How could you look at that face and end his life? This was Rocky, a 6 month old pit bull type mix. 6 months old!!!! This is the face of the dog your tax dollars murdered! He was killed because someone saw a cute puppy, took him home and when he got too strong and too active, as the dogs tend to do, just like ANY DOG HIS AGE, his “owner” and I use that word very loosely posted him on a rehoming/lost/found pet page on Facebook.
After posting him and asking for assistance in rehoming him, volunteers and concerned citizens rallied but needed more time to network this dog. It’s summertime in the south and shelters are slammed full of dogs, cats and other critters. She gave rescuers and volunteers no time to try and secure him a safe place to go. Instead she walked him through the doors of animal control and surrendered him.
So many things are wrong, just up to this point. I have fostered and rescued many many dogs and cats. Homes do not pop up over night, and while your decision to get the dog may have been impulsive, you also have a responsibility to that animal YOU BROUGHT HOME! The responsibility to that animal is for its LIFETIME! Not until you decide they are too much work, too inconvenient, etc. My life has been far from convenient for the last few years, but I would be damned if I would part with any of my animals that I took on. My cat is 23 years old. Do you think for a second she hasn’t posed a bit of an inconvenience at some point in the last 23 years?!? Of course she has. But did I abandon her at a shelter, no she is sitting here with me as I furiously type this blog post, snoozing away!
This boy deserved a chance. Not only a chance to live but a chance to be a “good dog” an ambassador for his breed! A dog that could have made a difference, had someone only given him the opportunity to learn some manners and provided him with exercise to stimulate his puppy mind!?!? Good dogs don’t just happen. They are a product of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to that animal to the end. My three did not just show up as good dogs, I worked WITH them, FOR them!
The other part of this problem is the broken sheltering system in this state and in our nation. It is one that still uses methods like heart stick euthanasia, and gas chambers as suitable methods of execution for your family pets that got to be too much trouble. If you’re not sure of what I’m saying, google for yourself. This system has got to change and I have been blogging and rescuing and involved in this process since 2009. I have been rescuing my whole life but until I moved to the south I never knew what a huge problem we have and how extensive the rehabilitation and revamping needs to be. The director of these open admission public shelters needs to be someone who actually CARES about the animals. Trying to repair a broken system with someone who could care less is an even bigger obstacle for the rescuers who are already saving as many lives as they can. It is a battle that we in this community have been fighting for years and we cannot win it alone. We need a director with not just compassion, but a passion for saving these precious souls. That is the first step!
Now, onto the recent influx of senior dogs at animal control. Meet Jack and Lucky. They have given a lifetime of live to whatever awful humans have minimally cared for them all of these years, only to be left to die in this place. Make no mistake they will not get the dignified passing of a beloved family pet. They will get a cold hard table and an injection from a complete stranger who is paid to kill with YOUR TAX DOLLARS. This is what’s in store for these two if they are not rescued. This facility just killed Rocky, they will not think twice about ending these two lives either.
These dogs deserve better. They deserve to be sent to the bridge with love and dignity after the lifetime of live they have given. Shame on you, Columbus. Shame on you. You could have held Rocky in a portable kennel for a couple days, you could have doubled up dogs in runs, or used some empty office space. There are ways to save them all, you just have to WANT TO!
It’s time for people to start being held accountable for their actions. There is no reason to kill when other options are there. How man rescues were contacted about him!?! Was it just local rescues? Did you reach out at all? Did you even try to save his life?!? No, it was easier to kill a puppy than try to find another unwanted pet a safe, loving home. There is a BETTER way, but the city of Columbus will not hear of it.
If you can offer a safe place for these two seniors please contact Columbus GA Animal Control or go get them before it’s too late. Their time and space is limited. Please don’t let them end up in the ladfill like Rocky.
No Kill Georgia 