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Editorial: Good deed's high price tag
Animal lovers to the rescue
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To make a donation, contact Josh Pasewaldt, owner of Newbury Park Pet Supply, at 67 N. Reino Road, Newbury Park, CA 91320-3708, or 498-2415.
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File this under "No good deed goes unpunished."
Josh Pasewaldt, 28, of Newbury Park, who owns Newbury Park Pet Supply on Reino Road, has been rescuing small dogs, puppies and kittens from the Kern County Animal Shelter for the last 16 months and adopting them out. He charges people adopting the animals the $60 adoption fee he pays the Kern County shelter for them.
He pays transportation and housing fees out of his own pocket and figures he has spent $60,000 of his own money on the not-for-profit project since March 2007.
Now, his accountant has advised him he owes sales tax on each adoption and income-tax liability for a total of about $17,000.
That is on top of the $7,000 he owes for a self-contained, air-conditioned trailer that animal-control officials ordered him to get to transport the animals.
Star correspondent Rachel McGrath has chronicled Mr. Pasewaldt's bureaucratic trials ever since officials from Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control, which is contracted to provide services to the Conejo Valley, visited his feed store in March. They had received a complaint from the Agoura Hills animal shelter.
They ordered him to install a fire alarm at his store, among other things, which he did, at a cost of some $4,000, which was raised through fundraisers.
Supporters came through again Sunday at a dog-washing fundraiser, which brought in $11,000. Still, that is $13,000 short of the $24,000 needed. Some 27,000 animals are impounded at the Bakersfield facility, which has about a 75 percent kill rate, according to the shelter's chief.
Mr. Pasewaldt's good deeds may come to an end, but we hope not. Raising $11,000 at a dog wash, as was accomplished Sunday, is quite a feat. If enough people know of Mr. Pasewaldt's good works and the reams of red tape he has endured, it is not too much to hope the remaining $13,000 can be raised.
No doubt, Mr. Pasewaldt has learned a valuable business lesson and, if he cares to continue rescuing animals, can likely avoid future liabilities by creating a nonprofit entity. He will definitely want to contact a tax expert.
Whatever the outcome, Mr. Pasewaldt has found homes for more than 1,500 animals and earned the gratitude and respect of his community.
That won't pay the bills, but it's worth plenty.
Posted by nelsonknows on August 20, 2008 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My family's thanks go out to all those who rescue animals. We have two wonderful family members that are rescued from shelters; Bob, our female Dingo, and Raydar, our heinz 57 mix. These 2 dogs bring so much to our lives every day. I encourage everyone to, instead of buying a purebred dog, please consider rescuing a dog from a shelter. in my experience when you rescue a dog, you get so much love in return, it's almost as if they are grateful that you saved their lives.
Bob is one of the most intelligent dogs I've had the pleasure of meeting and Raydar, although he seems like a big dufus, is such a good boy and both are very protective of our home.
Thanks again to Josh Pasewaldt and all those who try to do the right thing!
Posted by Tonic_Writes on August 20, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Conejo Valley should cancel their contract with Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control. We blame that organization and the Agoura shelter but it is Conejo Valley that is allowing this to happen. Please send emails to all the officials involved in order to be heard.
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