Update: Rest in peace Bruce. This dog was euthanized before the shelter indicated he would be.
Apple Valley, CA – A young dog has been slated for death at an animal shelter in Apple Valley. The German shepherd, named Bruce, arrived at the Apple Valley Animal Shelter on August 21 and he has since been moved into the shelter’s Blue Box, AKA “Hot Box,” where dogs who are going to be euthanized go in the days leading up to their demise.
An advocate writes of the dismal situation Bruce is in:
“Bruce is sitting with an empty water bowl. His kibble has been callously thrown on top of his dried feces inches away from where he’s sitting. His eyes are closed and he’s panting. Why? The Blue Box cell is outside in the sweltering heat.
No attempts are made for death row dogs like Bruce to stay cool throughout the ungodly heat of the day. They sit outside like this for days at the AV death camp. Unwanted. Uncared for. Discarded like Trash.”
Days before the scheduled euthanasia, the dogs taken to the Blue Box have their adoption profile removed – which makes it nearly impossible for them to be saved. Bruce is reported to be alive TODAY (9/12/2023) but he must be saved by day’s end or his pitiful existence will be ended.
Intact male ~ 4 yrs. old ~ 70 pounds
Vaccines given 8/22/23
No microchip
ALT ID# 08-21-23 15
*** Will be available for rescue pull or euthanasia on 8/29/23. ***
Information to help save Bruce’s life are copied below:
Any current rescue partners or rescues interested in partnering with our facility are encouraged to contact us at AVASrescues@applevalley.org
or
(760) 240-7000 ext. 7519
to coordinate rescue pull and transportation.
FACILITY CONTACT:
Apple Valley Animal Shelter
22131 Powhatan Rd
Apple Valley, CA 92307
(760) 240 – 7555
Note: Animal Victory has no affiliation with this dog or this facility. Please contact the shelter directly if you are interested in helping this dog.
Disturbed by the conditions at the shelter? Please voice your opinion to the shelter director.
Shelter email: animalservices@applevalley.org
Gina Whiteside, Shelter Director:
gwhiteside@applevalley.org
Mayor of Apple Valley, Scott Nassif:
snassif@applevalley.org
Mayor Pro TEM, Larry Cusack:
lcusack@applevalley.org
Council Member, Art Bishop:
abishop@applevalley.org
Council Member, Curt Emick:
cemick@applevalley.org
Council Member, Kari Leon:
kleon@applevalley.org
🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻
NEXT TOWN COUNCIL MEETING IS TUESDAY 9/12 at 6:30 PM. If you can show up, DO. These animals have no voice. We need to be their voice.
Per 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐘 website ⤵️
The public may comment in one of two ways:
• Attend meeting – you may speak up to 3 minutes
• EM comments to publiccomment@applevalley.org
TO ATTEND:
Town of Apple Valley
14955 Dale Evans Pkwy
Apple Valley, CA 92307
Continue reading: ‘Crunchy, Old, Grumpy Dog’ Finds The Best Home
I am devastated to report that Bruce was euthanized this morning. Two rescues sent in rescue pull requests as the Apple Valley facility claimed he would be available until 4 PM today Tuesday 9/12. But the Apple Valley facility – as it so often does – failed to live up to it’s own promises and protocols. They killed Bruce early this morning before anyone could get him out alive. Many more dogs like Bruce are scheduled to die at the Apple Valley facility. Beautiful socialized healthy pets abandoned by their caretakers are euthanzied by the dozens with little or no time provided for networking to rescues and adopters at this so called “shelter.” Neither the facility manager nor local officials seem to care. Please keep the abandoned pets at the Apple Valley facility in your prayers and advocate for their humane and lawful treatment. They desperately need your advocacy and your voice.
They dont care because they arent MADE TO CARE! Lets put the woman in charge of this ‘facility’ in the “hot box” for at least a month. Let her urinate and defecate on the floor and then have her kibble’ thrown in it…just like they did for this poor dog. As for the brutal heat involved; they basically tortured this animal before quickly killing him. Isnt the US just wonderful?!
Deb,
I whole heartedly agree with you. She and anyone that followed her direction should be put in the “hot box” like poor Bruce. There is no excuse for them not to let the two rescues take him. They should be fired from their jobs. No wonder animals have no trust in human beings. He was a beautiful dog. Poor baby.
Another group of Tru de Cul (francais) at Apple Valley Facility “Shelter”. KARMA will get them all. This dog could have made a good drug or cadaver dog. Not given a chance.
I sent an email to the shelter director. So upset and outraged for this sweet, innocent boy 😡 Bruce you will not be forgotten!
I am sick to my stomach. How is this allowed? Who runs this damn hell hole? What they did was cruel and inhumane. These are monsters. They should all be rounded up and made to live in that damn blue box day in and day out. Sickos. I’m starting to think that they get the kick out of killing animals who can be saved.
I sent a comment to several of the email addresses provided. This treatment of animals is simply unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. I live in NJ so I can’t go to the in person meetings, but I hope that anyone close to this shelter goes and speaks up for these innocent animals that are being so terribly mistreated.
This is downright CRIMINAL — the cruelty of the Shelter KILLERS knows no bounds — Staff should be all FIRED and replaced with loving, knowledgeable, educated People — this news is heartbreaking, especially for the Dog Bruce, who we all know WANTED to LIVE — Rational, compassionate People NEVER KILL healthy and treatable Animals.
No-one take their pet to Apple Valley this facility are not pet lovers they are pet killers.Find a no kill to give the pet time to be adopted. Please thats not too much to ask.
Dear Ms. Whiteside,
I am writing regarding Bruce, a German Shepherd formerly in your “care.” I am absolutely apalled by the treatment, or lack thereof, your shelter provided Bruce. This beautiful, precious dog is now deceased, having been given little to no chance of rescue. Rescue organizations and potential adopters are not provided sufficient notice or opportunity to take action given your substandard set of operations and procedures. How are dogs like Bruce given a fair chance at life when they are thrown into an undisclosed, outdoor box cell and removed from the adoption list days prior to execution?
To make matters worse, you brutally subject these poor dogs to deplorable conditions such as extreme summer heat, no water, food scattered upon feces,…how on God’s earth can you sleep at night? It is blatantly apparent that you consider these innocent souls good as dead before you have even euthanized them. The level of inhumanity displayed by you and your shelter is beyond comprehension.
I am livid. Rest assured, I, as well as numerous others, will be contacting city officials and news outlets and sharing Bruce’s story. It is my intention to spread news of your unethical, inhumane practices like a virus on steroids. Bruce and all animals subjected to your egregious practices deserve justice. Rest in peace, Bruce. You no longer have to suffer.
You need to email your message to her at this email gwhiteside@applevalley.org. Gina Whiteside won’t see this message you wrote here.
This is heartbreaking beyond words. How can you people live with yourselves? This is not a shelter, it’s a slaughterhouse and needs to be closed. Those of you responsible for such abhorrent treatment of these innocent animals — remember that you reap what you sow. Shame on you all.
Gina Whiteside and her staff should be charged with animal cruelty and prevented from ever working with, or owning, an animal ever again. The level of abject cruelty and complete incompetence at this slaughterhouse of a shelter is both unfathomable and deeply disturbing. Apple Valley’s conduct shows blatant indifference for the care and well-being of the unfortunate dogs who are incarcerated at their facility. These innocent animals are murdered despite having a rescue organization who is ready and willing to pull (and has informed Apple Valley that they intend to pull the dog), killed early and hence not given a fair chance at being networked until their time has run out (so that a rescue can make proper arrangements to commit to to save their lives), subjected to extreme temperatures without access to water, fed food on top of excrement, left in filthy cages, deprived of social interactions, hidden away from potential adopters and left to suffer before meeting their untimely end (despite other lifesaving options sometimes being available) at the hands of the subhumans who tortured them prior to killing them. This misconduct should warrant a full investigation of Apple Valley and the filing of appropriate charges. This facility is funded with taxpayer’s money and hence should have to comply with all animal welfare standards and provide complete transparency regarding their daily facility operations.
Tara, the pieces of trash you refer to KNOW THAT NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM FOR THE TORTURE OF THIS DOG! I can assure you that killing him before the stated time was on purpose because a rescue had already committed to pulling him. Trash like this perceive themselves to be very powerful in their ‘animal authority’ and it becomes a game of power they enjoy playing with the rescues. Killing him quickly and before the actual date was done to prevent the rescue from pulling him. It is what the worst of the shelters do. And it makes people who realize what is actually going on…makes them wonder if people like this are mentally ill…
The shelter staff and or the manager who approved the killing of this poor dog before it’s time and before a rescue could come and save him should be FIRED immediately and blacklisted so they can’t get employment at another shelter or place that cares for animals. This dog didn’t have to die, what is wrong with people. I don’t understand the purpose of killing a animal before the stated time and while there was a rescue coming to save him. Sounds like someone or multiple somebodies enjoy the power they have over the life of innocent animals. Just another reason why all shelters should be no kill and be partnered with rescues.
They are Sick and Need their Freakin Heads Examined !! Psychopaths…
Would you really expect anything more from California! The state is run by nuts who care about nothing, let alone a poor innocent dog who deserved a chance at life.
California has many great rescue groups, many no kill shelters and a lot of good people who work their butts off for the animals. There are over 2800 shelters in California. They even are funding to help animals owned by the homeless. Budgets are never enough but they are funded better than most states. California also has harsher animal abuse laws than most states because they DO care. They are consistently in the top 10 best states for animals.Perhaps point that misguided crooked finger at the states with puppy mills, and states that have no breeding legislation and puppies are sold on the side of the road. The breeders in these states sell backyard bred puppies as their sole income. Texas comes to mind. I bad Apple (valley) shelter does not represent the whole state. Especially when that state has the 4th largest economy in the WORLD. But your comment was a easy way to tell you watch too much TV designed to inflame instead of educate. Your obvious bias is untrue and not accurate. And no, I don’t live in California. I live in a neighboring state but travel with my dog there for work about 2 weeks every month. Have a fantastic day.
Apple Valley, Riverside, and others in California are the worst. The abuse at Apple Valley is horrible. All of California, TX, and a few other states are doing NOTHING to prevent this post-pandemic shelter crisis. Beyond the shelters, the desert is full of stray dogs that people have dumped there. The rescue groups are all beyond full, and there are no more available fosters. The shelters kill as many as 100 dogs/ week! The counties are still selling breeding licenses. They need a breeding ban, and free spay/neuter to start. And, they need to transfer many dogs out of state to half-empty shelters elsewhere.
Apple Valley is working towards none of these. They are not willing to try. Even when they have a rescue pull, they constantly kill the dogs anywhere. Many of us spend much of our time working towards change. We will fix this.
F-U PAULA CALIFORNIA HAS MORE PROTECTIONS FOR ANIMALS WOMEN GAY PEOPLE THE ENVIRONMENT ON AND ON AND ON CALIFORNIA DOES NOTHING???? NO PAULA YOU ARE THE NUT WHO KNOWS NOTHING! GET AN EDUCATION.
This is the most inhuman anyone could do. This shelter needs to be closed and charged and convicted of animal abuse. Would not live in Apple Valley Ca
I lived close to this location at one time, and am a second-generation California native appalled by what is all too normal in facilities across our deeply disturbed country and in fact worldwide. Writing letters, especially poorly worded letters full of misspelling and grammatical errors, does NOTHING to improve the situation. Society needs to be educated to have empathy and compassion, and in a world where the richest man says empathy is “not an asset” and parents, most of whom have never received these life lessons themselves, are never home to teach or set examples for their kids, there’s little chance of that. “Healthcare” personnel dump sick patients on the streets to die in this country. What do you expect in the way of caring about animals, who are accorded far less?
This is not a shelter!!! They are just a death row facility that have no compassion! Surprised they don’t starve them to death!! They are inhumane abusers!
And folks, that’s how Apple Valley rolls – they make it virtually impossible to rescue dogs, city does nothing proactive. They need to fire the whole bunch and let Rescuers take over the pound.
The entire staff of this facility should be fired and charged with animal cruelty. Hard to believe not one staff member cared enough to do something for this, and other dogs in their “care”. ASPCA needs to inspect this place.
If only this was only a nightmare. Poor dear dogs stuck in these “shelters” full of sadness, fear, misery and death. Aside from the awful people who like their jobs. I sure hope he and all the rest of them are in Heaven forever after enduring the “human” race.
Can we get a petiton started pressuring the city of Apple Valley to fire the people in charge of this shelter? I’ll sign it and share…
Amen!! Ready to sign!!
ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND YOU MURDERED HI?!!> NOT EVEN GIVEN GOOD TREATMENT BEFORE HIS DEATH! SHAME ON YOUR “SHELTER” FOR THIS DISGUSTING ACT!! HE DESERVED BETTER AND YOU FAILED HIM!! A “SHELTER” DOES NOT MURDER ANIMALS LIKE BRUCE. THEY CARE FOR THEM. YOU DO NOT DESERVE TO BE IN BUSINESS. YOU SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN
I wish I lived closer to this “shelter”. I look at their site and the dogs several times a week and can not believe the number of dogs they kill almost every week including mom’s and new puppies. I have suggested several times that they seek help from other shelters to reduce their kill rates and contact Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, based in UT with sanctuaries in several states including CA on how to move to a NO KILL operation. They need help big time and a major change in attitudes at this shelter. I live in Vegas Now and wish I was closer to save a few dogs. They may have a funding problem but you can feed a lot of dogs for the cost to kill one dog. The stress on most of the staff must be bad with all the dogs they kill every month. How can they sand to work there and watch all these dogs die every month. Someone please take action to stop the killing and save. more dogs
First, stop ALL of the breeders!
You don’t need to stop ALL of the breeders, just BYB and puppy mills. And educate people to spay and neuter their pets, and offer low cost spays and neuters for those who can’t afford it.
How do we get PETA involved anyone????
Don’t get PETA involved! Did you know, PETA kills almost all of the animals they intake into their so-called shelter in Virginia. They kill more animals at the PETA “shelter” than any other in the US. PETA are the biggest hypocrites of all. PETA believes it is better for animals to be dead than to be given a chance at a great life with a loving human family.
I hope the people who made that decision to kill that beautiful dog suffer. karma will get them but good. That poor dog . 🥲
Robert, Vegas is only 4 by car away from CA and 1 hour or less from Vegas. If you wanted to save a couple of dogs at that shelter you can and should. Don’t use distance as a excuse for not adopting. I hate when people like you makes comments like “if I was only closing, I would adopt”. That’s just BS and not true. The path to hell is paved with good intentions. If you really wanted to help those dogs, contacted a dog rescue near the shelter and sponsor the dog (s) meaning pay for he or she’s impound fees, medical etc, via donation to the rescue in exchange for them pulling the dog out of the shelter and fostering he or she until they can be adopted.
I’m sure there are countless dogs in “shelters” in Robert’s own area as there are most everywhere. Not everyone can spend full-time doing dog rescues. Before a handle can be put on this horrible, sad mess, DOG BREEDERS have got to be STOPPED, starting with all the puppy mills then going on from there. There’s no excuse for anyone purposely bringing more puppies into this cruel world, especially for $.
THIS IS BEYOND CRIMINAL! WE ABSOLUTELY MUST MAKE THIS STOP!
HELL IS WAITING FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE. WE NEED TO GET JUSTICE FOR THIS!
Why is this shelter still open?
SHUT IT DOWN.
PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY WHO ALLOW THIS SHELTER TO STAY OPEN ARE JUST AS GUILTY AS THE MURDERERS WHO RUN IT!!!!!!!!!
This place is notorious. Apple Valley Animal “Shelter”, is/has been one of the worst “shelters’ in the country. For YEARS, they have been killing many of the dogs/cats, that enter the facility 30-40%, sometimes more. This data is available. You can see their monthly euth. #s, and go back a couple of years (one can probably find from previous years, with some research). Your jaw will drop to the ground. California has some of the worst shelters in the country, and the state is #1 for shelter deaths.
Time to close this death trap down, they’re not in line with the people that want to save the animals.
This are heartless people to put a dog like this down what the hell is wrong with this place should be shut down putting dogs in a hot box is dam right outrageous
We agree 100% wholeheartedly with others who suggested the evil devil who runs this HELL ON EARTH, should have LONG SWELTERING HOURS OF THE SAME!! NO WATER! FOOD IN HER FECES & SLOW PAINFUL SUFFERING DEATH! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS GOVERNING TOWN COUNCIL?
SHUT THIS PLACE DOWN! LET RESCUES COME DO WHAT THEY DO BEST….RESCUE THESE INNOCENT DEFENSELESS PETS!!! SHAME ON YOU EVIL MONSTERS! MAY YOUR PUNISHMENT BE BEYOND IMAGINE!!
SHUT DOWN THAT HELL CALLED APPLE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER!! THIS IS NOT A SHELTER, THIS IS A HORROR PLACE WHERE EVIL PEOPLE CAN KILL ANIMALS WITHOUT BEING BROUGHT TO JUSTICE!!! PUNISH THESE EVIL KILLING PSYCHOPATHS TO DEATH, THEY ARE MURDERERS!!!!
I hope all of these heartless “humans” end up on a spinning spit in hell. And Cerberus will guard that they stay there for eternity. Monsters and psychopaths these idiots are.
Everything posted made a great deal of sense. But, think about this, suppose you composed a catchier post title? I am not saying your information isn’t good., however what if you added something that grabbed people’s attention? I mean %BLOG_TITLE% is a little vanilla. You should glance at Yahoo’s front page and note how they create news headlines to grab people to click. You might add a video or a pic or two to get people interested about what you’ve written. In my opinion, it might make your blog a little livelier.