Juan, (Danny) Ubario – Manager - Lancaster Animal Care Center
Dereck Brown - Director – Lancaster Animal Care Center
Sergeant Rachel Montez-Kemp – Animal Investigator

Steve Colten – ARRRF (Animal Rescue Rehabilitation Retirement Foundation)

We are asking you to consider the circumstances regarding the seizing of the 24 rescue dogs seized from Mr. Colten’s (ARRRF) (Animal Rescue Rehabilitation Retirement Foundation Inc.) property on October 5, 2011. Mr. Colten’s rescue is a 501c3, his foundation’s including ARRRF have been in existence for over 41 years, helping over 7,468 unwanted DOGS and other animals, find forever families. He has devoted his life and given up his personal life to help these victims that society thinks are so disposable. Steve is known in the rescue community as an honest, hard working and devoted man, who for these 41+ years has been devoted to the rescue of unwanted dogs. . Mr. Colten suffered a heart attack this past September and had to have heart surgery. Even with this, he was back the following weekend at PETCO, doing the adoptions. He has made a difference in the fight of "No More Homeless Pets", by being a part of the solution, and not the problem.

For 6 years he held adoptions at California Pet Center on Ventura BLVD, and for the past year, and currently, ARRRF Rescue’s location is at PETCO on Topanga Canyon Blvd. The staff and regular patrons at PETCO have come to know, admire and respect Steve Colten, and ARRRF Rescue for what it is doing for dog rescue. Currently ARRRF is 2nd in the Region this year for Adoptions through PETCO and last year he rated 2nd in the region as well, all a result of this loving, kind man’s efforts and those of his amazing staff of volunteers. I have witnessed at these adoptions, many past clients that come by to visit bringing with them the dogs they have adopted from him. Many send their friends, some of them come to get another dog, or are being referred to him, or are simply there from word of mouth. He has traveled the 2 hours each way from Lancaster to Ventura Blvd. and Topanga Canyon Blvd. in Woodland Hills, for his adoptions, every weekend, each Sat. and Sun., rain or shine, cold or hot for the past 7 years. His adoptable dogs, which are consistently kenneled in a PETCO approved kennel, 25 minutes from his home, are picked up bright and early and make the 2 hour journey in Steve’s Van to the PETCO in Woodland Hills, where there is a far greater chance for them to find permanent homes because the economy is much better in this area than in Lancaster. The number can be anywhere from 10 + dogs, all ages and sizes. Every weekend ARRRF Rescue has anywhere from 4 – 6 volunteers, which include teens and children who suffer from disabilities. These children and teens have learned the meaning of responsibility, dedication, giving back to the community and the care and value of animals. They look forward each weekend to be a part of the adoptions. It has taught them how to communicate with others, gives them confidence in themselves as wells as dealing with people. The parents of these kids have commented on the positive changes it has made on their children. The kids interact with the dogs, and know the story of each dog and show them off proudly to potential adopters. (see statistics below)


Mr. Colten is being charged for having more than three dogs on his property which he has not denied, and accept full responsibility. However under the circumstances of Sunday night October 2nd, the boarding kennel which Mr. Colten uses was closed when he and his assistant got back to Lancaster due to traffic returning from Woodland Hills. His assistant/driver was supposed to help him transport the dogs on Monday October 3rd but refused after an argument leaving him without the help he needed to drive the van. Due to his medical condition, Mr. Colten is not able to drive. This put him in a very difficult situation that he was well aware of that would create a problem for him. Mr. Colten tried to reach numerous people to help transport the dogs to no avail. Mr. Colten called the shelter numerous times to talk to Sergeant Montez-Kemp. Unwilling to work with him and being uncooperative, even under the circumstances, she told him that she is filing the papers and he will be charged and will definitely be going to jail, if it’s the last thing she does.

It is shocking that Sergeant Montez-Kemp has been allowed to abuse her position like this. She told Mr. Colten that ARRRF will never get any of the dogs back including his personal dogs. She is not allowing any other rescues or other individuals who volunteer for ARRRF to board or foster the dogs. Stating that the dogs are being held as evidence and no matter what; he will never get them back if she can help it. It is no wonder; Steve has had a 30-year history with the Lancaster Animal Care Center. He has confronted them on many occasions with how they treat the animals, the lack of care, the lies, etc. He has embarrassed the shelter and because of this we feel that there is a vendetta against him and those who work along with ARRRF to rescue animals. Many other rescues have expressed their concern for the way Lancaster Animal Care Center has conducted their services and the treatment of the animals in their care. Many rescues have had equally bad treatment from Sargent Montez-Kemp. It seems as though it is Sergeant Montez-Kemp’s intention to immobilize ARRRF and Steve’s ability to help the dogs, as well as other Rescues who are willing to step in and help get the dogs into homes. The impound fees are $272.00 per day for all the dogs plus any medical fees that may incur. Since the dogs have been seized, two have received injuries and had to be treated by your vet. The costs of the procedure were above average and unreasonable. Waiting on the court hearing can take up to 45 days or more. Even thought Sargent Montez-Kemp said she is going to file the papers which she was supposed to within 72 hours, she has yet to do so. We feel that she is deliberately postponing it, making it more difficult for Mr. Colten to get his dogs back due to the enormous fees. This being the case, the total would amount will be impossible for the Rescue to get the dogs back.

Lancaster Animal Care Center and Sargent Montez-Kemp has no conscious or regard for the well being of these dogs. As it is obvious that Mr. Colten, on a limited veteran disability income will not be able to afford the fine that keeps building. We all know there is no profit in this work and ARRRF simply covers the cost of shots, spay/neuter and micro chipping. This situation has caused him stress emotionally, financially and physically. It’s a crime what is happening to ARRRF Rescue and Steve and others in the Rescue field that have done nothing other than protect and care for unwanted animals, giving them a second chance. Animal Control Agencies should be working hand in hand with ARRRF and other rescues, and not giving them a difficult time by, bulling and charging them outrageous fines because they want to teach them a lesson or because they have a personal vendetta against them. There has to be more compromise and understanding if we are to help the “real’ victims in this battle, which are the dogs. The Rescues have always done and wanted what was best for the animals, and it is proven by the amount of adoptions that occur within rescues, and they will continue to do so, in hopes of making the (AC) jobs easier. Giving them the time to go out and get the “real” bad guys, those that abuse, neglect, torture and abandon their animals. They should “Not” be harassing the ones or rescues that have been responsible by spaying, neutering, having current shots and giving these “unwanted” animals a second chance.

Sargent Montez-Kemp, “look at the bigger picture”. There are 24 dogs less off the street that are ready for adoption. Healthy, spay/neuter, current on shots and micro chipped. Instead of being grateful and working with rescues to help control the serious problem of unwanted animals, you would rather seize the dogs, fine ARRRF, to the point of financial ruin where it will be impossible to get the dogs back, and eventually “kill” them because “your” shelter is so over populated or their time has run out and their chance of adoption has been “stolen” from them!! This is INSANITY!!! It seems that your main goal is to “teach Steve Colten a lesson”, not help in the rescue of the dogs. Are we not supposed to be on the same team? So we are asking you and Lancaster Animal Control to “do the right thing” and return these dogs to their rescue to give them the opportunity to get to their “forever home”, which after all is what “animal care” is about. Ironically, the word “care” in Lancaster Animal Care Center, is clearly misrepresented!

Earthshaking Statistics -- The Figures Although most people are aware that there are more dogs and cats being born than there are people willing to adopt them -- the actual number of unwanted dogs and cats is staggering. a: For every human born, 7 puppies and kittens are born. b.One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years. c.. One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in 6 years. d.. More than 12 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters each year. Millions more are abandoned in rural and urban areas. e.. As many as 25% of dogs entering shelters each year are purebreds. f.. Approximately 61% of all dogs entering shelters are killed. g.. Approximately 75% of all cats entering shelters are killed. h.. It costs approximately $100 to capture, house, feed, and eventually kill each stray animal that enter a shelter-- a cost which you, the taxpayer, eventually pay. *

Facts about U.S. Animal Shelters from ASPCA
• Approximately 5 million to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.
• According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2 percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.
• Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.
Facts about Pet Overpopulation in the U.S. from ASPCA
• It is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States; estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
• The average number of litters a fertile cat produces is one to two a year; average number of kittens is 4-6 per litter.
• The average number of litters a fertile dog produces is one a year; average number of puppies is 4-6.
• Owned cats and dogs generally live longer, healthier lives than strays.
Only ten percent of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. About 75 percent of owned pets are neutered.
• Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.

If it were not for rescues and their efforts to help the overpopulation of animals in shelters and strays on the streets, there would be thousands of innocent healthy animals being forcibly euthanized or left to die on the street. Steve is not denying that he violated his probation, and he will pay the fine for doing so, but where is the compassion and understanding for what he is doing and what he has accomplished.
Sargent Montez-Kemp logic is a contradiction to the safety and well being of the dogs.

Prior to the seizure incident on October 5th, Steve had been on probation, for having more than three dogs on his property and previous to the probation, had been given warnings because he had more than 3 dogs in two other situations. Being the kind of man that Steve is, these other incidents where he had a couple of extra dogs in his home, were because they needed time for socialization with humans and other dogs. We all have experienced dogs that were not adoptable at first, but later when properly socialized make great family pets. Steve has an amazing ability to socialize these dogs, and all of us who volunteer for ARRRF, know how they show so much progress from the time they come to him. He helped them feel a little more secure and confident before they could be adopted. Steve felt that by bringing them to his home he would be able to work with them on a one on one basis and had cared more for their happy future than keeping his home limited to his own 3 dogs. Thinking of what was best for the dogs, after all, the goal is to get them adopted, socialized and into a loving home so they “DON’T” end up in a shelter which is so over populated that innocent animals are being euthanized because of lack of space!!

HELP!!! Twenty-Four dogs were seized on Wed. Oct. 5th at 11am, by Sergeant Rachel Montez-Kemp of Lancaster Animal Control, who showed up at Steve’s home and seized all the dogs in his care, including his personal pets. Sergeant Rachel Montez-Kemp and another AC employee arrived there with the Sheriff and two deputies. Sergeant Montez-Kemp and her assistant seized the dogs, treating them roughly without any care or concern for them. Bringing the scared dogs out of the house, some of them being dragged, as you can imagine how scared they were. One of the smaller dogs, a white terrier mix about 2 years old, just had, had surgery. Sergeant Montez-Kemp picked her up roughly and didn't bat an eye as the little dog winced in pain. Steve told her to be careful that she just had surgery, but it went on deaf ears. Steve even offered to help Sergeant Montez-Kemp and her assistant take the dogs out to the Animal Control vehicle, but she refused and kept treating them roughly as she put them in the van.

The Sheriff stood by and watched, sometimes having to look away because they could not interfere. Steve looked at them helpless, but their hands were tied. Their job is to supervise and to make sure there was no resistance, and there was none on Steve’s part. His only concern was for the dogs and trying to calm their fears, which he could only do from a distance as Sergeant Montez-Kemp would not allow him to touch the dogs. The police did try to help the situation by mentioning to Sergeant Montez-Kemp that all the dogs looked healthy and clean, implying to her that it looked and they felt that Steve has been taking good care of them.

Of the twenty-four dogs seized in total, all of them, except for two small terriers that Steve received that week from a rescue group up north were fixed, updated on shots; micro chipped and had all their paperwork in order. Many of the dogs had potential adopters that were planning on coming to the Woodland Hills PETCO, the following weekend to adopt their dog.




On Monday morning, Steve’s called the kennel to schedule the dog’s return and got no answer. Later Steve’s assistant informed Steve that her license was suspended and she could not drive him to the kennel with the dogs any longer. Steve, in exchange for room, board, driving and helping with the feeding and clean up of the dogs at the PETCO Adoption site, allowed her to live rent-free. This new development from her, on top of her frequent disappearing acts, caused him to respond by asking why he should continue to let her live there if she is not keeping her end of the bargain. It was decided that she had to move out. Steve called everyone he knew to come to his house and drive the dogs to the kennel. Then he finally reached the owner, an elderly 72-year-old woman who was recovering from hip surgery, but due to his medical condition, Steve is not able to drive.

On Wednesday morning Oct 5th at 9:30 his assistant told him she was moving out. His assistant gathered her stuff and at 11:00 a.m. Sergeant Rachel Montez-Kemp of Lancaster Animal Control knocked on the door. His assistant walked pass them with her unlicensed, un-neutered dog to her friend’s car who picked her up.

Steve was left there to face Animal Control without any support having to explain what happened. Sergeant Montez-Kemp was not interested. As it turns out, his assistant has since admitted to Steve that because of her anger in him asking her to leave, she confessed that she deliberately contacted Animal Control knowing that Steve was on probation and would be fined and the dogs would be seized. This was a vindictive and calculated move to get back at Steve. She had no care how it would affect the dogs Steve worked so hard to place.


Many people including the kennel owner where ARRRF Rescue kennels its dogs, have called to speak on Steve’s behalf to Sergeant Montez-Kemp and have verified his story and expressed their admiration for what Steve and ARRRF have done in the world of rescue. Sergeant Montez-Kemp has since called the kennel 72 year old owner to notify her that she is coming out to inspect her kennel which she probably would not have done had it not been for her dislike for Steve. It is well known that she does not like him. She refuses to take into consideration any of the circumstances that lead to this unfortunate event and is hell bent on seeing Steve go to jail.




The papers have not been filed with the courts, delaying the dogs ultimate release date and ensuring that ARRRF will have Kennel fees adding up un-necessarily.




If there is anyone you know of, or anything you can do to help ARRRF Rescue and Steve Colten save these dogs, please contact and network this email. THE ARRRF RESCUE dogs and their forever, families, are depending on us. Collectively we can make a difference.

Please help us to bail out these dogs and pay for legal fees’s for ARRRF Rescue and get these dogs out. This is a fully tax deductible donation and our 501c3 receipt can and will be issued.

Additionally please contact:
Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon
26650 The Old Road, Suite 203.
Santa Clarita, CA. 91381
661-210-0361

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich’s Office
500 West Temple Street, Room 869
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 974-5555

and Sergeant Rachel Montez-Kemp Superiors:

Juan, (Danny) Ubario (her Manager) @ 661-974-8341
jubario@animalcare.lacounty.gov

Eric Brown (Director) 562-728-4882
dbrown@animalcare.lacounty.gov


Thank you in advance for your prompt response to this URGENT matter.

Cindy Carder & Andrea Arlington

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