Actor gives home to abandoned pets in S. Calif.

[alsame]

[IMG][/IMG]


LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nearly 35 years ago, Leo Grillo thought he could get people to stop dumping dogs and cats in the forests and deserts of Southern California.

He discovered quickly that wasn't going to happen. There seems to be no end to the number of animals he finds discarded on the side of the road.

<snip>

Grillo promised every unwanted animal that crossed his path that he would keep it safe and do all he could to keep it happy and healthy for life. He set up DELTA (Dedication & Everlasting Love to Animals) Rescue to keep that promise, and today, with 1,500 dogs, cats and horses, it is the largest no-kill, care-for-life sanctuary in the nation for abandoned pets.

The sanctuary sits on 115 hilltop acres in western Los Angeles County and has an annual budget of $8 million and about 50 employees. On the grounds are a state-of-the-art hospital, a full-time veterinarian and its own fire department.

Much more here:
http://news.yahoo.com/actor-gives-home-abandoned-pets-calif-084150100.html;_ylt=AlbsZhU5rEakdy9ZnNq296as0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTUybmg1bTR2BGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDEwMDBwb29sd2lraXVwcmVzdARtaXQDTmV3cyBGb3IgWW91IDUgU3RvcmllcwRwa2cDMmVhOTk1NWQtN2Q4OS0zZGJhLThlMGYtOTIwNjU4ZGJmYWI2BHBvcwMzBHNlYwNuZXdzX2Zvcl95b3UEdmVyA2I5YWNmNjgxLTE1NjQtMTFlMy1iYmZmLWU3ODc2YWU3MzhlMw--;_ylg=X3oDMTB1aW5vdHU4BGxhbmcDZW4tVVMEdGVzdANidWNrZXRfcmVtb3ZlZA--;_ylv=3

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I've been donating to DELTA and Leo for more than a decade. Every year

at Christmas, I 'buy' stockings in memory of my dogs. They try to give a stocking to each of dogs in the sanctuary.

[alsame]

2. That's wonderful, I think I'll do

that this year too.

[dhill926]

3. Bookmarked....

Sounds like a great organization.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. "There seems to be no end

to the number of animals he finds discarded on the side of the road."

That breaks my heart. I cannot imagine being able to do that. And I cannot imagine what that pet feels when it is left behind in some god-forsaken place. Some times, I hate people. If it wasn't for the other people like Leo Grillo, I am not sure I could tolerate sharing the same air as the assholes.

[alsame]

6. It's unconscionable. At the

very least, bring the animal to a shelter so they have a chance of being adopted. People like that never deserved the animal in the first place.

[KC]

7. So many

stray animals. Not just here but
everywhere. It really breaks my heart
and makes me so angry. I always have
said that if I had the money that I buy
enough land and open something like
this place. I wish there were more
places like this one. They'd all be
full in no time.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

5. Hope he gets lots of publicity

and donations.

[IrishAyes]

8. I can tell you what happened to abandoned pets

When I had my little horse ranch at the end of a 5-mile dirt road. Usually the coyotes got to them if my dogs didn't first. A double pox on the house of people who abandon pets!

Even a large and potentially fierce single fighter hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell under those conditions. My chows got out of the acre I fenced around the house and were gone for several days before returning in fine fettle - but they were litter mates, almost joined at the hip, and had years of experience hunting together and watching the other one's back. Since my place bordered state land, I can't believe they didn't cross any coyote path during all that time. But they were a unique exception.