Veterinarian Dr. Debra Rykoff and her partner, John Breseman, who run Fur Keeps, said they were tired of the attacks and have decided to speak out.
Rykoff and Breseman believe that an online is another attack by people who are angry that they posted bail for Edrup.
“Her son and my daughter were friends, but we had lost touch with her. We bailed her out and that’s when these things started happening,” Rykoff said.
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| The whole place had to be demolished |
Rykoff said she knew Eldrup for about three years, and that Eldrup was always willing to help out as a volunteer at Fur Keeps. She said sometimes volunteers wouldn’t show up, but Eldrup would always be available at the drop of a hat.
“I don’t have a clue what happened her,” Rykoff said. “The person we knew is not the person we bailed out.”
Rykoff performs spays and neuters for many rescue organizations and she did some for Muddy Paws as well, she said.
Rykoff said she had lost touch with Eldrup for about six months.
“She had been keeping nine of our hard-to-adopt dogs, but she stopped veterinary care and stopped returning phone calls, so in November, we went to take them back. She seemed odd,” recalled Rykoff.
Rykoff said she did not go inside the facility at that time.
“I’m feeling really guilty that I didn’t go in there,” Rykoff said.
The tragedy at Muddy Paws was discovered in December and Eldrup was charged with felony counts of aggravated cruelty and animal torture.
Rykoff said she provided the bail out of concern for Eldup’s 9-year-old son.
“It was the right thing to do. You’re innocent until proven guilty. If she did something because she was mentally ill, then she should get help, not be crucified It’s ridiculous,” Rykoff said. “She is broken and I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to fix her.”
She said she didn’t realize the consequences when she posted bail for Eldrup, but she does not regret it.
She said she felt it was a good example to her 9-year-old daughter that you help a friend in trouble. Rykoff’s daughter was a friend of Eldrup’s son.
“Are we going to cave in and not bail her our because it’s the hard thing to do?” Rykoff said.
Hey moron, Diane Eldrup was found GUILTY!
She said she is willing to make hard choices, like running the rescue.
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| Is this photo showing Diane Eldrup or Debra Rykoff's property? Either way it looks HORRIBLE. |
Peter Hays, a volunteer foster for Fur Keeps, believes attacks on the rescue are unfair.
“When you blaze a trail and do something other people won’t do, you come under criticism,” Hays said.
Fur Keeps regularly takes in dogs that other rescues won’t take, said Mary Ann Wikens, Hays wife.
“She takes in a lot of animals other people won’t take. Other shelters would put them to sleep,” Wilkens said.
Breseman said many of the animals Fur Keeps takes in come from puppy mills and adverse situations. They come to the shelter with a host of health problems.
“A lot of the dogs come in bad shape. People lost their jobs and lost their homes and they’re not taking care of the dogs,” Breseman said.
Rykoff said running the shelter has become more difficult because there are more animals in need of rescue and less people willing to adopt.
Hays attested to Rykoff’s love of animals. He noted that she was one of the first vets to go to New Orleans and care for animals injured during Hurricane Katrina. Supporters of Fur Keeps started a petition to clear the rescue and Rykoff’s reputation, and have also been posting words of support on Fur Keeps Facebook page.
Rykoff said she had always wanted to be a veterinarian.
“I used to save worms on the sidewalk and would paint blood on my rocking horse so I could put a bandaid on it,” she said.
Breseman said claims that animals at Fur Keeps aren’t being cared for properly are unfounded. He said the dogs eat expensive, high-quality food, Flint River Ranch. He said the shelter spends $3,000 per month on dry food, alone. The shelter houses about 40 dogs and about 40 cats, he said.
They are idiots. Wasting all that money on "high quality expensive" dog food when the person who adopts the dog is most likely NOT GOING TO CONTINUE PAYING RIDICULOUS PRICES FOR GOURMET DOG FOOD.
He refuted claims that the dogs are kept in the barn stalls all day. He said they are let out into the indoor arena and volunteers come to walk them outside.
Breseman said the barn stalls are scrubbed with bleach. He admitted it can be difficult to keep up with cobwebs in the barn.
Rykoff said she wants people to come out to Fur Keeps and see it for themselves, before passing judgment.
“Come out and see if for yourself,” Rykoff said. “What we could use is a lot more money and a lot more staff,” she said.
(Patch - April 30, 2011)
Earlier:
- Illinois: 18 dead dogs found at Deer Park rescue called Muddy Paws; owner Diane Eldrup arrested
- Illinois: Most of the 17 dead dogs found at Muddy Paws Dog Rescue were found inside living area of house, says attorney
- Illinois: Diane Eldrup, owner of Muddy Paws Dog Rescue, faces 32 counts of animal cruelty
- Illinois: Investigators searching for more dead animals at Diane Eldrup's Muddy Paws Dog Rescue facility
- Illinois: What Diane Eldrup's husband Kurt Eldrup saw inside Muddy Paws Dog Rescue concentration camp
- Illinois: Editorial "Many failures led to animals being abused and killed at Diane Eldrup's Muddy Paws Dog Rescue"
- Illinois: Diane Eldrup and Muddy Paws Dog Rescue mess dates back to 2009
- Illinois: Diane Eldrup, 48, denies newest charges in animal abuse case
