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

Overview

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

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

Allegations of animal abuse

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

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

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

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

Charity status

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

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

References

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