Laws for Paws e-Newsletter
August 2020
Attorney General files legal action against dog breeder Marilyn Shepherd who then accuses Attorney General of “animal cruelty”
Severely matted dog with lice owned by Marilyn Shepherd
Attorney General Eric Schmitt recently obtained a temporary restraining order against Cedarcrest Kennel and its owner Marilyn Shepherd for continuing violations of the Animal Care Facilities Act.

According to the Attorney General, Marilyn Shepherd “repeatedly failed to provide necessary veterinary care to several dogs exhibiting severe eye infections, bloody lesions and abrasions, lacerations causing hair loss, and severely matted fur resulting in redness and irritation.” In fact, inspectors found injured dogs at this facility for five years in a row. This breeder’s husband even threatened a state veterinarian with a gun during an inspection at her facility in 2016.

Marilyn Shepherd’s mistreatment of animals stretches back more than a dozen years. Ms. Shepherd was assessed a civil penalty of $25,000 and was permanently barred from obtaining a USDA license in 2006.    

So it was shocking when Ms. Shepherd filed a document with the court last week accusing the Attorney General and the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) of “sheer and utter animal cruelty” for forcing her to decrease the number of dogs at her facility prior to her court date later this year. She is now blaming the AG and MDA for separating dogs and yet it was solely her decision on how to decrease the size of her kennel. 

Ms. Shepherd further asserts in her letter to the Court that the actions of the AG and MDA are the “absolute height of cruelty,” when in fact, the absolute height of cruelty is that this breeding facility was allowed to operate for as long as it has with years of chronic violations.

Please thank Attorney General Eric Schmitt for finally pursuing justice for Marilyn Shepherd’s dogs.

Urge the Attorney General to continue to aggressively pursue legal action against cruel puppy mills.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt
(573) 751-3321
Matted dog at Marilyn Shepherd dog breeding facility 
Newest Addition to the Alliance Family
Aislinn McCarthy-Sinclair, MSW
We are pleased to welcome our newest addition to the Alliance family. Aislinn (pronounced Ashlyn) has recently assumed the role of Policy and Communications Manager for the Alliance. Growing up as the child of parents in helping professions, Aislinn was raised with the value of giving her time to improve the lives of others.
 
Aislinn has long been a spokesperson for animals. Around age eight Aislinn discovered that a child in the neighborhood was abusing a kitten, and saw that the kitten was safely rehomed. After graduating from high school Aislinn completed two internships with an animal organization in Virginia and DC. In college she founded and was elected President of a student group that worked to enhance the welfare of animals. After graduating with her Bachelor’s degrees from UC Berkeley she moved to Los Angeles where she worked for a prominent animal organization. When Aislinn moved back to Northern California she was chosen to overhaul the social media of a local farm sanctuary.
 
Aislinn has also served as social worker for foster youth, a foster youth mentor, and is a trained therapist.
 
She completed her graduate-level policy internship at the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank. She graduated from Washington University’s Brown School with a 4.0 and earned her master’s in social work with a specialization in policy.

Aislinn has enjoyed all of her advocacy roles, and since childhood has known her true calling to be advocating for animals. We are very fortunate and grateful that Aislinn has chosen the Alliance to help her fulfill her life's dream.  

Aislinn is the proud mom of three rescue cats, Gabriella (4 months), Esmeralda (4 years) and Benjamin (11 years). In her free time she enjoys cooking, coffee, and time spent with friends. Please give Aislinn a warm welcome when you next meet her, or in the interim, you can welcome her by sending her a note at admin@maal.org.
Pool Paws is BACK!
Dog swims are back by popular demand! Although we had to cancel the swim at Kirkwood in the interest of keeping people safe, we are able to hold three others. Join in all the fun at:


McNair Park Pool:
August 10th & 13th, 6-8pm

Alligator's Creek Aquatic:
September 12th, 9:30-11:30am

Click here to make sure you have everything you need and know what to expect.
HELPING ANIMALS!

If you find yourself in a situation where you question the treatment of an animal, or the conditions, or maybe you're wondering about helping wildlife or assisting in a rescue, or you have witnessed something that needs to be reported - go to our website because chances are you will find a number and/or a link that can help address it.
A Great Way to Support the Alliance
With so many people shopping online these days, you can now support the Alliance each time you make a purchase on Amazon. Click here or on the icon. Once you've identified "Missouri Alliance for Animals" as your charitable organization of choice, a portion of your purchase will be donated by Amazon to the Alliance each time you shop on Amazon! What a great way to contribute!
Schnucks eScrip Card

Another great way to support
the Alliance!
Did you know that every time you shop at Schnucks, they'll donate a percentage of your purchase to the Alliance? It's an awesome way to support the Alliance's mission and it doesn't cost you a thing! We'll even register your eScrip card for you so you don't have to!

Simply email us at admin@maal.org with "Schnucks eScrip" in the subject line, and in the body of the email please include your name and address - and we'll send your registered Schnucks eScrip card to you within 7 days.

Once you receive it, you can start using it (we've already registered it for you!) - put it on your key fob to remind the cashier to scan it at check-out!

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!