Shuma the German Shepard service dog - MO gal will not return beloved pet

KCTV5. ^ | Sept. 23, 2005 | kctv

[Former Military Chick]

Shuma the German Shepard helper dog. A disabled man from Mississippi who fled after hurricane Katrina and ended up in Independence Missouri needed to put a roof over his families head. His temporary accommodations would not allow pet's.

John Wyrick gave his pet Shuma to Lynn Nevill's at the Independence Animal Shelter where he signed away his pet because he could keep his beloved pet and service dog with him, the apartment would not allow it. Desperate to put a roof over his families' head he signed his registration paper's over to Ms. Nevill. It maybe legally sound but it is morally WRONG.

He has now found a home where he can have his beloved companion and service dog. He went back to the shelter, asking for his pet back and she refused.

This story has outraged the greater Kansas City area. What type of person would do this to someone who has just lost their home and everything in it. Knowing, that his current home was temporary until he could find one that would take pets.

Yes, I know contract law. I also know that he signed away his pet to the shelter. Could he not have asked their help? I do not know that answer. They get strays all the time. Why would they force this family to sign their pet away. This part of the story is a bit fuzzy.

Getting back to this tragic story, the out pouring of help from our town, is heart warming and a reminder of all the wonderful folks out there, they are determined to reunite dog with owner.

Jeff Lund who manages Weinburg Dodge offered after seeing the news segment last night $1000.00 to Nevill if she would return the pet to the rightful owner. The owner of the dealership heard about this and doubled Mr. Lund's offer. Carol Elber's also contributed saying she had little money but this companion belongs with the his family/master. Other's in the community have offered to give Ms. Nevell a puppy, all gestures turned down. Cannot even bribe a woman to do the right thing. What a role model she is.

To add to this devastating situation, the woman, Ms. Nevill, claimed during a radio interview that Mr. Wyrick was not a Hurricane Katrina victim and that there were no records to prove it through FEMA. Well, KCTV decided that when they got involved with this story it would be through the long haul. They also did a check on the man's veracity and indeed he is a victim of the Hurricane. So, in his time of need, she takes his beloved pet and when finds a place to live that accepts pet's she chooses not to give back his service/companion dog. Then she goes out on the air waves to slander his good name.

As of last night's news cast a lawyer has offered his assistance free of charge. Oh and if you are wondering WHY she will not return Shuma, the family pet of the Wyrick family, she claims her family, in the last 3 weeks have become to attached to the dog.

You can also go to the KCTV website, where you can send an email on this story, and they will share them on the air,or call their voice mail where they will also share those messages. The community will have nothing of this and I get it as well.

There is a special place in hell for the likes of this woman. Beloved did little research on the net and he found her address and phone number. I will post the information once I ask Dave where the links are, she must be told her behavior was very un American.

Dog Dilemma Reaction
Kansas City has spoken. You want an Independence, Mo., woman to give Shuma the shepherd back to her owner. Thursday night, you met a disabled man from Mississippi who fled Hurricane Katrina and ended up in Independence, but he had to give up his dog, which is not only his pet but his helper. Chief Investigative Reporter Steve Chamraz has the latest.

Community Reacts to Dog Dilemma
Since the story about one Hurricane Katrina survivor's dog dilemma aired Thursday on "KCTV5 News at 10," there's been an outpouring of reaction to the community. Hear some of the e-mails and offers to help that KCTV5 News received in this video report.

KCTV5 News Investigation: Dog Dilemma
Hundreds of people have come to Kansas City after fleeing Hurricane Katrina and most have been welcomed with open arms. But one man who lost his home and belongings to the storm came here and lost something that can't be replaced and he blames an Independence woman.

Page where you can find the three media links regarding the Shuma the family german shepard.

[Salamander]

Currently the ASPCA, HSUS, NoahsWish, etc in NO is accepting "signed over" pets with the condition that the owners may reclaim them ASAP.

It may only be a temporary thing on their part, due to the circumstances but the guy *may* have understood it as such.

[not everyone understands the fine print of contractual law, you know]

The paperwork serves as a paper trail between the animal and owner, if and when the owner comes to reclaim the animal.

I'm not your enemy, here.

I'll thank you to remember that.

[Former Military Chick]

Just wanted to say I appreciate all the research done on this news item. It has hit a nerve with me.

I had to admit that when she went on the radio and made those false allegations well that ticked me off. I was thankful that KSTU was able to verify his status as a result of Hurricane Katrina. How sad, to have to prove that indeed you are one of the displaced after Katrina.

Her words should have consequences. Always am tickled when someone lies to make themselves look better (not that she ever could) and then her lies are publicly debunked. Behavior that is just not acceptable.

[Prime Choice]

I'm not your enemy, here.

Good grief. Where in the world did you get the impression that I thought you were??

[Salamander]

Your post seemed a bit challenging.

I'm just relating what I've read on the various rescue group sites and blogs.

What they are or aren't doing is not something I'm personally involved with so I'm just giving my impressions of what they've said, themselves.

I would *hope* that the way they're explaining their current protocols means they intend to reunite animals with their owners at every opportunity.

Sorry if I misread your intent.

[this a limited and limiting format, emotion-wise]...:)

[Salamander]

p.s...weeks ago when all the Katrina/pets threads started, one contentious poster kept saying that every point I made was "hearsay" and demanded empiric evidence and official cites.
[which he later got and then recanted his earlier position]

I guess I've gotten twitchy and gun-shy....:'>

[ruffisthudpucker]

Can someone post her phone number? A few 1000s calls might be nice!

[mewzilla]

BTTT.

[gizmo1015]

While reading your funny post, I heard a noise in the other room. Our 5 month old black lab/Australian shepherd mix had turned over the garbage in the kitchen and spread it through the dining room and living room. He was 6 pounds when we got him and is over 50 pounds now. The last place he needs to be is in the fridge. Would like to know how your hubby trained them. After 17 years, my wife is still struggling with this "fetch me a beer thing".

[proud_2_B_texasgal]

All you have to do is go to google and type in (with the quotes)

"Lynn Nevills" Independence Missouri

Her phone number and address seem to just appear **grin**

[WV Mountain Mama]

LOL! It started with a towel tied to the handle of the door and teaching them to pull on it, opening the door. They even had to push the door shut when they were done. He kept the beer on the same shelf. If by some miracle there was a soda in this college guy's fridge, he would send Tyler back for a different one. Unfortunately, Tyler saw the leftover ham going in. He figured out he could wedge the door open with his nose from the side. That is the day my hubby came home for ham and found no ham and a very fat Tyler. Hubby still had his doubts, because all good dogs close the door. The next day is when he lost the steaks and definitely figured it out. The lock went on the side of the door. Trigger picked it up pretty quickly and never opened it on his own because we had a different fridge that had two doors that opened in the middle.

I'll bet your mix is super intelligent and could pick it up very quickly! Good luck! :)

[LADY J]

"A couple of FReepers acted as foster parents to some of the dogs while permanent homes were found.....:)"

God bless those FReepers. FReepers are a special breed too!!

You can count on them everytime!!

[pepperdog]

"If he wanted the animal held so he could reclaim it later, he could have taken the animal to a kennel without giving it up."

I know that is true now, but when the whole disaster began many people weren't being given that option. Many animal shelters will tell you right out that if they take the animal you can't get it back without paying and, worse yet, if you haven't reclaimed it within a specific time period and it hasn't been adopted it will be killed. Sometimes in as little as three days. So if you know there was a possibility of your pet being killed and you met someone who you thought was a kind person who said they would love and care for your pet what would you do?

[pepperhead]

Her phone number and address seem to just appear **grin**

I wonder if her phone will stop working like her email address did.

[blu]

The animal rescue groups in our area have taken in around 400 Katrina pets. We're a looong way from Katrina and Rita's area. The rescue folks solicited and received funds from the public to help care for the pets. This is all fine and nice and sorta like we do up here.

But, the kicker is this: If you want to adopt one of these animals, it'll cost you $100.00! To adopt from the insaneHumane Society, it's $15.00 and a promise to spay/neuter. I can only infer that the hurricane pets must be social status pets. What a crock! "Oh, people will pay more for them cos they're Hurricane Victims(tm)! Let's charge more, and then we'll use the extra $ to fund ourselves!" I wonder if the Red Cross is their business model?

[Momto2]

Bump to complete e-mails...

[krunkygirl]

I just sent another e-mail to the local (KCTV) station asking them to stay with this story. (Effectively letting them know that even folks beyond their viewing area are paying close attention.)

I mentioned the Mayor--throwing my weight around a l'il bit! ;)

[kaylar]

I have seen multiple repostings of the original article and other KCTV links to usenet groups, BBs, web sites-and those were just the ones I already frequent. This story is getting exposure on the net.

[krunkygirl]

Wow! So glad to hear that!
My universe is so limited (mostly FreeRepublic and just a few other news sites) that I didn't know.
Thanks. I am thrilled that even more folks are paying attention and putting on the pressure.

[Muzzle_em]

She sounds like a real PSYCHO.
She obviously is thriving on the attention, despite the fact that it is BAD attention!
I wouldn't put it past her to kill the dog rather than return it. I know that statement is a bit of a stretch, but I've encountered her type once or twice in my life. There is NO reasoning with a person like that. They are like a spoiled toddler who takes another child's toy and WON'T give it back.

[Beaker]

She sounds like a real PSYCHO.
That too... :-) Obviously this lady has problems. I hope that she gets fired, and I hope that the dog finds his way home through any means possible.

I had to deal with a woman like that once in my life, and never again. She stole our cocker spaniel out of our yard, and put him on her back porch and renamed him Pepper. She claimed that it was easier to remember. It was quite a fight to get him back believe it or not, and when we did, she pulled up our flowers and destroyed our yard. She was legitimately nutty, so there was little we could do about it. After that her husband got her a little white froo froo dog, and she left us alone.