7960566886?profile=originalDelray Beach lawyer Mindy Farber, with rescue dogs Cara, Nicky and Abbey,

advocates for nonprofits, veterans, women, minorities and homeless pets.

Photo provided

By Arden Moore

    There are people who champion the cause for pets by fostering rescues, volunteering in animal shelters, organizing pet events and bringing their well-mannered therapy pets into nursing homes and schools.
    I applaud the contributions made by all of these people. And, I admire a special breed of pet advocate: the legal beagles. These people are committed to working with local, state and national lawmakers to make this a better planet for cats, dogs and other companion animals.
    In Delray Beach, there is a very active legal beagle: attorney Mindy Farber. In practice for more than three decades, she specializes in civil rights law for nonprofits, veterans, women, minorities and homeless pets.
    She splits her time between residences in Delray Beach and Maryland with her husband and their three well-traveled rescue dogs: Cara, Nicky and Abbey. She serves on the board for the nonprofit Pet Connect Rescue (petconnectrescue.org) in Potomac, Md.
    Farber worked with state legislators in Maryland to pass a bill recently that prohibits the sale of animals in pet stores. She is currently working with the state’s House Judiciary committee to get a bill passed that would require people found guilty of animal cruelty to not only serve time in prison but also pay restitution toward the financing of any bills related to injuring or killing animals.
    Locally, she is hard at work on finding a solution to address homeless, abandoned animals found on the streets of Delray Beach. Two days after Christmas, she was shopping in downtown Delray Beach when she came across a very weak, mange-filled, little red dog.
    “When I found this dog, I called the city immediately and said, ‘Help! There is a dog who is struggling here, just lying on the street,’” recalls Farber. “This dog was dying and I was frantic to find a way to get her medical attention, but was told that the city of Delray Beach does not have an animal control officer and was told to call the county. Well, I tried, but the phone kept ringing busy.”
    During this time, Farber called out to passersby for help but to no avail.
    “This dog had ooze pouring out of her ears and eyes,” she says. “While my husband took our three dogs home, I called out to everyone for assistance — bikers, drivers, joggers, walkers and people with baby carriages. But all averted their eyes.”
    Fortunately, members of Dezzy’s Second Chance Rescue were nearby setting up their booth for rescued dogs to be adopted. One member assisted Farber by placing the sick dog in a van and taking it to a veterinary clinic where the dog received life-saving treatment. The dog has not yet been adopted. The plight of this dog has motivated Farber to lobby with the Delray Beach City Commission. She wants to find a way to allow a nonprofit animal organization to have use of the vacant animal shelter building for a yearly rent of $1.
    Farber, who has lived in Delray Beach for a decade, is quick to say she is not critical of the city. “I’m looking for a way that a nonprofit animal group can do a much-needed government service that the government currently cannot provide,” she says.
    I reached out to city officials regarding Farber’s proposal. Commissioner Mitch Katz explained that the city is doing a complete inventory of all city-owned buildings, including those that are vacant.
    “We will not be making a decision on any building until the analysis is done, which should be within a month or so,” says Katz, adding that he wants more information on how such an arrangement between the city and a nonprofit group would be set up.
    In an email reply, Vice Mayor Shelly Petrolia wrote, “I would be in support of the city offering a building to temporarily shelter animals by a nonprofit … as long as it received a majority commission vote. I would only agree to consider something like this following an inventory and evaluation of all properties owned by the city, which is currently in the process.”
    In the meantime, Farber is maintaining her advocacy efforts for companion animals in need, both here and in Maryland.
    “As a lawyer, I’ve worked hard for many years and never took very many vacations,” she says. “I am blessed in many ways and now I want to give back and to use my legal skills to advance issues, like helping homeless animals.”
    She is definitely my kind of legal beagle.

Arden Moore, founder of FourLeggedLife.com, is an animal behavior consultant, editor, author, professional speaker and master     certified pet first aid instructor. Each week, she hosts the popular Oh Behave! show on PetLifeRadio.com. Learn more by visiting fourleggedlife.com.

Win an Arden book!

    Got a pet? In celebration of the release of my newest pet books, I am giving away a personalized, autographed copy of Fit Cat and Fit Dog to a couple of readers of The Coastal Star. How? Easy. Simply email me (Arden@fourleggedlife.com) and tell me, in 100 words or fewer, how your dog or your cat has made your life better. And, if you like, attach a photo. We will pick a cat and a dog winner and share the results in the June issue.

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Comments

  • A dog died in her care as a rescue didn't these goons attack Sandra for the same thing.

    What goes around is going to come around...

    And around. And around. And around.

    7961854687?profile=original

  • Joan / Geoffrey;

    Check your email ... something coming your way.

  • Oh Boys and Girls seems Chaz-tatee has the same issue I did.  Must have hit delete multiple times in his excitement over finger painting  or finger pointing....

  • Who accused you of being a Dead Beat Dad and are spreading other libelous things about you Chaz?   This isn't about you.  I am re-reading and I don't see anything that says that in the last few comments. 
    The questions are about a rescue. The questions and concern are for the animals not for what you are or are not.  Your personal life, just like others personal lives are of no concern.  The questions are about a PUBLIC 501c3 non profit charity.   It is not anyone's personal issues.   It concerns, the public, and it concerns dogs and cats who do not have a voice of their own.   

  • This is not about you any more that it is about Mr Butkus.  You flatter me....that I would take the time to do "research".  WHY?  For what purpose?

  • I am kind of lost.  I was sent this link and thought it was about a rescue and allegations made against the rescue.  However,  some guy named Chaz Stevens is now talking about a former volunteer's husband and two complaints that have nothing to do with animals that were made against her husband regarding a business that he is involved in that has nothing to do with the rescue.  Mr. Stevens could you please explain why you believe two complaints that have nothing to do with animals that the person who the complaints are against decided to settle is relevant to a discussion about what an animal rescue has or has not done?  You either posted those complaints to deflect attention away from the rescue or because you believe the complaints are related to the rescue and therefore relevant.  I don't know you so I am not going to speculate as to why you posted that information.   However,  according to what you posted, the former volunteer's husband wasn't even found guilty of anything and decided to settle the dispute.  I pled no contest to driving in an HOV lane at 8:58am.  My clock said it was 9am but the officer's clock said 8:58 so he gave me a ticket.  I pled no-contest and paid the fine.  I didn't believe I was guilty but realized there were more important things to do with my life than to fight the charge. Simply because a person settles a dispute does not mean they are guilty of anything.  If you don't want to answer my question that is your choice but if this page is about the rescue, shouldn't your posts focus on the rescue?  I don't know Joan Ellis or Karen Baughan either but agree with them that not answering questions about the rescue and deciding to instead post about other non-rescue related topics make it seem like you believe it is necessary to deflect from talking about the allegations  made against the rescue.

  • I guess if we are going to share about all issues unrelated to the questions that have been asked REPETITIVELY and NEVER answered. I can let everyone know I stole a bottle of nail polish when I was in 5th grade, I also drank alcohol as a minor, and have a ongoing issues with my HOA. Perhaps we could share about a guy named Timothy being a dead beat dad. Or again we could hash over a Wienie Wagger who was not set up by the boys in blue.  Or someone could possibly look at what is being discussed. Someone might answer the questions.

    If a rescue states they get their vetting for free, but then tells the state they spent about 66 THOUSAND dollars, and allegedly were using outdated meds, one has to wonder where was that 66 Thousand dollars spent on 11 dogs that were adopted out. 

    And if you state that you receive FREE vet care why tell the state you spent $4768.45 one year (but you spent $5062.58 on "automotive" cost.) 

    If you receive a washer & dryer and food and many other incidentals, for the rescue why would one enter -0- in the line to report such items?

    Just one of many questions...

    It almost appears to many of those watching (and that is really just a handfull of people) that Ms Butkus was a friend and confidant while the money and goods were rolling in but thrown under the bus when the funds dried up.  When questions are asked why not answer if you have nothing to hide?

  • HUH??  Mr Chaz Stevens YOU are the perfect example of my earlier comment!  The mud slinging, dirt digging, political campaigning crap!!!  Is this REALLY the best you can do?!  Arnold has been a financial advisor for 44 years!  YES 44!  That's a pretty successful career wouldn't you say?  You find 2 complaints??   REALLY??  I can't even believe you took the time and space to post that!  For all of you following along, it's called DEFLECTION!!  Let's not talk about the REAL subject, we'll just find whatever we can on whomever we can and post it! <sarcasm>    

    The REAL issue is THE ANIMALS IN THE STORE FRONT LOCKED AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC!!  Sandra Dezalan is lying to the public.  I happen to follow other rescue pages, I notice things such as how many "likes" they have, the length of time they have been "rescuing" animals.  Sandra has been a 501c3 since 2011, but claims she has been rescuing for several years prior to that.  I'm not arguing that , as that may possibly be true.  WHY are there NO dogs and cats from the store front on Dezzy's Second Chance animal Rescue page?  They talk about adoptions but what about the other dogs that need a loving home??  That need a "second chance"??  None of them on Pet Finders??  Let's talk about the cats...they've been long forgotten.  THIS is NOT a rescue situation but a HOARDING situation.  It's someone "collecting" animals.  Animals are NOT collectibles.  People collect coins, stamps etc...NOT animals!!  This situation is sad and heartbreaking for ALL the animals involved as this is NOT in their best interest!  Why would an individual attack someone that has nothing to do with any of this??  It doesn't make sense.  Now, if that individual is trying to bury the truth, I get it!  That makes sense!  Sorry Mr. Chaz Stevens, THIS isn't working!!!  There are those like myself that care only about the well being of the animals!  We're all human and people use other people for  many different reasons.  It happens all the time.  Those people have a voice...a voice to defend themselves,  a mind of their own to understand,  opportunities to make choices and decisions to better themselves and their situation.  Who do these animals have??  The animal advocates, like myself who become their voice...that's all these animals have.  How sad to think someone  could use a poor, defenseless creature with NO voice for their own personal financial gain.  DISGUSTING!!!  This is MORE disgusting to me than ANY report or complaint from ANY client from ANY business!  SHAME!  If you can't post facts about THE issue, a solution, or an answer to these very simple questions about the animals and so called "rescue" or anything else for that matter about the issue we're all arguing about, then don't bother!  Save it for an election year,  join the political crowd and have fun with your smear campaign.   AGAIN...It's a shame it's NOT about the animals anymore...

  • Go lower?

    Okay.

    Darcy and her friends love posting about people and their records. So let's focus on her husband Arnold Butkus and his FINRA report . Here are copies of two claims where clients of his who lost money and filed complaints with FINRA against Arnold Butkus which were settled. Here is the record from the FINRA report.

    7961854092?profile=original

    7961854674?profile=original

  • It's a shame that it's NOT about the animals anymore...

    I finally get a chance to check my e-mail.  I see several e-mail notifications from The Coastal Star that there have been many new comments added to this blog.  So, I sign in.  As I'm reading through the comments and trying to "catch up" on all the dirt, I'm angry, sad, and amused all at the same time.  I feel like I'm in the middle of an election year and this has become a political campaign of sorts...name calling, mud slinging, and exposing the "dirt" on ALL involved.  This blog has it ALL!!   Wait, I'm confused...I  thought this was about the animals.  It's a shame that we have lost sight of "the cause".  The cause is about the animals and their well being.  The well being of all of the animals involved like Mindy...ooops I mean Red, silly how her name had to be changed.  It's about Q, Chito and Angel and all the others that are "STUCK" in rescue.  Some of these animals have been "STUCK" for over 2 years!   What happened to their "SECOND CHANCE"?    No suitable adopters?  Really?  I find that hard to believe!  SHAME!  In my opinion this isn't about the "well being"of the animals...it's a power trip and it's about control.  Control over all the animals that are being held hostage. 

    I think any animal lover can understand when a foster situation turns into a "foster failure".  How easy it is for our heart and minds to get attached to these beautiful souls.  We think that we can give these animals everything they need for a wonderful life...and then we do exactly that and their lives ARE truly wonderful and their EVERY need is fulfilled.  A store front?  A window seat?  A cat filled room with NO windows?    How is ANY of this in the best interest for these animals?  We've domesticated and socialized these animals.  They NEED to be a part of a family, part of a home.  They NEED a yard to run and play for exercise, a place to feel safe and secure.  Did I read somewhere that you, Sandra live in a condo?  Hmmm....I wonder where ALL these animals have a yard to run and play outside and feel safe, not to mention where do you have room for ALL of these animals INSIDE?  I'm speaking on behalf of all the animals...Let's remember "the cause"...We ARE their voice and WILL continue to be their voice.  Do what's BEST for the animals!  Put THEIR needs FIRST!  Give them that "SECOND CHANCE" that you talk about!  

    INTERESTING...

    DEFINITION of "RESCUE"...To free or deliver from confinement, violence, danger or evil...

    SYNONYMS of "RESCUE"...Liberate, release, save, redeem, recover

    Dezzy's "SECOND CHANCE"  Rescue...I think NOT!!!!!

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