Where are the Missing 318?!
**Please note that all the information contained here is from public sources. I am well aware that there was a lot of work and action behind the scenes. I refuse to disclose any information that was given to me in confidence. If you have information that you would like to add to be made public, or you if I have mis-quoted something, please feel free to contact me if you are ok with information you share being made public.
On August 7th, 2023, 318 small animals- guinea pigs, rabbits, mice, hamsters and rats- were transported from San Diego Humane Society to Humane Society of Southern Arizona. The San Diego Humane Society proudly claimed that it was the largest transport in their history. 318 small animals were packed in carriers, stacked in a moving van, and sent to Arizona……
Several weeks later, around August 30th, when animal advocates noticed that none of the animals were showing up on Humane Society of Southern Arizona’s website and there were no adoption announcements for any of them, they became concerned. They reached out to known small animal groups in the area, asking if they had taken in any of the animals. The answer from each rescue….No, we did not.
Where are they?!
More and more animal advocates started asking….rescues started asking….meetings were set up with the CEOs of both Humane Societies…. The Arizona CEO (Steve Farley) disclosed that all the animals were transferred to a “Family run, private rescue.” He refused to name the rescue and claims to have worked with the “rescue” for more than a decade. After more and more pressure mounted with media, social media and animal advocates, about 60 of the missing animals were “returned” to Southern Arizona Humane Society. There have been different versions of how they came back. Some versions say that the “secret rescue” had received threats and no longer wanted the animals so they brought back “what was left” claiming that the rest of the animals found loving homes. The other version is that the Chief Operations Officer, Christian Gonzalez (also involved in the transport) went to the secret rescue to retrieve the animals.
About 25 guinea pigs were returned, four rabbits and the rest were hamsters and mice.
Where are the rest of the Missing?!
At this point, several animal advocates decided to take matters in their own hands to ensure that the animals were safe. It took several of the animal advocates that had helped to bring this story to light, to create a plan. Several different adopters went to “adopt” the guinea pigs and then took them to a safe house. A San Diego hero then drove to Tuscon and transported 20 guinea pigs back to San Diego.
Those lengths should not have had to happen. The Humane Society on both ends should have been helping. But at that point, who even trusted them?
So by now, these poor souls have traveled from San Diego to Tuscon, to Pheonix, back to Tuscon and then back to San Diego.
San Diego Humane Society has had their legal counsel send a letter to HSSA, demanding to know there whereabouts of the missing animals, but this was met with an in-kind letter, politely explaining to San Diego that they were in full knowledge of what was going on. You can read their letter, as well as the response from Arizona, at the links below:
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23997399/hssa-response-to-sdhs-9-25-23-az.pdf
National Attention
The tragic story of so many missing animals has started to gain national attention. CompassionWorks International, a national group dedicated to the safety and freedom of all animals, posted the story on their webpage. They called to action and created a form to send an e-mail directly to Steve Farley, CEO, expressing concerns. Within 24 hours over 500 emails were sent.
Justice?
On October 5th, the Board Chairman, Robert Garcia, held a press conference in which he revealed that CEO Steve Farley had been terminated and COO Christian Gonzalez submitted his resignation. Below is a link to the letter Garcia posted on HSSA website to address the community.
There is still no answers to the fate of the remaining animals. only the unsaid speculation among the rescue community. Justice was not served. One man’s job does not make up for over a hundred lives.
The Survivors
Below find a list of the known survivors.
**This list has NOT been confirmed by the San Diego Humane Society as they refuse to release any records.
***I have also taken off the rescues that currently have the survivors in their care. If you would like to grant permission for me to publish your rescue on this page, please let me know and I can add you right away.
Survivors
Guinea Pigs
1. Thor
2. Mooch
3. Scooby
4. Toupee
5. Tomo
6. Spumoni
7. Neopolitan
8. Magnolia
9. Cabana
10. Bellini
11. Ruby
12. Julieta
13. Tamagotchi
14. Maleficent
15. Ursula
16. Ranch
17. Domino
18. Dayman
19. Muggles
20. Rambsy
21. Ghost (Safe with Vegas Friends of Guinea Pig Rescue)
22. Jellybean (Safe with Vegas Friends of Guinea PIg Rescue)
23. Giovanni (Safe with Vegas Friends of Guinea Pig Rescue)
24. Pear (Safe with Vegas Friends of Guinea Pig Rescue)
25. Twilight
26. Morning Glory
27. Zabba
28. Oji
29. Doughnut
30. Winston
31. Ramona
32. Suzy
33. Dawn
34. Sunrise
35. Carlos
36. Doppio
37. Affogato
38. Kisaki
39. May
40. Chuy
41. Guapa
42. Apryl
Rabbits
1. Oreo
2. Malin
3. Angel
4. Cannoli
Hamsters
1. Tangerine
2. Lemon
3. Grapefruit
4. Hammie
5. Bosco
6. Vinnie
7. Frankie
Mice
1. Marie
2. Barnard
3. Macademia Nut
4. Pistachio Nut
5. Almond Nut Butter
6. Unnamed
7. Unnamed
The Missing
The following is a list of names of all the animals still unaccounted for. Please keep them in your thoughts, light a candle for them, say each name out loud as you read it. They deserved better. The were already discarded once. Humans taught them that their lives did not matter. Let their spirits soar and may they see the love we all have for them.
** This list has NOT been verified by the San Diego Humane Society, as they have refused requests for records.
Guinea Pigs not accounted for
1. Ahri
2. Evelynn
3. Nidalee
4. Lee Sin
5. Garen
6. Blitzcrank
7. Ezreal
8. Mordekai
9. Rammus
10. Onyx
11. Rubix
12. Pearl
13. Elizabeth
14. Benji
15. Biggles
16. Wiggles
17. Bear
18. Winston
19. Jupiter
20. Mustachio
21. Hippo
22. Cheesy
23. Courage
24. Mr. Betty
25. Mr. Susan
26. Rhino
27. Mama Beans
28. Groot
29. Teddy
30. Chocolate
31. Ponky
32. Brain
33. Abby
34. Melani
35. Vi
36. Soraka
37. Janna
38. Sona
39. Calypso
40. Rose Quartz
41. Bubbly
42. Reeses
43. Binky
44. Pinky
45. Aveeno
46. Coco
47. Dixie
48. Hurley
49. Blaster
50. Snowdrop
51. Mudpie
52. PJ
53. Carlos
54. Rico
55. Gene
56. Pea
57. String Bean
58. Trenta
59. Venti
60. Grande
61. Highland
62. Scottish
63. Norfolk
64. Sealyham
65. Airedale
66. Miemie
67. Petunia
68. Jersey
69. Dakota
70. Banana Pie
71. Eucalyptus
72. Palo Santo
73. Cinnamon
74. Papaya
75. Capri
76. Raspberry
77. Peach
78. Kiwi
79. Sage
80. Citrus
81. Topaz
82. Bramble
83. Midnight
84. Taco
85. Chip
86. Cinnamon
87. Walter
88. Gepard
89. Jack
90. Dustin
91. Will
92. Cartman
93. March
94. Feta
95. Ulric
96. Butter
97. Sam
98. Joanne
99. Earl Grey
100. Sweet Tea
101. Pecan Pie
102. Wisteria
103. Gouda
104. Sugarcube
105. June
106. Isabella
107. Luisa
108. Gadget
109. Oreo
110. Benji
111. Chocolate Turtle
112. Mr. Pants
113. Bowey
114. Binks
115. Cairn
116. Dandie Dinmant
117. Norwich
118. Kerry Blue
119. Skye
120. Welsh
121. Wheaten
122. Silky
123. Buttercup
124. Snowie
125. Clover
126. Thousand Island
127. Blue Cheese
128. Balsamic Vinegar
129. Turquiose
130. Lemonade
131. Endo
132. Gus Gus
133. Smores
134. Hershey
135. Honey
136. Tofu
137. Macchiato
138. Cortado
139. Johnny
140. Rodney
141. Oliver
142. Star Lord
143. Mashed Taters
144. Night Crawler
145. Jubilation
146. Splatoon
147. Fran Mcs
148. Gambit
149. Jean Gray
150. Banshee
151. Magneto
152. Bishop
153. Peaches
154. Shai
155. Bambi
156. Ozone
157. Denise
158. Pachirisu
159. Nightman
160. Rupert
161. Paul
162. Flower
163. Splint
164. Esmeralda
165. Unnamed Female Abyssinian
166. Unnamed female Abyssinian
Rabbits not accounted for
1. Pink
2. Voltaire
3. Tolstoy
4. Winter
5. Bing
6. Sparkles
7. Precious
8. Raboot
9. Cinder
10. Dandelion
11. Celery
12. Peter
13. Sesame
14. Himmayin
15. Cinnabon
16. Bunnilicious
17. Webster
18. Merriam
19. Billi
20. Jean
21. Robyn
22. Lily
23. Moss
24. Mr. Rabbit
25. Luke
26. Larry
27. Karen
28. Buster Jr.
29. Whitepaw
30. Strawberry
31. Q-tip
32. Gus Gus
33. Lionel
34. Milky Way
35. Cotton
36. Mutton Chop
37. Keith
38. Cyle
39. Superman
40. Chocolate
41. Moose
42. Wonka
43. Willy
44. Bianca
45. Wolfie
46. Pearl
47. Tubba Gump
48. Bibinka
49. Marshmallow
50. Rabbert
51. Rambo
52. Kozlov
53. Sir Hip Hop
54. King Hopscotch
55. Oso
56. Canela
57. Admiral Hoppington
58. Mark
59. Max
60. Butterbuns
61. Booker T
62. Ladle
63. Carla
64. Kyle
65. Samantha
66. Unnamed male American
67. Unnamed male American
68. Unnamed male
69. Unnamed female American
70. Unnamed female American
71. Unnamed female
72. Unnamed unknown gender Holland Lop
73. Unnamed unknown gender Holland Lop
74. Unnamed unknown gender Holland Lop
75. Unnamed unknown gender Holland Lop
76. Unnamed unknown gender Holland Lop
77. Unnamed unknown gender Holland Lop
78. Unnamed unknown gender Holland Lop
78 total Rabbits
Rats not accounted for
1. Jimmy
2. Jammy
3. Johnny
4. Zuzu
5. Blam
6. Pinata
7. Teddy
8. Cookie
9. Zodiac
10. Detective Snoot
11. Chickpea
12. Spice
13. Ruebella
14. Mister Whiskers
15. Lindsey
16. Rudolph
17. Donner
18. Blitzen
19. Cupid
20. T-Rex
21. Mosasaurus
22. Pterodactyl
23. Rose
24. Unnamed
Hamsters not accounted for
1. Nacho Jr.
2. Lime