County Chief Financial Officer Gary McBride, a lifelong San Bernardino County resident who has spent his entire 23-year professional career working his way through the county government organization, earning knowledge and trust along the way, was appointed
today by the Board of Supervisors to serve as the county’s next chief executive officer effective Nov. 25.
Board members praised McBride’s dedication to the county organization and the community, his commitment to innovation in the cause of public service, and his ability to grasp and translate into lay terms complex issues and provide sound, trustworthy advice.
Board members also praised Interim CEO Dena M. Smith for leading the organization during the past seven months since the retirement of former CEO Greg Devereaux. Smith, who plans to retire and was not a candidate for the CEO position, will stay on board to assist in McBride’s transition.
“You don’t get this far in your career without the support of a great family,” McBride, 46, told the board today. “Thank you for the confidence from the board. We have some great things headed our way, a lot of opportunities, and I am excited to share in the future with all five of you.”
The board conducted an exhaustive seven-month recruitment and interview process prior to appointing McBride as CEO. The board conducted more than 34 interviews over the course of 12 meetings with candidates from within county government, other public agencies and the private sector.
“Gary’s integrity, strong financial background and experience with the county made him the stand-out candidate for Chief Executive Officer of San Bernardino County,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert A. Lovingood. “I have trusted his advice in the past and look forward to working with him as we pursue the opportunities ahead.”
“Gary McBride has provided outstanding leadership and skillful financial management for over four years as Chief Financial Officer for the County of San Bernardino,” said Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Curt Hagman. “I have benefitted from his wise counsel, innovative management style and commitment to accept nothing but the best from himself and all those around him. Gary will make an outstanding CEO and I look forward to working with him and my Board colleagues in making San Bernardino County the best run county government in America.”
“We went through an extensively thorough process of interviewing a number of uniquely qualified individuals,” said Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales. “It was through each supervisor’s individual path of discovery that my colleagues and I came together to select the individual who would best help us realize our hopes and projects to better serve our residents. It is imperative that we, as a county family, view ourselves as visionaries and a flagship for implementing new ideas. Mr. McBride embodies the kind of talent that exists within our family.”
“Gary is incredibly smart and thoughtful, and he is eager to explore new ideas,” said Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford. “He has a passion for this organization and a genuine, deep commitment to the County team that will serve him well in this new leadership role.”
“I am confident Mr. McBride, with his abundant wealth of institutional knowledge, will excel our county towards greater heights and into new horizons,” said Third District Supervisor James Ramos. “I proudly join the Board of Supervisors as we wish him great success and look forward to working with him to strengthen our county.”
The chief executive officer is county government’s top non-elected position. The CEO works closely with the Board of Supervisors to develop the board’s goals and objectives and administers and coordinates the operations of county government in accordance with the policies established by the board.
McBride holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, graduating with departmental honors, and a master’s degree in public administration, earning the program’s Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year award, from Cal State San Bernardino. Last year he was named to the university’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Hall of Fame. McBride has also participated in the Leadership Decision Making course offered through Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Executive Education program.
McBride has guest lectured for Cal State San Bernardino, set up an economics scholarship fund for CSUSB students, serves on the CSUSB Economics Department’s scholarship committee, and serves on the Advisory Board of the CSUSB Department of Public Administration.
McBride began his career with the county in 1994 as a fiscal clerk in Human Services. He was promoted to staff analyst in Public Health in 1996, administrative analyst in the County Administrative Office in 2000, Public Health division chief in 2002, deputy executive officer in the County Administrative Office in 2006, and county chief financial officer in 2013.
As CFO, McBride is responsible for the development of budget recommendations, monitoring and forecasting the county’s $5.2 billion annual budget as well as its $1 billion in outstanding debt. In his capacity as CFO he also serves as chairman and board member of a number of oversight and advisory boards and corporations. Under his leadership, the county has received several Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards from the Government Finance Officers Association. Recently, as a result of his work as chairman of the committee set up to restructure the county’s retirement savings plan, the county received a national award for the comprehensive restructuring of its savings plan.
McBride served on the founding board of the Animals Are First Fund, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to supporting animal care and control and animal rescue groups throughout the county.
He also serves as treasurer of the Los Angeles Region of Destination Imagination, a nonprofit organization that conducts an annual international problem-solving and critical thinking competition with a focus on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. He is also the assistant manager of his son’s Destination Imagination team, which has won the world championship tournament, conducted at the University of Tennessee, in three of the past five years against competition from around the world.
Where is your heart for animals, when you are keeping poor Sheba in solitary confinement and you are waiting with your hands in your lap for her to be killed. California has the highest Euthanasia rate in the entire US and that is not a record to be proud of! Shame on you for what you are doing to Sheba, let het go home22
As the CEO of San Bernardino BOS, and the glowing review of your history it would logically lead to the conclusion that the case of Sheba (CIDVDS1928265), would have never gone to court! Then again, Devore has a reputation of control and here is a perfect example of power over the definition of “shelter”. An 80 yr. old Hispanic man lost his wife and then his beloved FAMILY dog taken to be killed. Guilty of getting out of the yard one time too many. Yes, Doxie altercation resolved.
Judge Goodwin in hard core Spring, Texas, released Annie involved in a human bite altercation a few days ago, went viral. Temperament test by third party found her non aggressive.
Believe the aggression lies within Devore leadership and desire to punish an elderly man and the rescues willing to take Sheba. She would not have SUFFERED in a concrete jail over a year, IF goal is to help, do no harm facility…Allowing an approved rescue to take Sheba should have been a win/win!!
Instead, attorney fees and court time in front of Judge David Cohn, will decide (what some believe due to Matthew Marnell’s, esq. remarks has been pre-decided) Sheba’s fate.
What a black eye on San Bernardino’s compassion for companion animals, as constituents taxes pay for all of this.
Release Sheba to rescue now.
How much would an act of human kindness cost your constituents??
I am writing to you on behalf of 11 year old Sheba, the German Shepherd that has been languishing in a tiny cell at Devore animal Shelter for 14 months.
Sheba is not a “vicious” dog. Sheba has no “bite history” with respect to humans. Sheba merely got into an altercation with another dog, who is fine and doing well. Even the owners of the other dog have written the County asking them not to kill Sheba.
I respectfully request that you reverse the County’s finding of “vicious” and return Sheba to her heartbroken owner, Jose “Pepe” Sanchez, who has had Sheba since she was a puppy. Since Sheba’s removal, Mr. Sanchez has erected a fenced in enclosure on his property to secure Sheba and prevent her from leaving. Additional reasonable restrictions can be imposed as conditions for Sheba’s return.
If this is not possible, as an alternative to save Sheba’s life, I ask that you allow Sheba to be transferred into the custody of a sanctuary or dog rescue who has offered to take Sheba and has rehab and training plans in place and will allow Mr. Sanchez contact with Sheba.
Sheba is a senior dog with only a short time to live. She does not pose a threat to public safety. She deserves to spend her final months with her loving owner and he with her. Please return Sheba to Mr. Sanchez, where she rightly belongs.
Thank you, for your consideration.
Please give Sheba back she belongs with her dad
You’re so right.
Sheba is not an aggressive dog and she’s not a danger to anyone.
Sheba needs to be home spending the rest of her life with Mr. Sanchez.
If nature goes accordingly, these two do not have much more time on this earth.
God doesn’t like this CRUELTY.
And those responsible for keeping Sheba away from Mr. Sanchez will answer to God for this. I promise you they will.
God’s watching and listening.
For those that show no mercy, will obtain no mercy.
This is in the book of James !
Why aren’t they merciful to Sheba & Mr. Sanchez ???
Please help Sheba get back to her owner!! Thank you
Gary McBride = Free Sheba the German Shepard. People from all parts of the country are watching to see what you will do. Make the right decision and free that poor dog.
Sheba does not deserve such severe confinement for this long. A year in solitary confinenent is not right. She deserves to be out. She didn’t harm the other dog too bad and some dogs just react this way to a particular dog. It is beyond time to release her to her owner. Please no rescue. Let them spend the next few years together.
Please help this dog named Sheba get back to her oener!!
I believe in doing the right thing for a change….Sheba the German Shepherd needs to be release back to his original owner or to a Rescue that will place him.
An 11 year old dog kept for over a year is criminal, makes no sense….give Sheba her life back.
What is the role of a government entity? It is financed by the electorate to accomplish a certain goal or to ensure the safety of the public. Why has the case of Sheba gone on for over a year? This is a waste of resources and the INHUMANE TREATEMENT of an animal for no good reason. All across the U.S. shelters have given dogs to rescue organizations to rehabilitate and re-home them. Even vicious dogs have been rehabilitated and this is not the case here. WHY has this not been done in over a YEAR in this case. You and your board of supervisors are responsible for running a reputable shelter and you all need to investigate why the standards of care that all shelters across the country are NOT being met at the Devore facility. Resolve this case NOW with the release of Sheba to a rescue and keep tabs on this facility so that it meets the standards and function of HUMANELY housing animals. It’s the job you are getting PAID for!!!
Allow Sheba to go home to Pepe her owner. Not some stranger or a rescue where she will be given to someone else.
Mr.McBride,
We find the story of german shepherd Sheba in solitary confinement a pointless situation and utterly depressing news. California has the highest Euthanasia rate in the US. This is a disgrace to California. Please make this moral decision and reunite the dog with the owner. This story is now viral. Very disappointing news.
Let Sheba go.She has been treated so cruelly.
Sheba belongs with her rightful owner Pepe! To let her languish in a dark cold concrete cell is inhumane and totally uncalled for! Return this precious girl to Pepe!
Please release SHEBA to her owner, she doesnt deserve this, she is a senior dog who should be with her owner, dont destroy her ,if you do you will destroy her owner. Have some compassion and let her free.
Teresa Bewsey
United kingdom
You must free Sheba now. This dog has been punished too long and her owner is an elderly man that makes that ride every day for a 5 minute visit with his beloved dog. There are other options that need to be addressed. Peep…the owner should get more time with Sheba than 5 lousy minutes. How much time do you think this man has left? He is elderly and Sheba is up there too. She needs to get a short walk in because her joints and hips are going to fail and weaken from lack of use. This brutality of a punishment is not going to enhance the lives of the prosecutors involved. See this from the owners side and have compassion for him and Sheba. Proper protocol to keep Sheba in an enclosed area have been provided or they are in the process. This has gone on too long already. Please give Sheba a chance to reside with her beloved owner Pepe. This man truly loves his dog and sacrifices every day to see her for 5 minutes! That is proof of his love for her. This dog deserves some freedom now. Let the shelter staff take her for a short walk or have a toy or treat now. She is not vicious! She is a good dog done wrong. Please release Sheba to her rightful owner now! Thankyou for reading…Jane Walason
I am speaking for two Seniors. A man PEPE & his dog SHEBA. PLEASE Save her life & let her out of that confinement cell she has been locked in for over a year. It has been inhumane to have this happening to a living creature that loves unconditionally. PEPE & SHEBA have been together since she was a baby, until she has been inhumanly locked up for a year in solitary confinement. The awful, terrible situation, no exercise, no comforts, no treats & no human cotact. SHEBA has needed proper medical care. On a cement floor is not good on her body. Whom ever that is,
on that board who are holding back preventing Sheba to be free & home with her owner all this wasted time. Should be fired off that board charged with abuse of SHEBA’S WELL-BEING mentally & physically. She will need help with her medical bills. God bless SHEBA & PEPE & pray they are back together soon. Sheba is gonna have to get used to being free again & will need lots of TLC, patience, love, belly rubs to live out her Senior years as that beautifil girl should. God bless Sheba & Pepe to get the right decision to set her free. Pray the board members make the right decision. I am from Virginia.
Free Sheba! The treatment she is receiving inhumane. Your confinement is not solving anything. She should be at home with her owner who has traveled eighty miles, three times a week, to only spend 5 minutes with her. You all should be ashamed of your selves!!!!! You are in office because of the people, now do right by Sheba’s person!!! FREE SHEBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Sir,
We have heard the tragic story of Sheba through British newspapers.As a U.K. resident I am appalled that she is in solitary confinement for over a year,as a senior dog this is most upsetting.Worse still to be separated from her elderly owner.Please release her back to her owner,they both need comfort in their final years.
Thank you,
Helen Morton-Cameron.
Mr. McBride,
As the CEO of these government office, it is your responsibility to maintain certain standards. These standards are not being met at the devore Animal Shelter. The case of the German Shepherd named Sheba is such a waste. It is a waste of your resources, it is a waste of people’s time, Sheba could be sent to a rescue and be taken care of in a humane manner. Instead of kept in a cage for over a year simply because your supervisor can do it. Sheba is an elderly dog as is her owner Pepe. Please look into this case with an open mind and an open heart. if you will not return Sheba to her owner at least let Shiba go to a rescue where she can live out the rest of her life not in a cage. Please. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Laurie Simino
I would like to respectfully ask you to please return Sheba, an elderly dog in confinement at one of your shelters, to her owner who has been visiting her 3 times a week for over a year. Please ask yourself what has all of this accomplished ? It has only made you look compassionless and unkind to an older gentleman. If I were you I would not want this case to be my legacy. I’m sure you have put much time and effort into doing your job. But this is what you will be known for all around the country thanks to social media. I am from the east coast and I can honestly tell you that I now do not have any interest in ever visiting your county. Not letting a dog out of a kennel for this long just really makes me dislike what goes on in your neck of the woods. Please please do the right thing. It seems as if the punishment does not fit the crime. Thank you for considering my request
How cruel to leave a poor dog locked up alone for so long! You are responsible. Please release this dog to her family now.
I am commenting here to respectfully request that Sheba, the 11 year old German Shepherd, being held in solitary confinement for over a year with no exercise or socialization, be released immediately. Her only crime in 10 years was a minor skirmish with another dog, resulting in a mere $200 vet bill – no stitches, and that dog’s owners have requested in writing she be set free! Why has Sheba been inhumanely kept locked up in a tiny cage with no exercise for 14 months? That is illegal according to CA Penal Code Section 597t! And a waste of taxpayers money! Prisoners in jail for murder are given the basic need of daily exercise – it is horrific to make her suffer like that! I cry myself to sleep every night thinking of her lying in her tiny cell all by herself for 14 long months without being allowed out. As you are well aware, Sheba is not a threat to the public – she has no bite history with humans, and is a sweet, friendly family pet well loved in her community and by children and by her owner, 81 year old Pepe Sanchez. The CA law distinctly provides a policy that no dog is to be euthanized that is adoptable or trainable, and Sheba was never deemed unadoptable. Many dogs in CA with far greater histories of biting humans, viciousness, etc, have been released to reputable shelters, so Sheba’s release should have happened months ago! Please, I beg you, to have decency and integrity (which your fine resume states that you do), and release this poor tortured family dog immediately to either an approved rescue or back to the only owner she has known for 11 years! She doesn’t have much time left, so please, Sir, have mercy on this innocent dog. She and her owner have suffered long enough. Thank you.
Sheba does not deserve such severe confinement for this long. A year in solitary confinenent is not right. She deserves to be out. She didn’t harm the other dog too bad and some dogs just react this way to a particular dog. It is beyond time to release her to her owner. Please no rescue. Let them spend the next few years together.
Mr.McBride, you appear to be an intelligent, kind person and I am certain you want to do what’s right for Sheba and Pepe. They’re both elderly and are suffering. There may not be much time left for them. The time is now before it’s too late to save them. Please set aside the one infraction and let those involved help Pepe to be sure Sheba is fenced in and won’t hurt anyone. Everyone deserves a second chance. I know you have loved a pet and couldn’t bear to see it die. Thank you for listening. Best to you.
Deborah Lashley, North Myrtle Beach SC
You don’t look like an evil person but what you are doing is evil. There is not one good reason She should not be allowed to go home. I believe every action a person does is counted and when the time comes that person will be held accountable. Please Sir let your actions count for something positive. Do the right thing and let Sheba go home.
You are put in high office by the people to work for the people, not work against them
I find it heartbreaking that Sheba’ s case has gone on for a year , it’s a disgrace and serves no purpose, a blatant waste of resources, the cruelty of this poor dog’s treatment is way below the bar of animal care
Solitary confinement is a no !
You are failing her , where are her basic needs
Please have some humanity and let Sheba go home to her loving family please
Please release sheba, no living creature should ever have to suffer like this. Thank you
Release Sheba right now. I don’t care who you are or what your position is in this life, you nor anyone else gets the right to abuse a senior citizen and an innocent animal. The conduct from this County revolving Sheba and Pepe has been appalling. We all see the truth here and it’s certainly not about a vicious dog- that’s laughable! It IS about a vicious County throwing their power around in the most egregious heinous way- so much so that a nation is crying out for Sheba. You have fabricated a vicious label on a dog to justify confiscating her to hold her in a tiny cell in complete isolation. We all see how abusive and inhumane the conditions are that you’ve forced this innocent dog to live – NOT because she is vicious- she doesn’t have a mean bone in her body! But YOU DO. Please don’t think the public is ignorant – we all see you are abusing an elderly innocent animal because you are pissed off at Pepe. The guy who is 81 years old and is not fluent in English. Was he afforded explanations in Spanish 14 months ago to fully understand the seriousness of this situation? Do you have elderly parents? Are they sharp as a tack at that age? No, they are not. You sit in your office thinking you are so high and mighty but I have to tell you, the way you handle the senior citizens and innocent animals of your County is absolutely horrendous . You see, you can tell a lot about someone’s character when it comes to dealing with the vulnerable- meaning babies, young children, the elderly and animals- and you are single handedly responsible for the emotional destruction and devastation this has caused an 81 year old Hispanic man and his beloved Sheba. You see a power trip you are getting off on but what the rest of the world sees is a broken grieving elderly man that just lost his wife and Sheba is all he has. How do you watch an old man cry for his dog that a county is forcing him to watch torture? Are you void of feeling? Is your ego hurt bc the 81 year old man met his dog out twice? Oooooh boy you know what? It happens all the time. Stop acting like Pepe did so wrong. He has owned that dog for 11 years and she got out twice. She is known very lovingly in her neighborhood so stop the bs rhetoric that you are “protecting the citizens of the county” by locking her up. Those citizens want her back and free. The people that own the dog that she got into a scuffle with want her free. You are going to crucify Pepe until he dies of a broken heart. Why are you so hell bent on hurting this man? Leave him Aline. Leave Sheba Aline. Thus county does not have ANY excuse to have treated her this way. Nothing justifies this seemingly never ending isolated confinement. You know what’s hilarious? You are such a coward bc you could not withstand the living conditions you are forcing on an innocent animal for even a day – but you sit there with a grin on your face getting off on an animal and her elderly Dad suffering irreparable emotional damage. Let me just add here- if Sheba was truly vicious, she would have torn that little dog apart but the dog walked away fine. So tell me… when the neighborhood in which she lives all want her back bc they love her and the owners of the dog she had a run in with want her out and free and feel this has gotten completely out of hand- you have had a complete overblown overreaction …. who exactly are you continuing this charade for? Not one person finds her vicious. She was never afforded an evaluation to confirm that irresponsible label she was given but yet it gave you leverage to crucify thus animal when she has done nothing wrong. You are the animal and whoever else is responsible for thus disgusting display of abusive power. You should treat people better. You should treat seniors and animals better. I really do hope that this kind of torment is inflicted someway on you and your loved ones so you can truly understand how disgusting and inexcusable your behavior and the County’s conduct has been. Release this dog today. She never should have been in this position fir one day – let alone 14 months. Let her go. You have no grounds to hold her.
Sheba(CIDVDS1928265) the German Shephard has a home! She is an innocent animal! Why is it that human beings make mistakes over and over again and get away with misdoings! Yet this poor creature “slipped” only once and she is being punished like a hardened criminal?
Please send her back to her senior owner where she will be safe. Why are you punishing both of them? It makes no sense!!
Thank you for your time
APPENDIX 1 – SELECTED APPLICABLE STATUTES
Section 17005 of the California Code states in the first sentence of the first sub section (a)
“It is the policy of the state that no adoptable animal should be euthanized if it can be adopted into a suitable home. Sub section (b) reads, “It is the policy of the state that no treatable animal should be euthanized. A treatable animal shall include any animal that is not adoptable but that could become adoptable with reasonable efforts.
San Bernardino County Animal Control Policy III 6.1 dated August 18, 2017 Issue #2 Page 1:
“It is a goal of SBC Animal Care and Control to reduce the number of companion animals euthanized in the animal shelters. As such, SBC Animal Care and Control cooperatively releases animals to both partner and non-partner non-profit animal rescue groups in an attempt to achieve this goal.”
San Bernardino County Animal Control Policy III 18.1.0 Regarding Rescue Groups dated October 30, 2014 Issue #3 Page 3
“Approved rescue groups are a viable alternative to euthanasia and many will accept animals of all types regardless of their condition. These groups should be utilized whenever practical and appropriate.”
This dog should not have been treated this long in solitary confinement like she is in prison. I cannot fathom her mental condition. Please let her go back to Pepe. Sheba is older and misses him. This is one of the saddest and heartbreaking story I have come across. Do the right thing please before she gets so depressed and gives up. Thank you.
When Sheba and her owner have so much willing help to make sure thing go right and stay right- It appears petty to continue punishing this dog and owner. Even the so-called aggrieved party has sent a letter of appeal to release the dog. If common sense and fiscal responsibility aren’t good enough reasons then here is how it looks to the public-The dog was taken and now, no matter what, we are going to kill it because we don’t want to look weak.
And whats wrong with you people Sheba did nothing wrong shes not agressive because no unreeason you want to kill her FREE SHEBA FREE SHEBA FREE SHEBA FREE SHEBA FREE SHEBA FREE SHEBA I HAVE NOTHING NICE TO SAY ABOUT ALL YOU AND THIS SHELTER
Please free Sheba. She needs to be with her owner and everyday she is in that tiny cell she is more stressed and heart broken. This dog I believe in according to reports, has been a case of mistaken identity for another dog. The two reports reported that it was a smaller dog who did the biting, not Sheba. Please see it in your heart to release Sheba and let them live out the rest of their lives together. I’m asking you please! Thank you.
Help this dog Sheba get back to her oener
Do the right thing for Sheba and Pepe, reunite then so that they may enjoy their golden years together. It is cruel and inhumane to keep them seperated….search your heart and do what is right, Free Sheba from her prison and free Pepe from his months of torment.
This is absolutely heartbreaking. I understand rules were put in place for this situation. But compassion is needed. Now more than ever. Our entire world in literally on fire with hate and destruction. This does not need to be another case of destruction.
This dog never has hurt a human being. Had one incident with another dog and that deems death? That seems completely irrational. Our animal shelters are over run with too many animals that CANNOT find homes – then by NO FAULT of their own – they have to be euthanized- because we have no spaying and neutering laws nor do we have any rules and regulatuons for having an animal.
Sheba does not fit in that category.
Sheba has a loving home. Please let her go home. Her dad seems a better pet owner then most. Please show some compassion and common sense in this situation.
I hope that this does not come across as being disrespectful or threatening. You have enough facts of this case, even the owners of the other dog involved in this situation are not supporting the cities actions in this case. It bid my opinion the city acts are boardering on elderly abuse. Return Sheba to her loving owner where they can spend what’s left of their time her together. If you choose not to, I will make it my mission that when your position is on the next ballot you are not elected(and if your position is not one that is voted in, I’ll make it my mission to make sure those who gave you the position are not elected). For the love of God, let that poor animal go home to his loving owner. Please.
Please, I beg of you on Sheila’s behalf, RELEASE her to Pepe!!! She is way too old to be living her last days in a cage with little human interaction!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try to put yourself in that family’s place AND SHEILA’S place!!!
Being confined to a cage at her age is so cruel, inhumane and abusive!!!
You can STOP this and let her out and released you Pepe!!
Please do the right thing!
Thank you for listening!!!
San Bernardino shelter already had issues prior to this issue. Sheba was declared a dangerous dog erroneously. This needs to be corrected and they need to apologize for the error. Part of being a good leader is being able to accept responsibility and admitting that you are wrong. Free Sheba and let her go back to Pepe. That’s where she belongs. She’s a senior and should be able to sleep on a bed in comfort living out her last days with the man who raised her.
This is an overkill! Sheba is ‘NOT ‘ a dangerous and viscous dog! She’s a companion dog for an elderly man! It’s bad enough that Mr. Sanchez lost his wife! Then he has his dog of 10 years that he raised from when she was a puppy taken away from him meaning to kill her?! And poor Sheba being senselessly and inhumanely caged for 15 months?! I’ve never seen a city and county government go to this kind of extreme about a dog! The anguish and suffering that Sheba and Pepe have been put through has been very unnecessary, and very undeserving! Please send Sheba back home to her dad! They need each other!
I am writing to you on behalf of 11 year old Sheba, the German Shepherd that has been languishing in a tiny cell at Devore Animal Shelter for 14 months.
Sheba is not a “vicious” dog. Sheba has no “bite history” with respect to humans. Sheba merely got into an altercation with another dog, who is fine and doing well. Even the owners of the other dog have written the County asking them not to kill Sheba.
I respectfully request that you reverse the County’s finding of “vicious” and return Sheba to her heartbroken owner, Jose “Pepe” Sanchez, who has had Sheba since she was a puppy. Since Sheba’s removal, Mr. Sanchez has erected a fenced in enclosure on his property to secure Sheba and prevent her from leaving. Additional reasonable restrictions can be imposed as conditions for Sheba’s return.
If this is not possible, as an alternative to save Sheba’s life, I ask that you allow Sheba to be transferred into the custody of a sanctuary or dog rescue who has offered to take Sheba and has rehab and training plans in place and will allow Mr. Sanchez contact with Sheba.
Sheba is a senior dog with only a short time to live. She does not pose a threat to public safety. She deserves to spend her final months with her loving owner and he with her. Please return Sheba to Mr. Sanchez, where she rightly belongs.
Thank you, for your consideration.
PLEASE FREE SHEBA
SHE COMMITED NO.CRIME.
AND HAVE AN OWNER
PLEASE HAVE MERCY
BLESS PLEOPLE.WHO CARE ABOUT ANIMALS
WE SHALL NOT.KILL
Writing concerning the GSD Sheba. Have trained dogs for over 50 years. All levels particularly Shepherds. She definitely is not a threat to anyone. Most likely never has been. Trust those that know dogs. Not administrators. Shepherds don’t kennel well. My heart goes out to her and her owner. She is old. Please spare her.
Everyone who takes the time to read this post, PLEASE post a comment, requesting Sheba’s release, on each of the Supervisors’ Facebook pages. It only takes a few minutes.
This is the comment I left on each of their Facebook pages. Feel free to copy and paste it as your comment to the Supervisors-
I am writing to you on behalf of 11 year old Sheba, the German Shepherd that has been languishing in a tiny cell at Devore Animal Shelter for 14 months.
Sheba is not a “vicious” dog. Sheba has no “bite history” with respect to humans. Sheba merely got into an altercation with another dog, who is fine and doing well. Even the owners of the other dog have written the County asking them not to kill Sheba.
I respectfully request that you reverse the County’s finding of “vicious” and return Sheba to her heartbroken owner, Jose “Pepe” Sanchez, who has had Sheba since she was a puppy. Since Sheba’s removal, Mr. Sanchez has erected a fenced in enclosure on his property to secure Sheba and prevent her from leaving. Additional reasonable restrictions can be imposed as conditions for Sheba’s return.
If this is not possible, as an alternative to save Sheba’s life, I ask that you allow Sheba to be transferred into the custody of a sanctuary or dog rescue who has offered to take Sheba and has rehab and training plans in place and will allow Mr. Sanchez contact with Sheba.
Sheba is a senior dog with only a short time to live. She does not pose a threat to public safety. She deserves to spend her final months with her loving owner and he with her. Please return Sheba to Mr. Sanchez, where she rightly belongs.
Thank you, for your consideration.
Preventing medical wellness care to an animal should be added to the California Penal Code 597 PC. Even though there is shelter, water and food, Sheba needs to see a vet for wellness check, her nails need to be trimmed to prevent harm and injury to other parts of her body. Senior dogs can suffer greatly mentally, physically and emotionally just by being their age. Especially at night. Please find it in your heart to investigate and let her at least go to a rescue where she will be cared for and where her owner/ can see her and hug her. Please help! Thank you.
Everyone who takes the time to read this post, PLEASE post a comment, requesting Sheba’s release, on each of the Supervisors’ Facebook pages. It only takes a few minutes.
This is the comment I left on each of their Facebook pages. Feel free to copy and paste it as your comment to the Supervisors-
I am writing to you on behalf of 11 year old Sheba, the German Shepherd that has been languishing in a tiny cell at Devore Animal Shelter for 14 months.
Sheba is not a “vicious” dog. Sheba has no “bite history” with respect to humans. Sheba merely got into an altercation with another dog, who is fine and doing well. Even the owners of the other dog have written the County asking them not to kill Sheba.
I respectfully request that you reverse the County’s finding of “vicious” and return Sheba to her heartbroken owner, Jose “Pepe” Sanchez, who has had Sheba since she was a puppy. Since Sheba’s removal, Mr. Sanchez has erected a fenced in enclosure on his property to secure Sheba and prevent her from leaving. Additional reasonable restrictions can be imposed as conditions for Sheba’s return.
If this is not possible, as an alternative to save Sheba’s life, I ask that you allow Sheba to be transferred into the custody of a sanctuary or dog rescue who has offered to take Sheba and has rehab and training plans in place and will allow Mr. Sanchez contact with Sheba.
Sheba is a senior dog with only a short time to live. She does not pose a threat to public safety. She deserves to spend her final months with her loving owner and he with her. Please return Sheba to Mr. Sanchez, where she rightly belongs.
Thank you, for your consideration.
❤️ FOR SHEBA ❤️
We advocate for you Sheba and for Pepe!
Background:
Sheba, an 11 year old female German Shepherd was erroneously labeled a “vicious” dog by San Bernardino County (SBC). The facts leading to that label were a dog fight with another dog (who is fine and doing well). In fact, the owners of the other dog agree that Sheba should not be killed and have written a letter to the County asking them to refrain from killing Sheba. After that incident, Sheba was returned to her 81 yr old owner, Jose “Pepe” Sanchez, with the condition that he keep her on his property. Several months after that single occurrence, Sheba wandered from Mr. Sanchez’s property a second time. Although Sheba was not involved in any trouble while away, Animal Control confiscated Sheba and ordered that she be killed. Their basis was, “Going back to the owner would represent a danger to the community.” However, there was never a finding by the County that Sheba was not adoptable. Further, Sheba has NO BITE HISTORY TOWARDS HUMANS.
Sheba’s behavior was not “vicious,” does not warrant a death sentence, and does not justify being kept in a small cell with no human interaction and never allowed out during the 15 months of her imprisonment.
A rescue was instrumental in hiring an attorney for Mr. Sanchez who successfully filed an Injunction to prevent the County from killing Sheba until the court case could be adjudicated.
Since then, Sheba has languished in a tiny cell. During that time the County refused to consider the possibility of Sheba’s release. There have been several continuances requested in Court and a status hearing is scheduled for September 11th, 2020.
Efforts to free Sheba continue. Public pressure seems to be incentivizing County Officials to finally consider releasing Sheba. The Supervisors meet again September 15, 2020 and will be addressing Sheba’s case.
❗️These are the people who hold Sheba’s fate in their hands. Please call them and tell them to Return Sheba to Pepe, where she belongs, NOT to a rescue.❗️
Curt Hagman
Chairman
Fourth District Supervisor
(909) 387.4866
Josie Gonzales
Vice Chair
Fifth District Supervisor
(909) 387.4565
Robert A. Lovingood
First District Supervisor
(909) 387.4830
Janice Rutherford
Second District Supervisor
(909) 387.4833
Dawn Rowe
Third District Supervisor
(909) 387.4855
Gary McBride
Chief Executive Officer
909.387.5417
Also per Edie Gegolick, please do this
IMPORTANT CALL TO ACTION!! This is your chance to publicly voice your concerns to all those involved in Sheba’s case. Just click on each link and leave your comment. PLEASE HONOR MY REQUEST AND BE COURTEOUS. Shelve your anger and show your support by stating facts.
1. CEO Gary McBride – scroll way to the bottom & Reply. (It will appear Pending approval from that site)
https://wp.sbcounty.gov/cao/countywire/?p=3584
2. County of San Bernardino
https://www.facebook.com/SanBernardinoCounty/
3. Supervisor Josie Gonzales
https://www.facebook.com/supervisorgonzales/
4. Supervisor Janice Rutherford
https://www.facebook.com/SupervisorRutherford/
5. Supervisor Dawn Rowe (find the most recent post to leave your comment)
https://www.facebook.com/supervisordawnrowe/
6. Supervisor Curt Hagman
https://www.facebook.com/supervisorcurthagman/
7. Supervisor Robert Lovingood
https://www.facebook.com/SupervisorLovingood/
Please help Sheba the senior German Shepard, she is not a vicious dog, she doesn’t deserve to be confined. The community is worried about Sheba and her senior owner. We are asking you to please give her another chance.
I am writing to you on behalf of 11 year old Sheba, the German Shepherd that has been languishing in a tiny cell at Devore Animal Shelter for 14 months.
Sheba is not a “vicious” dog. Sheba has no “bite history” with respect to humans. Sheba merely got into an altercation with another dog, who is fine and doing well. Even the owners of the other dog have written the County asking them not to kill Sheba.
I respectfully request that you reverse the County’s finding of “vicious” and return Sheba to her heartbroken owner, Jose “Pepe” Sanchez, who has had Sheba since she was a puppy. Since Sheba’s removal, Mr. Sanchez has erected a fenced in enclosure on his property to secure Sheba and prevent her from leaving. Additional reasonable restrictions can be imposed as conditions for Sheba’s return.
If this is not possible, as an alternative to save Sheba’s life, I ask that you allow Sheba to be transferred into the custody of a sanctuary or dog rescue who has offered to take Sheba and has rehab and training plans in place and will allow Mr. Sanchez contact with Sheba.
Sheba is a senior dog with only a short time to live. She does not pose a threat to public safety. She deserves to spend her final months with her loving owner and he with her. Please return Sheba to Mr. Sanchez, where she rightly belongs.
Thank you, for your consideration.
Please please please free Sheba
She did nothing wrong. I am a certified canine behavior consultant in NY
Not all dogs like other dogs. That is just a fact
Even if Sheba had to be rehomed Pepe could still see her at Her new Home if placed locally. I am begging you, please don’t kill Sheba. She did nothing wrong. The eyes of the world are watching so please show us that you are a fair and reasonable leader and let Sheba live
This elderly man deserves to have his canine companion back. The County will not acknowledge his compliance about the enclosure for the dog. Who is responsible for the long wait time? He visits the animal at the shelter. Why should he wait so very long?It seems that a County worker should view the enclosure and simply sign off to release the animal back to her owner. What???????takes so long? Several people have tried, but failed to get a simple response.
I haven’t been on this site before. I gather Ms Rutherford has your back. The trouble is the handwritten note by the women complaining that Sheba bit her brings up some questions that need clarifying.
1. Was she bitten or her dog that was bitten? Ms. Rutherfords goes way too far proclaiming Sheba mauled her dog.
2. Its unclear whether your “witness” even took her dog to the vet that day anyway. She seemed to have great trouble getting a ride.
3. Sheba’s tooth seemed to have been caught on a drain in the dog. What was the dog being treated for?
4. I can’t be sure but the vet bill was purported to be $200. seems very little for a mauling and what date was the visit?
I think answers to those questions would both clarify and create more questions. Then there’s the question of the kennel fee? Really? Nevermind, we’ll go into that in the coming months.
Sheba is an elderly dog and may not have many years left as well as her dad Pepe. What kind of county are you running where all you seem to get noticed for is euthanasia every single day at Devore. Could you stop being so cold hearted and give Sheba back to her dad. Pepe has had new fencing up for her for over a year now and this could of been resolved before. The world is watching your actions. I hope that you give this your attention and do the right thing here by letting Sheba go home. REMEMBER that the world is watching YOU….
Please help Sheba get Bsck home with her human daddy we need them as much as they need us and the other parents don’t mind her coming home so why is she still sitting in that god awful shelter I mean really sir how would you like it if someone did this to you or your fur baby please get her out of that place and back home with her daddy please sir
Please choose to act humanely. The owners irresponsibility is not the fault of the dog. Please be humane and decide not to euthanize this creature. Perhaps have the owner find another owner, but please do not destroy the dog. You have made your point and I’m sure that Sheba will be properly contained. My fingers are crossed and I am praying you will act with mercy.
Please free Sheba either yo her owner (who now has a fence for her) or to a rescue group. Please do this NOW. Enough is enough.
Please Do the Right thing. This Dog has endured close to 15 months of isolation. May I ask how that is considered okay to do? Any Living being with a Mind & Heart enduring this treatment is being abused & tortured. Even prisoners in solitary confinement has one hour a day Outside.
How do you explain Why this is okay to your Love Ones? Wrong lesson to be teaching them.
I’m clear across the country in Maine watching to see who is the one to Stand up with Integrity to DO the RIGHT Thing. Free this elderly dog to finish out her life with her elderly owner.
This is in response to Supervisor Rutherford’s reply to an animal advocate regarding Sheba the 11 year old German Shepherd imprisoned at Devore Animal Shelter for nearly 15 months.
“the County is eager to discuss serious proposals that would preserve Sheba’s life”…yet since May 2020 requests to release Sheba were ignored.
claim that “Sheba is being well-cared for”…yet you have forced an 11 yr old dog to remain in solitary confinement for nearly 15 months without being allowed outside of her tiny cement cell. She gets NO EXERCISE.
profess that Sheba is “allowed visits by her owner three times a week”…yet you limit these visits to five minutes and the only contact is through the bars of her cage.
allege you have to “protect the public from future attacks”…yet Sheba has never attacked the public and has NO BITE HISTORY TOWARDS HUMANS.
claim that you want to “shield the taxpayers of San Bernardino County from liability”…yet continue to use taxpayers dollars these past 15 months to subsidize the County’s hearings and lawsuits regarding Sheba.
Sheba and Mr. Sanchez have suffered enough! Free Sheba Now!
Justice dictates that you do the right thing and return Sheba to Mr. Sanchez and to the only home she has known.”
Thank you,
Tina Scott
Regarding Sheba being held at Devore shelter
Please read
This dog is a senior. She is being prevented from receiving her senior wellness checks. This can be animal abuse. Is she getting vet checkups for dental problems? The vets also check for tumors and other ailments. This does not seem to be a concern to the County. Also the lack of response is shocking.
Please help Sheba the senior German Shepard, she is not a vicious dog, she doesn’t deserve to be confined. The community is worried about Sheba and her senior owner. We are asking you to please give her another chance.
Please release Sheba to his owner this is not fair to either of them!! This is Cruel!!
Gary McBride = Free Sheba the German Shepard. People from all parts of the country are watching to see what you will do. Make the right decision and free that poor dog, please free Sheba!
I am writing to you regarding Sheba, the 11 year old German Shepherd, who has been imprisoned at Devore Animal Shelter for nearly 15 months.
The County claims it is eager to discuss serious proposals that would preserve Sheba’s life, yet since May 2020 requests to release Sheba were ignored.
The County claims that Sheba is being well-cared for, yet you have forced an 11 yr old dog to remain in solitary confinement for nearly 15 months without being allowed outside of her tiny cement cell.
The County professes that Sheba is allowed visits by her owner three times a week, yet you limit these visits to five minutes and the only contact is through the bars of her cage.
The County alleges you have to protect the public from future attacks, yet Sheba has never attacked the public and has NO BITE HISTORY TOWARDS HUMANS.
The County claims that you want to shield the taxpayers of San Bernardino County from liability, yet continue to use taxpayers dollars these past 15 months to subsidize the County’s hearings and lawsuits regarding Sheba.
Sheba and Mr. Sanchez have suffered long enough! Free Sheba Now!
Justice dictates that San Bernardino County does the right thing and return Sheba to Mr. Sanchez and to the only home she has known.
The German Shepherd and support dog Sheba common needs to be returned to her owner of 11 years as expeditiously as possible! This is cruel and inhuman treatment for this dog as well as for the elderly owner. what is going on with this dog is pure animal abuse in the shelter where she is now that is Doling out cruel and unusual treatment to this animal!
this dog is suffering and her owner is suffering as well! This is an egregious mistake fire officials and it needs to be corrected now. There are also animal rescues that have offered to take this dog why is this dog left languishing horrific Lee and her owner faced with worrying about her being euthanized every single day! This has to stop it is elder abuse and it is animal abuse! give this dog back to her owner you are wasting taxpayer dollars keeping her there and it is helping to kill this elderly man Who needs and relies on the support dog! If you do choose to do nothing about this horrific scenario the blood of that dog is on your hands and if her owner breaks from the stress he is under it could affect his health and then you will have that on your conscience as well! Free Shiba now!
Please release Sheba to her owner Jose “Pepe”. This dog needs to be home with her loved ones and family. Have a heart and let this dog reunite with her owner.
Please return Sheba to her owner Pepe. I am begging you to reunite this man with the only family he still has left. He understands now, I know he must beat himself up daily for not understanding English & your requests before she was taken. However, he has a fenced in secure yard waiting for her. He loves her & is enduring mental anguish & torture due to her being taken away. So many unwanted abused animals out there, and she actually has someone who loves, wants, & needs her. Please, do not continue to torture him with this punishment. Please, do the humane thing and release her to Pepe. Thanks for your time & attention. We’re all anxiously awaiting.
Thanks,
Jeana Falkenstein
I beg of you to return the senior dog SHEBA to he owner Mr Sanchez. Sheba has had one mishap in Twelve years,she is not vicious.Mr Sanchez has complied and put a fence around his property. PLEASE release her.
Please reunite these 2 it will be no hair off your head…God will judge you not I
Mr. McBride, I am a resident of PA that has been following the case of Sheba, the german shepherd in the Devore shelter very closely. I plead with you to do the right thing and return this non-aggressive dog back to her elderly owner, Pepe. No animal should have to be punished this harshly, and she deserves to live out the short remainder of her life with the person that she loves and trusts the most.
This is regarding the case (CIDVDS1928265) THE GERMAN SHEPHERD SHEBA. Why is th iui s shelter being allowed to keep th iui s dog. It’s been over a year since the getting first time ever getting out out of the yard incident. It’s horrible and shame on you. This poor 81 yr. Old man drives to see his baby continuously. The shelter allows only 5 mins. The family of the other dog has sa uh d they dont want to press charges and dont want this poor dog killed. SO…WHAT IS GOING ON. WHY AREN’T YOU HELPING. There are so m.j any on wanted, abused, neg6animals in thus world. This dog should not be on death role or be kept from his loving owner. AGAIN WHY??? Its horrible ..thus story has gone viral on Facebook. PLEASE DEMAND SHEBA IS RELEASED Sue in Tennessee
This is not fair or right for anyone, especially SHEBA And Her Dad! Please for the love I f God, give this man back his dog, Why do you as a human thing it’s OK to leave her without play, human contact, toys or anything else? This family has suffered enough, Pepe has put up a fence, he lives his Sheba and desperately wants her back, imagine one of your family members being held hostage, how would you feel! Give her back
I am writing to convey my shock and disappointment at the handling and incarceration of Sheba for this ungodly time period and in the manner in which she has been confined. It is a case of extreme animal cruelty. I have read the conflicting reports from your organization about her care and treatment and do not find that the truth is being told.
The owner has constructed a confined area and has visited the dog weekly when you have allowed visitation….Even the original complaintant does not want this dog euthanized. They have been together 10 years with no prior history of bite issues. I am requesting you reacess your previous decisions and review the facts and reunited this dog and her owner. This treatment and the duration is truly a case of animal cruelty.
This has been an overkill from the start! Please don’t let down Sheba, her master Pepe, and the public at large that demand Sheba’s immediate release back to her owner! Free Sheba now!
Dear Gary McBride,
Sheba and Pepa have suffered for over a year. The selfless love between a man and his Dog can be the most relationship. This Senior 81 yr old man loves this Dog so much, Don’t they deserve to spend whatever time they have left together. This is the only happiness he longs for, weeping because of their separation. Please find it in your heart to give this man and his Dog
back to right the wrong of keeping Sheba away for so long. Show the love to thousands of people that you are a kind, compassionate and a good man to reunite Sheba with Pepe. We are all praying for this reunion to mend the hearts of both Pepe as Dogs have feelings of despair, pain and happiness. They both need this act of love and kindness!!!!
Return her to her beloved owner. This is out right ANIMAL CRUELTY. The owner has built an area where she can not get out again. They both deserve to love out their lives together. Mr Sanchez is the only person he has ever known. She is 11 years old for heaven sales. Please Please return her to her owner.
Dear Gary McBride, please release Sheba. Thousands if not millions of people from all over the world are watching. Why are you wasting so much time on a dog that has never harmed anyone? We’ve seen dogs get released that have done a lot worse then Sheba has ever done. Her owner was finally able to raise the funds to have the fence enclosure put up that was requested. Even if you don’t refuse Sheba to go back to her owner at least release her to a rescue. Also keeping her locked up with no toys blankets or any stimuli is one of the cruelest I have ever seen in my life. Why? It just seems like a power trip at this point! If this poor dog don’t get released you’ll probably be one of the most hated people on earth. Please release Sheba.
Please release Sheba to her owner.
Mr. McBride:
Hasn’t Sheba and her owner suffered enough! She has been kept in a shelter’s prison for over one year for being simply a dog!
Sir with all due respect what’s going on here?
This is abuse plain and simple! Where may I ask is your city’s compassion and decency?
Do the right and release Sheba back to her owner who’s built an enclosure to keep her in her yard. Or release her to a reputable humane rescue and allow her owner frequent vistation rights.
Asking with respect for one last time to please find kindness in your heart tomorrow and let Sheba go home to her owner to live out her life. She is old…
Praying for Sheba’s release to her senior owner Mr. Pepe Sanchez. Your legacy can be one of compassion and empathy or arbitrary and capricious with malice . I hope you choose reunification. Even criminals receive a reprieve and are given probation or parole. Sheba has served 14 months along with her senior companion Mr. Pepe Sanchez. Many gather in support for the reunification of both a senior furbaby Sheba and her human Mr. Pepe Sanchez. To err is human but to forgive is divine . Both deserve to live out their golden years together . The fenced enclosure will prevent any further escapes or skirmishes and shows compliance with your request / mandate for the fence. Please allow goodwill to prevail and allow transgressions to be forgiven in order for this travesty of justice to be reduced to an unpleasant memory in all our minds. In the midst of chaos, pandemics and the raging wild fires here is something that can be accomplished to bring peace, order and justice for both man ( Mr. Sanchez) and his senior faithful companion Sheba. The world is watching and waiting for your final decision. Reunite Sheba with her human Mr. Pepe Sanchez !!! #FreeSheba#
FREE SHEBA NOW !!
Please FREE SHEBA !! (German Shepard, being Isolated/Neglected in shelter)
The owners of the other Dog, who was someway injured by Sheba (one incident), have written letters, pleading Not to euthanize Sheba !!!!!
There are other dogs that are “Vicious”, mostly because their Human Owners taught them to be that way !!!!
This is NOT the case with Sheba !!! She was raised by a Loving man Mr. Sanchez, who is now elderly and still driving to visit Sheba 3/times per week, because He Loves, Misses, and Needs Sheba !!!!!!!
Please Stop this UNNESSECARY sheltering & punishing/isolating of Sheba AND Release her to either a RESCUE GROUP (for Rehabilitation that she’ll most definitely need now, after her unhealthy treatment/Neglect n the SBC Animal Shelter), OR to Mr. Sanchez directly !!!
One Dog incident, against another Dog (that is alive & doing well), is NOT CAUSE FOR THIS EXTENDED ABUSE/NEGLECT/ISOLATION, AND SUBJECT TO BEING KILLED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO THE RIGHT THING, & RETURN SHEBA TO HER OWNER, MR. SANCHEZ, before it’s too late……..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Free sheba and return her to pepe . Leane and family from the uk.
Sheba was wrongfully confiscated and erroneously labeled a “vicious” dog. I request that you do the right thing and return Sheba to Pepe..
Kindly reunite Sheba and Mr. Sanchez. I am hoping the hu
Been following this for a few weeks. I’ve had a rescue in the past. Most shelters have gone No Kill, since the sentiments are so strong against kill shelters!! The public is watching, & will be very vocal & acting with the power they have as voting members of society! PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING!!! Release this dog, Sheba, back to her owner with the stipulation of him keeping her contained!! What does your organization gain by continuing this very sad, mishandled situation?
PLEASE HAVE ANIMAL CONTROL SUPERVISORS INSPECT THE FENCE ENCLOSURE for Sheba on his premises.
Mr. Juan “ Pepe “ Sanchez has complied with the requirements and his dog must be returned after his the inspection !!!
s31642. Keeping and controlling potentially dangerous dogs
A potentially dangerous dog, while at the owner’s property, shall, at all times, be kept indoors, or in a securely fenced yard from which the dog cannot escape, and into which children cannot trespass. A potentially dangerous animal may be off the owner’s premises only if it is restrained by a substantial leash, of appropriate length, and if it is under the control of a responsible adult.
#FreeShebaNow#
#SaveShebaNow#
DEAR MR GARY MC BRIDE,
MY NAME IS MRS MARCIA DARNELL
I’AM BEGGING YOU TO RELEASE SHEBA, THE GERMAN SHEPARD DOG TO MR PEPE SANCHEZ
PLEASE FIND IT IN YOUR HEART AND SOUL TO RELEASE SHEBA. THE COUNTRY IS LOOKING TO YOU TO GIVE THIS ELDERLY SPECIAL CANINE FREEDOM TO LIVE WITH THE ONE THAT LOVES HER THE MOST. ITS SUCH A CRUEL WORLD RIGHT NOW. PLEASE GIVE THIS DOG AND HER OWNER SOME PEACE. MR PEPE SANCHEZ HAS COMPLIED WITH THE SAFETY ORDERS.. THE OTHER DOG INVOLVED IS FINE AND ITS OWNERS AGREE FOR SHEBA TO BE RETURNED TO MR PEPE. MANY PEOPLE OUR AMERICA KNOW THIS CASE AND ARE PRAYING YOU FREE SHEBA. PLEASE MAKE OUR WORLD A LIL HAPPIER AND GRANT SHEBA FREEDOM TO GO HOME TO HER LOVING OWNER, MR PEPE SANCHEZ. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MY PLEA. SINCERELY, MRS MARCIA DARNELL
Please return SHEBA To Pepe, she is not a risk and this is not fair to either one of them! Do the right thing and give her back, this has gone on way too long.
Hello
I am writing concerning Sheba, the 11 year old German Shepherd Dog owned by Pepe Sanchez. Sheba is a friendly family pet. Sheba is beloved in her community and gets along well with kids, and Sheba HAS NO BITE HISTORY TOWARDS HUMANS. Pepe has built a fenced in enclosure on his property to secure Sheba. Sheba deserves to return to Pepe and the only home she has known.
Keeping Sheba and Pepe apart is unjust and serves no legitimate purpose.
Please, I beg you to let them live the remaining time they have together. I saw the video of Sheba and Pepe together in her cell. Her whining and Pepe kept calling her Bsby. It was heartbreaking and brought tears to my eyes. My son had a German Shepherd dog he raised from a puppy. Jules was his name and the nicest dog and so good with his twin boys, as they were toddlers and would love and play with him and he never would bite even when crawling on him. Sadly he died of bone cancer at young age of 8 years. He didn’t have the stress and anxiety that Sheba has had for 15 months now, and stress continually and not being in her home can wear on a dog and cause health problems. This dog is not young anymore.
Please do what is right for them both. Have a heart. She will not be loose. She doesn’t want to go back to that horrible place where she was. They are smart dogs.
Sincerely,
Patricia Frederick
Lincoln, Nebraska
I respectfully request that you return Sheba, who was erroneously labelled a “vicious” dog to her owner. Sheba has never harmed a human being, and despite the fact that she got into a scuffle with another dog, who has since recovered, she does not meet the legal definition of a “vicious” dog. The law demands that you follow it. You can not simply take a statute and twist it to apply to whatever you want. The vicious dog statute clearly applies to a dog who has severely injured a human being. Thus, this ruling is a misapplication of the law, and should not be permitted to stand. As Sheba is not a vicious dog, there was simply no justification for seizing her in the first place. Sheba has been mistreated since her incarceration, being kept in a cold, dark kennel on a concrete floor with little stimulation, and very little contact with her elderly owner who travels hours just to visit her for 5 minutes at a time. Justice and compassion demand that you do the right thing and return this dog to her owner who has cared for her since she was a puppy. If you have no compassion, you have no business in leadership. Sheba is well loved by both her owner and the community. It is simply cruel to keep this senior dog alone in a kennel for a behavior that has not been repeated. It is cruel to keep an elderly man’s loving pet when he has taken steps to ensure that Sheba does not get out in the future. This is both elder and animal abuse, and both deserve better.
Do you have any knowledge of dogs sir? Do you know their intelligence levels? Better yet do you have any idea what they can do for the human soul, especially the elderly? You’ve not only imprisoned Sheba, but her owner Mr. Sanchez too. The loss of his dog is comparable to losing the only real thing he has left in his life. In fact it’s pretty much the only thing he did have until you took her away. Animal abusers never see 14 months in prison. They just get a slap on the wrist. Why are you treating Sheba like she is the criminal? She’s clearly the victim! Give her back to her owner & let them live their lives in peace. There’s to much tragedy in this world as it is. Don’t make this another unnecessary tragedy too.
I am asking you to please release Sheba to her rightful owner “ Pepe” ! She , being involved in an altercation with another dog , has been imprisoned in a shelter for almost 15 months ! She is an elderly dog who is right now lying on a old concrete floor with no bed , blankets , no toys no stimulation, and no exercise. This to me seems punishment enough ! She is a good dog in good standing within her community! No one wants to see her killed ! She escaped from her yard and got into trouble ! Her owner , since she was 8 months old , has built an enclosure in his yard in order to keep Sheba confined when she is outside ! He is trying to do everything necessary to bring his beloved dog home ! He , at this point, is only allowed 3 visits a month for five minutes at a time ! These two have suffered enough ! It is time to do the right thing and let them be reunited ! How must punishment to an elderly man and elderly dog is necessary ? Enough is enough ! Please reunite these two !
Sir, I am compelled to contact you as a concerned citizen as well as an advocate for Save Sheba Now! a group which is now 1000 strong with advocates that reach internationally . I am a member of HSUS as well as an active member of K-9 unchain USA , PETA as well as a variety of animal advocacy groups and animal rescue groups.
it has come to our attention that Devore County Animal Shelter, Gary Beck, manager, has in their custody an 11 year old German Shepherd named Sheba who who is owned by Mr. Sanchez.
Shiba who has no prior human bite incidents and only one dog aggression incident that occurred when she was approximately 10 years old. This was an unexpected and unusual occurrence since for 10 years this dog had no prior incidents of biting any other dogs.
this dog has been held at the Devore County Animal Shelter for fifteen solid months of nothing but isolation, no physical exercise nor is this dog even allowed for a 5-minute walk per day! This is against the law sir!
the SBC as well as the Devore County Animal Shelter have broken several laws in regard to animal cruelty!
There are also elder abuse laws that have been violated and have been considered as well when Mr. Sanchez goes for his 5-minute visits as Sheba is only allowed to feel the Gentle Touch of his hand through the cold bars of the small run she is kept in twenty-four hours a day for 15 months Never seeing light of day or having fresh air or proper exercise!
This beautiful and gentle German Shepherd, Shiba was deemed as “vicious” by the Devore County Animal Shelter manager, Mr. Gary Beck.
he didn’t this after picking the dog up roaming where she showed no aggression to him or his staff whatsoever, certainly not indicating anything close to what she would be A
vicious animal!!!
I asked you to turn your attention to the law:
Ss32.11406 in regard to the removal of designation of a dog as potentially dangerous and vicious which reads:
” if the owner or keeper demonstrates changes to mitigate the risk to the public to the satisfaction of the county and Animal control officer the designation of potentially dangerous and vicious shall be removed.
Ord passed 2000.
This was an investigation that was never conducted by SBC officials after They confiscated Mr. Sanchez’s beloved
dog Sheba!!! Therefore, this seizure was not coordinated within the guidelines of the law!
We have done some investigating into the Devore County Animal Shelter. It rates very low on a quality scale in regard to the Animal Care provided to their animals as well as the condition of the shelter being in disrepair the Devore Animal Shelter. On the other hand, has a disproportionate amount of animals that are surrendered to their care any animals that are actually adopted out. what they do rate high on is And also disproportionate of animals that are euthanized in their shelter every year!
with all due respect, we demand that Sheba be released immediately as she was seized not under the guidelines of the law!
This dog, by any professional point of view other than a complete Layman Is in no way a vicious dog! we asked that she immediately be returned to her owner or an inspection and proper notification of what needs to be done for an enclosure be set up by your office with Mr. Sanchez.
this dog has been kept in a cruel isolation, with no walks, no physical activity, no socialization with people Other than her owner who travels 45 minutes each way three times a week Faithfully for the past fifteen months! This man is an 81 year old man who is in horrific distress and despair and so is his dog Sheba! We ask that you release this dog expeditiously!
the Devore shelter is a County run Animal Shelter paid by taxpayer dollars of your constituents the same constituents that voted you into office. I have no doubt in my mind that it was not their intention to have their hard-earned dollars be contributed to the most horrific kind of animal abuse and elder abuse One could imagine!
I strongly suggest that you release Sheba until there is a final determination either to mr. Sanchez or to a person hand chosen by the
Save Sheba Now administrators for this Council to release this dog to a foster home that is willing to take on full custody and liability for Sheba Until she is returned to her owner if she’s not returned to her
owner immediately!
I guess we are all Lucky that if our children get into one fight in school they’re not thrown into a cage and forced to live on a cold, concrete ground, brutalized, terrified and never allowed to see their parents! Because that is the equivalent of what the SBC has put upon Sheba and her owner mr. Sanchez!
Please keep in mind sir, along with the rest of your Council, that animals are sentient beings who are capable of love and sadness and they are loyal and forgiving.
Sheba has endured a torture that most would come out wanting to kill anybody who ever tried to put their hands on them again or cruelly and uncaringly slowly destroyed the spirit of Sheba as well as her owner! most would come out never to trust again and to be as mad
as hell!
Yet this so-called vicious dog, stays complacent, Sheba remains sweet and loving where most human beings would find it impossible she has remained complacent and gentle Could you if you had gone through what she did? I doubt it!! release that dog now and keep in mind the same people who voted you into office will vote you out and this will be a terrible blemish on the SBC as well as the Devore County Animal Shelter if this continues Any longer, we will not tolerate it I assure you!
#SAVESHEBANOW!
#WEAREHERVOICE
#REUNITETHEM
100 % true, every word
well spoken.
They are still holding her while the iron out their issues.
SHEBA HAS ISSUES!
I am asking all of you supervisors to look at PEPE Sanchez as your father. He is a proud Latino man. He is 81 years and recently lost his wife and now you have stripped him of his beloved dog of 11 years, SHEBA. He w o und probably do anything to keep his dog alive and so he surrendered her to the county’s care in order to keep her alive.
PEPE has built a fence to keep SHEBA in when she goes outside. Apparently the animal country officer has said that nothing PEPE did would mitigate the danger to the public or the County treasury. Personally, I think that decision is vindictive and irresponsible. Pepe’s fence has never been examined. And furthermore, if it is found to not be compliant, we advocates over 2000 strong from all over the world will chip in and make it compliant.
I have been in contact with fence makers here in northeastern Pennsylvania who create dog parks and need to ensure little dogs’safety as well as the big ones. We can create a fencing from Pepe’s door to a keeper pen. This will prevent SHEBA from bolting out down the street when PEPE opens the door. The keeper pen will have 3 gates. — one to the outside, another to Sheba’s yard, so to speak.and the 3rd gate to the house. The gates can be regulated so that only one gate can be open at a time.
Pepe’s neighbors have also told us they will help in any way.
We can make the fencing compliant .
Please return SHEBA to PEPE. This case did not need to go on this long. Punishing Sheba because PEPE did not want to be compliant and what need is served by crushing an old man?
Please return SHEBA to PEPE after we make his fencing compliant.
Thank you.
Maia Mikhaili
Regarding Sheba. Everything that can be said has been said on her behalf regarding how unfair her confinement has been over her one and only offense. Confining her for 15 straight months in a cage never allowing her to come out is just overkill. It’s cruel. It has to stop now. You have to care of this dog and let her go. She has paid too heavy of a price. Being labeled vicious when she is not to people who understand dog behavior. I’m done talking about the incident bc nothing happened that day to justify the abuse Sheba is enduring. She is old. She is being hurt far more than that dachshund ever was. Free this dog tomorrow in the 15th. She really should go home to Pepe bc his fence is secure and abides by county code but if you don’t want that then release her to the rescue- just make a decision and LET HER GO NOW. It’s so abusive what you are doing to her.
Please give Sheba back to Pepe. With them both being seniors they don’t have much time left together, above it says you support animal care and rescue groups, the man has been faithful to his dog so above it also states that you are a thoughtful man can you please show compassion for these two. We have so much hate and negative in this world today that it seems that there are bigger things needing tending to than an old man and his dog. I will pled with you again to consider giving these two back what life they have left to live, hasn’t Sheba especially suffered enough being confined and alone ?
Please I’m asking and praying for you to do the right thing and give this angel back to her owner Pepe. He clearly loves her and will do whatever it takes. They deserve to be together, they need one another. I’m praying. Sheba is not a vicious dog you can clearly see she just wants to go home. Let her go home!!
You’ve got to release Sheba immediately. You know she is suffering but how can you have such coldness and hate in you to hold a vendetta against an 81 year old man and his innocent dog? This is elder abuse and animal abuse. It’s so disgusting how badly you are treating them. We know you don’t care but that does not mean the world doesn’t. People want to take care of Sheba and Pepe from this torturous 15 months that you have put them through. You need to deal with tour anger and control issues- for you to do this to an innocent senior and his innocent dog is psychotic and demented. Get yourself some help. Free Sheba.
Please free this beautiful dog! She doesn’t deserve this. This shelter needs to make some big changes. These animals aren’t being cared for properly. No exercise and who knows what else!
Mr. McBride, I am pleading for you to do the right thing and release Sheba, the 11 year old German Shepherd back to her owner, Pepe.
They both have suffered for far too long and she needs let out of Devore NOW.
Please do the right thing and free Sheba now. 15 months in solitary confinement is cruel and unusual punishment. She has rescue facilities ready and willing to take her. Her fees for her release have been raised. Are you keeping her longer to increase the fees? Criminals all over the state are being released on zero bail, but yet Sheba remains confined to a cage. Please release her to a rescue facility so she can live out the remainder of her life in comfort. Thank you
Please release Sheba . This is cruel. She and her family need each other.
Please free Sheba. Reunite him with his family. This is extremely cruel.
Please please search your conscience and let Sheba go home to her carer Pepe. The way she’s being treated is worse than how a human prisoner would be treated.. She is NOT dangerous. For the mental and physic health of both Sheba and Pepe, let them be reunited.
I come to you as many other are to please free Sheba back into the arms of her human pepe Sheba is being neglected in so many ways no exercise no love no human contact no bed and no grooming how about you take a walk on nails that long just because she is a dog doesn’t mean she doesn’t have feelings or feel pain she doesn’t understand why she isn’t able to love pepe or he isn’t allowed to love her I believe they hold be given another chance money is tight times are hard we are willing to come together to pay for a fence for them ill even travel from ny to put it up please let them live the remainder of there lives out with each other all are doing more harm than good keeping them apart please have a heart
Regarding SHEEBA,
I saw the pictures of how you are housing that dog.Not a blanket not a rug nothing to protect her joints at her age from the cold laying on metal. that is cruel and inhumane! You need to release her back to Mr. Sanchez he has since put up fencing to keep her in where is she going at 11 years of age? She is in her final time and he is elderly what is wrong with you people what are you even thinking you are not thinking obviously. I do animal rescue in Ohio and you take dogs away from this element and save them!What kind of people are you ?How do you sleep at night? Most house pets are treated like children, is this how you treat your children? Release that girl back to her owner‼️‼️
I pray you do the right thing and free Sheba, who is being kept unjustly at Devore Shelter and return her to her owner Pepe.