Shelter dog who met Tommy Lee, KISS finds home

Chance's journey to happily-ever-after has been a long and painful one, but he's enjoyed lots of love and some star-studded adventures (Photo courtesy of Larry Alton)

  Kristy Gillentine, abc13.comHOUSTON (KTRK) -- We first introduced you to Chance, a Montgomery County Animal Shelter dog, last month when he met famed rockers Tommy Lee and the members of KISS.

Now, we are happy to report that Chance has found a forever home and is loving life with his new family.

Chance was fostered by MCAS volunteer Larry Alton from the time he was rescued and through his recovery until he was adopted. He came with a laundry list of problems, but they were all treatable.

"I had Chance almost eight months as he recovered from mange and an operation to correct an inverted eyelid (courtesy of MCAS vet Dr. Taylor) and a broken spirit," Alton told us.

Chance got the chance of a lifetime to hang out with Tommy Lee and the members of KISS backstage at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands. The visit was coordinated by shelter staffer Jane Holman.

As it turned out, Chance didn't even need the rock star association to find a home.

A young couple -- Chris and Gabby -- had met him at a dog park months earlier and decided at last to have him join their family with their other dog, Rita, who was also adopted from MCAS.

For more information on the Montgomery County Animal Shelter, including how you can help and a list of adoptable pets, visit www.mcaspets.org.

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Homeless shelter narrowly escapes closure

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Tonight was supposed to be the last night of shelter for dozens of homeless Houstonians. After running out of money, the Bread of Life "After Dark" shelter was supposed to close Thursday. But they somehow cobbled together enough cash to stay open for a few months more.

If Houston's economy is, as we've been often told, the economic envy of the nation, this is a part of Houston that no one envies. A snapshot away from our shiny skyline are the unmistakable signs of the thousands of Houstonians who live on our streets.

Dana Hogan with Bread of Life said, "At any given time, you will have individuals just camped out either underneath the bridge, on the sidewalks, in this particular area."

It is a block away from the Bread of Life homeless program, where men and women line up to race in for one of a shrinking number of overnight spots. This isn't an easy spot to get.

Homeless man Jeff Griddine said, "It stays full. It's constantly full. It's full now."

In October, Bread of Life was sheltering 150 to 200 homeless men and women every night. When they ran out of federal stimulus funding that kept the program open in October, that number dropped to 50 and it was about to drop to zero.

"There was somewhat of a decision to end the program today," Hogan explained.

But Bread of Life and St. John's Methodist Church came up with cash to eke out another 60 days of shelter, and will take the time to aggressively raise private money. Public dollars for homeless services are tough to come by.

"It's not very optimistic," said Thao Costis of SEARCH Houston. "Homeless services are not a high priority."

Costis runs SEARCH, another Houston homeless aid organization. They, too, lost stimulus money and were forced to cut services there months ago. The downward trend could lead to more homeless on the streets.

"For us to help them plan for, 'OK, where do you want to be in the next week, in the next year?' It's hard for them to even think that far ahead," Costis said.

But on the night that was supposed to be their last, with little money in their bank account, the Bread of Life somehow finds a way to be optimistic.

"As long as we continue to operate on the premise of hope, that we give back to our population and our clients, everything else will take care of itself," Hogan said.

The homeless men we spoke with tell us the Bread of Life really is a last resort -- a final stop before sleeping under that bridge. The Houston Homeless Coalition says the programs that got cut actually helped drop the number of homeless on our streets by as much as 10 percent.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Animal shelter fundraising effort burglarized

  By Crystal KobzaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- File this one under 'no good deed goes unpunished.' A Liberty County store Eyewitness News just featured two days ago that was preparing to hold a big fundraiser was robbed just hours after that story aired.

The Old Wells Store in Tarkington is still preparing for a county-wide garage sale to raise money to open an animal shelter. Most all of the items for sale are there for a reason -- to sell and make cash to put towards opening the animal shelter which everyone in this community says is desperately needed.

Just two days ago, the Old Wells Store had some big ticket items for sale, saddles were among them. But just two days later they're gone -- not purchased, but stolen. Also taken from the store was about $150 from a donation jar.

"They must be pretty desperate for some money to come in and take something that's from a non-profit, something that's going to help the animals in our community," said Ruth Stetson, Vice President of the North Liberty County Animal Shelter.

A back window on the building was broken out and that's where the burglars got in. None of the windows had burglar bars.

"Of course we boarded it up, to try to keep somebody else out, of course," Stetson said.

Stetson says since 2005 she has been the driving force behind raising money to actually open the shelter.

"I field anywhere from eight to 10, even a dozen phone calls a week, people calling with animals they want to donate or they have seen, or that have been dropped off on their property," Stetson said.

So far, enough money has been raised to purchase land, but today the land still sits empty. Volunteers with the animal shelter say they're just shocked that the people behind the break-in would be so petty.

"We're working so hard for every little bit, it seems like we just get a little bit at a time," volunteer Linda Ross said.

Ross said even with the financial set-back, they're not giving up. They will continue to raise money to make sure all animals have a place to call home.

"It affects the animal," she said. "It's less animals that we can help."

A lot of money is still needed to get the shelter up and running. They say they need at least $30,000. That's not including the money still owed for the land.

To donate, contact Ruth Stetson at 281-761-3469.

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Owner of Texas City animal shelter Whiskerville facing animal cruelty charges

LA MARQUE, TX (KTRK) -- Two people, whose jobs are to care for animals at a local shelter, are charged with animal cruelty.

The owner and employee from the Texas City facility are charged with four counts each of animal cruelty. The woman who turned them in says it appeared no one had checked on the cats for days.

On a website, there are pages of furry faces and names to go with them. Anson, Jared, Erin are waiting to be adopted at Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary in Texas City.

"I was heartbroken because I never dreamed it was that bad," said the woman who called authorities.

She asked not to be identified but says it appeared the cats were also waiting to be cared for.

"I'll be honest with you, I didn't know there were dead cats when I called, I just said there is something terribly wrong," she said.

The woman who turned the owner in only saw animals inside for days and noticed cats were not moving in a bassinet.

"All the cats were just in a big, giant circle in a pile. I tapped on the window and only two came over, so I came in and I called immediately and said there is something terribly, terribly wrong," she said.

Earlier this month, animal control found more than a dozen dead cats and hundreds in distress.

"I knew nobody had been coming, but I didn't realize they had been suffering, that's what is so sad," the woman said.

The owner of the no-kill shelter. Wydell Dixon doesn't dispute the conditions the cats were found in. What her attorneys argued in court, though, was it was one of her employees who let the shelter fall apart while she was gone for a month. Prosecutors fault both of them, charging the 56-year-old founder and her 48-year-old employee Kimberly Paskert with four counts each of felony cruelty to animals. Both women turned themselves in Wednesday night.

Those who say they witnessed the conditions are actually glad to see this shelter sitting empty now.

"I'm just thankful that everybody's eyes are opened and I pray to God that she is not allowed to do that again," the woman said.

The surviving cats are being nursed back to health under the care of the state for now. If convicted, the two could spend up to two years behind bars on each count.

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Texas City shelter owner accused of neglect loses custody of cats

LA MARQUE, TX (KTRK) -- After dozens of cats were seized from the Whiskerville Animal Shelter in Galveston County, a judge decided on Tuesday what to do with all the animals.

The hearing lasted several hours but after emotional testimony, the judge ruled the shelter's owner, Wydell Dixon, should not get her cats back.

Dixon doesn't dispute the fact that her Whiskerville cat shelter was found in deplorable conditions.

"This was your facility, wasn't it?" the prosecutor asked Dixon.

"Yes it was," she replied.

"This is was your passion?"

"Yes and it still is."

"And these were your babies?"

"Yes, they were."

But she and her attorney argue it was one of Dixon's employees who let the shelter fall apart while she was away for a month. Prosecutors, though, feel differently. Galveston County Animal Control officers testified that the shelter was in horrendous shape.

"Lots and lots of cats that were skins and bones, matted. The floors, walls, tables, doorknobs -- everything -- was covered in feces, urine," animal control officer Amy Snider said.

The county wanted to take away the cats permanently, and Tuesday's court hearing brought out dozens of cat lovers who felt the same way, including Dixon's own estranged daughter, Tammy Vosburg.

"I personally know several people who are waiting to adopt them, they're waiting for them to be released," Vosburg said.

Those cats are being cared for at several area animal shelters. Tuesday's ruling clears the way for the cats to eventually get adopted.

Authorities says the investigation into the shelter, its owners and workers isn't owner yet.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Displaced residents stay at Red Cross shelter

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- People displaced by the floods spent the night at a Red Cross shelter.

The Red Cross set up this shelter at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church on Reed near Cullen. Although there are only a few cars in the parking lot more than 40 people, including some children were asleep inside.

The Red Cross says it's too early to tell if the shelter will close later today.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Salvation Army hosts holiday lunch at shelter

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houstonians with nowhere else to go for Christmas found a home at the Salvation Army.

The group hosted a holiday lunch at its shelter for homeless women and families near downtown Houston.

Everyone was invited to enjoy a homemade meal of turkey, dressing and all the trimmings.

The Salvation Army also held a lunch at its men's shelter to serve hundreds of others in need.

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Donations help shelter to keep doors open

  CONROE, TX (KTRK) -- We have an update on a story we first told you about in mid-November about a shelter in danger of having to kick out several homeless people because of fire code violations.

Thanks to generous donations, the New Birth Outreach Ministries in Conroe now has more than enough money to make the necessary improvements to their facility. The fire marshal had cited the shelter for numerous violations and the shelter did not have the money to get up to code.

The shelter is home to 15 people battling drug addiction. Donations came from all over, but one couple alone donated about $8,000

We worked on this story with the help of our Houston Community Newspaper partners. You can read more in The Conroe Courier of Montgomery County.

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Gas leak in Mt. Belvieu prompts shelter in place order

  MONT BELVIEU, TX (KTRK) -- A shelter in place order is in effect for parts of Mont Belvieu after a gas leak.

According to the CAER line, there is a natural gas leak in the 9600 block of Eagle Drive in Mont Belvieu. Barbers Hill ISD is sheltering in place as a precaution. No injuries have been reported.

We'll keep you posted on any new developments.

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