We were taking her maybe one or two a week. We did the 5 way, bordetella, rabies and health certificates (she reimbursed me, at first). Then she started looking at the website, asking for easily adoptable dogs (Pomeranians, little lap dogs, puppies) that we can adopt locally and she would get angry if the dog was already spoken for. After a few weeks, she started contacting me with long lists of dogs she could take. Something told me it was "fishy" but looking at the dogs in the cages that could have a chance at life was too tempting.
We would meet her in the Buffalo area. After a few weeks of this, I told her I would drive all the way to her place (I wanted to see it) but she balked. The last transport we did with her was in August of 2007; I took her 15 dogs. We met in the Walmart parking lot; it was over 80 degrees. We helped her load her van. About an hour later I got a call from her while driving home. She and Pauline had driven to the front of the Walmart, parked the car and went shopping...leaving all those dogs in that hot car. Someone called the Humane Society. They seized all the dogs (thankfully, they were all rehomed by the HS) and charged Melita with Animal Cruelty. She called me because she wanted me to drive to the Humane Society and bring her the dogs. I told her what I thought of her leaving the dogs in her car and that we were done with her. After several nasty emails, I haven't heard from her.
She owes me over 1000.00 from writing bad checks. She owes the two other counties money as well. She was getting fully vetted (fixed as well) dogs for 70.00 and charging 250.00. I'm not saying a rescue shouldn't charge enough to cover expenses, but she was really raking it in. Then I found out after some research, that she has been evicted numerous times; she has been investigated by the HS but keeps moving. She used to show her animals at the Petsmart in Nashua (?) but I see on her site she no longer does that. She sells sick dogs, withholds vet care, lies about the dog's temperaments. The last time I saw her she had a huge dog bite on her leg from one of her "fosters."
Sometimes people in dog rescue get in over their head and get too many animals; they mean well but become overwhelmed. This was not her case. She is doing this purely for the money, with no good intentions.
I hope she can be stopped. If she's got Parvo in her house, she shouldn't bring in any more puppies.
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Melita didn't show up for her trial(for animal cruelty related to the story above) so apparently there's a warrant for her arrest. that's why she's not getting dogs from the u.s. any more.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------tried volunteering for her before she moved to that rat hole of a house....tried to take over my free tiem & very demanding.....abusive verbally & physically to dogs....would definetly advise to call local authorities, the current landlord & spca...do not get animal from her, you never know what disease or temperment you will end up with
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Sadly, we are all too familiar with Melita and her practices. She has been several different rescues over the years and all have been the same. I have long said that if there is one thing I would like to do in thisworld of rescue is shut her down. Unfortunately there is little recourseto do that. I know the Animal Control in Oshawa is very familiar with heras are many other rescues that are horrified with her practices. You have my complete support in any effort that exposes her and her socalled rescue for what it is ... dog brokering and barely one step above aQuebec puppy mill.
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hello Natalie, years ago i think in 2004 the windsor humane society had her listed as a rescue and my rescue partner and i were the transporters to bring her a few dogs. When we arrived i could not believe what I saw. She had dogs everywhere, upstairs in cages in bedrooms, in the basement they were just everywhere, her boxer who was in tact ruled the roost and was going after a few of her foster dogs, it was a complete nightmare. The humane society here never gave her dogs again, she was black listed of the rescue list. She use to work with 4 legged love rescue kris mcindoo out of toronto who got rid of her as her partner when she realized what a nut she was, you might want to look of 4 legged love and email kris as well, kris will have lots of factual facts for you as well. I wrote a letter to by law and i'm pretty sure i still have a copy i will look it up for you.Yes, they can contact me my personal email is natpittie@hotmail.com
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knew which rescue it was before you even posted the lab link...
Numerous groups have been trying to get this nutbar shut down for many, many years now.A bully rescue group had a post on their site claiming that one of their members had witnessed her beating a dog, I personally witnessed her adopting out sick and unstable dogs to unknowing adopters, and she was charged with animal cruelty after leaving a dozen dogs in the cab of her pickup in New York in the middle of summer for over an HOUR in a WalMart parking lot. The local pound removed all the dogs, and she had the nerve to contact the original pound she "rescued" them from and demand all of her pull fees back!All the while, she runs around bashing other rescues.
She received her tax free status from another group called "Paradise Found." The group went under and she took over the charitable number. I have been unable to ascertain whether she actually has a board of directors - in addition we caught her a few years ago "lending" her charitable status to AARF rescue of Hamilton.She was originally located in Oshawa, but the Oshawa humane society wouldn't have anything to do with her. Unfortunately, they never could find sufficient reason to gain access to her premises and she wouldn't allow them in - so they couldn't do anything.
We've tried numerous times to have her tax status revoked, to have her petfinder status revoked, to have her fundraising shut down, to have her PetSmart affiliation revoked... and ALL to no avail.
I wish you the very best of luck, and I'm terribly sorry for what you went through. Believe me, you are not alone - the majority of Melita's adopters go through some form of the same shock and disappointment you did.
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One other note - Melita and her daughter both owned boxers - and bred them - and "adopted" the puppies ON PETFINDER.Then when the dogs began to get territorial, she adopted them out as well - after using them as puppy makers.
She used to have a jack russell, but it was KILLED in her house after she let a dog she knew was vicious run loose. This was AFTER the dog had KILLED two pit bull puppies and attacked her boxer.This woman is a nightmare to other rescues. She screams a good game too, she'll accuse you of everything under the sun, and threaten you with whatever big words she can muster.
Oshawa SPCA needs to get off their A$$ and do what they should have done YEARS ago and shut her down. At the very least Revenue Canada should have removed her charitable status long ago - in fact, she should never have received it.
I have personally witnessed countless acts of cruelty and neglect on her part. Have you considered the fact that she gets bit on a regular basis and fails to report said bites to the proper authorities? Surely they can do something with this?I have an email here somewhere where she admits to being bit often, claims it's "part of rescue...." I've been rescuing for several years and I've never been bit once!
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I do not have any first hand stories of Melita as I have never met her but being in Bowmanville I get calls from people about her.
I get calls from people wanting me to take their dogs because she will not take them back. This in itself, is one thing a responsible rescuer will never do---we always take any dog back that does not work out (although we screen so well, the returns are few and far between).
I am sorry you have had to go through this but if anything, I hope it encourages you to educate the public on how important it is to make sure when people get dogs from a rescue they are making sure the dog is altered (all reputable rescuers neuter every animal in their care), and the animal has proof of all its shots. You should also have to sign a contract stating you will bring the dog back if it ever did not work out, and that the rescue wants to be involved if you are having any problems. If you hear people complain because they have to jump through hoops (ie do a home check, and provide references and vet reference) to get a dog, just politely let them know that this should be the least of their concerns and if anything, it shows that the people who have the dog really care about where it goes...
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It seems that Melita got the original email, these people that adopted from her must of been their years ago when she had less dogs, but the conditions were bad then also.
Why do you think she moves so much, because she befriends everyone that tries to give her advice on how to take care of the animals. With Melita its her way or the highway.
Anyone can get over their head and they have to draw the line when adequate care can not be provided to the dogs.
People that want to dump their dogs off to rescues should be dropping them of at the ospca, you can't take every dog in when people call. You have to know when to say NO.When you have more than 8 dogs in a house it is impossible to give them all the attention, not even mentioning the cats running around. She is on disability for a reason.
Not every dog likes to be crated and this is what Melita does. When she does get evicted from her place I can guarantee cats will be left behind without a home, because when she got evicted on Bruce street a cat rescue had to go their a couple of days later and 5 cats where left there. The cat rescue took them and then they were all spayed and neutered..
What good rescue leaves animals behind, definitely not this one.
Melita would probably do a good job if she kept her dogs to a minimun. She does not drive so what if their was a dog fight which an animal gets hurt in her house, which has happened and the animal dies in the home. This is sick.
Bottom line if you don't drive and you can't rely on someone to chauffeur you around you can't do home visits, then you shouldn't do rescue.
A good rescue does home visits and checks people out in their home environment to make sure the dogs is going to a wonderful home. Melita does not do this. This is poor practise, and any good rescue knows this.
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In regards to the hoarding argument - I disagree. She is making LOTS of money from this endeavor. Lack of funds is not the issue here. These dogs are being sold for $100-500, and are either obtained free or pulled from pounds for fees up to $70 (the ones from the states come fully vetted!).
Vaccines are about a dollar each when administered by herself, and one would assume given the history involved here that she is re-using needles (or at the very least failing to dispose of them properly... surely THAT is of some concern to public health?). When no vetting is done, dogs are obtained for nothing, and dogs are as numerous as they are (her turnover rate is astounding) you can easily look through a year of Petfinder and do the math.
This is not a hoarder - this is a profiteer.Her non-profit status has in fact been revoked (05/08) due to failure to file a return.
***EDIT - sorry, I've been unable to verify this information. Her non-profit (charitable) status WAS revoked 05/08) but I'm unable to ascertain why. I do know that she was "lending" her charitable number to another rescue to try to increase their donations (by providing tax receipts) which could explain it, but I also know that returns were behind - however, revenue canada is not exactly strict about charitable tax laws...
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