Group Helps 21 Dogs After Owner’s Death

Twenty-one mixed-breed dogs that were left in a Rosemead kennel after their owner died, have been moved to a kennel in North Hollywood by an animal rescue group.

Officials of Animal Alliance, a nonprofit group devoted to rescuing animals in need, got a court order naming them “special administrators” for the dogs.

Leeta Anderson, founder of the group, moved the dogs March 10 from Astro/All Stars Kennels in Rosemead to Windsor Kennel in North Hollywood to groom and rehabilitate them until they are ready for adoption.

Anderson said she is sending bulletins to everyone on her mailing list asking for help.

“We are determined to maintain these dogs. But we are going to need a lot of help,” she said. “The best thing would be for people to sponsor one dog a month until they are ready for adoption.

“Every one of these dogs is gentle and loving. They run up to you and wiggle their tails . . . All they need is love. It has been so long since these dogs have been out, they need people to come play with them and pet them. . . . They need human affection.”

The 21 dogs, most 7 to 8 years old, belonged to Josephine Forman of Rosemead, who died in December. She had adopted them as strays and boarded them at the nearby kennel, where she received a discount because she groomed and fed the dogs herself.

After Forman’s death, a friend paid partial rent for the care of the dogs, but by February she too fell short of money, said Joe Warren, owner of the Rosemead kennel.

Warren said he could not afford to continue to care for the animals for free, and if someone didn’t take them or pay for their care, he would have to turn them over to the pound.

That’s when Animal Alliance, which has offices in West Los Angeles and Woodland Hills, stepped in.

“I haven’t had a day’s rest since I heard about these dogs,” Anderson said. “I finally feel like this will have a happy ending.”

Warren said that the dogs will now have a better chance of being adopted, because they are in a better location.

“I wasn’t making any money on these dogs,” Warren said. “Keeping them here was completely a labor of love. . . . I think we are all better off now. Hopefully the dogs will get adopted, and now I have spaces available to rent out.”