Kuvasz Fanciers of America PO Box 80596 Bakersfield CA 93380    Kuvasz Fanciers of America, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are also certified as a tax exempt charitable corporation in the State of California. Your contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

The History of the Karpati Rescue
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August 21, 2006

16 dogs still need homes!

Thanks to the efforts of many, many people, all 49 dogs made it safely out of Binghamton. The majority of the dogs went to foster care and rehab with Lisa Boyle, Leanne Parks, and Steve Kovacs. Most of the dogs have stayed in the Northeast. They are as working livestock guardians or family companions.

We can't rest yet, there are still 16 dogs needing permanent homes. These are the dogs that have not shown any livestock guarding ability and will be placed as companions.  That means there are 16 dogs waiting to join your family!

How about using your end of summer vacation to bring one of these dogs into your home?

We realize you want to see recent photos of the 16 and read really great stories about their progress, but we're working with the dogs and can't get to it now.  Here are the photos we already have: Karpati Photos

To adopt one of the these dogs, please fill out this application

Here's the Kuvasz-O-Meter for the 16 dogs in foster care with Steve Kovacs, Leanne Parks, and Lisa Boyle

August 12, 2006

The 8 kuvasz remaining at the shelter in Binghamton have been moved to foster care/rehab with Steve Kovacs.

July 22, 2006  Karpati Photos added.
AKC/CAR donated free microchip enrollment for each dog.

July 12, 2006 Medical Update, info from Steve Kovacs and Lisa Boyle , edited by Gail Dash

One of the three bitches spayed on the 11th died following surgery.

The older bitch with the large mammary tumors is in foster care at The Sanctuary for Animals. The tumors were removed and she was spayed. One tumor is suspected malignant, tissue sample sent to the lab.

July 11, 2006 Update from Steve Kovacs

I'm remiss in providing an update for the 22 dogs brought down. Needless to say, things are a little busy. While it's late, I'll try to write something of interest below, I hope.

The dogs are settling in, and starting to come out of their shells. We're starting to see some who were a little reticent, be more demanding of attention, with more "hi, good to see you's". A couple of the males are being more "I'm the MALE KUVASZ ya know, don't forget that". Nothing extraordinary, but they are feeling comfortable enough to feel a few oats.

Mogar is just Mogar. He seems to have weathered this the best. He was consistent and interactive from the start, and is the same now. He knows who he is, what he's going to do, and that's just the way it is. I get a kick out of him.

In general, as you walk down the barn, you see a series of white heads looking out and checking to see what's going on. The first day or so, only one or two. Now, lots more.

There are some who are just plain happy to see you.

There are a few who are still a little shyer than I'd like them to be, but since there has not been much one on one work with them, that's to be expected.

One pair, male/female, where three days ago, on arrival, they'd both stay at the back of the stall, with the girl was always behind the male. He was "protecting" her, even though he wasn't all that sure of himself, either. They'd do that even if you looked in to say hi. Now, they'll stay split apart (still towards the back), when you do the look in and "hi" and look at you with ears up, as you talk to them. Push a little more and they still do the routine, but not as intensely.

One girl is very shy. I'm most concerned about trying to get her more comfortable and to come out more. I don't know if she will, here, or if she will need a very nurturing home. I spent a little time with her today, and she was "ok" standing next to me and being talked to/patted. Not really interacting with it entirely (didn't make a point of looking at me etc) but she responded. No aggression with her shyness, even when she was startled a little. She needs a quiet environment, she needs to build trust with someone, and work outwards from there. How far that will go I don't think we'll know until she goes through it in a new home. Where all the other dogs, when you feed them, get very busy eating, she still waits until we leave to eat.

an interesting pattern that we've noticed with a some of them. If you go in to say feed them or water them, standing up, taking care of business. They will keep a distance. If, however, you sit down on your heels (to screw something in to hold a water bucket, or make believe you're doing something) they come right over, say hi, poke you, lick your ear. I'm thinking of one or two instances in particular, One pair together, and one of the males. You'd think they were just not too social standing up, and you end up with big hi's, whatcha you doing, squatting down. It is a very marked difference. Almost as if they had two patterns of interaction previously, one business, and one a social visit. This is with the same person, not two different people, which makes it more unusual in my mind. (I could see if, for example, I brought them food, and moved to the next stall, I'd be business, and if John went in to do something else, and sat on his heels etc, he might be the social guy. This reaction is to the same person, just depending on what they do).

July 8, 2006 Update from Steve Kovacs

22 of the Kuvasz at the farm are now down here [Lisa and John Boyle's Cross Creek Farm in New Hampton, NY] in some very nice horse stalls, resting after their sojourn.

There are still 11 at the farm. I believe it's 15 at the HS shelter. There will be another trip up there to get the rest. We also expect several may be picked up directly from HS, which may reduce the load on how many more we need to bring down.

Tomorrow we'll evaluate the dogs here, the first pass. You can determine pretty quickly with some where they'd fit. Others I think will take a little longer to settle down to be fairly evaluated.

NO dog, unloading, tried to bite. A few were extremely scared. Even so, none tried to bite, or even growled. That's a tribute I think both to the dogs' temperament, and to the people handling them. Most were surprisingly stable about the whole venture. Most were uncertain about what and why things were happening, but once they were on leads and moved, they understood it was time to get out of the carrier and to somewhere else. I did a quick walk through just as we were leaving. Several of them looked up pretty brightly, a few were curled up asleep. Overall I was very impressed with how they were reacting, and how that reflects their temperament.

We want to get some pictures as well, but today was too hectic, with too much going on, to do that.

There is an image that sticks in my mind that's worth sharing. The transport is a large, one piece horse carrier. Probably 30 or 34 feet long. Those have a door in the middle with a ramp to bring down the horses. Standing on the side, I watched as they opened that side door. Looking in, all you could see were Kuvasz heads, different sizes, different heights in the crates, looking out. It's quite an image to keep: that many Kuvasz heads all in one "spot" that way.

Another, One of the shyer females was in a top crate, which put her at shoulder level. She was in the back of her crate. At one point everyone else was in the barn moving dogs around. I leaned up on the wall next to her and talked to her a little. Putting the back of my hand up against the crate mesh door. After only a minute or two of talking, she was half up towards me in the crate, and looking at me. Even in that short time, she was making a connection to a person and responding.

The people from the animal sanctuary [Sanctuary For Animals in Westtown, NY] are remarkable. Really remarkable. They were so professional about working with the dogs, moving them out of the carrier, at one point Lisa and I looked at each other to say "ok, so what do we get to do?".

Where we talk among ourselves about how to handle a Kuvasz, they were working with these dogs, one after the other, taking one out of a crate in the small open space in the carrier. Letting the dog sort itself out, whether that meant standing there, or running around in a circle, then moving calmly to the dog to put a slip leash on them. Actually two. One person on each side, then opening the gate and moving the dogs down and outside, and into the barn. The situation was calm, controlled, organized. Whatever a dog was going to do, was not going to create a problem. Perhaps that's why there was no problem. Lisa's husband, John, btw, was usually the person on the second lead.

There is an incredible amount of work to do. Lisa (and John, too, he's quietly there all the time) deserves as many thanks and kudos, for what she has done and what she is going to be doing, that we as a community can offer. It was so busy I don't think there was time for what's she just done to sink in. 22 Kuvasz have just been moved to stability and care. "Done". The rest to come, the same way.

For tonight, at least, there should be a real sense of accomplishment about that first, and most important step for these dogs. Yes, there is still a lot to do a lot. Yes, there are still needs, yes, there's still concern about costs, a need for donations and all the rest. But right now there are 22

22!!!! Kuvasz settled in and secure. And for the rest, there is movement and a future.

On July 2, 2006 we began organizing rescue efforts to remove the dogs, spay/neuter, and work with them in foster homes until new permanent homes are ready to accept them.

If you would be interested in adopting one of the these dogs, please fill out this application

If you would like to donate to Kuvasz Fanciers of America, Inc. for this effort please send your check to:

		from Fox 40 Whitney Point Duo Arrested For Burglary 6/21/2006 An investigation into possible neglect of animals led to the arrest of two Whitney Point men, who police said robbed the homeowner's house while he was dead inside the home. The suspects carried out the heist at the Town of Nanticoke home for five days straight, after authorities said the two men discovered the body of 68 year-old Paul Korniczky, and failed to report the death to authorities. Taken in the burglary were farm and garden tractors, along with several guns and ATVs.  Both 51 year-old Albert Mallia of Lisle and 46 year-old Earl Sessions of Whitney Point face felony burglary charges.
		From WCBS 880 Posted: Wednesday, 21 June 2006 5:58PM Binghamton Pair Charged with Stealing from Dead Man BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (AP)  -- Two Binghamton-area men have been accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of items they found on a dead man.     Investigators say one of the men found 68-year-old Paul Korniczky dead in his Nanticoke home last month.    Instead of notifying authorities, 51-year-old Albert Mallia allegedly stole tractors, a canoe, an ATV, three guns and other property from the home with 46-year-old Earl Sessions.     The men have been charged with felony burglary.     Neither has been implicated in the death. Police say Korniczky apparently died of natural causes. © MMVI The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
		from WCAX Police: Suspects stole man's property after finding him dead BINGHAMTON, N.Y. Two Binghamton-area men have been accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of items they found on a dead man. Investigators say one of the men found 68-year-old Paul Korniczky dead in his Nanticoke home last month. Instead of notifying authorities, 51-year-old Albert Mallia allegedly stole tractors, a canoe, an A-T-V, three guns and other property from the home with 46-year-old Earl Sessions. The men have been charged with felony burglary. Neither has been implicated in the death. Police say Korniczky apparently died of natural causes. (Bob Joseph, WNBF, Binghamton) Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.