Olympic Animal Sanctuary

The now defunct Olympic Animal Sanctuary (OAS) was located in Forks, Washington.[1] It was a 501(c)3 non-profit animal sanctuary, founded in 2006.

Overview

The sanctuary's primary exempt purpose was, "Prevention of cruelty to animals".

A Los Angeles Times article about the sanctuary, indicated some of the dogs were, "the worst of the worst from around the country."[2] A People Magazine article about Steve Markwell outlined the purpose of the sanctuary, referring to it as a, "Last Chance for Bad Dogs."[3]

Allegations of animal abuse

In December 2013, after allegations of animal abuse were made by former sanctuary volunteers and the sanctuary received negative publicity on television,[4] Steve Markwell announced the sanctuary would be closing and he wanted to transfer the dogs to Best Friends Animal Society, in Utah.[5][6]

Markwell loaded the dogs into a 53-foot semi-trailer on December 21, 2013, and left Forks.[7]

Unable to reach an agreement with Best Friends Animal Society,[8] Markwell made arrangements with Guardians of Rescue,[9] a New York-based rescue, to take possession of the dogs on December 24, 2013, at the RUFFF site in Golden Valley, Arizona.[10][11][12]

All of the sanctuary's dogs that were released to Guardians of Rescue, were eventually taken in by other organizations or placed into homes.[13][14]

Charity status

On July 29, 2014, the Washington State Attorney General announced a complaint was filed against Markwell.[15] According to the Attorney General's complaint, filed in Clallam County Superior Court, Markwell was accused of soliciting for and collecting funds while not registered as a charity, and failing to keep adequate financial records.[16]

KOMO-TV News reported on April 7, 2015, Markwell was found guilty of 48 violations of charitable solicitation laws, based on charges filed by the Washington Attorney General.[17][18][19]

References
  1. "IRS Form 990-EZ" (PDF). 990s.foundationcenter.org.
  2. "Taming dogs with a mean streak". articles.latimes.com.
  3. "Last Chance for Bad Dogs". people.com.
  4. "Sanctuary of Sorrow". KOMO-TV.
  5. "Olympic Animal Sanctuary to close, its operator says". peninsuladailynews.com.
  6. "Best Friends Animal Society". bestfriends.org.
  7. "Dogs reportedly moved from Forks animal sanctuary; on the road, owner says". peninsuladailynews.com.
  8. "ON THE RUN — Owner of controversial Forks shelter takes dogs away in semi truck. Destination: unknown". peninsuladailynews.com.
  9. "Together We Save Them". guardiansofrescue.org.
  10. "Rescued Unwanted Furry Friends Foundation". rufffhouse.org.
  11. "Olympic Animal Sanctuary Dogs Arrive for Christmas into Hands of Guardians of Rescue". insidebainbridge.com.
  12. "Saga of dogs in 'Sanctuary of Sorrow' ending well". kboi2.com.
  13. "Last of Forks Olympic Animal Sanctuary dogs now adopted". Peninsula Daily News.
  14. "Pit bull survived hellish trip from Washington with 123 other dogs, needs a home". kdminer.com.
  15. "Attorney General sues owner of Olympic Animal Sanctuary". atg.wa.gov.
  16. "UPDATED — State Attorney General sues now-defunct Forks dog shelter, owner". peninsuladailynews.com.
  17. "Man behind 'Sanctuary of Sorrow' guilty for not documenting $360k". komonews.com.
  18. "Court rules Olympic Animal Sanctuary, founder violated the law". atg.wa.gov.
  19. "Owner of shuttered Olympic Animal Sanctuary admits 48 violations of state fundraising law". peninsuladailynews.com.
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