Family Fights for their 69 dogs

Archived Story

Thursday, August 11, 2005

Family fights for their 69 dogs

By KAREN STAPLEY
Staff Writer
HINKLEY -- A Barstow court ordered a family who take in stray dogs and cats to get rid of all but four of their dogs. A long line of county vehicles were prepared to begin removing the animals Wednesday before a last-minute reprieve from the judge presiding over the case.
Mardell "Mickey" Stovall and his family have 69 dogs on their 20-acre homestead along Highway 58.
"We bring home and look after dogs we find in the desert that are abandoned and disorientated," Stovall said. "We have been caring for many of the dogs for years. I don't feel it's right we are being punished for doing something good."
Judge John Gibson, who also visited the site Wednesday, said sentencing was continued until today. At that time he will determine a time frame for Stovall to comply with the county ordinance.

The Stovall family are fighting to keep their 69 dogs. Most of the dogs were strays that the family rescued. Many of the dogs are kept in pens and the rest are secured by chain. An animal health investigator said the dogs are healthy, there are just too many of them.

Gibson said Stovall was found guilty on June 16 for having an illegal kennel and cattery. He said Stovall has done nothing to comply.
"All the animals appear to be healthy," Doug Smith, San Bernardino County animal health investigator said. "The majority appear very friendly. The only problem is they have too many."
Smith said households are only allowed to have four dogs without a special permit.
"I understand that in cities and populated areas that there have to be limits," Stovall said. "But we live in the desert on 20 acres. The rules shouldn't apply to a remote area like ours."
Smith said Stovall could apply for a special non-profit permit which would allow him to have an animal sanctuary if he complies with the rules first.
"He has to comply first because they will not issue a permit for somebody already in violation," Smith said.
Stovall said he started taking in stray cats and dogs when he moved to Hinkley in 1985. He said his dogs are not bothering anybody.
"We have lived next door to the same neighbors for almost 20 years and they have never complained," Stovall said.
All the dogs are in pens or on chains and not running free or causing problems, Stovall said.
Stovall said the dogs are a form of therapy for his four adult sons who have a genetic blood deficiency and still live at home.
"These dogs mean everything to them," Stovall said. "The depend on them for companionship."
He said his sons spend all day looking after the dogs and would be distraught if they lose their dogs.
Stovall said he had a license for a kennel called "Save the Strays" but the county would not renew it because he has more dogs than the rules allow.
Stovall said county representatives learned of the dogs when his house burned down in January.
He said when the county came to fight the fire they told him he had to get rid of most of them.
Stovall and his family are still waiting for insurance to fix the house. They are living in trailers until their house is fixed.
He said this year he applied for the permit but the county did not grant the license or refund the fees.
Stovall said they feed and pay for the dogs themselves. He said he spends about $500 a month on food.
"We have never asked for help from anyone," Stovall said. "We just want to be able to keep our dogs."
He said the court suggested he give the dogs to a licensed animal rescue facility.
"Why take mine when they can't afford to take care of what they have?" Stovall said. "We just want to keep giving a loving home to the animals we have."
Stovall's sons can name every dog. They know where each dog came from and how long they have been there.
"They already have a home why should we pay someone else to take them?" Stovall said. "They wouldn't be able to walk around and tell you who's who, how old they are and how they got here."
Eighty percent of the dogs were strays which were rescued, Stovall said.
Stovall said he does not understand why the county would take away dogs they rescued that are well looked after.
Stovall has 19 citations, two notice violations and 69 counts of unlicensed dogs.
"We can't afford to license all the dogs," Stovall said. "They come after us because they know where we are and are easy to find."
He said he worries what would happen to the dogs if they are taken away. Stovall hopes to get a permit for an animal sanctuary and keep all the dogs. He said if he has to get rid of the dogs he wants them to go to a good home.
People who want to adopt a dog should call 253-3119.
"Each dog has their own personality just like a child," Stovall said. "Giving up a dog is like giving up one of your kids."
Contact the writer: (760) 256-4126 or karen_stapley@link.freedom.com