February 2007 - March 2007

February 4, 2007

From: Kristina Brunner
To: wpacelle@hsus.org
Sent: Sun, February 4, 2007 4:25:23 PM
Subject: Urgent - 600 Animals at the Wild Animal Orphanage Needs Your Help Today

Dear Mr. Wayne Pacelle:

My name is Kristina Brunner and I reside in San Antonio, Texas. I was the Vice President, Treasurer, Board Chairperson for the Animal Sanctuary of the United States, (also dba The Wild Animal Orphanage, Primate Sanctuary of the United States, Chimp Aid and Cat Haven) from October 2003 to January 7, 2006. I was also a volunteer on the weekends for a little over 10 years.

The reason why I am contacting you today is because I have turned over evidence to the Texas Attorney General Office, Texas Commission of Environmental Quality, and the USDA/APHIS pertaining to misappropriation of funds, illegally burying a large number of animals and human/industrial garbage over a flood plain; and violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

When I started volunteering at the WAO over ten years ago, I noticed several illegal and unethical actions performed by the directors. When I spoke to the Asvestas' about what noticed, I was assured that that actions were either “okay and not to worry about it,” or that the acts would discontinue. Like the other volunteers and workers, I looked ended up looking away from what I thought was improper because I did not want to jeopardize my opportunity to help the animals. Clearly, the WAO needed help from the community and I was able to provide that help by organizing and overseeing numerous volunteer projects completed by 700+ volunteers from the military, USAA, TEKSystems, and Bexar County. During that time, I was told by the Asvestas that “business” would get better and their operating procedures would change.

I learned “business” practices only changed when confronted by the media, or by federal state, and/or local agencies (Express-News, USDA, TCEQ, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Bexar County Adult Probation & the Department of State Health Services). These “business” practices include, but or not limited to, false information on the ASUS/WAO/Chimp Aid/PSA/Cat Haven web site, mail fraud (newsletters and brochures), listing individuals on the WAO web site as “board advisors” without their consent, failure to adhere to the standards set forth by the Animal Welfare Act, operating WAO vehicles without valid drivers permits, purchasing WAO vehicles for family members, operating a phantom board, submitting false tax reports to the general public and IRS, falsifying financial activity reports, using community service restitution workers for personal gain, and so forth. Sadly, many of the past “business” changes were not made permanent when they were discovered years ago, for once enough time passed, the Asvestas returned to their old “business” practices. Now, these same illegal or unethical business practices are allegedly continuing at the ASUS/WAO. While the WAO has made strives to “change” again, such as re-doing their web site (after listing false information on its web pages for many years) and providing heat for the primates for the first time by order of the USDA/APHIS, I believe these changes will be only temporary.

As a former long-time volunteer and board member, I was in the position to provide the Texas Office of the Attorney General with the evidence it needed to prosecute this case. It is my understanding, the WAO is no longer taking in volunteers and the Asvestas’ are very careful in what they say in front of the staff. There may not be another opportunity to obtain this much information from another former volunteer, employee, or board member again. The ASUS/WAO plans on selling both operating facilities and move either to another County or State. If she moves the facility to another location, she may very well close her doors to the public. If this happens, there will be no way for anyone outside the facility to know if the Asvestas’ are accurately providing information on their new web pages, newsletters, or on their IRS 990 tax returns. Since the Asvestas’ has a long history of fraudulently reporting information to the public and the government, there is a strong chance this may happen again in the future.

I made a commitment to see this case through, not because I have some sort of vendetta against the Asvestas’, but because I have a strong sense of justice. Clearly, the lives of the animals are endangered and will continue to be so until a permanent change is made to the ASUS personnel and board. There must also be justice for the general public because over the years the public was deceived by fraudulent newsletters, brochures, tax reporting, and so forth.

The ASUS/WAO has been written up the USDA for violating the AWA or more than one occasion – the most recent write-up was in October 2003. As the Vice President and Treasurer, I was not made aware of the citation. It is my belief that no one on the board truly knew what was going on at the ASUS/WAO.

Mr. Pacelle, please take a moment to review the attached video from one of the local news stations in San Antonio – WOAI – regarding the investigations into the ASUS/WAO.

************************************************************************

Update since the news story from November 2006: When I checked last month, the ASUS/WAO still did not turn over the list of dead animals buried in the two animal burial pits (there are more than two animal pits, but TCEQ was unable to search the property without a warrant). I estimate there are hundreds of dead animals buried in these pits based on past tour guide documents and an internal report written by a current animal caretaker. Some of the buried animals do pose a health risk to the public if left in the ground. ASUS/WAO hired a company to remove the dead animals and all the garbage that was buried on the property. It is my understanding one more large truck load needs dig up and move the animals and garbage to an approved landfill before TCEQ can re-inspect the burial pits site.

On January 28, 2007, a couple went to the WAO for a tour, took pictures, and reported several disturbing things:

• Sabu the lion was not on the tour anymore (Ms. Asvestas planned on killing him in 2005);
• Lulu the tiger (was located in the small cage with the concrete pool – by herself) was not on the tour anymore;
• 8 of the 9 servals the WAO used to have in 2005 are gone (3 were left on 5/20/06). Now there is only one serval left on tour.
• There were 3 bobcats in 2006 - now there are only 2 bobcats left on tour.
• Cougar population went down from 23 in 2005, to 19 in 2006 and 16 in 2007.
• Princess, the tiger (located next to Bubba the white tiger) is in a lot of pain. She appears to be stiff and sore and may need to be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to keep her comfortable.
• Water bowls contained red algae (or rust) and debrie.
• Baboon living with Patas monkey is losing a lot of hair on her back.
• The pony's hooves have not been cleaned in a long time and so the hooves looks like stumps. Pony was seen laying down and not moving.
• A cougar was also seen laying down and not moving. The head was facing the tour and the tour observed green pus in the cougar' eyes.
• Food for the primates were tossed outside the cage for "enrichment" purposes. Dog food is served with fruits and vegetables.
• On Sunday at 10:00am, there was only three people on the property. One tour guide, one person cleaning windows, and one person working in the office. No other animal caretakers were on the property from 10:00am - 11:00am. WAO tour guide claimed 4 animal caretakers worked at the Leslie Road property and 5 animal caretakers worked at the Talley Road property. WAO claims the office staff are also “animal caretakers,” yet the staff could not answer basic questions concering the animals on tour.
• There used to be about six birds living in the cage across from the tigers, now only two birds were visible. No heat provided to the parakeets and other small birds during the cold winter.

I have reason to believe the Texas Office of the Attorney General may have completed their investigation last week. I am concerned that even though I gave them ample evidence to remove the Asvestas as operators of the ASUS/WAO (and all its dba’s) permanently, they may be burned out from the Primarily Primate case and unwilling to fully prosecute this case.

I need your help, sir. Please put your name behind this cause to ensure the Asvestas’ are removed permanently from the ASUS/WAO. Your 10+ million members can help save the remaining 600 or so animals living at the two properties owned by the ASUS/WAO. I’m not sure what else I can do for the animals. I really need outside assistance from a large organization such as HSUS.

If you are ever in San Antonio, I would love the opportunity to discuss this case with you. I have a lot of evidence in support of my allegations and would love the opportunity to e-mail you the material (or if you would like I could forward the material to Jonathan Loworn with your Litigation Department). Please help me save these animals for I have no where else to turn.

Very Respectfully,

Kristina Brunner

Well, I didn't receive a response except for an email failure notice!

Hi. This is the qmail-send program at yahoo.com.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

<wpacelle@hsus.org>:
64.18.7.10 failed after I sent the message.
Remote host said: 552 Message too large - psmtp

So, I tried emailing him again...that same day and again on February 10, 2007.  Finally, my email made it through, but I never heard from W. Pacelle.

Instead, I only received ONE email from this person:

From: Bernie Unti <bunti@hsus.org>
To: Kristina Brunner

Sent: Tue, February 13, 2007 8:17:05 PM
Subject: your recent email to Wayne Pacelle

Dear Ms. Brunner,

Thank you for your communication to Wayne Pacelle, which, at his instruction, I have circulated to staff members with responsibility for sanctuary issues within The HSUS. In virtually every situation of this kind, we necessarily defer to the state and federal agencies that are charged with enforcement and oversight. In this regard, we note that the Attorney General of the state and the United States Department of Agriculture are considering action, and we will be interested to see how they exercise their authority. We appreciate your detailed explanation of the issues that concern you, which will be of value to us as we continue to monitor the situation.

Sincerely,

Bernard Unti, Ph.D.

Senior Policy Adviser

Special Assistant to the CEO

The Humane Society of the United States

(301) 548-7707

 Interested in taking action online to help animals? Then join our online community and sign up for our Humane Action Network. Go to www.hsus.org/join .

Oh g-r-e-a-t.  Love the closing line about wanting to take action on-line to help animals!  How ironic, huh?  HSUS refused to help the WAO animals, but boy are they sure fired up in helping other animals that they deem more worthy to save.  Makes me sick.  Another political AR group that refuses to help the WAO animals.  No where else to go, but keep handling this case without national help from animal rights groups.  Looks like the  animal welfare grassroot efforts are the way to go after all.

[Current Update:  I never heard from B. Unti again.]