Does this look like a semi-feral dog whose chances at becoming an adoptable pet are so poor she should be killed?
Meet Jeri. Jeri was killed on February 28, 2011 by the Humane Society of Etowah Co in AL because they deemed her unadoptable. They said she was afraid of people and they had tried to work with her but she was unsalvageable. She was just a puppy and had been taken from the only home she'd known in December by the Humane Society of the United States. HSUS left her at the HS of Etowah Co to be disposed of as they saw fit.
I had requested donations be sent to this shelter on my YesBiscuit! blog after speaking with the director about Jeri and her brother Ben (whom they still have). One of my readers provided a consultation via phone at no charge to assist in socializing Jeri and Ben. When she contacted the shelter to follow-up and offer additional help, they didn't reply so she assumed everything must be going well. The shelter knew there were people who cared about Jeri and knew there were resources available to them. But they did not reach out to the rescue community before killing Jeri. I guess she just wasn't worth it. They killed her to make space for a dog they deemed "more adoptable".
Fuck this bullshit.
I realize this video is only 7 seconds long and it's impossible to know a dog's whole personality in a short video clip. But if you've ever loved a dog, I think you'll probably see what I see in this video - a happy, friendly dog who would have made someone a wonderful pet. It's only 7 seconds, but it's all that remains of Jeri's time in this life.
Jeri was betrayed by those who hide behind the name "Humane Society" when there is nothing humane about them at all.
I won't forget you Jeri. You were loved, even if you didn't quite know it at the end. And you will always be loved by those who care about shelter pets - that is, the real humane society. Small h, small s. We may not have $100 million dollar bank accounts like some so-called humane societies but we have something far more valuable: compassion.
Be seeing you Punkin.
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10 comments:
Such sorrow for yet another life taken for no reason at all. She became disposable and likely would have been better off had she run away. Some starfish haunt us. Jeri is one.
No offense taken at any language that eve so inadequately describes such barbarism and lack of compassion. I have worked with "difficult" dogs for a VERY long time, and have the scars to show it - Jeri would have been just fine had they let her go to a rescue to be worked with. They are sumdumfux.
I see a dog who is friendly and approachable. Also seems to have no problem with the other dog there and is interested in the human, making eye contact multiple times with friendly, relaxed body language.
I do not see a dog who is unsocialized or unsocializable.
I see a dog betrayed by the system that was supposed to protect her.
Whaaaa. At least you have seven seconds of her truth and her life and her reality. There are myriad others that nobody bothers to video tape before they kill them.
Has somebody rescued Ben?! (Isn't it just typical that a single animal needs to be rescued from the rescue and the rescue?)
RIP Jeri...
I pretty much just want to sputter out curse words and kick something when I think of the idiots who thought that was an unadoptable dog. I guess I'll just have to keep plugging away at what I can do in my little area, and hope that telling more people about it will help.
Made me cry. Rest in Peace little one, I'm so sorry we failed you.
This just sucks so bad. Can we fund a study of our own to "officially" discredit temperament testing?
We live in a very Litigious society these days. If you can show that donations were sent specifically for Jeri, then sue them. I'm sure some animal loving media reporter would LOVE to cover it.
Damn! That sucks out loud! When will these "shelters" get a clue and change their ways?
I'm writing the freakin' shelter. Perhaps do no good, but maybe it'll help someone wake up over there. (Thanks for posting this, btw!)
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