Columnists
Rainbow Bridge comments on recent raid at Neely’s Pets Place
By Rainbow Bridge
Mar 9, 2010

Brenda Neely of Neely’s Pets Place, 601 County Road 2515, Bonham, Texas 75418 received her IRS designation as a 501(c)3 organization with her husband as sole owners and operators on March 20, 2008. 

Rainbow Bridge, also a 501(c)3 animal rescue organization, assisted Brenda in getting her IRS non-profit designation and supplied her with dog runs, dog houses, foods, vaccinations, and spay and neutering in her early stage of rescuing.  Rainbow Bridge believes Brenda started out with good intentions in the beginning and later became a hoarder. 

During Brenda Neely's two years as a non-profit, Rainbow Bridge received many complaints about her organization regarding how the animals are malnourished on her facilily, of seeing dead dogs, the overwhelming odor, and people that adopted or given her their dog getting the run around when they asked Neely about them.  The most disturbing phone call of all is when a plumber, who wants to remain anonymous, went there to do some plumbing and when he dug in her backyard, there were dead animals everywhere he dug.  He vomited, got into his truck and left.  Rainbow Bridge made many attempt to contact with Ms. Neely but was unsuccessful. 

Another incident when Rainbow Bridge employee, Jose Esparza came to Neely’s place on August 21, 2009 and also witnessed the dogs in emaciated conditions.  The smell was so bad, he too left.  Mr. Esparza filed a complaint to the police department and deputy Jerald Williams badge went out there to investigate; he later contacted Rainbow Bridge to report that everything at Neely’s place is "alright."  He stated that he saw nothing to be alarmed about. 

Seven months later, after previously inspecting the Neely property and warning of the consequences should she not take care of the animals, the SPCA of Texas raided and seized 64 animals found starving and neglected on Brenda Neely’s property north of Bonham.  The animals range from dogs to horses, small mammals, reptiles and a bird.  The SPCA found 20 more dead animals inside her barn along with a dead horse still wearing his halter.  To prevent the decomposing odor of the dead bodies, Ms. Neely covered the carcasses with lye.  There were skeletal bodies of dogs who had simply laid down, too weak from starvation scattered around Ms. Neely's lawn. 

March 4 was Brenda Neely's custody hearing for the animals seized  by the SPCA.  The courtroom was full of people to make sure Neely don’t get custody.   The SPCA  stood up and announced that they had reached an agreement with Ms. Neely and would retain control of all the animal seized but Neely never admitted to any wrong doing. 

Neely defense attorney, Bob Jarvis, argued before a KTEN-TV camera and news reporter that many of the animals in Neely’s care may have already been sick when they arrived.  Jarvis stated that when they come to a shelter, they’re generally not in good health in the first place. 

When asked from a reporter, “ Are you saying  that more than 60 animals were dropped off sick?”  Mr. Jarvis replied, “Well, I can’t get into the specifics but most people don’t drop off healthy animals to the shelter.  There’s usually something wrong with the animals.”

SPCA investigatior Ann Barnes commented that "Neely clearly neglected the animals and the ironic thing is that all we’ve giving them is basic care.  It hasn’t been anything outrageous or costly."  

“The thing that sticks out about this case is that this was a non-profit rescue group, so there’s even higher standards as for as I’m concerned on how those animals are cared for," said Barnes. 

Lisa Palevo said she thought she was giving her dog a good home when she turned it over to Neely, but months later when she asked about what happened to the dog, Palevo said she couldn’t get a straight answer.

“She said that she wanted the dog,” Palevo said. “I thought that would be the best place for the dog.  I was under the assumption that she would have a good home out in the country.  I would just like to know how my dog is and if she’s alive or if she’s dead.  If she is alive, I’d like to have her back so I can find her a good home.”

Many people trusted Neely’s Pets Place in the community and couldn’t fathom that Neely would abuse her non-profit status.  They brought her homeless pets and relied on Neely to provide basic care, and find them good homes, only to be disappointed later.

“She had generous financial support from Rainbow Bridge in the beginning along with others who donated money, dog food, and their time to assist her and she ended up taking advantage of that,” said Michele Crouse who also gave Neely a dog and one of the lucky ones to have received her dog back. 

Ms. Crouse's dog had multiple fractures on his leg requiring costly vet bills when Neely finally returned the dog to Crouse.  When asked what happen to her dog’s leg, Ms. Neely had no comment.

Neely may have to go through criminal trial soon.  District Attorney Richard Glaser said she faces multiple animal cruelty charges, a class A misdemeanor. 

All animals seized are at the SPCA Shelter in McKinney getting treated and rehabilitated so they can be put up for adoption. 

A reporter asked Rainbow Bridge, “ How do you feel helping Neely get started?” 

There was only one rescue organization that takes in dogs and re-homing them in Fannin County and it was overwhelming for one organization to handle.  People didn’t want to take their dogs to the Bonham pound knowing death is their only choice there, so they either dropped them off out in the country or hope that there’s space with a rescue organization.  Their options were so limited.  I read in the paper that Neely was rescuing dogs and realized if she was to get financial assistant, she will need to be a 501(c)3.  I truly believe that Neely intentions in the beginning were good and I  repeatedly warned her of not taking in more than what she can handle.  When Neely abused her 501, she now have brought doubts to the community, the trust that was once secure when a person bring a dog to a rescue organization thinking good will come out of it has now been tarnish.

There are lessons to be learned here, if an organization refuses to allow you to know where your dog will be staying, or insists on meeting your somewhere else to retrieve your dog, it’s a red flag. Also, if their stories are not consistent and they don’t return your calls, most likely they have something to hide.  A lot of the 501(c)3 organizations have their own personal for you to see where your dog will be staying, or will meet with you somewhere else to retrieve your dog, it’s a red flag.   Also, if their stories are not consistent and they don’t return your calls, most likely they have something to hide.  A lot of 501(c)3 organizations have their own personal  veterinarians that work with them in spaying/ neutering/vaccinations before adopting them out, ask for their names and have this information checked out. 

Unwanted animals are a big problem in Fannin County and as the population increases, so will the animals.  Rainbow Bridge has worked hard with the City and the County to get a new animal shelter built for Fannin County.   It may not solve the over-population of dogs and cats until people have their pets spayed and neutered, but it will be a  more decent, humane facility than what Bonham has now.  

One other question that was asked of Rainbow Bridge is, “What will happen to Neely 501(c)3 status?”  Rainbow Bridge believes that the Neely’s Pets Place non-profit status should be revoked so that Ms. Neely can’t abuse it somewhere else.