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Palm Springs Man is in the Dog House
Man who thought he adopted a neutered dog, gets a surprise
Tamara Damante, KESQ News Channel 3 News Reporter, tdamante@kesq.com
POSTED: 05:18 PM PDT Aug 09, 2012
UPDATED: 10:32 AM PDT Aug 10, 2012
Puppy Problems
A Palm Springs man is literally In the dog house, living with 20 four-legged
friends, after adopting one dog from the City of Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Now a possible oversight is
multiplying by the litter.
Richard Rutgard adopted King Kong, 2 years ago. He was told
the St. Bernard mix was neutered and brought him home to
live with two female dogs, Ginger and Daisy. One thing lead to
another and 8 months ago, what was once three's company
turned into a union that produced 16 pouncing puppies.
Rutgard says, "They're so amazingly nice and kind and
sweet."
Two of the puppies died. Last weekend one of his dogs was
injured and animal control picked her up. When Rutgard went
to get the dog, he was cited. He tells us, "It says I have an
illegal kennel and I have two months to get rid of the dogs. I'm
allowed to have only three dogs in Palm Springs."
The person who cited him is the same person who adopted King Kong out, saying he was neutered.
Rutgard says, "When he was issuing a citation, telling me I have to give them up in two months, he didn't
even suggest bringing them in there. They spent $10 million on the most beautiful building."
Now he wants to have all 14 pups fixed, but says it's a major expense and he'd like the animal shelter to
help out. He says, "I'd like to have them pay. It's like child support for the rest of the puppies lives."
In the meantime, Ginger, the lab mix is expecting even more puppies. Rutgard says, "She's pregnant
now. The vet says she can have up to 14 more puppies."
Rutgard has one big question for the shelter. "Why did they sell me a dog that wasn't neutered?"
Palm Springs Animal Control issued this statement: "We have taken administrative action and filed with
the City Attorney's office for further review. We are looking into whether this is a dog that's slipped
through the cracks, but we need access to scan his chip. We are working to correct this."
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Page 1 of 3 Palm Springs Man is in the Dog House | News - Home
5/17/2014 http://www.kesq.com/news/Palm-Springs-Man-is-in-the-Dog-House/16045814
How long does it take to see whether it's a dog that
"slipped through the cracks"? All they have to do is
check the records from the veterinary hospital that
supposedly neutered him. It's not complicated.
When we asked him why he didn't just take the dogs back , he says he loves them.
Rutgard says, "I feel safe, secure and I'm happy. It's very therapeutic for a person."
Copyright 2014 Gulf California Broadcasting. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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17 Comments

Dora
The shelter should take some responsibility. If anything, neuter or spay the animals at no
cost.
I think that would cost a lot less than having those animals taking up real estate at the
pound waiting for someone to adopt them.

Guest
He's essentially blaming the animal shelter for his dogs getting pregnant when they
should have been fixed to begin with.And exactly how hard is it to tell if a male dog has a
"pair" the story doesnt add up.

trueamerican
Dude you didn't see his sack hanging there. You are to blame

Percy Grainger
Me thinks there's more to this story than he's telling.

2manypinkflamingos
so his two females are not spayed? And he blames the shelter for puppies?

Joe
When you get an animal from the shelter, they are supposed to have been
spayed or neutered and up to date on their shots. ..always

2manypinkflamingos
he had two unsprayed females? Get the DNA from those pups to see if the
shelter dog is the father but it's irresponsible to have two unsprayed females with
all those dogs and puppies are not puppies for ever.... Fix the mothers first.
Joe
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5/17/2014 http://www.kesq.com/news/Palm-Springs-Man-is-in-the-Dog-House/16045814
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