Before Buddy There Was Moose

It was the day before Thanksgiving, almost a year ago. An animal advocate, as well as citizen of Wylie, decided to visit the animals. Her heart was touched by the season and wanted to check in on the forgotten citizens of Wylie. So off to the shelter she and her young adult daughter went. There could have been other things to do the day before a national holiday, but her heart pulled her there.

The shelter was quiet. After all, who would want to visit animals the day before Thanksgiving? It was staffed minimally. While 2 animal control officers stayed up front, the kennel tech escorted the to women to the back where the dogs are kept.

As the women entered the kennels, they were surprised to see that only half of the kennels were were actually occupied. None of the dogs had beds. Instead, across each kennel was a duplicate kennel. In these empty kennels were raised beds propped up against the empty kennel wall. Later she would learn that this is normal. It allows for the staff to have an easier go at cleaning.

The women began walking down the aisle. They came across a sweet white and brown lab mix dog just desperate for attention. The dog was standing up on his hind paws, just trying to reach out to them. As they got closer they noticed blood on the concrete floor and spattered across the white brick wall. They asked why there was dried and wet blood in the kennel. The tech informed them that the dog keeps hitting the wall with his tail, causing the tip of his tail to be raw and bleeding. No medication was offered. No bandage to protect the wound. Just an anxious pup looking for someone to spend time with him.

They continued. Right next door was a scared, wimping brown dog. A small thing, trying to get around the kennel by hopping around on 3 legs. He was visibly in pain and unable to put his 4th leg down.  The women inquired what was wrong. They were told that in the morning while the staff cleaned out kennels, one held the little dog. Without warning, the dog jumped out of his arms and fell to the floor. The women asked if the dog was going to be treated by a vet since it was 3 pm on Thanksgiving Eve, but they were told that it was not something the director does. They asked if he was being given pain medication but the tech didn't respond.

 
Concerned for this little dog, the women asked what was going to happen to the dog. The tech said it would be a very sad day for the dog come Monday. The women's heart sank.

At that time the ACO in charge walked in. They asked if it was true that the dog would remain in the kennel over the holiday weekend, with no medical attention. The ACO in charge confirmed this and added that the city doesn't have it in their budget to take the animals to the vet. She insinuated that since the dog was injured, he would be "put down" come Monday. She said it was probably his fate, but they would have to make that decision on Monday. The women were horrified.

The ACO in charge explained that since the dog was injured, he was no longer adoptable. Trying to educate the women, she stated that people don't want to adopt dogs that are sick or hurt because they would then have to spend more money on them. So there was really nothing they could do. The ACO in charge left.

The kennel tech shared with the women that he had been arguing with them just days earlier for putting a sweet and healthy pitbull down. He felt bad for Moose and all the other animals being put down, but said that when they make that decision everyone just jumps and does it.

The women sobbed thinking about Moose's fate. They immediately decided to adopt him. They talked with the ACO in charge, who said the fee would be $75. They asked if they could get a discounted rate, since he was deemed him unadoptable. But the ACO in charge would not alter the adoption price. It didn't matter. The women adopted Moose and rushed him to their vet, Thanksgiving Eve.

Moose was diagnosed with a broken leg, but because he was estimated to be about 7 months old, the vet said the break would heal naturally on it's own. Moose also had a urinary track infection. He was sent off with his new family and some antibiotics and spent the long holiday weekend in a home surrounded by love and care.

It took about 6 months for his leg to completely heal. Moose is now just a happy little camper, living life as a family's pet companion. His emotional and physical scars from his experience is behind him and his story is that of success. But more than that, he represents HOPE for all the other animals finding themselves in the shelter.

While Buddy's story ended in tragedy, Moose was slated for the same. It took 2 women with big hearts to change his future. With your voice, and ours, WE can do the same and change the future for ALL the animals that find their way to OUR shelter.

How Do You Help a Depressed Shelter Dog? You Kill Him

At least that's what the City of Wylie Animal Services does (and many other "shelters" nationwide). The real question is when is it going to stop?

This story is about Buddy, a Rhodesian Ridgeback caught in the middle of bureaucratic irresponsibility led by control freaks that seem to dominate the animal shelter industry. But his story is just one of millions happening all throughout our country. And until we, as citizens of our individual towns and cities, large and small, come together and demand better for our community animals, we will have a long haul ahead of us.

The good news is there ARE towns and cities making a difference. If you haven't already been introduced to the No Kill Advocacy Center, I urge you to visit their site and do your own research. Knowledge is power, and it is the ONLY way we will win this fight. And make no mistake, it IS a fight. At stake are the lives of helpless, homeless, abused, neglected, lost and frightened animals that need our collective voices to speak up for them.

Buddy entered the City of Wylie Animal Services facility like many other dogs do. He was a stray found on the streets by a Good Samaritan. Thinking the best way to get him back to his rightful family, the Good Samaritan brought him to the facility in mid August. He was already neutered which is a good indication that he was cared for and disputes the antiquated excuses shelters give when killing an animal - "irresponsible pet ownership". 

Buddy sat and waited for his owners to find him. But they never did. As with most "shelters" Buddy was given a minimum hold period (in Wylie it's 7 days), and when those days were over, his fate rested in the hands of the shelter director.

Had he been in a TRUE shelter, that adheres to the No Kill Equation set forth by the No Kill Advocacy Center, he may have found his family. Their strategies include Proactive Redemptions (otherwise known as Return to Owner Programs). In many No Kill Communities, Proactive Redemptions boil down to actions taken by Animal Control Officers “in the field.” These steps include things like scanning animals for microchips, checking for rabies tags or identification tags, checking on lost pet web sites and making limited inquiries of businesses and homes in the area where the animal was picked up. While it may be more work initially, it is less work for the staff back at the shelter. It means less animals entering the shelter and more animals going home alive.

However, Buddy was brought in by a Good Samaritan. While Proactive Redemptions start in the field, they don't end in the field. Utilizing volunteers to check lost and found reports, an efficient website where these reports can be generated and an active social media marketing plan all go towards getting the animal back home.

Buddy, unfortunately, did not go to a TRUE shelter. Instead he found himself in an obsolete shelter, where talk of change versus CHANGE exists. Sure, there has been a little progress to move towards a No Kill shelter, but it has been extremely small and taken well over 2 years in the making. Still, the "shelter" listed him on their Facebook page, and he was given the opportunity to be seen through a couple of offsite adoption events; items that have been like pulling teeth to get, to utilize efficiently and to maintain.

Volunteers at the "shelter" described Buddy as follows:

He was a great personality. Never spoke a word and was always happy to see anyone that came near his kennel or crate. Walked well on a leash and would constantly look back at you as you walked him to flash a smile of content back at you for giving him the time of day.

He was a great boy that would have been your constant companion and in essence your best "buddy". He always had a smile and lots of kisses to share!

Yet Buddy remained at the "shelter" waiting for his chance at a forever home. At the beginning of October, volunteers worked intensely to help Buddy get out of the "shelter". The volunteers reached out to the Texas Independent Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue Group, a rescue specializing in finding homes for this specific breed. They agreed to pull Buddy from the "shelter" once a foster home could be found. Immediately the volunteers set out to find a foster home. In their email dated October 2nd, they informed the shelter director that a rescue group was on board and a foster home was being secured.

On October 22nd, another Wylie animal advocate called the "shelter" to check up on the status of Buddy. She was aware of the rescue and foster that had been found for Buddy and wanted to see if things were moving forward. She was told by a staff member that no information could be given out about him. She pressed about wanting to know if Buddy was still at the shelter, and again told they could not answer that. She demanded to speak with the shelter director.

The director stated that Buddy was "depressed and not socializing well", a fact disputed by all volunteers that had come to know Buddy. She stated that even though the "shelter" was currently NOT full, Buddy was "euthanized" (aka KILLED) because of his depression and not because of space. She emphatically declared that the "shelter" is NOT a HOME and that she had to make a "tough" decision.

Not once did the shelter director contact the volunteers that worked feverishly to get everything set up for Buddy's salvation. No excuse was given as to why other dogs are given more time, yet Buddy was not. Not once did the director inform the volunteers that Buddy's time was limited, or to inquire about when the rescue and foster would be pulling him.

Instead, even with ample space for Buddy to remain, she KILLED him. And even though the staff is slow to updating animals available for adoption on their Facebook page, Buddy was immediately removed from their page as if he never existed.

Well Buddy DID exist. And he DID have a family that loved him (enough to neuter him) and most likely tried to find him. He had volunteers that worked WITHOUT pay, to try and find him a place to go where he could be safe until he found a new forever home. People that worked tirelessly for him and others just like him, only to be slapped in the face by the very people that ARE getting paid to protect our community animals.

Buddy will NOT be forgotten. He CANNOT be simply erased from our hearts like he was erased from their Facebook page. And we WILL continue to FIGHT for every animal, in every "shelter" who's fate is slated to be like Buddy's.

RIP Buddy...your death will NOT BE IN VANE!