Pet store owner still fighting to save dogs

By Nancy Needham  nancy@theacorn.com

DOG WASH RAISES MONEY- Girl Scout Ava Anderson, 8, of Troop No. 565 in Thousand Oaks and Makayla Cozatt, 9, a fourth-year Ventura County 4-H participant, dry off Clay, a 4-month-old puppy owned by Michael Richey of Newbury Park, during a dog wash fundraiser at Newbury Park Pet Supply. Sunday's event raised money for the store's owner, Josh Pasewaldt, to purchase an air-conditioned trailer to transport dogs he rescues from the Kern County Animal Shelter and returns here for adoption. State law requires Pasewaldt to use such a trailer. IRIS SMOOT Acorn Newspapers

The coats of more than 300 dogs shine more brightly this week, and Josh Pasewaldt is about $3,000 closer to buying a trailer now required by Animal Control.

Newbury Park Pet Supply, 67 N. Reino Road, had a fundraiser on Sunday where members of the Somis 4-H Club and a Thousand Oaks Girl Scout troop washed dogs for about five hours to help the canine lover jump through more red tape.

Also, proceeds from the event's raffles and silent auction, which featured a trip to Hawaii, a massage, a fish tank and other items, will help pay for an airconditioned trailer for Pasewaldt to use in transporting animals he rescues from Kern County animal shelters.

Pasewaldt had sold his Mini Cooper and bought a pickup truck, which he filled with animal carrier crates. Then he learned from the Los Angeles Animal Care and Control staff that, according to state law, the back of a truck is not a safe way to transport rescued dogs and cats.

"I want to do what is right. I am not complaining about Animal Control. They want to keep them safe, and I want to keep the animals safe," Pasewaldt said.

He just didn't have the funds to come up with the $11,000 he needs to pay for the required transportation. Someone donated the air conditioner, but he still needs the trailer in which to install it, he said.

"I don't have wealth. I gave all I had, and now I'm out of money."

So far, Pasewaldt's rescued 1,073 dogs and 370 cats. He wants to keep on saving them from imminent euthanization and bringing them to his pet supply store, where it costs $60 plus sales tax to adopt a dog.

He began doing this in March 2007, and since then he learned he had to install a sprinkler system and follow other procedures that have added to the cost of what he began on a shoestring to save the lives of a few puppies.

"I think the fundraiser went good. I'm happy and thankful for the community helping support the animals," Pasewaldt said.

Until he gets the trailer, he's renting a large, air-conditioned van to transport the animals from the Bakersfield area.

To contact Pasewaldt at his store, call (805) 498-2415.