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!
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