http://www.sacbee.com/351/story/121542.html
Ailene Voisin: Artest had better address pet project
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 12:32 am PST Saturday, February 10, 2007
It makes me ill. It just makes me sick. The thought of people neglecting their pets -- particularly someone of considerable means -- is enough to ruin my meals for a lot longer than the average news cycle.
So let's just spit it out. Ron Artest's recent dog issues are indefensible. Assuming the most serious offenses occur during his frequent road trips with the Kings, and most recently with the malnourished condition of his Great Dane, this matter concerns his pets, at his house, under his watch.
He's the guy. He can hire and fire doggy sitters. He can kick anyone out of his house. He can ask for help.
"I'm not perfect," an animated Artest said the other night. "I make mistakes. The thing that hurts me about all this is the (perception) that I don't love my dogs. I keep trying to explain that the person who was supposed to be taking care of my dogs wasn't doing it, and as soon as I got back from the last road trip, I saw Socks was too skinny and took care of it right away. One dog was eating the other dog's food. But it's hard, it's been hard ... I haven't been able to focus on games because I have been trying to make this right, talking to people to see what I can do."
It's a little late, of course. When rescuers are needed to protect the pets who have been rescued from the pound, there is no sweetening the spin from the publicists. But at least Artest lives in a good neighborhood. He is surrounded by dog lovers and animal activists, even by employers who were outraged by the allegations of neglect and then offered assistance.
"You have to acknowledge it happened," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said, "and ask, What do you do to rectify it? Ron talked to us, and there's no question that he wants to make sure it doesn't happen again. We're talking with groups like the SPCA so that he can show that he cares. Maybe we can all learn from this. And I can tell you, my four dogs mean everything to me. I don't travel anywhere without Buster (a Shih Tzu)."
Joe was the Maloof sibling who tried to sneak his dog into the Palace of Auburn Hills during the 2006 WNBA Finals. Adrienne Maloof, who has rescued several Maltese, is the primary benefactor of Camp Kingdom, the Sacramento-based foundation that teaches youngsters how to treat their pets. Geoff and Anne-Marie Petrie are intimately involved with the Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.
The potential for outreach even extends beyond the city/county limits: Lakers executive (and Phil Jackson companion) Jeanie Buss on Friday provided a contact number for Cesar Millan, star of the popular cable television series "Dog Whisperer." (Unfortunately, the dog behavior specialist was on hiatus and unavailable.)
The most immediate and definitive response is this: Officials of the Sacramento SPCA are scheduled to meet with Artest this weekend at his Loomis home, and according to the agency's executive director, Rick Johnson, a longtime volunteer already has been enlisted to supervise the dogs during the Kings star's future absences.
"Our involvement came about from the number of calls we received from people who have read about what happened," Johnson said, "and since we have always had a good relationship with the Kings, we are taking a very proactive role. While nothing has been finalized, we're talking with Ron about providing additional services to show his feelings for animals. He has offered to do that. The point will be to create an awareness of pet overpopulation and the ways we can change and improve the condition of our animals. There are things we can do, but we often don't have enough support."
The death rate of our local pets indeed is appalling. Johnson said that approximately 20,000 dogs and cats are euthanized here annually, with cats and pit bull breeds accounting for the largest percentage of casualties. Further, he estimates that the area's five agencies receive 20 to 30 "legitimate" calls per week pertaining to animal neglect.
"The Artest case is the focus right now," Johnson said, "but there is something to be gained from this. People are becoming more aware of the fact that they should focus on their animals ... and on their neighbors' animals."
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
Ailene Voisin: Artest had better address pet project
By Ailene Voisin - Bee Columnist
Last Updated 12:32 am PST Saturday, February 10, 2007
It makes me ill. It just makes me sick. The thought of people neglecting their pets -- particularly someone of considerable means -- is enough to ruin my meals for a lot longer than the average news cycle.
So let's just spit it out. Ron Artest's recent dog issues are indefensible. Assuming the most serious offenses occur during his frequent road trips with the Kings, and most recently with the malnourished condition of his Great Dane, this matter concerns his pets, at his house, under his watch.
He's the guy. He can hire and fire doggy sitters. He can kick anyone out of his house. He can ask for help.
"I'm not perfect," an animated Artest said the other night. "I make mistakes. The thing that hurts me about all this is the (perception) that I don't love my dogs. I keep trying to explain that the person who was supposed to be taking care of my dogs wasn't doing it, and as soon as I got back from the last road trip, I saw Socks was too skinny and took care of it right away. One dog was eating the other dog's food. But it's hard, it's been hard ... I haven't been able to focus on games because I have been trying to make this right, talking to people to see what I can do."
It's a little late, of course. When rescuers are needed to protect the pets who have been rescued from the pound, there is no sweetening the spin from the publicists. But at least Artest lives in a good neighborhood. He is surrounded by dog lovers and animal activists, even by employers who were outraged by the allegations of neglect and then offered assistance.
"You have to acknowledge it happened," Kings co-owner Joe Maloof said, "and ask, What do you do to rectify it? Ron talked to us, and there's no question that he wants to make sure it doesn't happen again. We're talking with groups like the SPCA so that he can show that he cares. Maybe we can all learn from this. And I can tell you, my four dogs mean everything to me. I don't travel anywhere without Buster (a Shih Tzu)."
Joe was the Maloof sibling who tried to sneak his dog into the Palace of Auburn Hills during the 2006 WNBA Finals. Adrienne Maloof, who has rescued several Maltese, is the primary benefactor of Camp Kingdom, the Sacramento-based foundation that teaches youngsters how to treat their pets. Geoff and Anne-Marie Petrie are intimately involved with the Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.
The potential for outreach even extends beyond the city/county limits: Lakers executive (and Phil Jackson companion) Jeanie Buss on Friday provided a contact number for Cesar Millan, star of the popular cable television series "Dog Whisperer." (Unfortunately, the dog behavior specialist was on hiatus and unavailable.)
The most immediate and definitive response is this: Officials of the Sacramento SPCA are scheduled to meet with Artest this weekend at his Loomis home, and according to the agency's executive director, Rick Johnson, a longtime volunteer already has been enlisted to supervise the dogs during the Kings star's future absences.
"Our involvement came about from the number of calls we received from people who have read about what happened," Johnson said, "and since we have always had a good relationship with the Kings, we are taking a very proactive role. While nothing has been finalized, we're talking with Ron about providing additional services to show his feelings for animals. He has offered to do that. The point will be to create an awareness of pet overpopulation and the ways we can change and improve the condition of our animals. There are things we can do, but we often don't have enough support."
The death rate of our local pets indeed is appalling. Johnson said that approximately 20,000 dogs and cats are euthanized here annually, with cats and pit bull breeds accounting for the largest percentage of casualties. Further, he estimates that the area's five agencies receive 20 to 30 "legitimate" calls per week pertaining to animal neglect.
"The Artest case is the focus right now," Johnson said, "but there is something to be gained from this. People are becoming more aware of the fact that they should focus on their animals ... and on their neighbors' animals."
About the writer: Reach Ailene Voisin at (916) 321-1208 or avoisin@sacbee.com.
