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Pet adoption fundraiser falls $13,000 short
$11,000 not enough, founder says
Photo by Juan Carlo
Star staff
Tessie Wilcox, holding her Labrador mix, Canin, chats with Josh Pasewaldt, owner of Newbury Park Pet Supply, during Sunday's fundraiser.
Photo by Juan Carlo
Star staff
Michael Maga of Boy Scout Troop 753 helps bathe Marley during Sunday's fundraiser in Newbury Park.
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A last-ditch attempt to help a pet adoption program in Newbury Park stay open raised more than $11,000, but its founder says that's still not enough to save it.
Hundreds of people and their pooches rallied Sunday to help Josh Pasewaldt of Newbury Park Pet Supply, who is facing a $17,000 bill for back sales tax on the hundreds of dogs and cats he's adopted through his store on Reino Road.
He also owes $7,000 for a self-contained, air-conditioned trailer that animal-control officials ordered him to get to transport the animals he rescues.
Sunday's fundraiser, Pasewaldt said, left him about $13,000 short of the $24,000 he needs to wipe the slate clean.
"People showed a lot of support, but it's still really hard for me to come up with that kind of money," said Pasewaldt, 28, who reckons he has put about $60,000 of his own money into the adoption program since March 2007. "I want to keep doing it, but it's really up to everyone else now. If I can start even, I'll be happy to continue."
Helle Rasmussen and her three children were among those who came out Sunday to donate to the cause. "What he does is awesome," she said. "He saves lives every day."
David Pumphrey, a Ventura County firefighter who lives in Newbury Park, brought along his 4-year-old English sheepdog, Jake, for a bath at the fundraiser's dog wash.
"We got a cat at home from this store and it's an honorable place," he said. "The young man is just trying to help the pets, and the cats and the dogs, and it just seems to be a little bit harsh that he's not able to work with the government to make that happen, instead of them working against him."
Pasewaldt's troubles started with Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, which contracts with the city of Thousand Oaks to provide animal welfare services to the Conejo Valley. Officers visited his feed store in March, acting on a complaint from the Agoura Hills animal shelter.
Officers ordered Pasewaldt, who adopts kittens, puppies and small dogs from the Kern County Animal Shelter in Bakersfield and then houses them at his store until they find homes, to register as a dog kennel and pet store.
After raising $4,000 through donations to install a fire alarm and make other changes ordered by Animal Control, Pasewaldt was then told by his accountant that he is liable for sales tax on every adoption he's completed — more than 1,500 so far. That's because he charges customers the same $60 adoption fee he pays to get each animal from the shelter.
"They're being ridiculous with the tax bill," said Darrell du Mond of Simi Valley, who adopted a puppy from the store six weeks ago. "The guy's doing everybody and the dogs a favor. It's not fair."
The Sunday pet-bath fundraiser was staffed by teens from Newbury Park High School and members of Boy Scout Troop 753 in Newbury Park. "All the boys all day have just been washing and drying the dogs," said Scout leader Emalyn Lovitt.
Other supporters simply showed up and set up impromptu bake sales. "I baked all day yesterday," said Susan Callahan. "We've heard of all the wonderful things he does to rescue animals, so we felt compelled to help out."
Bobby Schmelter got his 2-year-old dog, Ruby, from the store. "I think they're doing a great thing here, and we want to do everything we can to support them," he said. "I'd hate to see this end. It would be terrible."
Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact Pasewaldt at Newbury Park Pet Supply, 67 N. Reino Road, or at 498-2415.
Posted by getreal on August 19, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What did the Agoura Hills Animal Shelter make a complaint about? This is sad all the way around. He is doing good by saving animals and finding good homes for them and being penalized at the same time. Whatever Agoura did it seems vendictive.
Posted by LiChDom on August 19, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So sorry to see this...it just seems when someone starts doing something from the heart, the government steps in to collect their "dues". I am so sick and tired of the way individuals are treated by local governments. I believe I read that the Agoura Shelter got involved because they felt the animals were under a risk because of the store not having a sprinkler system and air conditioner. That was fixed. Now, I think it's just the local authorities bugging him. Are all the other groups that adopt out animals and collect a much higher fee ($100+) required to pay taxes? I wonder about the individuals that I know that save animals and keep them in their homes to adopt...will the local authorities go door to door to route out that criminal behavior? For gosh sake, I wish they would devote the time and effort they are using on this poor, good-hearted soul on the gangs that seem to be spreading out of containment. Well, at least our streets will be safe from those nasty do-gooders!
Posted by JEH on August 19, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Its a shame that the government is coming down on this man. He is saving lives of animals.
Posted by clementine on August 19, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If it's true that the Agoura Hills shelter reported this man ---- stay away from them. Let them keep their pets.
Posted by iam_caine on August 19, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all, if he had set himself up as a non-profit rescue group when he started doing this, he wouldn't have to pay sales tax on the adoption fees.
Second of all, don't we have enough homeless dogs and cats in Ventura County? Why does he have to go all the way to Kern County to find animals to offer for adoption here?
Posted by Hueneme_girl29 on August 19, 2008 at 2 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Iam-caine
He goes there because the kill rate in Kern county is HUGE compared to the kill rates in Ventura county. They have to put down something like 75% of their animals, ours, here in the county the percentage is much much less.
Posted by got_hope on August 19, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I took my rescue dog to Josh's fundraiser for a bath--every little bit helps, but it just wasn't enough. Regarding the long arm of the law--Josh told me that a local pet shop owner filed a complaint regarding his adoption work with the Agoura Hills shelter, and that's what started this whole mess. I don't believe this is a case of government getting involved on its own. I do believe requiring Josh to pay taxes on the adoption fees is a complete travesty, because then Josh loses money. It's a lose-lose situation.
Posted by hustin1 on August 19, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If it's true about the local shop stirring the pop - then, shame on them and I hope they dont get a moment's piece for the rest of their pitiful lives.
Please donate!!
Posted by lilmamma on August 19, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to start rewarding good deeds. This young man is saving animals and putting them in loving homes and he gets a tax bill. We are willing to jail child pornographers and murders at a high rate yet we can't reward positive community work. I think we should file a petition and get his tax bill overturned.
Posted by lunachick4life on August 20, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Word on the street is that the new head of LA County Animal control does not like rescue organizations and is making it or intends to make it difficult for them to continue operating.
Apparently there is discussion about charging an additional fee to "foster" or "adopt" through rescue organizations.
Since Thousand Oaks CHOOSES to contract with LA County for animal control services maybe all the supporters need to write the TO City Council or attend meetings and speak in the public forum section about contracting with Ventura Animal Control.
http://www.ci.thousand-oaks.ca.us/cit...
Nothing is going to stop LA County Animal control until they no longer have jurisdiction over Thousand Oaks.
Posted by pcpearl91320 on August 21, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am quite certain that ALL pets adopted out by Newbury Park Pet Store are spayed and/or neutered prior to adoption. Newbury Park pet store is acting responsibly and doing a wonderful service to help pets that would not otherwise have a chance at life.
To the other people that have shared their negative opinions I would ask you to go to the pet store between 4:30 and 5:00 in the afternoons. You will see the animals returning from the vet after being altered.
Please do not post inaccurate information. It doesn't help the community. We should support Josh and help him continue to raise money to pay off his trailer debt and back taxes.
I am looking forward to the next fundraiser!
Tracy Williams
Newbury Park, CA
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