History   Lodestar   The 1992 Injunction   The Investigation of Lodestar   Trial Details   The Rescue

Vicci Andrews found guilty of not providing proper shelter and care for the animals in her care

November 16th, 2002:The PCHS, where most of the dogs who were rescued from Lodestar are residing, is closing for a six month period. They will no longer be taking in animals from the community and they will not be having adoptions from the facility.

August 27th, 2002:A peculiar ad, presumably taken out by Vicci or misguided supporters of Vicci, appeared in a local swap and shop paper advertising that the Lodestar dogs are not available for adoption. Vicci intends to try to regain custody of her victims once the six month time frame is complete.

July 12, 2002 ruling: The judge found Vicci Andrews guilty of neglect, a Class A Misdemeanor which allowed the judge to pass a 6 months sentence. For more info on the trial go here

    Thank you's to:
  • The many volunteers who helped to rescue the animals out of Lodestar and bring them to PCHS on the day of the arrest of Vicci Andrews for cruelty to animals.
  • PETA for sending much needed manpower, two times, to PCHS to help care for the dogs.
  • HSUS for sending an animal consultant, Kim Staton, to help with the initial setup after the raid. Kim also did manual labor as well as bought supplies using her own funds.
  • PETsMART Charities for their cash contribution of $1,000.

  • Best Friends Sanctuary for their cash contribution of $500.
  • IAMS for their contribution of 3,500 pounds of quality dog food.
  • Rogers Humane Society for 1,000 pounds of dog food.
  • Dogwood grooming for 100 pounds of dog food and grooming for two dogs.
  • PETA for paying the veterinarian for the vet checks done the weekend of the raid.
     Updates on the Rescue from
Lodestar in Arkansas
  • The numerous people who sent private cash donations.
  • The many fosters who are helping and who wish to help.


Latest report out on PCHS indicates bare minimum to inadequate care for the animals while staying at PCHS. There is no longer a caretaker on staff. The tarps that had been removed have been recently replaced, though. Recent photos of the lodestar dogs held at PCHS show the doghouses are breaking and the dogs are very thin, however those photos were taken probably over a month ago.
No matter how bad things get this winter at PCHS, the dogs are better off than they were at Lodestar.

Stories from the Rescue

Eye witness account of the first dog rescued out of the trailer



"The little, old black dog ............. She was the first dog we got out of Vicci's trailer. Many of the other dogs were scared to death, but it was like she knew why we were there. There was 3 inches of feces and urine caked in her small carrier. She could barely turn around. When I got her out, she rolled in the grass and gladly went into a clean, larger carrier. When she was put into the pen at the hs, she rolled in the grass and looked so happy and grateful. It gave her dignity. That's what I want for those dogs."

Eye witness account (with an update) of one of the last dogs rescued

"At the back of the property, there was a sort of "no man's land" where the dogs were surely the most neglected. Inside the very last pen was one brindle dog. She snapped and bared her teeth as attempts were made to coerce her into a cage. The sun was going down and rescuers were exhausted, but we were determined not to leave her behind. Finally, after many failed attempts, she was safely inside the cage.

At the PCHS shelter she was placed in a pen with several other dogs. For the first few days, she seemed very shy, staying in the corner of her pen. There was also the concern that she might still be aggressive. But within a week, her true personality started to shine through. She began to wag her whole body as she would come to the fence for nose rubs and pats on the head. She is no longer afraid and can trust again."