Help a Young Dog on Death Row find a home

[horsepower]

This was an email or Facebook my daughter Sam wrote 4 days before they killed Marsh. I'm not posting it to yank chains. I'm posting it for the irony.



Marsh:

"The last two, nondescript black pit-mix pups that stole the hearts of the shelter volunteers, were failed by an imperfect but well-intentioned system. Even with dozens of people in love with those two dogs, they could not find peace in their young tumultuous lives. Now, a third has come and while the other two slipped away, I am determined to save this one. The biggest of the bunch, with the biggest heart to go with it. But saving him might not be that easy. I recently heard a veteran volunteer say she's seen only a handful of male pit mixes make it through. Less than a dozen, in two years, she guessed. This volunteer commented about Marsh, who was fairly new to the shelter and had a red dot on his kennel for reasons I did not know. I can tell immediately if a dog has a chance or not, she said. Marsh probably won't make it, she said. It wasn't sad, it wasn't malicious, it was just fact. Because, we've all heard it: we can't save them all.

I would walk past him, the quiet, nondescript dog like I did to all the red dot kennels. Don't look, don't look…. you can't save him.

Why do you even do this, Sam. You can't save them all.

I have had Marsh for only four days now, and they warned me that if I was to continue taking him home, to be aware that final decisions about his fate were not yet certain. To adopt him out, or to put him down. The chance seemed like it would be close to the ratio of the shelter's overall euthanasia to adoption ratio. Fifty-fifty. A coin toss. On one side, a decision irreversible, and permanent, and quiet, and painless, and easy. And who would even know. Who would even ask. Why are we even doing this. You can't save them all. A decision that could not be unmade led by futile conversations. I think we made a mistake…. But, you can't save them all.

Ok, I said. And the freedom ride that was not really a freedom ride, but just a tantalizing taste, was so sweet and so addictive. Ok, I said. And off we went on our own adventure.

It's not that I've forgotten the words I was warned to remember. On the contrary I think about them constantly. I'm thinking about them now. They echo in my head. They are loudest during the quietest moments, screaming; right before I turn off the light to go to bed and he is hugging my legs with his white little paws, when I wake up in the morning and we are laying back to back, when we run across the beach and he is by me step for step in sync with my commands, and my breath. I hear these words when he scrambles out of the car before me, desperately afraid I will leave him and never come back. Don't you know, I'll always come back for you, I tell him. I say these words to my own dog too, I'll always come back for you. And when I leave her at my mom's house for weeks at a time while work or trips or school piles up, and life takes me and pulls me to places I'd rather not be, because all I want is time to spend with my dog, she doesn't understand why I go, but she does know I always come back.

Marsh does not know this. They didn't come back for him. Not the first person, and not the second one either. He doesn't believe me when I say, I will always come back for you. Always. But I say it anyways. Always. The hardest part is, I'm not even sure I can keep that promise.

Always. Always.

You can't save them all.

So no, it's not that I've forgotten these words. That has not changed. The thing that has changed is Marsh himself. He is getting the chance the Miles and Meeko did not. And in these past four days, he's passed every test, or at least he's tried his hardest to. I have more faith and hope for Marsh every day, every minute, every second. And I know it's dangerous. But I will not stop hoping, because I can tell he has not stopped hoping. He has not stopped loving. He loves every person that he meets. And every person he meets loves him.

In four days Marsh has made dozens of friends. Marsh has gone on 4 mile runs with me. Consumed countless treats. Performed countless tricks, and (a handful of face jumps…whoops). He has snored through the night, and farted an entire group of people out of the living room. He has flapped his jowl in the wind at 65 mph. He has romped in the rain, and accidentally destroyed a sandcastle with his floppy feet. He has escaped (just once) for a grand adventure. And he has stolen my heart. And I can't save them all, but I can save him. I believe with my entire soul that he will be the dog of a lifetime to a very, very lucky person."

 

[horsepower]

Progress

2 days of angst sleep trying to find some ways to prevent this from happening and to hold accountable what happened. Ironically news today that yet another dog Murphy was killed.
They actually have a program involving teens in turmoil mixing with their "unadoptables". More access than the volunteers and if any issues happen between these kids and the dog, the dog is put down. This has to stop.

One of my best friends is a Deputy District Attorney and I have a host of Vet friends. Every single one of them has responded that this death was disgusting and cruel.
While I discovered that non vets can euthanzize, I also now have a list of laws and county codes that I believe are continually misused and or violated by the few actually deciding what dogs are euthanized. Their bosses are all banding around in support. It is so typical of these county supported agencies; it keeps their jobs and their benefits in tact to not put the spotlight on them. Band up and the public will move on.

Despite the legislature clearly stating that adoption should be the mission goal,

Right now they at their discretion decide what's good...and it has to be nearly PERFECT. Its absolute power and it's dangerous in a government run agency, the "professional call " viewing a dog from the other side of its cage while the public has zero knowledge of it being there.

I say let the public and a broader base decide that for themselves. We aren't talking biters here. We are talking about future MARSHs. It should be our choice to come and decide for ourselves.

Board meetings, news reporters, meeting with a legislator.. Showing these idiots how an easy website revamping can get a public window into the shelter to instantly correct this current dysfunction.... Small steps but I need to focus on the easiest way to make a simple change that appeals to all critics .

 

[TripleSeven]

Appreciate and respect your efforts.

 

[Cyclesuzy]

Bumped for a friend.

 

[horsepower]

Thanks so much

Step 1 of due process:
Board of Directors meeting Monday April 11 @ 3 p.m in Santa Cruz.
Force change .org

Everyone has 3 minutes to speak but I can tell you that 2 of the 8 supervisors already " get" the problem here and seem to be sympathetic to this fight to change a system operating in violation of law. I'll be citing Civil code 1834.4 and Ca animal code 599 d Malicious mischief as well as challenging their claims that they are professionals and we as the public don't have their expertise to discern a good dog from a bad dog.
Kweezy has a reporter from the Sentinel interested in doing s piece on this tragedy.
Thanks to everyone who is helping. Let's do this...for the animals!

 

[Melissa]

sad yet hopeful situation for future dogs.
Please let Happy Tails-Sacramento no kill sanctuary-know if there is a dog who is in need of being rescued from a shelter. I recently adopted a dog who was saved from death row after deemed unadoptable. She is a real sweety.

 

[horsepower]

Major inside scoop here

sad yet hopeful situation for future dogs.
Please let Happy Tails-Sacramento no kill sanctuary-know if there is a dog who is in need of being rescued from a shelter. I recently adopted a dog who was saved from death row after deemed unadoptable. She is a real sweety.

+1,000,000 Melissa.
You and Wendy properly point out that THIS^^^^^ is one easy way to get around these kill shelter killings.

If you know of a dog in jeopardy, you can ask a 501c= non profit rescue to get the dog out of there!!! They can't be turned down!! I only WISH I had known that beforehand. It certainly would have saved Marsh. This shelter claimed that they had contacted some rescues; but I couldn't find a single one to date that was contacted.

The specific problem with the Santa Cruz shelter and the 2-3 people there branding Marsh types as unadoptable is that the dogs are jailed without the public even ever knowing they are even there!!!! the public normally would never even know these good , non violent, non dangerous dogs even existed to rescue in the first place. It's bizarre and in contradiction to law. THAT has become my main focus: PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY. The website idea solves this misuse of power so well.
Animalfriendsrescue.org out of Salinas has an amazing website. If that kind of website was implemented into these kill shelters, listing all non aggressive dogs ( as described in current state law ). with check marks for the public to intervene, donate, foster,adopt, or refer an adopter....ALL dogs would be known and have a chance for the general public to save via a simple vote of confidence. The public should decide who is "UNADOPTABLE".....not just one or two paid salaried individuals.

 

[DReg350]

This whole saga hits home with me. Several years ago we decided we were ready for another dog and focused on getting a Basenji. We contacted a Basenji rescue down in Acton, CA, The Medfly Brigade Basenji Rescue. We had several conversations and scheduled a visit on our way back from an Arizona holiday trip. We got there and they showed us several dogs including one that they'd just gotten from a shelter in Irvine that very day. There was no question. He was the right one and we snapped him up.

Here's the rub. He'd been at the Irvine shelter for many many weeks recovering from some nasty wounds from a dog fight. Someone had tied him to their gate one morning with open bloody wounds all over his body, neck and head. They speculated that he may have been a bait dog. He wasn't good with other dogs at all and they'd labeled him "Un-Adoptable". At least they tried harder than your SC shelter did. They got a hold of Medfly. If Medfly hadn't gone down to get him it's likely he would of been euthanized.

He was a stinky wiry haired independent antisocial little thing, but I could see he was gentle and somewhat social with people. When we got him home and let him in the backyard to do his thing he immediately made a nest in one the chairs outside thinking the yard was his new home. We cleaned him up, worked on his inside the house skills, took him to the dog park repeatedly to cure his antisocial behavior, spent money fixing his teeth, and proved to him that this was his forever home and we were his family. It took allot of work, but that un-adoptable dog has really enriched our family.

He looks an awful lot like this guy...

 

[horsepower]

Also, thank you to Mr Pepsi, xxforfun and Kweezy for supplying the above answer before Marsh was killed.
I really thought this was being followed up by my kid but I think she believed that the shelter had contacted these rescues when in fact, they hadn't.
There was way too much reliance on things said by these people and I am at fault for believing some of the empty words and correspondence as well.



It's a great lesson that BARF often supplies keys to an answer better than the answer itself. I wish I had taken those keys and tried to turn them myself.

 

[horsepower]

This whole saga hits home with me. Several years ago we decided we were ready for another dog and focused on getting a Basenji.
Here's the rub. He'd been at the Irvine shelter for many many weeks recovering from some nasty wounds from a dog fight. they'd labeled him "Un-Adoptable". At least they tried harder than your SC shelter did. They got a hold of Medfly. If Medfly hadn't gone down to get him it's likely he would of been euthanized.

He was a stinky wiry haired independent antisocial little thing, but I could see he was gentle and somewhat social with people. When we got him home and let him in the backyard to do his thing he immediately made a nest in one the chairs outside thinking the yard was his new home. We cleaned him up, worked on his inside the house skills, took him to the dog park repeatedly to cure his antisocial behavior, spent money fixing his teeth, and proved to him that this was his forever home and we were his family. It took allot of work, but that un-adoptable dog has really enriched our family.

He looks an awful lot like this guy...

You bout made me cry.
Thanks for the share.

State law does a good job of protecting and dictating a process of care and adoption for injured animals. But it also does allow for these agencies to euthanize animals from even recovered injuries.
The good side is that care MUST be provided and cannot be postponed.
The balanced side is that anyone is authorized to kill an animal in clear pain or imminent death from injuries.
The bad( yet at least lawful) side is that an injured animal, even a recovered one, can be euthanized in due process without further cause or action. I have a blind, and a 3 legged dog that both would be put down in those instances.
I am beyond thankful that you saw the great in an imperfect dog AND knew to enact a rescue org to help. Powerful knowledge that needs to be passed on to the general public.
Add that to the check boxes: Kill shelters should have Links to breed specific and/or vicinity rescues under each "unadoptables" picture in their website as well.

 

[F4iChic]

sad yet hopeful situation for future dogs.
Please let Happy Tails-Sacramento no kill sanctuary-know if there is a dog who is in need of being rescued from a shelter. I recently adopted a dog who was saved from death row after deemed unadoptable. She is a real sweety.

I really hate to sound like a debbie downer, really I do, but................

All of the 501 c 3 rescues are already on the notification lists of the "shelters" that they pull from, so they would already know about dogs and cats on the kill list. Reaching out to them with individual pleas generally achieves nothing other than to divert their rescue efforts. And, a rescue group in Sacramento are highly unlikely to be rescuing from Santa Cruz. Sacramento has its own problems with Front Street Animal Shelter (Sacramento Animal Services) Gina Knepp, who has been at the helm there for a good few years stated she was taking the shelter No Kill. Years aog. It hasn't happened (don't believe the hype). She is still killing perfectly healthy or treatable/manageable animals

Wholesale change is needed. And whilst I appreciate the "one animal at a time" sentiment, focusing on an individual animal is not going to bring about the changes sorely needed.

Again, not meaning to sound like a debbie downer, but I have been in these trenches for 18 months now. I know how it works

https://www.facebook.com/centralcaliforniapetsalive/?fref=ts

 

[Melissa]

You do not sound like a Debbie downer at all. You have a great deal of experience advocating for animals and participating in a very sick system. Your patience and deep commitment are astonishing!

Regarding my experience-I am not as seasoned as most individuals who participate in the larger bureaucracy. I did have a wonderful experience recently however-by word of mouth a dog on the kill list (either at Front Street or the Sacto Shelter nearby) was rescued by Happy Tails. I am lucky enough to have adopted her. One dog and such a sweetheart! Loves to play with Mamma and Son Love! I believe that it is possible to help a dog or a cat escape euthanasia. One animal at a time.

Certainly not effecting the larger sick system you are referring to.

If you know of a dog or a cat that is out here on a kill list please let Happy Tails know. The animal might be saved or might not be. Worth reaching out.....don't you think?

 

[horsepower]

Wendy is right. I called Happy Tails for two dogs. No go. Plus they were full. But they did at least entertain a request.
But animalfriendsrescue.org in Salinas allows fosters as far as the Oregon border. Pretty cool, really. Some will, most won't.

Tons happened. I have been swarmed by volunteers, some paid staff wanting to expose problems but fearing for their ability to keep their jobs or continue at the shelter if they are exposed. They are wanting to unite and come forward but are afraid. They asked me to speak for them but I had 3 minutes and was there just to get a feel of the game. A game it is.
The Board of Directors meeting was surreal. They knew I was coming and they planted people in the audience to immediately speak behind anybody that offered dissent. God bless America! They tried to refute everything that they thought I might say.....problem is that they had a prepared speech defending Marshs death and the admin yet I never mentioned a word of anything negative OR about Marsh. Nothing! The audience plants went into left field defending things never said.:|. I merely spoke of implementing a website that would allow public access or a panel of volunteer judges to save "unadoptable" but friendly, non dangerous dogs. they ended up exposing their game like a sore thumb.
I got the whole disgusting thing on Go Pro. It was a pitiful display of corrupt government. I immediately spoke up to point out the tag teaming even though they tried to quash my Italiana . and then they went on to congratulate themselves for all their good work for the next 2 hours.

However, I was contacted by one of the volunteers two days later saying that a dozen previously unadoptable labeled dogs are now listed as adoptable on their website...including a few dogs that volunteers were fearing for.
While the newly adoptables adoption conditions limit them to local adoption only, the volunteers stated that this was a unique and unexpected twist.

Perhaps informing the BOD that their are so many volunteers and staff that felt demoralized by the lack of common sense imput and control, and my revealing that ( the staff and paid staff ) was giving me inside info (which I can't reveal here but has legal recourse if investigated) might have resulted in the BOD demanding that they loosen their reins a little.

Whatever the reason, and it may have nothing at all to do with this, 20 more dogs now have a small window of opportunity.
Among them is a female 11 month old named Maya. Shep/ husky cross with a face like she's wearing a mask. Anyone interested should contact the SC shelter.

 

[Melissa]

Most excellent!

 

[Cyclesuzy]

Thank you!

 

[horsepower]

The kudos goes to an organization called
DOGS PLAYING FOR LIFE

They came in like a wrecking ball and had the sweet unadoptables released for adoption and organized big dog play groups where they have never allowed them before. The volunteers report that the dogs are so much happier now that there is more access to them. THIS is what we want so that the public gains access.

There is an ADORABLE pit/ terrier mix puppy named PIPPA there right now.
I have a video of her playing with the adult dogs and it'll make your heart sing!


She'd be a great addition to a one or two dog family, and no trouble, no trouble at all!! Will post vid later.


Any BARFER who adopts out of a kill shelter and shows me documentation will get a years free flea and tick meds and any other support product samples I may have as well.

 

[NorCalAthlete]