When students receive the opportunity to help out with a noble cause, the last thing that comes to ones mind would be “is this legal?”
But what started out as a great way to help abused animals unraveled into potential legal nightmare that includes criminal charges and an arrest warrant.
Earlier this month, Seaholm junior Xavier Faraj received a phone call from his mother and Traci Nelson, owner of the Itsy Bitsy Pet Rescue.
“I got a call from my Mom saying she was 20 minutes away with a U-Haul trailer and 41 rescued dogs,” said Faraj.
Faraj, along with Seaholm students Megan and Sydney Warwick and Groves students Lauren O’Shaughnessy and Jessie Best, spent hours cleaning and caring for these animals who Itsy Bitsy Dog Rescue owner Traci Nelson said had been neglected at and rescued from a flea market. Nelson suspected that these dogs were bred at a puppy mill.
Cynthia Best informed Seaholm and the Highlander of the rescue in an early May press release.
Volunteers said this act of community service proved to be a rewarding experience to all who were involved. But now the organization is facing accusations of conducting their organization in a questionable and illegal manner.
Police reports from the 48th District Court confirm that Nelson was cited for keeping more than three dogs – the maximum allowable by law -- at her Southfield Road Birmingham residence. It’s believed as many as 41 dogs were housed in the approximate 1500 square foot residence.
Birmingham Police reported two separate incidences where Nelson was found to be. The most recent incident occurred on April 4th, 2009.
On May 13, Nelson was scheduled to appear in Bloomfield Township’s 48th District court to answer misdemeanor charges relating from the incidents, but did not show up for court. A failure to appear warrant was issued.
Repeated calls placed to Nelson by the Highlander were not returned as of press time.
In addition to legal charges, Nelson and her organization have faced heavy criticism from local pet stores, animal shelters and web chatrooms dedicated to Metro Detroit pet rescues.
“I have had first hand contact with this rescue,” writes one anonymous poster who speaks to having helped Nelson while working at a pet clinic. “She used my boss and never paid her vet bill. She owes the clinic that I work at almost $400.”
Others responded on Oakland Press’s website, after the Press posted a story about Nelson and IBPR earlier this month.
“If you do not have the funds to pay your vet bill,” wrote one poster, “you should not be in rescue.”
One Birmingham official close to the situation, who asked to remain nameless, was familiar with Nelson and IBPR.
“The problem with [animal rescues] sometimes they feel like they can disregard the rules because they are rescuing animals and contributing to a good cause,” said a representative from the Birmingham Animal Control who admitted to having dealt with the Itsy Bitsy Pet Rescue recently. “It seems like they may be in a little over their heads.”
Despite alleged financial difficulties, Nelson will accept only cash for the purchase of her rescued canines. Her regular fee is $395 per dog, not including medical expenses.
Seaholm senior Jimmy Johnson and junior Michael Sarzinski are employees at Napiers Dog Kennel, where Itsy Bitsy has sold dogs in the past. They too voice concern over the organization’s suspicious financial situation.
“It’s one thing to ask for cash, but to take nothing but cash seems a little suspicious in addition to all the other allegations,” said Johnson.
Along with Internet posters, Johnson and Sarsinki feel that these rescue dogs are questionably priced.
To adopt a puppy from the Royal Oak Animal Shelter, the fee is $200, plus a refundable $50 fee for neutering or spaying.
“[Nelson’s] heart is in the right place, but her pocketbook is not,” said one online poster.
Johnson also questioned Nelson’s method of “rescuing” the dogs she sells.
“I use the term rescue loosely,” said Johnson. “We have heard she was buying from puppy mills rather than actually rescuing them. She recently said she rescued dogs from a flea market, which you can’t do. You have to purchase them.”
Napiers has not done business with Itsy Bitsy since hearing of these allegations.
“When we started asking her about the allegations, she was reluctant to call us back and eventually took us off her schedule completely,” said Johnson.
On the Itsy Bitsy page on Petfinder.com, Nelson responded to critics.
“Recently ISBR has been strongly and unfairly judged by others in the way we conduct our rescue,” reads a statement released on the Itsy Bitsy Webpage. “We are very different from other rescues and we take pride in that.”
The page also addresses puppy mills.
“While we support the activists using ‘words’ to end puppy mills, at Itsy Bitsy, we use ‘action’ to end the suffering of mill dogs now,” the statement said.
Lately, Nelson has been selling her dogs at Premier Pet Supply. Despite the legal drama surrounding the rescue group, the student volunteers said they remain dedicated to helping these animals find safe homes.
“I have to say it was the craziest, most dramatic Saturday of my life, yet I loved every second of it,” said Faraj. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
