LAAS CRUELTY TASK FORCE ENGAGES IN CRUELTY!!!!!!

One of Mason's cats being "impounded" by LAAS' Cruelty Task Force.

You've GOT to read the below! 

Daily News of Los Angeles (CA) No criminal charges for animal neglect! A Northridge man arrested last fall on suspicion of felony animal neglect for harboring up to 70 cats will not face criminal charges, the City Attorney's Office announced Wednesday. Ron Mason, whose Napa Street home was raided by the Animal Cruelty Task Force on Oct. 11, was cleared Wednesday before a Van Nuys Courthouse judge.

"We do not have any intention of filing charges," said Bob Ferber, supervising attorney for the city's Animal Protection Unit.

"In a nutshell, in that house he complied with all the building code violations. It's all cleaned up. And there's an agreement that he will keep only three cats and work with animal control.''

Mason maintains he was always innocent of any allegations of animal neglect. "It was a bad bust," Mason, 59, said. "They didn't read me my rights. There were no sick or ailing animals like they said there were."

ADL-LA NOTES:

Two thirds of Mason's cats were killed upon Boks' orders, even though they were healthy. In the city's libelous TV 35 show it showed the cats walking around and even LAAS supervisor Boswell said they were well cared for on camera.

Daily News journalist Dana Bartholomew lied in his articles regarding this case all along; this is another reason why you cannot trust the news media, and especially Bartholomew to give the honest truth when reporting on issues involving Boks and LAAS. In reality there never was a judge and Mason was never even charged! No one showed up at his arraignment and city attorney Cocek refused to charge Mason with even a misdemeanor--and then LAAS killed his evidence cats without a judge's order.

Furthermore, there never was any building violation citation. Notice Bartholomew mentions felony charges then says Mason was cleared of a building code violation. Bartholomew should have his press badge revoked. He's been a puppet of the city for far too long, especially on issues having to do with LAAS.

Bob Ferber, supervising attorney for the city's Animal Protection Unit, wasn't too happy about the charges being dropped since he is a very good bubba-buddy of Ed Boks. Ferber as you probably know is the highly incompetent, corrupt and sleazy city attorney who has done little to NOTHING to help animals in this city. He refused to prosecute an LAAS employee for killing a cat by hitting her over the head multiple times with a broom handle. ADL-LA has heard from a source high up in the Mayor's office (who is sympathetic with animals) that Ferber was transferred to his current position because the administration didn't feel it was an important position and didn't care if an incompetent like Ferber was in charge. She went on to say that Ferber and Boks have become quite the pair; Ferber doing his best to keep Boks' animal abuses and "cooking the books" a secret. 

This type of corruption in city politics under Mayor Villaraigosa's oversight is now common place, and it's absolutely disgusting and disgraceful. It seems that everyone in the Villaraigosa administration feels like they are above the law, including Jimmy Blackman, Jim Bickhart, Robin Kramer, Ed Boks and others. 

Two days before the Mason raid, Ed Boks announced that the TV show, Animal Precinct was going to televise five shows featuring Animal Services and follow the Animal Cruelty Task Force in its various activities, including busting hoarders, which Boks accused Mason of being. Mason's bust was NO COINKY-DINK! It appears the October 11 raid was done either as an audition tape for the show, or the City TV footage would be included in the Animal Precinct television series. 

Boks, in a press release after the raid stated the main reason why Mr. Mason's property was raided was the health conditions of the cats. He stated the cats seized on October 9 tested as having Panleukemia-a virulent viral infection, and often fatal. However, lab samples were sent to a professional lab, Antech, and the samples proved negative for this disease.

Below is ANOTHER request for documents by Edward Muzika to Ed Boks.

Boks has refused to respond to three requests for records on Mason's cats.

 

February 5, 2008
 
Ed Boks, General Manager
Los Angeles Animal Services
221 N. Figueroa Street, 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012
 
Dear Ed Boks,
 
This request is being made subject to the California Public Records Act: Government Code §6250-6268.
 
Under this statute you have 10 calendar days from the date of receipt of this request to respond as to whether you will release the records requested as detailed below. It is preferred your response be made in writing to either the street address or the email address below.
 
Background:
 
A previous request for public records was made for all documents, photos, ACO notes, dispatch log and other data regarding animals seized from Ron Mason's property in Northridge on October 9 and October 11.
 
This request was denied in a letter signed by Linda Barth on January 8 citing the possibility of an ongoing criminal investigation.
 
As of January 16, 2008, Mr. Mason was notified by the Senior Hearing Officer, Hilda Campos that no charges have been filed or will be filed. 
 
The remainder of the living seized animals have been signed over to LAAS by Mr. Mason. There is no longer any investigation regarding Mr. Mason. Despite the fact that 20 days have passed since the case was settled, I have not received the promised records. Therefore, I am resubmitting that original request.
 
Information Requested
 
Any and all information on all cats/kittens found at the Ron Mason property located in the 18700 block of Napa Street in Northridge impounded by Los Angeles Animal Services, including but not limited to the following information:
 
1. Chameleon records of each animal described above and impounded by Los Angeles Animal Services.
 
Each animal record is expected to contain the following information:
 
SHELTER_NAME, ANIMAL_ID, SPECIES, BREED, SEX, AGE, IN_DATE, INTAKE_TYPE, IN_CONDITION, OUT_DATE, OUTCOME_TYPE, OUTCOME_SUBTYPE and be provided in a readable format.
 
2. Copies of any call log, dispatch log and ACO notes related to the animal(s) described above.
 
3. Copies of any photographs and/or digital images of the animal(s) described above.
 
4. Copies of any and all notes and records related to physical and/or medical examinations conducted in the "field" for each animal described above.
 
5. Copies of any and all notes and records related to lab work and disease testing conducted in the field for each animal described above.
 
6. Copies of veterinary notes and records for each animal described above.
 
7. Copies of any and all records related to laboratory samples sent out for testing for each animal described above, including those sent to Antech.
 
8. Copies of kennel notes and records for each animal described above.
 
9. Date and time of euthanasia for each animal described above.
 
10. Copy of any euthanasia requests for each animal described above.
 
11. Copies of any and all Improper Euthanasia Reports related to each animal described above.
 
I have received some data from Brad Jensen regarding the information I am requesting. However, there are confusing reports as to how many animals were seized, the shelters they were taken to, and therefore their final disposition.
 
I include a minimal list of animals for which I am requesting the above information in a separate attachment.
 
Naturally I am most concerned with photos and medical records, as well as the results of lab tests for the animals that were euthanized, including those marked as irremediably suffering or "medical."
 
I am also concerned about the disposition of cats Mr. Mason was not allowed to get back and which were rescued by a New Hope as was promised to him. I will continue to be concerned.
 
Please indicate the cats signed over to you by Mr. Mason on approximately February 1, 2008 and their status and disposition as of February 6.
 
Form of Information Requested
 
The information requested may be electronically imaged and transferred to the email address above or copied to plain white 8.5" x 11" paper and mailed to the street address, 10221 Saint Joan Street, Cypress, CA 90630.
 
Denial and Redaction
 
Should you choose to deny this request, as required by law, please indicate the exact reason for denial and the person and title of the person who made such decision. Should information be redacted from the files, statute requires that you list for EACH record the reason for redaction and type of information redacted.
 
Fees
 
I am willing to pay reasonable copying fees, as defined under law, not to exceed $25.00. Should fees run higher, please contact me. Should you have any questions regarding this request, please contact me immediately.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Edward Muzika
 
CC:
Linda Barth
Ross Pool
Linda Barton