ANIMAL SANCTUARY PROBE ENDS WITH A FINE.Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer Three years after launching an investigation into the Wildlife Waystation's finances, the California Attorney General's Office finalized an agreement that found the Tujunga animal sanctuary An animal sanctuary is a facility where animals are brought to live and be protected for the rest of their lives. Unlike animal shelters, sanctuaries do not seek to place animals with individuals or groups, instead maintaining each animal until his or her natural death. broke state law in some financial dealings with founder Martine Colette. In a deal finalized Tuesday, Colette will pay the waystation $64,128 for the maintenance of her horses, which she kept at the refuge. Colette can deduct that amount from $140,000 the waystation owes her from personal loans she made when the sanctuary was in financial trouble. Also the Attorney General's Office ordered the waystation to correct information on its Web site that said the refuge employs two part-time veterinarians Veterinarians and veterinary surgeons (vets) are medical professionals who operate exclusively on animals. Well-known and notable veterinarians include:
vet·er·i·nar·i·an n. technicians. Colette was not available to comment, but waystation Volunteer Director Robert H. Lorsch said the audit shows the sanctuary's finances are managed well, with only a minor issue over the horse keeping. ``It's a vindication. We were investigated by the attorney general for three years with tens of thousands of pages ... they found for all intents and purposes Adv. 1. for all intents and purposes - in every practical sense; "to all intents and purposes the case is closed"; "the rest are for all practical purposes useless" for all practical purposes, to all intents and purposes nothing of consequence.'' The assurance of voluntary compliance with the state puts an end to an investigation by the Department of Justice's charitable trust The arrangement by which real or Personal Property given by one person is held by another to be used for the benefit of a class of persons or the general public. division opened more than three years ago when the waystation was under scrutiny for animal welfare and county building code violations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture later reached a settlement with the waystation for the animal-welfare violations, and Colette's animal exhibition license was reinstated in December 2003. Casual visitors have been barred from the sanctuary since 2001, when Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County closed the facility and ordered it to upgrade its sewage system sewage system Collection of pipes and mains, treatment works, and discharge lines (sewers) for the wastewater of a community. Early civilizations often built drainage systems in urban areas to handle storm runoff. , widen roads and install a water tank for fighting fires. The waystation can have visitors on site for fundraising dinners. The waystation needs a new land-use permit to reopen to the public. Sanctuary officials are preparing an environmental impact report that could come out in the late summer. Kerry Cavanaugh, (818) 713-3746 kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com |
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