according to Tiraki-Kyrklund. Quigley also detailed what she first found after being called to the facility at 1333 Redondo Ave. "As soon as I approached the warehouse front door, I could smell odors myself right on the sidewalk," she said. Then she approached Ramos. "I said, `Gloria this is really bad,"' Quigley recalled. "(Ramos) said, `I know."' Later, Tiraki-Kyrklund arrived at the site. "I said, `The odors inside are extremely strong, it's extremely hot and the animals are in need of medical care,"' Quigley said. Quigley called in more animal control officers as well as the fire department and environmental health officials, because she was concerned there could be potential chemical hazards, she told Deputy District Attorney Lakeri Patankar. "(Tiraki-Kyrklund) said (the search) was because Gloria was late paying her traffic ticket at court," Quigley said. When Quigley went inside the building, she saw cages, floors and walls covered with urine and defecation, she said. The majority of the animals also had discharge coming out of their eyes or noses, she said. "Initially it was overwhelming. The stench and odor just hit you right away," Quigley said. "It was extremely hot. There didn't seem to be any air moving. There were a couple fans, but air was not moving, it was so thick." Quigley found 299 live animals, 152 dogs and 147 cats. Some had food and water, but some did not, she said. Walking through the facility was difficult, Quigley said. "The floor was so slick it felt like I was walking on ice," she said. "There was urine, defecation and some slimy substance on the floor." In one hallway leading to an isolation area, which is supposed to be the most sanitary area of the facility, it was particularly difficult to breathe, Quigley said. "After we got all the animals out, this room we went into literally became a wall of flies," Quigley said. "We couldn't open our mouths." The lieutenant said she waved the flies away and then went to get masks so the officers could communicate. In one area labeled as the nursery, Quigley found filthy puppies, she said. "We had at least three puppies away from the mother laying in urine and defecation," she said. "I, in fact, thought they were deceased when I entered the enclosure. They were not moving. They were cast aside from the mother. There was no water and food in this particular enclosure." The puppies were found to be alive. Quigley also detailed how she found animal carcasses, including a puppy, which she described as "emaciated," inside of a freezer on the premises. The defense has not cross-examined Quigley yet because the prosecution has not finished questioning her, but defense attorney Todd Krauss was allowed to question Quigley on the issue of the dead animals' alleged emaciation. Under Krauss' questioning, Quigley said she did not know how the animals died or how long they were in the freezer. A veterinarian told Quigley that many of the animals had upper respiratory illnesses, ear mite infestation, skin infections and hair loss, she said. The veterinarian also said the illnesses were caused by overcrowding, unsanitary housing and neglect, Quigley said. There were also cats housed right next to dogs, which a veterinarian said caused the cats stress, weakened their immune systems and caused further health problems, Quigley said. Krauss said Thursday's testimony did not tell the full story about his clients. "There's nothing much at this point," said Krauss said. "It's truncated. It's not the complete story, not even close. Once we get to present our side a very different picture will be shown." The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue on April 5.

Source: Press-Telegram - March 29, 2007 Update posted on Apr 3, 2007 - 2:06AM

The mural painted outside Noah's Ark Animal Rescue on Redondo Avenue depicts an inspiring tale: a happy cluster of dogs and cats being saved, two by two, and sailing the ocean in search of loving homes. But inside, authorities say, it was as if a boat crammed full of animals had been abandoned at sea. The darkened warehouse held some 300 dogs and cats - most of them allegedly filthy, sick and breathing in sweltering, fetid air. Two were dying. Nineteen were dead and being stored in a freezer. Yet the rescue shelter's owner, Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund, who has been charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty, maintained that the animals were fine. She said her primary passion in life was saving Advertisement unwanted pets from euthanasia at government-run shelters, and she denied that her Redondo Avenue warehouse was anything less than a sanctuary in the making. But Tiraki-Kyrklund's unconventional behavior has caused alarm in Los Angeles County's rescue community, where countless so-called "animal hoarders" are being born, taking refuge and - some say - even flourishing. Animal hoarders are described as people who collect companion animals the way pack rats collect things: They take on more than they're equipped to handle, despite deteriorating conditions, and then deny that a problem exists at all. Traditionally, animal hoarders tend to gravitate toward care-giving occupations, experts say, and animal rescue groups have become a classic cover. "It's just an easy defense," said Dr. Gary Patronek, the nation's leading expert on the subject and a clinical assistant professor at Tuft University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Boston. When asked about hoarding, Tiraki-Kyrklund dismisses it outright - saying she is simply a dedicated volunteer with a proven track record of placing animals into homes, something hoarders are not known for doing. "Last year, we placed over 2,400 homeless animals in one year alone," she says. "No animal hoarder places 2,400 animals." But Patronek and others say that some individuals involved in animal rescue feel intense pressure to turn a blind eye toward potential hoarding situations. Rescuers and residents can count on hoarders to take in homeless animals when everyone else is running at maximum capacity. As a result, rescuers often feel they owe a debt of gratitude to hoarders and may even see them as heroes in the cause, says Marie Atake, a rescuer who also sits on the Los Angeles Animal Services Commission. What's more, she says, the last thing rescuers want to do is send animals to their death by alerting authorities who will be forced to impound, and often euthanize, the seized dogs and cats. "Should we report (hoarding)?" Atake asks. "If we are to report, then we have to be responsible for what happens to the animals." But without oversight, code enforcement and self-regulation in the rescue community, experts say, the problem is left to fester and grow. Hoarders often aren't shut down until they're out of control, and then the courts are left to sort out the mess. "It's horrible to be in that situation," says Madeline Bernstein, president of the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. "It's horrible for the animals. But it's also a nightmare for the system because there is no real way to deal with it." Up for debate Whether Tiraki-Kyrklund is a hoarder, in the strictest sense of the word, is a matter of considerable debate. Prosecutors have described the 39-year-old as a well-intentioned woman who took on more than she could handle. Long Beach Animal Control Lt. Michelle Quigley calls her "a criminal with hoarding tendencies." Tiraki-Kyrklund and her supporters say neither is true. Rescuers interviewed say both are true. Shane and Sia Barbi, celebrity model twins and founders of the Kitty Liberation Front rescue group, posted a letter on an animal Web site in October, calling Tiraki-Kyrklund "a lovely girl with wonderful intentions" who has fallen victim to a disease. "Alex is no longer healthy enough to run a rescue," the letter said. "She first needs recovery, which I will reach out and do with her, in a fellowship way. If not, like all diseases, this will regress, even if she initially appears like a 'functional hoarder."' Tiraki-Kyrklund says she knows some people suspect she is a hoarder but that they have misread the situation. But Quigley says the facts suggest otherwise. Between August 2005 and August 2006, Tiraki-Kyrklund slowly filled the warehouse she operated as Noah's Ark, at 1330 Redondo Ave., with 152 dogs and 147 cats - far more than her business license allowed. According to city officials, she was licensed to run a retail pet store and dog grooming service but was prohibited from kenneling animals. Tiraki-Kyrklund claimed to be providing excellent care to all the dogs and cats, including many special-needs pets, but hundreds of the animals were displaying obvious signs of illness and neglect, says Quigley, who led the investigation. On the day of the raid - Aug. 23, 2006 - the heat in the building was oppressive, and the stench horrible, Quigley recalls. Many animals appeared to have been neglected for weeks, even months. Urine saturated their feet, Quigley says. Their skin was burning, their eyes were watering, and both skin and respiratory infections were widespread, she says. What's more, Quigley says, her investigation found that only a limited number of Noah's Ark dogs were placed in homes over the previous year, and rescuers and residents who dropped off animals at Noah's Ark were generally met outside on the sidewalk, instead of being invited to enter the facility, she says. It also was not the first time Tiraki-Kyrklund had been caught with too many animals. In 2004, a year after establishing her nonprofit organization, she opened a rescue in a Signal Hill duplex. Roughly a year later, after neighbors in the 2600 block of Gardena Avenue complained about the smell, authorities shut her down. They seized 31 animals and cited her for failing to comply with zoning regulations, among other things. That case was pending when Tiraki-Kyrklund opened Noah's Ark in the spring of 2005, Quigley says. Patronek, of Tufts University, is not familiar with the Noah's Ark case specifically, but he says the facts outlined by authorities so far are consistent with hoarding - a disorder that afflicts an estimated 3,000 people and about 250,000 animals a year. "It's certainly a familiar story," Patronek says, adding that the last five years has seen an upsurge in "institutional hoarding" involving people who set up nonprofit organizations, create attractive Web sites and even open quasi-legitimate kennels. "That's a very common theme," Patronek says. "These individuals have been operating not very far under the radar screen." To Tiraki-Kyrklund, however, any similarities are meaningless. She says the only sick animals at Noah's Ark were sick when she acquired them, and that authorities cast her shelter in the worst possible light by raiding it just before the cleaning crew was set to begin working that day. Tiraki-Kyrklund says that she placed more than 2,400 animals last year. If true, that number would mean Noah's Ark found permanent homes for an average of about 50 dogs and cats every week - a stunning feat for most rescue organizations, which work hard to place a handful of dogs in a month. Tiraki-Kyrklund says she placed all 2,400 animals straight out of the Noah's Ark facility or at weekend adoptions in front of PetSmart and PETCO stores. But she says she kept no records tracking how many animals were adopted at each site and when. "We weren't looking to separate the numbers," she says. adding that the important thing was just to find them homes. Quigley contends that the figure is grossly exaggerated. "Do the math," she says. Noah's Ark "would have to have animals pouring out the door, every day, 365 days a year. It's not possible." For the most part, Los Angeles County's rescue community - a vast, informal network of volunteer-based organizations and individuals - has been a literal life saver. An unprecedented number of animals scheduled for euthanasia has been saved and adopted out in recent years because rescuers have stepped up to offer foster care and pay for kenneling while permanent homes could be found. The network works so well that government shelters have come to rely on them and applaud their work. "We are the unsung heroes," says Jennifer Pryor, a well-known Los Angeles rescuer and activist who is also the widow of comedian Richard Pryor. "We are doing the work that the government should be doing. And if we weren't doing it, it would be Slaughterhouse Five. It would be horrible." Rescuers work in various way. Most are individuals who pull animals out of government shelters and provide foster homes pending permanent placement. Others incorporate as nonprofit organizations, creating Web sites and taking donations so they can afford to kennel animals, either at their own properties or through short-term boarding facilities. Rescuers rely heavily on public adoption sites, Pryor says, and on the Internet - particularly a well-known Web site called petfinder.com. And they network constantly. One might pull a dog from a shelter and shop it around to rescuers who have space for one more. The last - and most unacceptable - resort is to take the animal to a public shelter where it's sure to be killed when space runs out. Even now, many rescues - such as Pryor's organization, Pryor's Planet - have stepped up to find homes for the Noah's Ark animals. The city has exempted the animals seized in the Noah's Ark raid from euthanasia and many are still available for adoption. The animal rescue community is a godsend, Pryor says, but it is not without its flaws. Animal lovers hate to turn dogs or cats away, she says, and many have a hard time knowing where to draw the line. They can become addicted to the sense of well-being that comes with pulling an animal from a shelter and saving its life. As a result, she says, those already preconditioned to hoarding can easily lose control. "What's necessary to have in rescue is restraint," she says. Gini Barrett, an associate professor in biomedical ethics and public policy at Western University College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, agrees. "There has always been this very fine line between a rescuer and a hoarder," Barrett says. Pryor and others say Tiraki-Kyrklund's lack of restraint was no secret in the rescue community. They also allege that her many supporters have, intentionally or not, enabled her behavior and endangered animals. "Everyone knew Alexia was out of control," Pryor says. "It's more complex than simply enabling. They were also enabling for the purpose of their own rescue endeavors. ... People would dump dogs on her and look the other way." Atake, too, says hoarders aren't the only ones culpable in rescue-related hoarding situations. The Los Angeles Animal Services Commission member says there are people she calls "rescue wannabes" who contribute to the problem in their quest to make themselves feel good. "They go to the pound, pull the animal and dump them on somebody else," she says, "so they can feel they saved the animal." Atake, who founded Forte Animal Rescue in Marina del Rey, says she heard about Tiraki-Kyrklund being a potential hoarder at least two years ago. She recalls that a friend once pulled a dog that was set to be euthanized at a Los Angeles city shelter and took it to Tiraki-Kyrklund. But when the friend got there, she got a "bad vibe" and left with the dog in tow. "Years later," Atake says, "when I heard about this situation, I wasn't surprised." Atake is sympathetic to rescuers, like her friend, who chose not to report their concerns to authorities. The last thing many rescuers want to do, she says, is send an animal to its death. It's unclear how many supporters Tiraki-Kyrklund has amassed, but she certainly has more than a few. A group calling itself the Noah's Ark Justice Committee is collecting donations to pay for her legal fees, and the rancor caused by her arrest has reached fever pitch. After someone allegedly slashed a tire on Lt. Quigley's personal vehicle outside Animal Control two months ago, a judge hearing the Noah's Ark case sealed all identifying information about any potential witnesses for the prosecution. The judge stressed that Tiraki-Kyrklund and her co-defendant, Gloria Ramos, were not responsible, but said he believed one of their supporters may have been involved. Tiraki-Kyrklund says she had nothing to do with any tire slashing and maintains, as she always has, that she is a victim of false accusations. "There is not one single animal at that facility that was neglected - ever," she says. "We're very, very anxious for the truth to come out." Her attorney, Todd Krauss, says the assumptions people are making - that his client is a criminal and a hoarder - are based on a lack of information. But engaging in debate, he says, is both pointless and endless. "I'm not going to go out there and discredit what all these people say because these people don't know the facts of the case," Krauss says. Two Noah's Ark supporters, Jean Salyer and Mary Morris, characterize Tiraki-Kyrklund as a tireless advocate with a good heart who would never neglect an animal. Salyer says she got to know Tiraki-Kyrklund only after the raid but believes the 2005-2006 adoption figures provided by Noah's Ark are accurate. "She had a phenomenal adoption rate," Salyer says, "and that's not a symptom of a hoarder. ... My belief is that Alex is truly a rescuer." Morris, who adopted a dog from Noah's Ark in early 2006, said Tiraki-Kyrklund is more devoted to animal welfare than Long Beach Animal Control. And she says any problems at Noah's Ark grew out of a genuine desire to help animals, not a hoarding intent. "Maybe she did have too many animals, I don't know," Morris says. "But that doesn't mean she was a hoarder." Despite increasing awareness about hoarding conditions nationwide, thousands of hoarders - who are either attracted to or born out of the rescue community - continue to operate unchecked, Barrett says. "This vast network of rescuers has no standard, is not regulated by anyone, and does not have to answer to anyone about the animals that they take," she says. Residents, rescuers, city shelter employees and veterinarians need to help prevent the problem by reporting cases when they see them developing, many say. Therapy needs to be an integral part of any prosecution. And city agencies need to enforce the laws already on the books. In addition, Atake says, more screening may be needed. The highly touted New Hope program in Los Angeles, which has facilitated the rescue of thousands of dogs and cats that could not be placed by Los Angeles-area shelters, entices potential pet owners with its low price tags: $5.50 per animal. According to Quigley, at least 50 of the 152 dogs found at Noah's Ark were traced back to Los Angeles shelters, either through microchips or other documentation. "I really think that the city (of Los Angeles) needs to screen the rescue groups better than they are doing now," Atake says. "Just because a group has a 501(c)3 (status as a nonprofit organization) - that does not guarantee anything." She encouraged shelters and individual rescue operators to physically inspect the homes and facilities they are supporting, and to constantly update their "Do Not Adopt" lists, which help keep track of problem individuals. And lastly, experts agree, it takes action on the part of citizens: If everyone would simply spay and neuter their pets, they say, there would be no more unwanted animals left for people to hoard.

Source: Press-Telegram - Feb 17, 2007 Update posted on Feb 18, 2007 - 11:43AM

Two executive officers of a Long Beach animal rescue group pleaded not guilty Thursday to animal cruelty charges in connection with the discovery of nearly 300 dogs and cats -- some of them covered in feces -- in a warehouse. Alexia Selma Tiraki-Kyrklund and Gloria Ramos, who head the Noah's Ark Animal Rescue in Long Beach, remain in custody on $100,000 bail each. The women, both 39, are charged with 13 felony counts each of cruelty to animals and two misdemeanor counts each of violating zoning laws. Deputy District Attorney Lakeri Patankar requested bail be set at $260,000 each, but Long Beach Superior Court Judge Gary Ferrari lowered the amount to $100,000, according to the District Attorney's Office. On Aug. 23, Long Beach police responding to a silent alarm in the 1300 block of Redondo Avenue smelled a foul odor and called Long Beach Animal Control officers, who discovered 152 dogs and 147 cats housed inside a warehouse, according to the District Attorney's Office. Most of the cats were emaciated and covered in feces, police said. More than half the dogs had fur that was severely matted with urine and feces, and many were emaciated and had various infections. A state licensed veterinarian determined that the conditions inside the warehouse were detrimental to the health and safety of the animals, police said.

Source: CBS 2 - Dec 21, 2006 Update posted on Dec 21, 2006 - 11:56PM

A private animal shelter in Long Beach sued to reclaim cats and dogs seized from the shelter in a raid by the Bureau of Animal Control. Long Beach Bureau of Animal Control officers took nearly 300 dogs and cats Aug. 23 from the Noah's Ark Animal Rescue shelter, founded by Alexiea Kyrklund, alleging they were living in unsanitary conditions. A hearing officer issued a report five days later concluding the seizure was proper to protect the health and safety of the animals. A lawsuit filed Wednesday by the shelter in Los Angeles Superior Court claims the decision should be vacated because Animal Control officials held a hearing Sept. 9 and allowed the shelter's attorney to attend, but permitted no one else from Noah's Ark in the hearing room. According to the lawsuit, Noah's Ark representatives were deprived of their due process rights and the city did not show enough evidence that any ordinance was violated. Some of the animals have been "euthanized, sold or killed while in the control, custody and control" of Animal Control officials, but Noah's Ark want those that remain returned to them, the lawsuit states. Kyrklund was charged Dec. 1 by the District Attorney's Office with 13 felony counts of felony animal cruelty and two municipal code violations. A woman who answered the phone at the Long Beach City Attorney's Office said there would be no immediate comment on the lawsuit.

Source: CBS 2 - Dec 14, 2006 Update posted on Dec 15, 2006 - 10:34PM

Two executive officers of an animal rescue group are set to be arraigned Dec. 21 on animal cruelty charges stemming from the discovery of nearly 300 dogs and cats at a warehouse, prosecutors said Monday. Alexia Selma Tiraki-Kyrklund and Gloria Ramos, both 39-year-old officers of Noah's Ark Animal Rescue, are each accused of 13 felony counts of cruelty to animals and two misdemeanor counts of violating zoning laws, according to the District Attorney's Office. A Long Beach police officer responding to a silent alarm in the 1300 block of Redondo Avenue in Long Beach on Aug. 23 smelled a foul odor and heard some dogs barking, police said then. Animal control officers who responded to the warehouse found 152 dogs and 147 cats inside, and a state-licensed veterinarian determined that the conditions inside the warehouse were detrimental to the animals' health and safety, according to the District Attorney's Office. A majority of the cats were emaciated and covered in feces, and more than half of the dogs had fur that was severely matted with urine and feces, with many emaciated and suffering from various infections, officials said. The case will be jointly prosecuted by the District Attorney's Office and the Long Beach City Prosecutor's Office, according to Deputy District Attorney Michael Tranbarger.

Source: CBS 2 - Dec 4, 2006 Update posted on Dec 4, 2006 - 11:51PM

Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund, 39, is scheduled to appear in Long Beach Superior Court on Dec. 21 for arraignment on 13 counts of felony animal cruelty and two misdemeanor counts of operating an illegal kennel and failure to maintain a property, authorities said. The defendant, who runs a nonprofit organization called Noah's Ark Animal Rescue, was arrested in late August after authorities raided her shelter at 1330 Redondo Ave. and seized 299 dogs and cats - most of them filthy, sick and scared, officials said. She was released on bail and the facility shut down while Long Beach Animal Control officers completed their investigation. On Friday, the Los Angeles district attorney's office charged Tiraki-Kyrklund with 11 felony counts relating to specific animals nine dogs and two cats, and two others counts referring to all 299 animals. The allegedly mistreated dogs were a Pekingese mix, a cocker spaniel mix, two pit bull mixes, a poodle mix, a shih tzu, two Chihuahuas and a Chihuahua mix. According to Animal Control Lt. Michelle Quigley, the animals' conditions ran the gamut. Among the most common ailments, she said, were grotesquely overgrown nails, skin conditions, respiratory infections and fur coated in urine and feces. In addition, she said, many of the dogs were running freely inside the sweltering building, and were suffering the psychological effects of neglect and long-term confinement. The Tiraki-Kyrklund case underscores an ongoing debate over whether it is more humane to euthanize unwanted animals or keep them alive indefinitely at any cost. To the defendant's many supporters, Noah's Ark provided a necessary service in an industry too quick to end the lives of abandoned dogs and cats. To Animal Control authorities, the shelter offered a fate worse than death: months, even years, in confinement with too little one-on-one attention. In most government-run shelters, such as the Long Beach Companion Animal Village, animals that are not adopted are euthanized after a certain period of time, or because of space constraints. Often, it is older or injured pets that are selected for euthanasia first. According to Tiraki-Kyrklund's website, her nonprofit organization has been rescuing animals since 1994 and is "hoping to build a permanent sanctuary to house our many elderly or harder to place pets." Of the animals seized from Noah's Ark three months ago, more than 50 dogs and 100 cats still remain in custody, awaiting adoption. Anyone interested is asked to visit the Long Beach Companion Animal Village, 7700 E. Spring St., in Long Beach, or to call (562) 570-7387.

Source: Press-Telegram - Dec 1, 2006 Update posted on Dec 2, 2006 - 11:49AM

A temporary restraining order preventing Long Beach Animal Control from euthanizing animals seized from an animal rescue center without its permission was not renewed by a judge. Deputy City Attorney Cristyl Meyers said the order that affected nearly 300 animals seized from Noah's Ark Animal Rescue expired Friday. The order was issued Aug. 25, two days after authorities raided the center and arrested its owner, Alexia Kyrklund, on suspicion of animal cruelty. Animal Control officials have alleged that the animals were kept in deplorable conditions, including being exposed to large amounts of urine and feces, with a lack of food and water. Officials also alleged that some of the animals were sick. But Kyrklund has argued that many of the animals that were old and sickly resided there because the shelter had been unable to find them homes. She has also defended the shelter's conditions, and questioned why the city would need to euthanize more animals. "Let the killing begin," Kyrklund said in response to the expiration of the restraining order. "It will be interesting to see how many they deem so deplorable that they have to kill (them)." However, she said she has been told that the city's veterinarians have determined that none of the remaining animals need to be euthanized. The order prevented Animal Control from euthanizing any of the animals without the consent of a veterinarian.

Source: Press-Telegram - Sept 8, 2006 Update posted on Sep 11, 2006 - 11:19PM

A judge ruled Friday that Long Beach Animal Control cannot euthanize the animals seized from a rescue center this week for the next 15 days. Noah's Ark requested the temporary restraining order against the city agency after authorities raided the center Wednesday. They relocated nearly 300 dogs and cats and arrested the center's owner, Alexia Kyrklund, on suspicion of animal cruelty. The restraining order expires Sept. 8, when lawyers for both sides will reconvene for a hearing to determine if the order would be extended. The ruling came while animal rescue groups came to Kyrklund's defense outside the courthouse. "The truth came out but it's not over," said Seyhan Vurgan, Kyrklund's mother and a volunteer at the center on the 1300 block of Redondo Avenue. "They're never going to leave us alone." Deputy City Attorney Cristyl Meyers argued in court that the city hired two veterinarians to care for the animals and to determine if any should be euthanized. However, the restraining order allows the plaintiff to select a veterinarian, who would confirm or reject the other doctors' recommendation for euthanasia. Meyers said adding a third doctor to the process will extend the animals' suffering. "There is absolutely no need to have another veterinarian," she said. Meyers also said the plaintiff's veterinarian has been caring for the center's animals for the past three years, which poses a conflict of interest. If the plaintiff's veterinarian does not think an animal should be euthanized, the temporary restraining order forbids the city from doing so. In addition, the plaintiff's veterinarian will be allowed to administer medical treatment to the animals. The attorney for Noah's Ark, James Blancarte, said his client's veterinarian has offered his services for free. During a lunch break at the San Pedro Courthouse, a sobbing Kyrklund exited the courtroom after Meyers said that two of the animals died while in city custody. "I just want to know who died," she said as she wiped away her tears. Kyrklund did not return after the lunch break and could not be reached for comment about the ruling. About 20 animal rescue advocates and volunteers representing about 10 groups throughout L.A. County rallied around Kyrklund at the courthouse. "There is competition in this industry, and if Alexia was treating the animals badly, we wouldn't be here to support her," said Madelaine Kelley, a rescue volunteer. Ed Boks, general manager of Los Angeles Animal Services, said many rescue groups and private individuals are ready to take in the animals. "These animals could be in loving homes and in the care of a vet tonight," he said. "It's not fair for the animals to languish in a shelter." Kyrklund and her supporters on Friday morning first went to the Long Beach Courthouse to request the restraining order. The hearing was moved to San Pedro later that day. As television reporters interviewed her, supporters held up signs that read, "Animal Control Out of Control," "Stop the Killing Now!" and "Long Beach Loves Animals, Wrong Beach Kills Animals." Among the supporters were volunteers who alleged that Long Beach police officers arriving at the scene treated them with unnecessary roughness. Long Beach Fire, Police and Animal Control sent officers to Noah's Ark on Wednesday to investigate reports of violations under each agency's codes. Their reports will be presented to a city prosecutor for review, said Assistant Chief Robert Espinosa of the Long Beach Fire Department. Kyrklund responded to allegations of animal cruelty and Animal Control's findings in Noah's Ark - among them sick animals, 18 carcasses in a freezer and an environment officials deemed deplorable - saying the animals she saves run the gamut, and that many are old and sickly. If the animals are unable to find homes, they reside in Noah's Ark, she said. "We can't save every one of them, but God knows we try." She also sought to clarify the 18 carcasses found in the building's freezer. The bodies were those of dead animals awaiting cremation, a practice Kyrklund says is not uncommon in rescue and shelter agencies. Earlier trouble As Kyrklund and her attorney argued for the restraining order, details from an earlier criminal case emerged. In 2004, Kyrklund rented a property in Signal Hill near Cherry Street and Willow Avenue that had a large lot with two bungalows. It had once been the site of a trucking yard and one of the small houses, built in the 1920s, was converted to an office while the other served as a home for the business's owner, said Gary Jones, community development director for the city of Signal Hill. Kyrklund tried to make changes, including asking if she could have an animal daycare or pet hotel. None of those uses were allowed under the city's zoning, Jones said. "It was called 50 different things, but none of it was legal," he said. "We had actually a very uneasy feeling about her right away, and started documenting and sending her letters to let her know it was not a permitted use." Eventually, the city - working with Long Beach Animal Control - went to court. Kyrklund was charged with four misdemeanors: failure to care for animals; confining animals with inadequate space; importing wild animals; and a zoning violation. The wild animal charge applied to the possession of ferrets, illegal in California, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. "She just ignored our notices and then constructed a big chain-link fence around the entire property and put up plastic (tarps) so no one could see in," Jones said. "The place was in such bad shape you could smell it. You could hear the dogs barking. We had barking complaints from the nearby businesses." The case languished for more than a year, Jones said. "I think that Alex is very shrewd," he said. "She apparently kept showing up at court and (stalling), first representing herself, then she got an attorney, then she wanted a court-appointed attorney ... people know the ins-and-outs of these types of cases, they know how to stretch things out." Halfway through the case she removed several animals, which addressed the city's requirement that no more than four animals be kept at each home, Jones said. In the end, Kyrklund offered to plead no contest to two of the four counts - the zoning and wild animal charge - and the judge accepted the offer despite the DA's opposition, Robison said. On June 19, Kyrklund was sentenced to 12 days in county jail, 36 months probation and was ordered to pay restitution to the city for more than $12,000 in vet bills to treat animals seized at the Signal Hill property, court records show. "The $12,500 in restitution was for emergency surgeries and treatment of 29 cats and three dogs," that were seized by Animal Control, Robison said. The DA's office is appealing that judge's decision, Robison said. The prosecutor had argued for all four counts because it would have prevented Kyrklund from being able to operate any animal shelters while on probation. Evidence collected at the Long Beach location this week will likely prove valuable, in part because Kyrklund testified in open court that she had severed all ties with Noah's Ark, Robison added. The current criminal charge against Kyrklund from Wednesday is pending and has not yet been presented to prosecutors, Robison added.

Source: Press-Telegram - Aug 25, 2006 Update posted on Aug 31, 2006 - 3:26PM

A lawsuit has been filed to prevent some 250 animals seized from a shelter last week from being euthanized. Animal control officers moved in Wednesday after police, responding to a silent alarm next to the shelter, noticed a suspicious odor emanating from Noah's Ark Animal Rescue, authorities said. About 250 animals were taken away. Some of the officers suffered eye and throat irritation upon entering the shelter, even with their masks on, said Wesley Moore, Long Beach's chief of animal control. "We had animals with urine and feces soaked into their coats, with toenails grossly overgrown, deformed and discolored, and with eye irritations and nasal discharge," Moore said. Some pets roamed free within the partitioned office, while others were locked in cages. Owner Alexia Tiraki-Kyrklund, 37, was arrested and booked for investigation of animal cruelty. Supporters raised $20,000 bail. Tiraki-Kyrklund did not have a kennel license to operate such a facility, which zoning in the area forbids. She denied that any of the animals were mistreated. "They feel abandoned, and they don't know why they're being treated like this," she said. "They're lovely dogs that just aren't perfect in the eyes of many in society. But that doesn't mean somebody else won't love them eventually." Moore said Tiraki-Kyrklund had been cited before at a shelter in Signal Hill for not providing veterinary care for animals, some of which were impounded but eventually released and placed in homes. The Noah's Ark pets were taken to the city shelter that's now close to capacity, Moore said. On Friday, an attorney hired by a Noah's Ark supporter filed suit in a San Pedro court to keep the animals from being euthanized, demanding that the numerous rescue organizations that have offered to take the pets be allowed to do so. Moore said only those animals determined by a veterinarian to be suffering will be euthanized. Tiraki-Kyrklund believes the city will euthanize many of the animals to prove the charges against her. She said she has been running the shelter since 1994, incorporating as a nonprofit in 1999. The all-volunteer organization raises about $50,000 to $60,000 in annual donations but has expenses of about $70,000, she said.

Source: Monterey Herald - Aug 27, 2006 Update posted on Aug 31, 2006 - 2:25PM

The founder of an animal rescue group raided by authorities said Monday she plans to ask for a hearing to challenge the seizure this week. Alexia Kyrklund - founding member of Noah's Ark, a nonprofit animal shelter in the 1300 block of Redondo Avenue - was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of animal cruelty, and authorities seized close to 300 dogs and cats from the organization. On Monday, Kyrklund said she and other members of the rescue group will request a hearing on the raid, something that must be done within 10 days of the seizure. "Yes, we are going to ask for a hearing, but I doubt we'll get anything out of it ... It's not like they're going to change their minds and say they made a mistake," Kyrklund said. Since her arrest, Kyrklund said she and Noah's Ark have received a massive amount of support from volunteers, other rescue groups and people who adopted pets through the nonprofit. Funds for an attorney were raised by supporters, she said, and a rally is being scheduled for this Saturday. Supporters of Kyrklund plan to protest in front of the entrance to the Long Beach Animal Control shelter at 7700 E. Spring St. The rally is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. "The outpouring of support, it's humbled me," Kyrklund said Monday. "Our attorney is being paid for by some fabulous supporters who have been inside (Noah's Ark). That's how I was bailed out, by another rescue." Kyrklund was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after, she said, she was called to the shelter by Animal Control investigators. The investigators plan to present the case against Kyrklund to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office next week, Lt. Michelle Quigley said Monday. Quigley said the animals were kept in horrific conditions which included exposure to large amounts of urine and feces and a lack of food and water. The stench was so powerful, she said, officers were gagging when inside the facility. Kyrklund and her supporters deny those claims. They charge that authorities were acting out of retaliation against Kyrklund, who had filed a complaint against an animal control officer about a week before the raid and who has had previous dealings with the agency. The prior case stemmed from a Noah's Ark shelter set up in Signal Hill near Cherry Avenue and Willow Street. In that case, Kyrklund was initially charged with four misdemeanor counts: failure to properly care for animals, failure to provide adequate space, keeping exotic or wild animals and violating the city's zoning ordinance. District attorney's office spokeswoman Jane Robison said Kyrklund pleaded guilty to two of the charges last June - the zoning issue and the wild animals charge, which stemmed from possession of ferrets. Court records show she was sentenced to three years of probation and more than $12,000 in fines to cover medical expenses for the animals seized. But Kyrklund and her attorney said she never served one day in jail. She was issued a citation on the charge and the judge threw out the animal cruelty charges, Kyrklund said Monday. On Friday, Kyrklund won a bid in a San Pedro court for a restraining order against the Long Beach Animal Control. That ruling keeps Animal Control veterinarians from euthanizing any of the dogs or cats seized Wednesday. The restraining order expires on Sept. 8, when lawyers for both sides will reconvene to determine if the order should be extended. In the meantime, Kyrklund has about seven days left of a 10-day period to request a hearing on the recent raid. Such hearings are designed to determine only two things, Quigley said: whether the seizure was valid; and who is liable for the charges incurred up to that point. After the 10 days are up, investigators plan to file their case with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, Quigley said. "There is a lot of evidence, a huge amount of documentation in a case like this," the lieutenant said. "We will be ready to present our case by Sept. 5." In the meantime, the animals are being held as evidence in the criminal case, Quigley said Monday. If Kyrklund were to relinquish control of the animals, however, they could begin adoptions immediately, Quigley added. Many have responded positively to treatment over the past few days. In one case, a dog and her young puppies that were discovered near death in a plywood box have made an amazing recovery, Quigley said. "When we found them, we thought they were going to die," she said. "But now they're up and around and thriving." A number of animals still have significant health issues that need to be addressed before they can be eligible for adoption, she said. None of the animals, however, will be released to rescue organizations, Quigley said. "If she didn't want to do a blanket relinquishment, we could do just the animals she deems healthy enough through the veterinarians," Quigley said. "We have many right now that are ready to get put in homes, real loving homes, not what they were just pulled out of." Kyrklund said not allowing another rescue group to foster the animals is ridiculous. She also said she was told the animals will not be put up for adoption as long as the criminal matter is pending. Authorities noted the case in Signal Hill is being appealed by the district attorney's office, which wanted all four charges to stick. Had the animal cruelty charge been successful, it would have barred Kyrklund from participating in any animal rescue activities, Robison said. She said the judge agreed to the plea because Kyrklund testified that she no longer worked with Noah's Ark. But Kyrklund said Monday that she gave up control of the organization, and told authorities she would simply be a founder and supporter from then on. "They called me down on false pretenses," Kyrklund said, referring to her arrest Wednesday. "(Quigley) fully knew, as did the city ... I would be a visual founder and help with adoptions here and there and fund-raisers, but I would have no directorial control," she said. Defending her work with Noah's Ark, Kyrklund said it was simply love and concern for the animals. She knows them all by name and personality, she said, but that does not mean she runs Noah's Ark. She recalled a number of dogs, some with cantankerous tempers and others who have health problems related to old age, that she is worried about. One pair of dogs can't be separated, she said, and another dog - a Chihuahua named One-Eyed Jack - is known to bite everyone except the volunteers he knows. "How many were sick that were vaccinated and shouldn't have been? I want to know why they didn't look at the records to see who was vaccinated," she said. "Again, you don't have to be a director to be worrying about that, you just have to be an animal lover." Eventually, even if Kyrklund refuses to relinquish control of the animals, they can be put up for adoption, Quigley said. "Within 14 days of the seizures, upon written notice of the fees incurred and the status of animals, if the individual fails to respond or to pay the fees, the animals can be deemed abandoned and ... at that point we can adopt them out," she explained.

Source: Press-Telegram - Aug 28, 2006 Update posted on Aug 29, 2006 - 10:20AM

Animal Control authorities carrying out a search warrant at a local animal rescue discovered 18 frozen carcasses Thursday in a case that has ignited furious debate. Two drastically different stories emerged from both sides of the issue concerning Noah's Ark Animal Rescue, in the 1300 block of Redondo Avenue. Authorities arrested shelter owner Alexia Kyrklund on Wednesday on suspicion of animal cruelty and seized around 250 cats and dogs after finding them in deplorable conditions, officials said. Today, Kyrklund and her attorney, James Blancarte, will ask a Long Beach Superior Court judge to bar Animal Control from euthanizing any of those seized animals. The case was launched after Animal Control was called by police to investigate a foul odor coming from the nonprofit's bright blue building, said Animal Control Lt. Michelle Quigley. Quigley and her staff worked throughout the night Wednesday and late into Thursday vaccinating and transferring the animals to the city's shelter. "We responded out there again today to execute a search warrant; we only dealt with issues in plain view (on Wednesday)," Quigley said Thursday night. With the search warrant, officials were able to search refrigerators, freezers and other closed locations. They found a total of 18 frozen carcasses, she said. Some of the animals were clearly emaciated and others showed signs of respiratory disease. Newborn kittens and puppies were found, including two puppies that resembled two live but very sick dogs rescued Wednesday night, Quigley said. "Finding all those dead small animals finally broke me, I broke down and cried in front of my subordinates," Quigley said. "It was just overwhelming at that point." Information on the found carcasses was released late Thursday, and neither Kyrklund nor her attorney could be reached for comment. Earlier in the day, Kyrklund charged that the investigation was in retaliation to a complaint she had filed against Animal Control. She and her attorney said they tried to hammer an agreement out with the city Thursday that would see the animals transferred to other animal rescue groups so that they would not be euthanized. They also asked that independent veterinarians be brought in to assess the animals' health. "I begged them, `We have rescues out there right now that will take the financial hit, they will take them in right now,' and the city said no. They get to deem what they can kill," Kyrklund said Thursday after she was released from jail on $20,000 bail. "That to me is animal cruelty." Assistant City Attorney Crystal Meyers said she explained to Blancarte that two professional veterinarians were examining all of the animals and their treatment will be based on the veterinarians' recommendations. "Long Beach Animal Control is taking the appropriate actions to have the animals thoroughly examined by experts," she said. "It's a step to assist the animals, not to harm them." But Kyrklund and Blancarte said the city's definition of an animal that is beyond treatment is far different from that of Kyrklund's no-kill shelter. Because most of the animals she took in were scheduled to be euthanized at city and county animal shelters, Kyrklund said, she doubts Long Beach will alter its policy in this case. "Tomorrow's hearing is kind of moot to me because they were already going to be euthanized before I took them in," she said. "We're talking about seniors, 15- and 16-year-old dogs. They still wag their tails, they may move a little slower, they may have skin tags and they may not look as good to some of us, but they love us and we love them." Her shelter, she said, received regular visits from Animal Control officers who had never seized dogs or cats before. Last week, she said, one of her volunteers warned an officer not to open a door to an open yard because he could get bitten. The officer, she said, pushed the volunteer out of the way and opened the door. When a dog lunged at him, he slammed the door on the dog's head, causing it to yelp in pain, Kyrklund said. "I told the rescue community `I'm going to be stirring up some trouble with this, please be on your guard,' she said Thursday. "That was a little over a week ago. I knew they would be mad, but I didn't ever think they could go to that degree." Quigley said Kyrklund's claim the investigation is personal is absurd. "My entire staff worked around the clock, and some are still here," the lieutenant said Thursday night. "You can't even imagine what it took to help these animals, but we did it because it was the right thing to do." Quigley said the city tried to work with Kyrklund for more than a year on dealing with the shelter's many problems. "The conditions inside that place were deplorable," she said. "Eyes immediately burned, throats burning, nostrils burning; I had to struggle to keep from retching and vomiting for quite some time." Long Beach Police spokeswoman Nancy Pratt confirmed Quigley's account that the investigation was launched after police officers noticed a foul odor coming from the nonprofit shelter Wednesday afternoon. False alarm Long Beach patrol officers were in the area, she said, after getting a 911 call that a silent alarm had been triggered at a nearby business. It was a false alarm, Pratt said, but it was logged in the city's dispatch center. "That's not something we can fabricate," Pratt said. Kyrklund wondered if the call had been made by a woman who frequently complained about the shelter in the past. The same woman, she and her attorney said, stood by and cheered as officers pulled dogs and cats out of the building Wednesday. But Quigley noted that complaints increased over the past several months. People who took their pets there often didn't realize the extent of the conditions because no one was allowed past the lobby, she said. "Once we opened everything up, the smell was incredible," Quigley said. "Passersby walking down the sidewalk were covering their noses and mouths and running." Blancarte and Kyrklund said those charges are "absolutely false." The shelter, they said, was on a 12-hour cleaning schedule. The animals relieve themselves 24 hours a day, they argued. Animals are immediately seen by vets when taken into the shelter and have regularly scheduled veterinarian visits afterward, Blancarte said. If the animals were in danger or mistreated, he said, the shelter's 20 volunteers would not have continued to support Kyrklund with their time and money. "They have animals that come in who bite, so they're traumatized when they come in and difficult to handle ... They come in matted with feces and until they get to a point where they can be handled they ... will be in that condition," Blancarte said. "They have another animal who lies in its own feces or its own food bowl, unless you're on a 24-hour watch, that animal is going to be dirty." But Quigley said the saturation of urine and feces at Noah's Ark had accumulated for well over a 12-hour period and that Kyrklund was prosecuted in a similar case when her facility was located in Signal Hill. Calls to Signal Hill officials were not returned Thursday. Blancarte said he was not involved in the prior litigation, and instructed his client not to discuss the prior matter or matters concerning her arrest Wednesday night. "I have no idea what is going on," she said, referring to her criminal case. Kyrklund said she was shocked by the response Wednesday night. Her volunteers were tazed and thrown to the ground, she said, including her mother. "I had a deli in Long Beach (in the past) and I was held up, I never had that many cops respond," she said. "They sectioned that place off like a murder site." Asked why the city would have an ax to grind with her, and Kyrklund said no-kill animals shelters like hers are about as welcome as homeless shelters or drug treatment programs. "Everybody wants us to be a no-kill, but they don't want the animals in their back yard," she said. She also thinks her policy that "any dog who can still wag its tail deserves to live" makes the city's euthanization policy look bad. Several Noah's Ark supporters said they are planning protests outside Long Beach City Hall sometime today. "Alex's whole life is animals," said Judy Miller, who cried as she spoke. "She would never do anything that would hurt an animal or put it at risk." Kyrklund said she was overwhelmed Thursday by the support offered from past clients and other rescue organizations. One animal rescue operator, however, came out in defense of Animal Control Thursday. "I've had several complaints about that rescue. Rescues like that give us a bad name," said Shawn Hollub, who runs a German shepherd rescue out of Huntington Beach. Hollub said she knows she is in the minority among rescue groups, but feels strongly that the animals should not have lived in such deplorable conditions. "I think Alexia started out with the right idea, her heart is definitely in a good place," she said. "But there's a line that you don't cross that's the difference between a rescue and collecting."

Source: Press-Telegram - Aug 24, 2006 Update posted on Aug 25, 2006 - 11:15AM

References

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