Caught on Camera: Animal Rights Advocate Arrested for Rescuing Abandoned Dogs from Foreclosed LA Home
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Animal rights advocate Hans Peterson is under arrest for rescuing a dog locked inside a foreclosed Los Angeles home. The previous owners moved out and left nothing behind but the dogs. One dog was left in the house, another in the garage.
A neighbor heard the dogs barking for days and called for help. L.A. Animal Services arrived but refused to enter the home. “Possibility the people could come back and then they could turn this around and sue the city,” according to Animal Services Officer Hoang Dinh. He claimed that the city is required to issue a written warning to the owners before entering the home or removing the dogs.
Hans Petersen was not willing to wait. He went into the house and emerged with a six-month-old puppy. The LAPD arrived moments later. Hans was arrested for interfering with Animal Services as they conducted their duties.
The puppy was taken to to the South LA Animal Shelter, but Taz, the dog in the garage, was left behind. **Update – that night someone returned to the home and broke Taz out of the garage. The dogs are free…
Humans like that (not Hans) should be neutered before being allowed in public service! What a joke that community is fur sure.
This is the most unbelievable thing to see or read about. A good man is doing the right thing rescuing these dogs left to die and HE gets arrested?? This world is governed by evil…The bastards that left these innocent animals should be tracked down and arrested asap for animal neglect and animal cruelty…Tell me this story has a happy ending, I couldn’t stand reading the whole thing,..that the dogs are ok and the rescuer is out of jail. I would have done the same thing so I guess I would have spent time in jail too!!
Sandra: here in the usa. we don’t have a justes system.we have a leagle system. Why would they look for and punish the wrong doer. when they can arrest the person whom is doing the right thing.I mean its easyer. he is standing right there and they dont need to work to look for him. alsow it makes them feel good!!.they can go home feeling good. Yep they arrested somewone that saved a dogs life the hell with the real theafs. drugies,muggers,ect,ect…
real 
Ridiculous. What can we do to help? Does no one care if the dog left behind dies?? Our values as a society are sure messed up sometimes
AMY, I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING..! WHILE THEY ARE WAITING TO “”DO THE RIGHT THING”" (BUNCH OF CRAP) THAT DOG COULD DIE FROM THE HEAT.. DOING THE RIGHT THING COULD GET THIS POOR DOG KILLED.. SOME LAW’S NEED TO BE CHANGED..!! NOW..!!!!!!!!!!!!! STUPID PEOPLE..!!!
Poor Taz. I’m glad it looks like they shoved food and water under the door but it’s unacceptable. If they were human children they would enter the home. Dogs are even LESS able to care for themselves. They’re living beings. It’s inexcusable. If the city is worried about getting sued, change the law when an animal’s life is in danger.
This guy might technically be “arrestable” but they should obviously let him go. He did the right thing.
You just said everything I was going to!
agreed. i hope hans went back for taz as soon as he got released. he’s the only one who has some common sense.
This is ridiculous. In King County, WA you CAN trespass if you can articulate that an animal is in danger. I have a home on acreage next to me that is being foreclosed upon…family is splitting, major domestic violence. Left behind and being careful for by neighbors is two dogs. I am taking care of a horse that hasn’t had his feet trimmed for over two years (a job that is done about every 8 weeks)…feeding him and making sure he has water. We don’t know if the cat has been removed from the garage by one of the owners, has expired.
I am torn up inside about poor Taz! I do hope that he is okay. Hans did the right thing. I am sue I would have done the same. I do not think he should have been arrested. I sure says something that he was, just to keep Animal Services from being sued.
I can’t believe that poor Taz is still in the garage!
And I agree with Jenn… if these were human children no one would think twice about going in to get them out. Why is this hero not protected under the Good Samaritan laws?
So Lyndsay’s free, Paris is free, but this man doing the right thing is arrested? Honestly, the more I see of how our society is run, the less inclined I am to be a part of it.
The law is screwed up now a days, someone trys to do the right thing and gets arrested? what the hell is wrong with the system.
I commend you for doing such a great thing despite the consequences. Way to go!! You rock!!!
Enough with the Red Tape! Dismiss the charges against Han’s; he had NO criminal intent. Save the Dog(s) and arrest those who abandoned the dogs for Animal Abuse!
the funny thing is here in Columbus, OH if there is a dog in distress in a car LEGALLY you can break the window….that dog was panting far too much to be “fine” for a few days with a written notice
More evidence that no good deed goes unpunished. If the home was forclosed on the owner couldn’t go back as I understand it. Once forclosed on it belongs to the bank.
This is some major B.S.! If it were me trying to save these precious animals and I got arrested for it.. well I guess I would be arrested twice because as soon as I had gotten out the first time I would have immediately gone back to rescue the other dog, no matter what the consequence! This man was doing what some just sit back and watch happen and don’t even bother to lift a finger to help anyone, he should be commended for his actions and if they were going to arrest him for this anyways they should have at least waited untill he got every last animal off of the premises. Change the laws people!!! Why are we just sitting back and waiting on these animals to die because they had bad owners??? Step Up!!! And thank you to all who actually do, you are angels in the eyes of all, especially the voiceless!
I agree with you. Well said!
Thank you for saving the dogs. You are an American hero. It is a disgrace that our country arrest people like you but do nothing to the sick scum that would allow an animal to die a long, slow death.
Thank you so much!
What can you expect from Los Angeles. Illegals get better tresatment than helpless dogs. Scumm suckin cretins and the LAPD and Animal COntrol. The man should be given a medal
Yes!!!! The guy did the right thing. Thank God he did. The RIGHT THING. Something Government has lost the concept about. In Illinois, you can go in if the dog’s life is in peril.
Blessings to Hans for doing the right thing. We need to get a lawmaker involved here to change the law and compensate Hans and celebrate him for doing the right thing. I have a similar story only I did not rescue the dog myself. I worked through the agency who worked with the owner to get the owner to realise that keeping the dog on a 4 ” leash was inhumane. The gal had adopted the dog from Niki Animal Rescue to boot. I reported this to them, too. they said because of the law, there was nothing that could be done. I reported it to the police and they noted that because I had learned about the issue by having looked into my housemates window to see this, that they really needed to arrest me for eavesdropping! Time for the laws to change.
How screwed up is this story!! Why would they leave the dog in the garage behind??? How they arrest this man? I would have done the same thing!!!
If you are on facebook go to this link and join if you agree that he did the right thing. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hans-Peterson-is-a-Hero-To-Animals/102914806435037#!/pages/Hans-Peterson-is-a-Hero-To-Animals/102914806435037?ref=mf
Honestly, I (and almost everyone here) would have done the same thing that he did! Its crazy that they would arrest him for that!
What a bunch of jerks! The animals were abandoned. So they take the one they arrest the guy trying to save and leave the other there to starve to death? Can’t even fathom the stupidity and cruelty of such a dumb move.
What a crock of sh**! This guy is a hero and should be treated as such. I agree with all of the above, I too would have been arrested twice, because I would have broken in a 2nd time to rescue Taz. Whoever is in charge in LA should be ashamed of themselves and change the law, either that or resign. If these 2 furbabies were children he would be decorated as a f****** hero. Why are animals classed as less than people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The poor puppy that he did rescue was obviously stressed from being locked in for so long and poor Taz, I dread to think what he has gone through. PLEASE GROW SOME BALLS AND CHANGE THE LAW TO DEFEND THE ANIMALS RATHER THAN THE CRIMINALS!!!!
LAW IS LAW DOES NOT MATTER IF IT IS RIGHT OR WRONG AND IN THIS WHAT A SHAME…SYSTEM SUCKS!
LAW IS LAW, IT DOESN’T MATTER IF IT IS RIGHT OR WRONG AND IN THIS CASE….WHAT A SHAME. THE SYSTEM SUCKS!!!
Well, when asked about the arrest, he did give a good answer: Liability! In that case, can we get an address please. I’m near the area and it’s going to be dark soon!!! Dang, such idiots! Too angry with this post. Thanks for sharing and spreading the word.
You have GOT to be kidding me! Hans should have NEVER been arrested, the L.A. Animal Services should have been arrested….for abuse, along with the previous owners that left the Pups there. Leaving a dog PERIOD, is a crime!!!!! Not to mention with no food and water is a crime! I hope they get Taz out of the house before anything happens. Sad to say that someone is a criminal for saving animals! It doesn’t matter how he had to do it, it was done! I’d do the same thing!
UN~EFFING~BELIEVABLE! These Animal Control Officers are A~HOLES! If they absolutely had to have Hans arrested-which in my opinion they didn’t-they could’ve at least let him get Taz out of the garage 1st. What a CRAP system! Isn’t the home the property of the bank once it’s foreclosed? Why doesn’t someone call the bank? I’m sure SOMEONE there has a HEART! Hopefully Taz doesn’t die of heatstroke before all the “proper steps are taken”. If Taz doesn’t make it, Animal Control & the Police who arrested Hans killed him!
Hi five to Hans
What a disgrace the cops and animal control are in LA, totally disgustinig. What is it going to take to end the stupidity and cruelty.
This Country is going to Hell in a hand basket.
Good grief! What about arresting and fining the people who left the dogs in that situation to start with?
That is just a horrible thing, leave behind animals in a locked house to starve to death, how weak & disgraceful of those people. Hans (a caring person) being arrested is downright pathetic and the law needs to change to protect animals, not arrest the people who give their time and effort in rescuing animals everywhere. I am on Hans side here !!!
If this happened in Toronto, Canada, I’m sure the police would have control to rescue all animals. They break car windows if they see a dog in distress without consent of anyone! I find this cop should have used more attention to this situation,
arrested r u serious?? the owners of the dogs need to be behind bars without probation!!!
I’m sure the owners took everything and “forgot” the dogs!! My God, what is this world coming to? It’s bad enough the dogs were left, but for this man to be arrested for the welfare of the dogs! It’s disgusting.
Hans u r a HERO my friend. If you ever need bail as I know you would do it again as would I give me a call
Here is a video on animal rights: http://meat.org
This is the sort of thing that makes me absolutely sick to my stomach…why in the hell won’t ACC go in and rescue that other dog?? Oh yeah–because they are worthless, pathetic, ridiculous, and HORRIBLE. Why would the SCUM who left these dogs come back? CLEARLY THEY HAVE ABANDONED THE ANIMALS–this is neglect at the very least, and calling it abuse would not be a stretch of the definition! The man who went in to get the puppy did THE RIGHT THING, the decent thing–and the way the cops were on the scene to arrest him just confirms my less-than-warm feelings toward law enforcement–I bet it takes more time for the cops to arrive in this neighborhood to investigate a murder! Please continue to follow this situation!
This is idiotic. I hope something good comes of it.
This wouldn’t have happened if the if the bank holding the mortgage had checked the property when the people moved out.!
If doing what is right can get police fired, then they should all be fired. I’m afraid I don’t see two sides to this story. SHAME ON THE LA PD!!!
This is so stupid !! arresting someone who is trying to make things right? Just cuz those victims are dogs doesn’t mean they are less valuable!! Those authority should really look into changing their regulations.
What a joke to hear them say ” he is interfering with the investigation” ..
I really hope Hanz was released shortly after his arrest.
Bunch of crap..!! Dog’s left to starve and left for dead rescued by a man to save their life and is put in jail for doing a good deed…!!! What’s wrong with this picture..!!?? My God he saved them..!! Now jail time..!! Plus leaving the one in garage ! Could die from the heat..! This is abuse..!!!!!!!!!! And it’s the law doing this.! Thing’s need to change…. NOW>>!!!!! This is just so unfair to animal’s.! If it was a human they would go right in, why not for an animal..?? They don’t count or what..?? ABUSE, ABUSE, ABUSE..!!
DESPICABLE! WHO IS GOING TO RESCUE THE DOG DYING IN THE GARAGE??? THIS IS A LIFE WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. SOMEONE NEEDS SOME COMMON SENSE KNOCKED INTO THEM ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I have called the South LA shelter and let them know how I felt. 888-452-7381. I told them I was from CT and I found them to be worthless C&%Ts and deserved to be locked in a room with no food water or shade with temperatures i exess of 105 degrees. and that I would not allow anyone to go near the doog to toss in food or water!
Someone needs to arrest the LAPD!!! After 24 hours those puppies should have been considered abandoned and in need of human assistance! PERIOD.
Oh my word. Hans deserves an Humanity award
Madi and Mom
I have called the South LA shelter and let them know how I felt. 888-452-7381. I told them I was from CT and I found them to be worthless C&%Ts and deserved to be locked in a room with no food water or shade with temperatures i exess of 105 degrees. and that I would not allow anyone to go near the dog to toss in food or water!
Okay, there is something wrong with this… Why do the dogs get to suffer because the LAPD and their so called owner are stupid and wrong? This guy is a hero!
Sam
Who was the loser that called the police?
I loath law enforcement. LOATH YOU ALL! And being that I was actually almost crazy enough to marry one until I came to my senses I can honestly say that cops deserve nothing more than to be spit at. Any one who could arrest a man for helping a living creature this way should be ashamed of himself and is far from a man. he is a worthless disgusting small tiny little C*^T who should be stripped of his uniform. And this is America?? We claim to be a civilized humane culture? Take your laws and stick um up your mommas ass! Regardless of the law this is a living dog. anyone who feels this arrest was warranted is a low life worthless rotten disgusting miserable C*^T and I wish he get locked in a hot garage for 30 days with no food no water and no shade to stay cool.
Hans is my hero !!! The laws need to be changed. trust me,I would have done the same thing.the dog’s life is more important than being arrested by those idiots. they need to go after the idiots that left the dogs behind and lock them in the garage for a few weeks. THANK YOU HANS !!!!!!!!!!
I agree with you William. The animal “neglecters” have more rights than the “animal protectors.” Our country is screwed up when it comes to animals…we are a only hiccup away from being 3rd world!
second comment upon further thought…Fire the animal control officer and those who wouldn’t help these dogs! How many more animals are currently abandoned in foreclosures waiting for Hans to come rescue them? This is wrong and Hans isn’t the one who should be arrested!
Thanks Hans !!!!!!! Today U R a hero
Exactly! Go Hans!!!
This guy did the RIGHT thing! Dismiss any idiotic charges and take care of the dogs!
These people are HEROES, Sue the people that left the animals to die behind. What is wrong with our legal system? There needs to be strict laws against leaving a living being behind to die in an abandoned house. There was no way these animals would’ve survived especially since animal services was so scared about being sued(what about caring for the animals isn’t that your job?)
Thanks Hans! Wish there were more people like you in this world.
Hans…you rock! Thank God there are good people like you out there for the animals.
They should be taking the owners away in handcuffs, not you!!!!
Thats LA County for you! Arresting the wrong people! However, and the animal control officer was partially wrong in this case. If a crime is being committed (which aniaml abandsonment is especially if you have witness-the neighbor- that they had be left for days) then any sworn officer can enter a building.- He could have also easily called PD to get a warrent. He was just a lazy ass and Im gald someone was there to stand up for the dogs.
The person who should have been arrested is the ones who LEFT the dogs BEHIND! Hans….YOU ARE MY HERO! <3
Hans Peterson should receive an award for saving this puppy’s life. The LAPD was totally wrong to arrest a citizen who is doing a good deed. What happened to Taz? Did he make it out alive? The owners of the house should be arrested, not Hans!
HANS, YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE ANGEL, GOD BLESS YOU!
They need to charge the slum tenants who left the dogs…… not someone who rescued them… He did the right thing along with the dog in the garage… shame on the county for pressing charges….
I want to help Hans. I want to share his story with the world and have the world demand his release, charges brought against Animal Control and the Police for false arrest and animal cruelty/neglect, and I want all charges on Hans to be dropped. I am friends with an animal lawyer and we can help. Please have Hans contact me at [email protected]. The interview is done over the phone at his convenience. SET HANS FREE! Pawz Up, Leigh (creator and host of The Pawz Cauze Show heard in over 200 countries world wide)
First person to get me in contact with Hans for an interview for my show will receive a copy of Music for the Animals CD by Maria Daines. I, as the founder and host of The Pawz Cauze Show, officially announce that Hans Peterson is the Pawz Applauze WINNER for the year 2010. I have not heard of a greater sacrifice in the name of saving an animal as this and I doubt if I will before this year is over. I REALLY need to get in contact with Hans. Thank you to anyone who can help. Pawz Up, Leigh [email protected]
Hooray for Hans!!! He was arrested for interfering with Animal Control? Well, if Animal Control had done their job, he wouldn’t have had to. Hope he gets a dog-loving Judge. My little Arlo was left behind too. Neighborhood kids brought him to me. ( I don’t know or care if they broke into the house to get him out) Three years later, he still is traumatized if I go away for a few days or worse, pack up stuff to paint a room. When I painted, he would be OK until bedtime and then he would start panting, pacing and shaking. He was petrified I would leave him behind in the middle of the night. I could not comfort him. Very sad. Otherwise, he is now a very happy fellow.
This must be some new definition of “conducting one’s duties” that I am not familiar with.
WTF??? release this guy!! I would have done the same thing. Whats wrong with those cops??
whats wrong with them is they had no empathy to begin with.Suppose the dogs were hot,dehydated, or they starved to death , because of their genune lack of concern,what would have been there response to a bunch of angry citizens? they should be glad someone stepped in to help because he obviously saved that county alot of embarrassment. now they really should be embarrassed,or maybe thats why they arressted him, out of embarrassment for being to lazy to put in genune effort on their own part.
I agree with all comments, so I have nothing to add except GO HANS!!!! You rock. I would like to think I would be willing to be arrested for doing the right thing too.
The law is an ass worldwide. I take it the Animal Services did leave a warning notification that day?? And thank goodness there are people like Hans in the world. Trouble is the arseholes outnumber the Angels.
Thank you Hans!!!
This women has a good heart to put her life on hold to help these dogs.
God will give back to a women like this . God Bless angel:)
Yay for Hans and for people caring enough to ignore um, “laws(?)”. Seems they are picking and choosing which “laws” to enforce.
The Road Dogs
Thank God for Hans!
Also arent we all forgetting the unknown person who broke in that night and saved Taz?????? This person had to guts to do it after Hans was arrested! To the person I say Good going! You are a real hero. I bow down to you.
Hans is wonderful! I am facing a similar fight tonight. The home we were renting was foreclosed ,and a kitten(s?) was locked in the garage. I think he has a home down the street. I heard him in the garage. He was looking at me through the window. I used to feed the neighborhood strays and now am debating whether to try and reach someone or break a window; knowing I could get arrested. He cannot stay in there the weekend. It is a terrible problem today and in my opinion, the banks and courts suck! Again, I would have done what Hans did, at least I want to think so. God bless!
With all the homes being foreclosed and people no longer having the money to care for their pets this is becoming a huge problem. There needs to be new laws enacted that will give the proper authorites the right to enter these homes on behalf of the pets abandoned. Call or email your legislators and get them to sponsor a bill for this problem.
This is so wrong!!! This is what is wrong with our Law Enforcement today!!! I would do the same thing if in the same situation!!! I have stepped in when I have seen cruelty happening. I act before I think!!!
This is what happens when officials don’t use their brains when following procedure! If it was an established fact that the animals were left without food and water for days and the people still lived there, the animals could be removed from the home on the basis of animal abuse and the owners could be arrested; but because the home is in foreclosure the brain surgeons from LA Animal services decided they had to leave these poor animals , they know for a fact are not being fed or given water since no one is at home, because they “might get sued by the owners” aka the animal abusers. Yeah sure, the jurors on that case would really give the heartless owners taxpayers money for abandoning their dogs! And then the spineless official decides the hero, Hans Peterson, a man who decided to use his God given common sense in this situation, should be arrested. Yeah, take a stand against the hero instead of doing the right thing and saving the dogs! UNBELIEVABLE!!! Whoever made that decision should be fired. Thank God for Hans Peterson and the person that made the call to help the dogs.
This just makes me sad and mad. I commend Hans and those neighbors for trying and I also believe that part of what is ruining this nation is putting liability before compassion and the life of an innocent creature. It’s not just LA, or Seattle or Denver, or wherever, it’s everywhere and its downright shameful and sickening. They’re more concerned w/ what the “owners” will do to the city vs what they did to those dogs? Last time I checked, to serve and protect was not limited to human beings. I would have done the same thing and a night in jail would be totally worth it as would any fines the county had to shell out to get their monthly income. I hate our legal system, backwards and forwards. Guilty til proven innocent, protect criminals and punish the good doers….none of it makes sense anymore and I am extremely disappointed in the lack of morals exercised in these situations. Those people all cared and did the right thing-it is the police and this so called “justice system” that should bow their heads in shame.