And Now THE REAL FIGHT Begins

We've been a little slow in posting information here for a variety of reasons. We'd like to have our attornies (all of them) review information before we post it.

Here's what we know we can say right now:

FIRST -- all of you are amazing and we are grateful for EVERY effort you've made and continue to make for the animals. We are still waiting for the city's response to the writ -- not surprising that they're dragging their heels. [more below]

Your continued phone calls and emails are very powerful. Now that we have some of the court documents from Alex and Gloria's cases -- we've been able to find out the fate of some of our animals and it is nauseating. We continue to say -- IF there had been a problem AND the city's true concern was for the animals (which after what we've read about what they did to some of them that could hardly be the case) THEN a 10-day notice to comply would have been Wesley Moore and Lt. Quigley's obvious choice to remedy the situation. This simple fact cannot be yelled from every rooftop loudly enough. The Mayor NEEDS to be held accountable for his lack of response to this situation. Please let him know your feelings: mayor@longbeach.gov

We are preparing the case files for Alex and Gloria's cases and helping in any way that we can. The cost of this case is enormous but TOTALLY worth it. However both women could use any financial help you have to offer. This case will cost $35,000 minimum. You may contact their attornies at Williamson & Krauss at 18801 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 206, Tarzana, CA 91356,(818)344-4000 to help. Any donation helps, it all adds up!

The city has yet to respond to the civil suit filed on behalf of the 4 volunteers who were subjected to excessive use of force at the raid. The city needs to explain why a 12-year old boy watching the police needed to be tasered. The city needs to explain why two other teenage volunteers needed to have their arms wishboned behind them. And, the city needs to explain how a 69-year old woman posed such a threat that she needed to be put face-down, spread-eagle on the pavement and refused access to her medication for four hours.

The city will need to respond to the writ filed on behalf of the animals soon. Michael Rotsten will be representing the animals and is now the attorney of standing/record for the animals. Again, your emails and letters to Wesley Moore (wesley.moore@longbeach.gov) about this kangaroo court (an animal control official decides if Animal Control's seizure was legal -- strike anyone else as a bit ridiculous?) and the total lack of concern for the animals is helpful. Mr. Moore needs to know that you are watching THIS case as well and that the animals have served their political purpose in his game -- they had after a meer 2 days when Ed Boks of LA Animal Services offered to house all of them at no cost to the City of Long Beach and keep them safe from Quigley's needle of death. Mr. Moore's style of animal control is unacceptable in our modern-day society...we might have ignored it in medieval times -- it is NOT ACCEPTABLE in California today. We could also use your help defraying Mr. Rotsten's fees to combat the shoddy work of the city of Long Beach. Tax deductible donations may be made through Noah's Ark's web site to the animals' defense fund via PayPal. You can also make non-tax deductible donations directly to Mr. Rotsten at 16133 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 700, Encino, CA 91436. Due to Mr. Rotsten's many animal rights cases, he is unable to take phone calls right now.

We feel very lucky to have all of our attornies at our sides -- they are all highly skilled gentlemen.

Thank you again for the vital part you are all playing in this demand for justice. It's our hope that we will see some sort of reform in Long Beach as the result of these cases and that they will help put all archaic animal control agencies on notice that their backward and out-of-step policies are no longer viable. Our greatest hope is that the results of our cases can be used as precedents for other rescues in California. We KNOW other rescues will encounter the same underhanded, vendetta that Noah's Ark has been subjected to; we hope this will be of help to them.

Have we reached the tipping point yet in California? Hardly. Are we on the path to reform? Yes. Can you make a difference? You betcha!