Thursday November 5, 2009, 10:57 am
Copy & Paste Links:

http://www.tarescue.com/
Tuffie's Animal Rescue is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to ending pet euthanasia through placing animals in danger of being killed into foster homes and then into permanent adoptive homes.
We also work on spay/neuter programs and on educating people on how to properly care for their pets. Almost ALL of the animals on our site were in immediate danger of being euthanized. One dog we saved was actually in the room waiting her turn when we stepped in to save her!
We serve the San Francisco Bay Area, but have dogs in foster homes all over northern California and with one Director now in Phoenix, we have a large contingent of pets being fostered in the Valley of the Sun!
Questions? Please contact:
Diane Habener :)
Tuffie's Animal Rescue
(623) 587-9119
(925) 209-6480 cell
Comments from News Article:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/11/03/20091103animalrescue1103-ON.html

[52% positive ratings out of 5071 total ratings for this user's comments.] View Profile

* DeistExtremist
* Nov-03 @ 6:24 PM

I was one of the people who helped to get her shut down. She didn't have any soft spot for those animals. She would tell volunteers and people who worked there not to feed them so they wouldn't crap in their cages so much. She would leave for the weekend and not get them food. This went on for a year. I watched all those animals suffer for a year while they put together the charges to finally bring her to justice. It was sickening what she put them through. The law in this state says you only have to water dogs in shelters once every three days. Imagine that? I hope this story would do something about that but it probably won't. Diane deserves everything she is getting.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/11/03/20091103animalrescue1103-ON.html#comments

* ThankGod
* Nov-04 @ 10:35 AM

I cannot believe that people are defending the actions of this crazy woman! I volunteered at both shelters and what I witnessed was not love for animals, but love for the money and sympathy she got from those she gave her same old sob story to! Heart of gold? She had no heart! She bossed around us volunteers, even whipping a hose out of my hand and hitting my leg with it when I was hosing out a feces filled little pool for the small dogs to drink out of!! She would purposely clean up the dogs she ever let people see, and when she knew the law was coming, she would bleach the place and have it cleaned, and take lots of the dogs to the other shelter! She knew how to manipulate the system and I have not one ounce of pity for her. She is in jail where she belongs. I cannot ever imagine anyone defending her selfish and sickening treatment of these defenseless animals after seeing what I did. Miice droppings in dog dishes, laying in their own feces and urine, getting fed once a day if lucky at one shelter, dog carriers stacked 4 high in rows, across from more dogs stacked in carriers where they could only lay, stand up and bark! One dog was going around in circles in its little cage the whole time I was there. She is an evil person that used these animals and did not provide care for them when they needed it! I saw an abcessed eye on one cat, a dog with no jaw and one sunken eye, a little 4 week old puppy in a cage with a large dog, a dog with bones hanging out, and other starving dogs barking like crazy, crying out for help! Looking in their eyes brought me to tears! It is beyond me how anyone can comment unless they actually worked for her and saw the actual reality of what was going on, on a daily basis. She was a dirty person herself, providing no soap or towels for volunteers who had their hands in feces and urine trying to clean up, and she warned me that I might get blood in my urine, but not to worry, it is only Gardia. The dogs passed disease from one to another, and the cats were crammed in one room. I am repulsed by her actions and am celebrating that she is in jail and that the dogs and cats are in the jail being cared for properly. I hope she rots in jail and never gets to see another animal again. It was a living he-- for them and I am not exaggerating. I would gladly stand up and speak the truth to anyone, anytime. If you are truly an animal lover, you would realize this woman is sick and she did not care about the animals. It has nothing to do with the economy....it is about a sick woman hoarding animals for her own purposes (donations, using money for her bills, the sympathy, etc.). As far as adopting them out, when she ever did show up for the "events", she cleaned up the dogs she took there, fed them and made it look like they were cared for but they were not! Thank God they are out of her greedy, selfish hands. I am so happy that there really are no words to express my relief and joy that they are no longer living in filth, feces, urine, with mice running over them at night while they are cold and starving, mice droppings left in their dishes and cages, and the deafening sounds of their barking. I am sure the neighbors are greatful....one neighbor yelled at me while I was leaving, and I can see why! You had to see these shelters and be with Diane to believe it.....I know I was in total shock after my first day, but I could not walk away. It is a blessing she is not making them suffer, for their lives were not lives, they were existing in a horrific environment. I am so glad Diane is in jail! Justice should be served and I pray it is!

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/11/03/20091103animalrescue1103-ON.html#reply18684758

* FoxLair
* Nov-03 @ 7:00 PM

you don't even know half of it...there were maggots on dogs! Dead dogs were buried on the property since she would not pay for medical care...Pitbulls attacked the little dogs and carried them around in their mouths, I saw one husky/wolf mix with a freshly chopped off tail....the list goes on and on...I hope those animals get the care they deserve now after their long ordeal

* ThankGod
* Nov-04 @ 12:35 PM

The list does go on and on, you are so right! I know there are dead dogs on the property that she did not want to pay to get taken care of. The dogs had a variety of medical problems that she ignored until they got so bad she would let them die. I saw way too much to stand idly by and watch it continue. Unopened bottles of medicine she let expire, dirty needles on the counters, pills laying around so that any dog could eat them...appalling to say the least. I helped to get these dogs and cats out of the clutches of this monster and I could not be happier! One thing unadressed: What about us volunteers exposed to this disease they spoke of on the news....the disease that can be passed from the dog to a human being?????? She could have cared less about us or the dogs..we did all the work while she was on the phone or doing something else. Hip-hiip-hooray,I am celebrating today!!
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* DMA
* Nov-03 @ 5:57 PM
* Report abuse

I'd like to clear up what I was quoted as saying. I mentioned to the reporter that Diane sometimes took in older, or ill, less desireable animals - not just the cute, fluffy, perfect pets that some high-profile shelters will ONLY take. I don't remember saying "crappy" but if I did, I meant less desireable. The reason I became a foster and adopter of Tuffie's Animal Rescue is because I was so impressed with Diane's love of animals - all animals, not just the perfect ones. She helped a friend of mine when NO OTHER rescue group would. My friend's neighbor was abusing his dog horribly, and my friend finally talked the creep into letting her have the dog, but she couldn't keep the dog at her house, but she still had to take the dog immediately before the creep changed his mind. Diane stepped up to the plate and found him a foster home immediately. That dog is now the light of his new owner's life and is living the life of Riley - no more abuse. Such is the story of many, many pets that Diane has placed - including the dog that I adopted from her. His family had him for almost 10 years. The poor guy had a raging ear infection, but his owners preferred to buy cigarettes and booze instead of taking him to the vet. One day when one of the children pulled his sore ear, the dog snapped at him. The mom's big-shot boyfriend decided the only solution was to take the dog out and shoot him in the head. Fortunately, mom's mother, who knew Diane, intervened and took the dog to Diane, who fostered him and treated his ear until I adopted him. He is a wonderful addition to my family and I can't imagine life without him (nor can his best friend, my yellow lab)!!! Another important fact that wasn't mentioned in the article is that Diane was going to pick up 2000 lbs. - yes, 2000! lbs. of dry dog food in California this weekend, when she went for her monthly adoption weekend, where she averages 12 dog adoptions. She gets regular donations of food from different stores, rescues, and shelters. I should know, because I help organize the donations. If she ever ran short, I donated what she needed to get her through until her next donation. He pets and fosters are her first priority. It's such a shame that her big heart has to break over this tragedy. I hope the real truth comes out and she's able to continue with her real passion - saving animals that no one else will save.





http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/crime/animal_rescue_neglect_11_03_2009
'Animal Rescuer' Arrested for Neglect
Dogs & cats had no food or water, living in feces

Updated: Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 5:32 PM MST
Published : Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 3:34 PM MST




PHOENIX - A 61-year-old animal rescue owner has been arrested on suspicion of animal neglect, on reports of "deplorable" conditions at two Phoenix shelters.

Maricopa County Sheriff's detectives arrested Diane Habener Tuesday morning, and she's facing as many as 77 counts of animal neglect.

Deputies and animal crimes detectives serving a warrant at both Phoenix locations of Tuffie's Rescue found that the animals were living without water and food -- and in kennels too small for them to move. Deputies also say they were living in their own excrement.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio says that Habener's animal rescue business took in too many animals to properly house and care for. "Conditions at both locations where Habener housed animals were deplorable at best," he said in a statement.

Tuffie's Rescue was founded in 2004 to provide shelter and adoption services to animals that may have faced euthanasia.

At least one rescued dog tested positive for leptospirosis, a disease that can be passed from animals to humans. All the animals rescued Tuesday will have to be quarantined as a result of that finding.

"She had no money to pay staff, she ran out of food all the time, cleaning products… the dogs and cats weren't being taken care of," said a former volunteer who didn't want to be identified.

"There were issues with dogs becoming sick, not getting medical attention. There were dogs that passed away that also were buried on the property."

In all, animal handlers took away 107 dogs and 17 cats Tuesday morning. The animals will be quarantined in the old 4th Ave Jail building until veterinarians can evaluate them.



http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/north/story/MCSO-Nearly-120-dogs-cats-rescued-in-animal/DDxBO-03eUmvE16mLdx82w.cspx

MCSO: Nearly 120 dogs, cats rescued in animal cruelty case
Reported by: Katrina Wessman
Email: kwessman@abc15.com
Reported by: Dave Biscobing
Last Update: 6:16 pm

PHOENIX – More than 120 dogs and cats were rescued Tuesday after the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office served search warrants at two locations in north Phoenix.

According to Sheriff Joe Arpaio, 61-year-old Diane Habener started a rescue business called ‘Tuffies Rescue’ in 2004 with the intent to provide shelter and adoption services to animals, which may otherwise have been euthanized.

“It appears as though Ms. Habener got in way over her head by taking in too many animals. She did not provide the proper care needed to safely and humanely house these animals,” Arpaio said in a statement. “Conditions at both locations where Habener housed animals were deplorable at best.”

Habener was taken into custody and booked at the Fourth Avenue Jail.

She could be charged with as many as 77 counts of animal neglect .

The search warrants were served at 25312 North 16th Avenue in Phoenix and at 3836 West Morrow Drive.

Neighbors in the area said the bust was a long time coming and that they have been trying for years to get something done.

"This was not the proper set up for it," Barb Gentz said. "The dogs should not have been in that situation."

Gentz has lived in the area for years. She said the smell could be picked up far from the house. And others said the barking and odor forced them inside their homes.

Sheriff's deputies on scene said some of the animals required immediate medical attention and were transported to area veterinarians.

Sheriff’s deputies and animal crimes detectives are working with local veterinarians and the County Attorney’s Office to determine the magnitude of the neglect.

Animals were reportedly without water, food, living in excrement and many were caged in kennels too small to even allow any real movement by the animal.

MSCO said extra precaution was needed by deputies and detectives as they removed the animals and at least one dog tested positive for leptospirosis, an animal to human contagion.

As a safety measure, Arpaio said all animals brought in to the MASH facility from this case will be quarantined until a health evaluation can be made.

The jail MASH unit is located in the old First Avenue Jail that was closed to inmate incarceration due to plumbing issues in 1999.

MCSO said that same year Arpaio turned the jail into an air-conditioned animal housing facility for dogs, cats and other pets confiscated by deputies during abuse or neglect cases.

Over 500 animals have reportedly been cared for by female inmates while the animals’ owners were going through the court process.

MCSO said inmates who care for these animals will not be allowed to do so alone until the health evaluation is done.

Officers will accompany the inmates in the quarantine area to ensure all inmates comply with health recommendations to stop the spread of leptospirosis.

Friday November 6, 2009, 8:56 am
I too was a volunteer and this is for the woman who defends her in the news article and above. You like me are an enabler, doing it for the dogs we say. Diane uses people and dogs to her own end. She does not care about them only what they can get for her ($$) She does not spend her own money. They have food only if someone gives her money (like you) or donates food from an organization or volunteer seeing the dogs have nothing to eat buys it. She refuses to buy cleaning supplies but what does that matter to her, she doesn't clean or care about disinfecting. It makes no difference to her if the volunteers or dogs get some parasite due to unclean and unhealthy conditions. In fact, she leaves them in their own filth, spreads newspapers over it and sometimes doesn't feed them because they will poop! No medical attention as evidenced by dogs who are sick and died. Doesn't even clean up the wounds or take care of them if they are in a fight. Just throw them in a crate to recuperate.
She can not keep workers due to her not paying them. Treats the volunteers like slaves and they do not come back. Have you ever been up to Happy Valley or inside her house? I know of a dog with an ear infection so bad he permanently tilts his head. Smells awful too.
There are many other cases that will come out. Of course she takes every dog she can -- potential for money. Charges an exorbitant price for adoption of sick, mentally unstabile animals. They are not up to date on vaccinations or seen by vet. Money donations go to pay her mortgage and bills on 3 properties.
Yes, she was to pick up dog food in CA. But no where near 2000 lbs. Also does not get 12 dogs adopted each month. Adopted doge have been returned due to sickness or unable to adjust. Someone who pays $250 hopes and expects to get a well dog both mentally and physically. Many are stashed out there in what she says are "foster homes". Only hope someone is taking care of them in a humane fashion not kept in conditions like here.
Yes, I too hope the truth comes out--then everyone will know the extent of the mistreatment and neglect these "rescued" animals have suffered under Diane's lack of care and all the donation money that ended up keeping her fed and bills paid instead of going to these poor creatures!