Sunday, January 31, 2010

Oscar, Feline Angel of Death



Oscar, a hospice cat with an uncanny knack for predicting when nursing home patients are going to die, sits outside a patient's room at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, R.I.

Just-Released Book Profiles Feline Angel of Death

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 31) -- The scientist in Dr. David Dosa was skeptical when first told that Oscar, an aloof cat kept by a nursing home, regularly predicted patients' deaths by snuggling alongside them in their final hours.

Dosa's doubts eroded after he and his colleagues tallied about 50 correct calls made by Oscar over five years, a process he explains in a book released this week, "Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat." (Hyperion, $23.99) The feline's bizarre talent astounds Dosa, but he finds Oscar's real worth in his fierce insistence on being present when others turn away from life's most uncomfortable topic: death.

"People actually were taking great comfort in this idea, that this animal was there and might be there when their loved ones eventually pass," Dosa said. "He was there when they couldn't be."

Dosa, 37, a geriatrician and professor at Brown University, works on the third floor of the Steere House, which treats patients with severe dementia. It's usually the last stop for people so ill they cannot speak, recognize their spouses and spend their days lost in fragments of memory.

He once feared that families would be horrified by the furry grim reaper, especially after Dosa made Oscar famous in a 2007 essay in the New England Journal of Medicine. Instead, he says many caregivers consider Oscar a comforting presence, and some have praised him in newspaper death notices and eulogies.

"Maybe they're seeing what they want to see," he said, "but what they're seeing is a comfort to them in a real difficult time in their lives."

The nursing home adopted Oscar, a medium-haired cat with a gray-and-brown back and white belly, in 2005 because its staff thinks pets make the Steere House a home. They play with visiting children and prove a welcome distraction for patients and doctors alike.

After a year, the staff noticed that Oscar would spend his days pacing from room to room. He sniffed and looked at the patients but rarely spent much time with anyone - except when they had just hours to live.

He's accurate enough that the staff - including Dosa - know it's time to call family members when Oscar stretches beside their patients, who are generally too ill to notice his presence. If kept outside the room of a dying patient, he'll scratch at doors and walls, trying to get in.

Nurses once placed Oscar in the bed of a patient they thought gravely ill. Oscar wouldn't stay put, and the staff thought his streak was broken. Turns out, the medical professionals were wrong, and the patient rallied for two days. But in the final hours, Oscar held his bedside vigil without prompting.

Dosa does not explain Oscar scientifically in his book, although he theorizes the cat imitates the nurses who raised him or smells odors given off by dying cells, perhaps like some dogs who scientists say can detect cancer using their sense of scent.

At its heart, Dosa's search is more about how people cope with death than Oscar's purported ability to predict it. Dosa suffers from inflammatory arthritis, which could render his joints useless. He worries about losing control of his life in old age, much as his patients have lost theirs.

Parts of his book are fictionalized. Dosa said several patients are composite characters, though the names and stories of the caregivers he interviews are real and many feel guilty. Donna Richards told Dosa that she felt guilty for putting her mother in a nursing home. She felt guilty for not visiting enough. When caring for her mother, Richards felt guilty about missing her teenage son's swimming meets.

Dosa learns to live for the moment, much like Oscar, who delights in naps and chin scratches or the patient who recovers enough to walk the hall holding the hand of the husband she'll eventually forget.

The doctor advises worried family members to simply be present for their loved ones.

Richards was at her mother's bedside nonstop as she died. After three days, a nurse persuaded her to go home for a brief rest. Despite her misgivings, Richards agreed. Her mother died a short while later.

But she didn't die alone. Oscar was there.


http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/doctors-book-profiles-furry-angel-of-death-oscar-the-cat/19339074


?icid=main|hp-desktop|dl2|link1|http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/doctors-book-profiles-furry-angel-of-death-oscar-the-cat/19339074

Saturday, January 30, 2010

STOP New Yorks Coyote Killing Contests

URGENT! Calls Needed To Protect Wildlife In NYS -- Please Cross-Post ASAP!



Hi Everyone,

Did you know that coyote slaughter "contests" have been held in New York State and there are more scheduled for February? This is a free-for-all activity to kill as many as you can with monetary prizes awarded for the heaviest, etc. Foxes and other species can also be killed during the "festivities".

There are currently 3 critical bills to help wildlife in the NY Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Committee. State Senator Antoine Thompson is the Chair of this committee and is in a position to put those bills on the agenda of an upcoming EnCon Committee meeting, but he needs to be made aware of public support. I'm asking you to please take a moment to contact him and let him know this is what you'd like to have happen. Since he will be meeting with the LOHV (League of Humane Voters) and other wildlife advocates on Friday morning, it's imperative that you call him tomorrow - Thursday 1/28/2010 as early as possible. If necessary there is a short two sentence suggestion below (scroll down).

Phone calls by Friday would be most effective. ALL calls are important, but please forward to any contacts in Erie or Niagara Counties: groups or individuals who want to stop coyote and crow "contests", canned hunts and one which addresses home rules for trapping.

Please note: there is currently an online petition circulating with close to 1,000 names on it...their goal is to extend the coyote hunt season from 5 months to 12 months a year in New York(!) so there is likely to be opposition to the bills described below.

Read more about the "contests" here:
http://coyoteinfo.typepad.com/photos/quotes_and_pics_from_the_/index.html

http://nitroscoyotehoundandhuntingadventure.yuku.com/topic/2733/t/few-pics-from-one-of-the-catches-sat.html

http://www.hsus.org/wildlife_abuse/campaigns/contests/coyote.html

Thank you,
Gail

This is a really big step forward to stopping some very cruel practices in New York. Please take just a moment to call or e-mail !!! Thank you!


Hello Buffalo!!!

The League of Humane Voters of New York State

Needs Your Help in the Buffalo Area.

In the 2009 session of the NYS Legislature, LOHV managed to pilot three bills through the Assembly's Environmental Conservation Committee (EnCon) to ready them for a floor vote of the full Assembly. The corresponding Senate versions are stalled in the EnCon Committee.

The Chair of the Senate EnCon Committee, who can put those bills on the agenda of an upcoming EnCon Committee meeting, is Senator Antoine Thompson of District 60, which consists of parts of Buffalo, Tonawanda, and the City of Niagara Falls. See the district map at: http://www.nysenate.gov/district/60

LOHV NYS has scheduled a meeting with Senator Thompson THIS FRIDAY.

As Senator Thompson will be running again in November 2010, he will be more responsive to calls from his constituents than he was last year.

We need calls to his office urging him to place the three bills on the agenda of an upcoming EnCon committee meeting and work for their passage.

We urgently need those calls before Friday

All calls are needed -- constituent calls will help the most.

Call, fax, visit, e-mail or write him at his District Office:

Office of New York State Senator Antoine M. Thompson
Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building
65 Court Street, Room 213
Buffalo, New York 14202

email: athompso@senate.state.ny.us
P: 716-854-8705
F: 716-854-3051

Suggested Language:

"I am in full support of the three wildlife bills that are currently in the EnCon Committee chaired by Senator Thompson. Please ask him to put those bills on the agenda of an upcoming meeting of the EnCon Committee."

The specifics of those bills are below:

Bill#
Sponsor
Title/Description

S05423
Senator Serrano
Home Rule for Trapping

S03223
Senator Kruger
Canned Hunt

S00845
Senator Marcellino
Shooting Contests

ACT NOW!!

The League of Humane Voters of New York
PO Box 922
New Paltz, NY 12561
info@lohv.org
(877)-LOHV-US7
http://LOHV-NY.org

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Animal Cruelty Backwoods Hillbilli Style / Remembering Annie

Now I got nuttin' agin "red-neck" or backwoods hillbilli types in general, as I do have some red-neck relatives that I kinda like (the ones that wouldnt abide animal cruelty) and I am more than just a tad o' (NY) hillbilli myself, but I do despise animal cruelty, by anyone anywhere at anytime. OF COURSE I dont mean to say that everyone who lives in the south or in the hills or the woods is an animal abuser (there are exceptions to every rule) but (if the shoe fits, wear it, if it dont apply, then let it fly, ok?) there does seem to be a proliferation of that particular mind-set "down there,"...of "back-woods-hillfolk-types" ..that are indifferent to the suffering of animals and where animals are considered nothing more than personal property, and are somehow not deserving of a good or better or (cruelty-free) life. It is that ATTITUDE that has to change if ever WE are to fully evolve as a civilized society or race, otherwise, you get this: ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT













We need to change the "hearts and minds" of these type of simple-folk from one of callus indifference to that of a more compassionate lean. These people need to evolve and develop a little more respect for every living thing. That would be a dam good start down the road to a better world.


WARNING: GRAPHIC PICS

Back in Nov. of 2007, authorities in Cullman County, Al., began investigating a shocking case of animal cruelty. Police said a Vinemont family's beagle was skinned alive and had to be euthanized, but a second beagle escaped with minor lacerations. Neal Rodgers said he had let the family's two beagles run loose in a rural part of Vinemont located on Cullman County Road 1428 last weekend. He said he first thought his 3-year-old dog named Anne had been hit by a car, but after a closer look it was clear someone skinned his dog alive.




Rodgers said her coat was removed from the nape of the neck to the base of the tail and down to the nipple line. The second dog, 3-year-old Buttercup, suffered lacerations around the neck and shoulder before apparently escaping.



Cullman County Sheriff Tyler Roden said the case is under investigation.



A growing cash reward was offered to anyone with information leading to an arrest and conviction in this animal cruelty case. At last report, the reward is nearly $1,300; however, since it is funded by contributions from donors, it is likely to grow. (Note: The fund was last reported to have grown to around $14,000!) If you would like to donate money to the fund, you may do so at any Merchants Bank. Simply place the donation in the "Justice for Anne" fund.




If you have any information about who's responsible for the crime, contact the Cullman County Sheriff's Office at 256-734-0342, or the Secret Witness Hotline (to remain anonymous) at 256-734-0210.




BLOGGERS NOTE: I have called today to follow up on this case, to see what, if anything, had come of it. Today, being a sunday, I was told to call back on Monday and ask for the "Investigation Dept." I will most certainly do that tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I do believe that Annie was needlessly euthanized. The worst part of her ordeal was over and she should have been given a chance at recovery and a good rest of her life. There are plenty of sources of skin for grafting, including artificial "second skin" patches. Sounds to me as if someone didnt want to go to the expense of the surgical procedures involved, which we all know can be very pricey. So the tragedy of Annies torture was compounded, in my mind, by her un-necessary death due to economics and the high cost of vet care. Poor Annie. I would have gladly given her all of the skin off of my own meaty thighs just to see her thriving and happy and healthy again. .




PLEASE ALSO NOTE that the area where this atrocity occurred is a very rural area with only a handful of neighbors. How far could these dogs have wandered to have come into such gruesome hands? How many suspects could there possibly be in such a rural place? Surely someone knows something.

(Click on pic to enlarge)



The "pool" of suspects is VERY limited in this case so I am thinking surely the owners must have a good idea of who the offender is.....perhaps complaints have been lodged against this owner as he apparently has no problem in letting his dogs run free.

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:--Ayw3cOm0MJ:www.abc3340.com/news/stories/1107/475615.html maggie, the skinned alive beagle.

UPDATE: March 30, 2010

I have just gotten off the phone with the sheriffs dept asking for an update on this case. I have been informed by the secretary that a determination was made that the injuries suffered were "accidental,"....claiming that it somehow got itself caught in a chicken-grinder or some such non-sense. I asked her who had made that determination, imparting to her my belief that it looked very much like a professional job,....she wasent sure who made the determination but told me she would have the sheriff contact me directly for details. Apparently, the case is closed and they still have some REFUNDS to issue to the good people that gave to Annies Cause, so if you are a contributor I suggest you contact the sheriffs office to see about getting your money back.

Will post further updates as they come along. Thanks for carin. Meanwhile, click on title above to sign petition.

For more examples of "Southern-Style" Animal Cruelty, check out "Hog-Dog Rodeos";
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-quothog-dogquot-rodeos

Also beware of "Hillibilli's With Guns"; http://badlawyernyc.blogspot.com/2009/12/hillbillies-with-guns.html

AKC, the Eagles, Ed Block, Michael Vick & Me

Animal-Kin Folk to be Sued by PetConnection?

I cross-posted a blurb from "PetConnection" about the AKC seeking to block Michael Vick from getting a "Courage" award,...(giving full credit to author and listing site of original post),...and someone reported me for copyright infringement (see message received below)…I will be very disappointed and am hoping it wasent PetConnection who reported me as I believe the idea in animal welfare and rescue is to GET THE WORD out, so cross-post may fall within the fair use act and I just might challange the challange; Please advise if it was NOT PetConnection who would stoop so low as to complain about a fellow animal-folk cross-posting a blurb FOR THE CAUSE

THE WARNING

“…We have received a DMCA complaint for your blog, Animal-Kin-Folk-News. An e-mail with the details of the complaint was sent to you on Feb 4, 2010 , and we reset the post status to “Draft”; you can edit it here. You may republish the post with the offending content and/or link(s) removed. If you believe you have the rights to post this content, you can file a counter-claim with us. For more on our DMCA policy, please click here. Thank you for your prompt attention….”

---------------

Readers you can find the original article by clicking onto the title above;

http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2010/01/24/akc-asks-eagles-ed-block-foundation-to-deny-vick-the-courage-award/

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Toronto Animal Control Hero Arrested

Mother was absolutely right.......no good deed goes unpunished


Tre Smith, the movie star-handsome public face of the Toronto Humane Society who once smashed a car window to save a dehydrated dog, has joined the slate of high-profile employees arrested as part of an ongoing OSPCA investigation.

Taken out of the THS headquarters at Queen and River Sts. in handcuffs Thursday afternoon, Smith is charged with one count of perjury and two counts of impersonating a peace officer.

A senior THS agent, Smith is accused of continuing to act as an animal cruelty investigator despite his suspension last June when the OSPCA stripped the THS of its affiliate status.

"The top priority was animal care," said Chris Avery, lawyer for the OSPCA, when asked why Smith's arrest came so long after five other key staff members were charged with animal cruelty and obstructing peace officers last November.

With a search warrant obtained after those arrests, the OSPCA combed through the humane society's headquarters at Queen and River Sts. The lead investigator in the THS case, Kevin Strooband, said that computer files and THS clients confirm Smith was still performing cruelty investigations, even visiting animals and their owners at home.

The perjury charge stems from an affidavit Smith signed in October, in which Avery says Smith claimed not to have violated his suspension.

Many Torontonians saw him as a hero after the sensational July 2007 rescue of Cyrus the Rottweiler, trapped in an SUV on a blistering summer day. Smith broke a window to rescue the dog, saying at the time it was "slumped over the back seat of the car, foaming from the mouth, gasping for breath."

The former security guard then handcuffed the dog's owner, Paul Soderholm, to the SUV and took Cyrus for medical care. In the hour it took for police to show up, bystanders beat Soderholm until he was bloody and missing teeth.

That was the first time the OSPCA suspended Smith as an investigator, causing an outcry from animal lovers who defended his actions. His suspension and the four-month review of the incident became another battle in the decades-long war between the humane society and the OSPCA.

Eventually, Smith was reinstated as an investigator, Soderholm pleaded guilty to animal cruelty and Cyrus was adopted by a family in Thornhill.

A former star of the TV reality show The Lofters, Smith pulled heartstrings as a regular guest expert on CP24's Animal House Calls, answering pet owners' questions, and profiling animals available for adoption. Unwelcome at CP24 after his second suspension last summer, he took to Sun TV's Pet Thursday.

Photos from his wedding reception are on the THS website, and snaps of his daughter, Victoria, have been in the organization's Animal Talk newsletter.

With a defiant sway to his gait, Smith said nothing as he was led to a 52 Division police car on Thursday.

That the OSPCA alerted media to his impending arrest has become another issue for the two animal care organizations to snipe over.

"The public has a right to know what's going on," Avery said, defending the OSPCA's move. Later in the evening, humane society lawyer Frank Addario released a statement calling the tip-off an "American style publicity stunt."

"The allegations against Mr. Smith are serious," Addario said. "However, there is no necessity for handcuffing or a perp walk ... that have the effect of gratuitously embarrassing people who have been arrested on unproven allegations."

Strooband and the OSPCA also laid charges Thursday against Mark Beauchamp, an animal cruelty investigator based in Newmarket. The OSPCA alleges that Beauchamp tipped the THS off about last November's raid, leading staff to move and hide animals. He has been charged with one count of obstructing a peace officer, and fired as an OSPCA employee.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Warning: Waggin Tails & CockerPals: 2 NY "Killer" "Rescues"



A couple of weeks ago, just before Christmas, I received a call from a man who needed to re-home a
cocker-spaniel. "Buddy" was the dogs name.



I told the man since our rescue was full there is no way that I
could take him but reassured him that I would do all I could to help him place
the dog. I took the info about the dog and the mans contact info. "Buddy" was a
4yr old PB Cocker whos owner had abandoned him with this man, who was keeping
him but because of other animals in his house belonging to his wife. I knew he cared about Buddy cause it bothered him to have to keep Buddy out in the cold. It didnt sound as if it was his idea. He seemed genuinely concerned about the dog. He did not want to have to take the dog to our local high kill shelter (Hudson-Mohawk Humane Society in Menands, NY) nor did he want to have to put the animal down if a good home couldnt be found. He sought me out for help.

He told me Buddy was " a good dog" and that his only issue was that he got
a little overly agressive when playing fetch with his favorite ball. Buddy was
housebroken, got along well with other dogs and even cats, and was UTD on shots.

I immediately began to send out "SOS" emails to several rescue folks and groups
I know and within a day or so I got a call from a gal named "Joan" from
"CockerPals Rescue" in Hobart NY. When she learned that the dog was being kept
out in the cold, she told me to just "go get him." I emphasized to her that
there was no way that I could keep the dog at my place for any length of time as
we already had (literally) a houseful of rescued animals with not even a square
inch of room for even just one more. She assured me that if I could go get the dog and hold on to him, that she would make arrangements to take him off my hands "within two days." Elated over the news that I have found a rescue that would take Buddy, I called the man to give him the good news. He was also happy over the prospect that Buddy would be going to a safe place where they would find him a good home.

He bought Buddy over to me later on that day. As he carried him in his arms I
could see the dog was scared and confused, but when the man put him down on the
kitchen floor he was friendly and I petted him and he was appreciative of the
attention as I could tell by the waggin tail and the LICKS TO MY FACE he was
giving me.

I called Joan at CockerPals Rescue to let her know the dog was here. She asked
me if I could transport him to Rotterdam (about an hour away) where she had a
friend also in the rescue business, who would hold Buddy for her until she could
make arrangments to pick him up from there within the next couple of days. The
place she instructed me to bring him was Waggin Tails Grooming & Rescue in
Rotterdam, NY. We coordinated with the owner there and set dates and time; at
approximately 10am Christmas Morning, I set out to deliver Buddy to his new
rescue "mom."

The first thing I did when I got there was to take Buddy out of the car on his
leash to let him go to the bathroom. After he was done we began walking up the
driveway to meet Amy, the owner of Waggin Tails, who came walking down to meet
us. When she got to Buddy she crouched down in front of him and raised her hand over his head to pet him and wouldnt you just know it, ....he lashed out at her barking, growling with hackles up,.. and I watched Amy as she stepped back quickly and the color drained out of her face. OMG she said as she rolled her eyes at me. I suggested
that she try to get to know Buddy a little before making any judgements about
him, as I handed her the leash. I suggested she "take command" and be firm as
she walked him around a little, which she did without too much of a problem. She
walked Buddy around back of the house where I couldnt see, but when she came
back she said, "He did growl at me a few times back there." Apparently, Buddy
had "corrected" right away as she was managing him on the leash now just fine.
Buddy was a dog that listened to his human. That much I know for sure.

Amy handed me back the leash and went back into the back room again where she
called Joan. She was gone for only a few minutes and came back with the phone in
her hand. Joan was on the line wanting to talk to me. I took the phone and put
it to my ear. "There is NO WAY I can take that dog," the voice said, as my heart
sank. "Joan," I said, "and you know that there is NO WAY I can take him back
home with me so what are we to do?" She suggested that I take the dog back to the
owner,you know, the one that didnt want him in the first place and was keeping
him out in the cold. When I told her I simply would not do that, not only
because I am a woman of my word and when I tell someone I am going to do
something I do my best to stick to it,...but because of the danger the dog would
be in if sent back to the same old situation we were trying to rescue him from. It just didnt make any sense to me, and went against my moral beliefs. I told Joan that we didnt have any problems with Buddy for the two days he was at our house, ..we had even begun to bond with eachother in that short time, and I reminded her that
sometimes rescued animals, once bonded with their rescuer, often go through
personality changes as they get very protective of what they percieve to be
their new owner. "Maybe," I suggested, the problem was that Buddy had developed
agression issues as a result of our bonding after rescue. Perhaps he had sensed
that Amy was going to take him away from me and got defensive. And perhaps, just
maybe, I said to her also, (taking my share of the blame,) maybe we moved too fast and not carefully enough on the introductions. Maybe it was partly our fault that Buddy lashed out at Amy upon first meeting. "So now," I told her, it appears that Buddy is a "special needs" dog that simply needs time to bond and dosent like strangers and will lash out at them when in fear or feeling threatned. Lots of "good dogs" are like that. I also reminded her that there are never any guarantees with rescue animals, either in health or temperment. No one could argue against that.
Well anyways we went on and on like that , me reminding her that she is the one
who told me to "go get" the dog and promicing to take him from me within two
days,..and here she was now telling me every excuse in the book for not taking
him now,...including the lame-brained excuse that she now, all of a sudden, had
no room! "Joan," I said to her, starting to get my own hackles up,..."it sounds
as if you just dont want to be bothered." "Thats right," was her response.
Finally, seeing that the conversation was getting nowhere, Amy took the phone
from me and walked back into the back room once again where she continued her
conversation with Joan. When Amy came back she said to me, ... "I'll tell you what I'll do," ...."I'll keep him and give him a few days to settle down. As a groomer I am used to working with agressive dogs,..(indicating to me that she knew cockers were sometimes known for agressive behavior) She told me that she had "a team" of "professional trainers and animal behavior specialists" that she would have evaluate Buddy as to his suitability for adoption. These were encouraging words to me because with real professionals, I was confident that Buddy would pass his evaluation tests, without question. Amy promiced me repeatedly that she would let me know by saturday what the results and the decision would be - which was less than 48hrs away - She again reiterated to me her promice to hold off on taking any action
regarding that decision until I was appraised of the results of Buddys testing.
I stated to her over and over numerous times as I wanted to make it VERY clear,
I definately wanted to be informed of the results BEFORE any action was taken
regarding the decision as to what to do with Buddy. I reminded her that there
were three rescues involved in this case and we should all have a say in the
outcome. My plan was to wait and see what the decision was, thinking and
planning to take Buddy back if for any reason it didnt go well for him. It was
my feeling that I could never allow him to be euthanized, as I knew he was a
good dog and would make a fine addition to just the right family. One who
understood him and his issues) Once again I handed Amy Buddys leash and she
walked him to the kennel area and put him in a cage, no problem. We shook hands
on parting and I thanked her for at least giving Buddy a chance at a proper
evaluation. I went back home and waited, anxious to hear the results of Amys
"team of professionals" evaluation results regarding Buddys suitability for
adoption.

I waited all day Saturday for the call to come. Late in the afternoon called
Amy at the Grooming Shop and got a machine. I left a message that I was calling
to get an update on Buddy and asked Amy to call me asap with the results of his
evaluation. I waited all day Sunday for a reply to my call but it never came. I
left another message on Amys machine letting her know that I was getting a
little concerned as she hadent called on Saturday as promiced. I also called
Joan at CockerPals Rescue but got her machine also. I left basically the same
message as I did for Amy,..that I was concerned about Buddy and wanted an update
as to his status.

Monday I waited all day for return calls but none came. By the end of the day I
had left more messages for both Amy and Joan. I emailed Amy but it bounced back
to me indicating that she was on vacation until January4th.

Tuesday I called Amy again but once again got the machine. I left another
message and told her how disappointed I was that I havent heard from her by now,
and was hoping everything was ok with Buddy and his evaluations. I waited all
day wenesday for a reply and again got none. Called Amy again on thursday but
the phone just rang rang. I called Joan again and she picked up the phone right
away (probably neglected to check her caller ID) as I am sure now that is she
knew it was me on the other line she would have never picked up.....but she did.
"Hello," I said, "Joan?" No reply.."Hello Hello" I said again, "Joan, is that
you?" She said "yes." "This is Chris Jubic," I told her, "the one who dropped
Buddy off with Amy for an evaluation..." All of a sudden the phone went dead as
she hung up on me.

Friday morning I finally got ahold of Amy. Dont ask me why she decided to talk
to me at last. It probably sunk into her by now that I just wasent going to go
away...that she HAD to confront me at some point in time, so I guess this was
it.

"Amy," I reminded her, "you were supposed to contact me on saturday, remember,
to let me know how Buddy did on his evaluations. I am wondering why havent you
called?" "We have been busy" was her response, as she proceeded to tell me how
hetic the rescue business can be sometimes. "How are you making out with Buddy"
I asked, not wanting to beat around the bush." "Well," not so good," was her
response. "He did go after me a few more times after you left", adding though,
"not so bad as before." This led me to believe that maybe Buddys behavior has
improved, so I was expecting good news. "So he is improving?" I asked her.
"Well," no, not really, she said, "we put him to sleep the other day." I couldnt
believe my ears! "You mean to tell me he is gone already?" "Why didnt you inform
me as to your intentions, as promiced. Again with the "hetic" excuse. I asked
was the determination to put him down made by her team of professionals, and she
said, "No," they are on vacation for a week." So Buddy gets put down because
Amy couldnt keep her word to call me before making any decisions about
him,...and couldnt wait another week to have her professionals evaluate him.

So there you have it. End of story. Well, not exactly. That night I got a call
from the conscienice owner who surrendered him,...wanting to know how Buddy was doing at his new "rescue" home. I pondered over how to address this for quite some time. I dreaded the thought of having to tell him the truth. But I had to face this thing and I just couldnt bring myself to lie. I know they have a habit of coming back and kicking you in the ass sometimes. It hurt me to the core to have to tell him, but I choked it out some how and told him the truth: Buddy, a "good dog" was dead. Needlessly euthanized because his rescuers did not want to take the time or trouble to make him feel safe, wanted and loved. Needlessly euthanized because neither of these rescues wanted to bother with this special needs dog. Nor did they want to bother to make one phone call, AS PROMICED, in one last-ditch effort in hopes of sparing themselves the "necessity" of having to put a good dog down.

Waggin Tails Grooming & "Rescue"
http://www.waggintailsny.com

CockerPals "Rescue"
http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/cockerpals-html

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