From: Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare [mailto:brooklynbridgeanimals@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 5:28 PM
To: Mayors Alliance
Subject: DO NOT ADOPT: Ivy Brodsky and Narciso "Polo" RodriguezWHO: Ivy Brodsky and Narciso "Polo" Rodriguez
CONTACT INFO: 85th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11214 (basement apt.)
NOTE: PHOTOS ATTACHED
BOTTOM LINE: A healthy, friendly cat placed with these people suffered broken bones, internal organ damage and other injuries consistent
with physical abuse within 5 days of taking the animal home. The cat was hospitalized for 5 days and we were not sure if he would survive
after he was removed from this home.
DETAILS:
We placed a 10 year old senior cat (Sparky) with Ms. Brodsky. We followed our adoption protocol (references checked -- personal, job, landlord, home visit, interview) and Ms. Brodsky appeared to be a good candidate to adopt. When we delivered Sparky we spent a long time with Ms. Brodsky and Mr. Rodriguez and everything seemed fine.
Four days after adopting Sparky, we received a frantic call from Ms. Brodsky claiming that Sparky had 'injured his leg.' A volunteer drove to her home, determined that Sparky was very sick and rushed him to the hospital.
Because Ms. Brodsky did not correctly explain how Sparky was injured the doctors could not immediately identify the extent of Sparky's injuries (at first they thought he was only suffering from kidney disease from eating poisoned plants). It was only after Sparky had been admitted to the hospital and undergone some treatment that X-rays identified his broken bones and the doctor's realized that he had suffered 'severe blunt and acute trauma,' which can only occur with physical abuse. By not admitting how he had been injured she caused Sparky to suffer further.
After further questioning, Ms. Brodsky admitted that Mr. Rodriguez had beaten her, thrown her out of her own apartment, then turned his rage on Sparky once she had left.
Sparky survived, is recovering from his injuries and is currently in a loving foster home. There is an open and ongoing animal cruelty investigation into these matters. However, other rescue groups should be aware that these two individuals should not be adopting or fostering any animals.
Anne Levin, President
Dorothy Sherman, Treasurer
Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition, Inc.
A not for profit organization
P.O. Box 22948
Brooklyn, NY 11202-2948
Telephone: 718 360-9918
www.bbawc.orgDate: Fri, 7 May 2010 20:32:57 -0400
Subject: FW: DO NOT ADOPT: UMME ANTORA
From: info@animalalliancenyc.org
To: info@animalalliancenyc.orgDO NOT ADOPT: MS. UMME ANTORA
ADDRESS: Wexford Terrace; Jamaica NY 11432
BOTTOM LINE: Although our cats were not injured or abused by this woman because we removed them from her custody we found her to be VERY difficult and believe that the potential for abuse exists at her home. If you hear from this woman, do NOT place any cats with her.
DETAILS: Ms. Antora contacted our group to foster a cat. We completed our regular foster home protocol - interview, meeting, reference check, and a home check. We allowed Ms. Antora to foster one of our young adult cats. We met both her father and mother who lived with her during the home visit. A few days later, Ms. Antora contacted us to foster a second cat, claiming the first one was lonely. We agreed and allowed her to foster a second cat.
The situation rapidly deteriorated.
* Ms. Antora's father phoned us (after we met at the home visit and she had taken the cats home) to tell us that she was 'not right in the head' and to 'please come get the cats.' He did not provide details but he suggested that Ms. Antora had been involved in the death of a kitten.
* Within 24 hours of getting the second cat, Ms. Antora decided the cat must immediately be returned, declaring the cat was 'depressed,' and was 'upset.'
* Ms. Antora then began making calls at all hours, repeatedly calling at 2 or 3 in the morning. Yet, when we would speak to Ms. Antora about the cat, nothing was wrong -- the cat was fine. Her behavior was very passive aggressive and she seemed to just want attention.
We quickly became very worried with Ms. Antora's bizarre behavior and her father's warnings and decided to retrieve the other cat.
After we removed the cat, there were more phone calls and emails from Ms. Antora and her father, until we wrote a cease and desist letter informing her that if she continued to harass us we would be forced to pursue legal action to get her to stop.
We recommend that other rescue groups avoid this woman and her family. There appears to be some potential for danger to animals placed with her and she will suck up very limited group resources.
Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition, Inc.
A not for profit organization
P.O. Box 22948
Brooklyn, NY 11202-2948
Telephone: 718 360-9918
Date: Fri, 7 May 2010 19:00:15 -0400
Subject: FW: NY/NJ/CT - DNA - David & Sara Augustini - WARNING! Send to ENTIRE EAST COAST
From: info@animalalliancenyc.org
To: info@animalalliancenyc.org--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE CROSSPOST EVERYWHERE! We need to prevent them from getting more dogs or cats. Please help me! I was lucky to get my Lab Pix mix pups that I delivered and hand raised back safe today.
Thanks for your help!
Liz Shames
Angels Wings Rescue
www.angelswings.petfinder.com <http://www.angelswings.petfinder.com/>
DO NOT ADOPT TO THESE PEOPLE!!! DNA POSTING!
PLEASE CROSS-POST EVERYWHERE
NY-NJ-CT areas and beyond.
I run Angels Wings Rescue in N White Plains, NY
www.Petfinder.com/NY911 <http://www.petfinder.com/NY911>
I adopted out two puppies (siblings a month apart) to a family on Long Island. The pups were just taken back today May 5th, 2010.
They did not adhere to several parts of the contract agreement and had allowed the pups to mate. I do not yet know if the female is pregnant. The dogs were not socialized as they felt the two were enough for each other. They never went to the vet. They never had a rabies shot, they never registered the microchips in 5 months time. I had a trainer visit them for their follow up visit and to work with the pup who they said "had become aggressive" and he found there to be no aggression whatsoever and he had no problems with her after five minutes. He also found both dogs to cower when a hand was raised and were fearful in the home but once he had them they were much better and relaxed.
The husband David Augustini told the trainer they had a dog a year ago and "had to get rid of it" because when they moved the town only allowed a 4 foot fence. I have also found out that not only did they abandon this dog that they denied ever having on the application (it was a purebred Siberian Husky dog named Sam they got from a rescue) but they also "got rid" of two cats they had for some time "because the cats didn't like the new pups." The husband is a elitist when it comes to dog breeds and is aggressive and nasty when he doesn't get his way. The wife was totally cooperative and surrendered the dogs without any problem saying it was "what was best for them." There is a toddler special needs child in the home. I was greatly concerned the child could be injured because the dogs had become fearful.
They kept the dog crates so our trainer feels they are going to try to get another dog(s) within a week or two and I agree. PLEASE send this everywhere. These people should not have pets. I am sure they will repeat the situation with another dog. I would not want anyone to adopt out or give any animal to this family. I am sorry but it is the truth. Sara was very cooperative and I feel she had the best interest of the dogs at heart and admitted she violated the contract. I believe the husband may be forceful and physical with the dogs. I just do not feel any dogs or cats should be placed in the home.
Do Not Adopt to:
David & Sara Augustini
North Road, Garden City NY
For any questions please email me at
AngelsWingsRESQ@aol.com
Author