Look Who it Was Random video

072712seized Dogs From Spindle top Being Reunited With Their Owners

386 views · Published 25 April 2013 · 36:47 · Indexed 21 October 2026

Channel: SCOTT ENGLE-MONTGOMERY COUNTY POLICE REPORTER- · 2013 · News & Politics

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Dog owners had mixed emotions as they were reunited with the animals rescued from the Spindletop facility last week. All were thrilled to get their dogs, but still trying to process how a facility that was so highly recommended turned out to be such a disappointment. Gabriella Kerisi from San Antonio called the whole ordeal "awful," as she reclaimed Tank, one of seven dogs she entrusted to Spindletop. "They were supposed to do behavioral evaluation and have documents signed by (Leah Purcell's) attorney," Kerisi said. Tank had hurt another animal and they needed documentation in case they had to go to court, she said. Kerisi placed Tank at Spindletop in May and had not heard from Purcell since, she said. Kerisi paid $475 for the evaluation and $750 for boarding fees. "He looks really happy right now," she said. "He's a little bit thin and obviously has medical issues but I think he's happy and ready to go home." Dog owner Marie Garza said she was "overwhelmed." "We're so happy," she said. "We got the three dogs sent into boarding just over a month ago, but now they're save and we have the back with plans for all three- everyone has a place to go." Garza said the three dogs would be sleeping "inside on the couch" Thursday night. A third party who was fostering the dogs took them to Spindletop for Garza and others who raised money for boarding the dogs while their foster caretaker underwent knee surgery. They hoped when the dogs left Spindletop they would have been trained and helped enough to find permanent homes. The foster thought the facility was clean, and said Leah Purcell was very professional about everything. Garza said she and the others in her group had only the best intentions for the dogs and thought Spindletop was the right place for them. That is, until they heard the newscasts. They immediately sent emails to begin the process of reclaiming the dogs and now they have. "We're elated we were called this soon to get our dogs," Garza said. "It's a valuable lesson learned and all we can do is weather the storm. " Ann Baumgartner left "Candy" at Spindletop a year ago this month. Baumgartner began hearing rumors a little before she saw media confirmation that the dogs were removed from Spindletop. Candy is "female dog aggressive," which made her difficult to place. Trainers told Baumgartner Candy needed specialized training and Leah Purcell came highly recommended. "We thought she'd be trained and Leah would find an appropriate adopter for this kind of dog," Garza said. "So, obviously, that failed." Garza said she contacted Purcell more than a couple of times to ask about Candy, and got good reports at first. Then she says Purcell stopped returning calls and emails from her and others. Now Garza is back to square one with Candy, but with a hard lesson learned. Shamim Huq was picking up a stray named Jean he left at Spindletop because he was required to go through a rescue to get her after Harris County Animal Control picked her up from his neighborhood where he and his wife had been feeding her nightly. Huq had been moved by the "sad look on her face" and was determined to save her. He was very disappointed to learn what happened at Spindletop. "We're glad for the work these folks over here have done -- Animal Farm, Houston Humane Society and a few others," Huq said. "I've got the names and they're going to be on my donation list and should be on yours too." Huq and his wife paid $900 to leave Jean at Spindletop for three months and were counting the days until they could pick her up. They had visited her at the facility and said she was very timid and still looked very sad. "I said whatever I do in my whole life, if I can save this dog, I think that would be the best thing I've ever done," he said. "It doesn't matter how many times we go and pray -- it's what you do -- that's what God wants." Kim Cole was also happily reunited with her dog, who had been at Spindletop for a year. "We think about her all the time and we're just very happy to have her back," Cole said. When she dropped off her dog at Spindletop, it was because the facility and Purcell were highly recommended and the part of the place they saw looked very nice. "We did research and everybody said (Purcell) was the best," Cole said. "She was an expert witness in the Michael Vick case and she had gone to Katrina to save dogs there, but she turned out to be not so good." Cole said she emailed Purcell frequently and rarely received a reply, despite making two $500 donations above the $750 boarding fee she paid. Precinct 3

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