Hurricane Pets - Pets are finding happy endings, Shuma isn't so lucky (excellent read)

ABC ^ | September 27, 2005 5:01am | NeYama Duncan

[Former Military Chick]

South Carolina - A group of Lowcountry Animal Lovers is back from New Orleans with 25 furry survivors in need of a home.

The Humane Net Team is made up of volunteers from several Lowcountry Rescue Organizations.

The group spent 9 days in New Orleans rescuing animals left behind and distributing a truck load of supplies.

"We handed out food and crates, towels and they're begging for more. They don't have anything left, nothing. We brought 25 animals back that we rescued out of houses were people couldn't take them with them," says Barbara Bryant of the Humane Net Team.

If you'd like to become a new pet owner, contact Joy Davis with Lowcountry Animal Rescue at 821-3175.

Though many hurricane pets are finding a happy ending others are not.

A Hurricane Katrina Evacuee had to flee his Mississippi home but the shelters would not allow one of his family members to enter, Shuma, the family dog.

The family had no choice but to choose the shelter over their pet, and took Shuma to an animal shelter in Independence.

John Wyrick is trying to start a new life in Missouri but he may have to do it without Shuma.

That's because a woman who volunteered to take in the German Shepherd has refused to give it back.

Wyrick has a serious back injury that limits his abilities.

He raised and trained Shuma to help him with his daily routine.

A volunteer convinced Wyrick to sign the dog over to her for the time being.

But just weeks later, Lynn Nevills refuses to give the Shuma back saying her family is now attached to the dog and Wyrick should get a new one.

Local, Kansas City, residents have tried to help the Wyricks get Shuma back but Nevills refuses to negotiate.

[oceanperch]

We also have a spay and nueter clinic.

They do ferrel cats for free if you catch 'em and release.

I use to do it all the time now there are no more ferrel cats that come around, er or anything else with 4 Yellow Labs combing the perimeter of the property. Nice thing about being fenced in is we don't have fleas or deer ticks.

The deer used to sneak by years ago too.

Wish the Bay Rats, boomers and moles would stay clear.

[oceanperch]

Thanks were healthy and happy with the gift of life given to us.

Hope the same for you in whatever your passions in life are.

[Darnright]

>Our City animal shelter does give the animals away for free. They have you sign a form promising to spay or neuter the animal. These animals are only given a week to live. The shelter is manned by a police officer who is not there very often. Therefore, most are put to sleep.<

The humane society on whose board I used to serve charges $50.00 for the pet. This barely covers the cost of the vaccines and worm medicine the pet is given, and it shows the person actually wants the pet. Virginia state law requires that any dog or cat adopted from a pound or shelter be spayed or neutered. The veterinary school at Virginia Tech does a lot of spay/neuter on animals for the SPCA, before the people take possession. This keeps animals from falling through the cracks, and makes the pets more desirable. As I said in another post, the shelter now employs a canine behaviorist (fancy word for competent dog trainer :-), who not only helps adopters solve behavior problems, but who councils prospective adopters on which dog might fit their family best.

Our local pound works in conjunction with the local humane society, so the problem of not having the city facility staffed is eliminated. Once the animal control's 5 days are up, the adoptable (not sick nor vicious) dogs go over to the shelter, and are available for adoption, not euthanized.

[CDHart]

Fox last night had video of the dog and the people who were trying to rescue him. The dog swam off and I guess they didn't see him after that. Poor little guy.

Carolyn

[CDHart]

You probably think I'm nuts. My first reply was intended for another thread. I'll let you know if I hear from Hannity or the KC Star.

Carolyn

[Darnright]

>So, what are you proposing? Just let things go on as they are? Let shady characters mass produce puppies and kittens in unhealthy (for the animals) circumstances? They don't have to worry about anyone checking up on them?

OK. Then let's don't have any government interference in our lives at all. Let's just take care of it ourselves. Too bad if a daycare is not run properly. If someone complains, then we will do something about it.<

Uh, since you're from Virginia, I take it you are familiar with our Puppy Lemon Law, which was written in part by the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders? I am sure that you know that a puppy or kitten buyer has 10 business days in which to take the new pet to a Vet. If the pet has a contagious disease or other problem, the buyer can return the pet and the seller MUST give the buyer a replacement pet or refund the full purchase price, or, if the buyer wants to keep the pet, the buyer MUST return 1/2 the purchase price.

You are also familiar, I am sure, with the law that forbids any person from selling a kitten or a puppy (without its mother) under the age of 7 weeks, that has not had at least one dose of its species appropriate vaccine series?

Laws supported and partially written by the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders (we police ourselves, but do so intelligently).

http://home.comcast.net/~bsbruce/VA_Fed/vafed.htm

[MACVSOG68]

Just checking back FMC, to see if you have had any luck since yesterday?

[krunkygirl]

I saw that doggie yesterday morning--trapped in that pump station water. Wondered and worried about him all day long...

Just a short while ago,on Fox, John Scott reassured the many folks that wanted to know what happened that the dog was rescued and is in pretty good shape.
Of course, I (always!) want video.

Perhaps they will have something more through out the day.

I'm going to e-mail FOX just to thank them for following up.

[Goodgirlinred]

Well, actually I was not aware of all of that information. I do know that one can return a pet to a pet store within a certain period of time if something is wrong with the pet. I have heard of situations like that, but the people usually don't want to give up the pet.

I read everything you had on that web site. I appreciate what your group is doing.

However, that doesn't stop the shady guys, does it? They will always do their thing. Maybe I have watched too much Animal Planet and the SPCA police who do have authority to investigate animal abuse and neglect and can arrest people. I have seen the actual footage of their going on these calls, some to puppy mills. I would like to see that kind of thing being done everywhere.

I am not against breeding purebred dogs or cats. They are beautiful animals. I do prefer to adopt my pets; however, but that is a personal preference.

I have seen the result of what happens to female dogs when they can no longer be bred. My daughter rescued a little Yorkie who had been dumped on the highway in Roanoke. The vet said she must have been used in a puppy mill by the condition she was in. She had a very diseased uterus and had to have a hysterectomy to save her life. Kelsey was the sweetest dog you would ever want to meet. She lived a few years after that. It just galls me to think of the horror she went through until my daughter rescued her.

I am not some nut case liberal, but I do care about animals and their well being. I also donate to the humane society to aid in their work with the animals.

Truce?

[krunkygirl]

JUST saw another follow up with Phil Keating, original Fox reporter who did the story.
He said that they had to leave the story but came back later and there were two men in a boat (there was video of this) along with more men on the cat walk trying to rescue the dog.
They had to go into a tunnel(where the dog had swam) to try to locate him--PK believed/suggested, but didn't actually confirm, that the dog was saved.

Man, life can be so tough when you are an animal, especailly one not accustomed to fending for yourself.

[Goodgirlinred]

That is a much better system than what we have here. I don't understand why our county and city (Bedford) have such a problem about working together. I found a cute little dog wandering in traffic in town a few years ago. I got him out of the street and took him to the county shelter. They refused to take him, saying that he was a city dog.

I had to wait for the police officer to come to the shelter in town to take possession of him. He had a collar and I thought surely his owners would come for him. However, I told the officer not to put him down, to call me. He called me in a few days and said the dog's time was up. I went in and got the dog, signing the form that I would have him neutered. He gave me the St. Francis of Assisi information so I could have him neutered. I already had two dogs of my own, so I did not plan to keep him. I had him neutered and advertised for his owners on the radio and in the paper. No one ever called.

I kept that dog for over a year until I found a suitable home for him. He did not get along with Harm, so I could not keep him. However, I did not let him go to just anyone. I met another widow who was the cousin of my best friend. Her husband and mine had died of the same disease in the same year, so we had much in common. Her late husband's lab had just died and she was very depressed. I mentioned Buddy to her and she wanted him sight unseen. Now Buddy is the only dog in a very large home with a very doting owner.

The saddest thing is, when I picked up Buddy, all of the other dogs had already been put down. However, the officer told me that he loves animals and tries to get the humane society to take any that he thinks would make good pets. Foster homes are not in great supply, unfortunately.

[Salamander]

I knew what dog you were talking about.
I was hoping they'd get him, too.

[but yes, I still think you're nuts]...;))

Thanks for nagging Hannity.
Maybe he'll pick this up and run with it...:)

[Salamander]

Yay!

[krunkygirl]

Yes, Yay! Sure hope that the dog was in fact rescued and O.K.

[Goodgirlinred]

Bay rats and Boomers? Are you talking about my generation or what? LOL!

Yes, we used to have stray dogs come by, no cats. However, with my two dogs and my son-in-law's bird dog, no more dogs come around. Harm, my 85 pounder, keeps the deer away, too. He looks like a wolf, so I guess they think it better to at least stay out of my yard and in the forest around my house.

That was a great thing that you did for those cats. Now different municipalities are talking about killing feral cats. They have even brought it up here. It is against the law to even leave food for them at the dumpsters!!! I have not seen any cats at my local dumpster in a long time. I bet they were killed.

[Salamander]

Me too....:)

[Goodgirlinred]

I found it later. Sorry.

[television is just wrong]

Return Shuma. It is equal to steal a blind persons sight dog. This dog helps a handicapped person get through life. It is as if they stole the blind person's white cane and told them to go to the drug store and buy another. Lots of canes, non with special meaning to everyone.

[Goodgirlinred]

I get your point. Thank you for the information.

My parents' beagle is representative of what can happen. He is a miniature beagle. The farmer did not want to sell him as he wanted to use him to breed an even smaller beagle. However, my daddy wanted him and paid what the farmer thought he would not pay. Snoopy was to be a pet only, so he was neutered. His chest looked strange and the vet said that it was due to the breeding. The breast bone juts out. It won't hurt him, although it makes fitting a harness difficult, but that would not be something one would want to pass on to the next litter.

[Darnright]

I don't think you are a nut case. When you get the other side of the story, I think you can see that there are not only people who make every attempt to breed dogs ethically, but who disagree with those who would exploit living, feeling creatures for money.

That poor little Yorkie. BTW, it's illegal to dump a companion animal in Virginia. No responsible breeder would do such a thing. Dogs who are retired from breeding deserve to live out their lives in someone's home, just as any pet dog does.

That said, laws, to be effective, must be just. There are already laws on the books to punish those who would be cruel to animals, and to protect unsuspecting pet buyers from unethical pet breeders. Opening up people's private homes (people who do not breed pets as a source of net income - note that most good breeders spend far more on a litter than they ever recover) to bureaucratic regulations has the potential for disaster, not to mention flying in the face of well-established American values.

At some point, a consumer must take some responsibility for the continuing traffic in commercially bred pets. IF people would do a little homework, ask the commercial breeder to produce evidence of health testing, for example, then vote with his feet, the lure of dog breeding to get rich would die out. Imagine how the breeding of Labradors would be reduced, if puppy buyers asked the breeder for proof that the dogs were actually able to retrieve ducks!