Many of us read Black Beauty as children, the story of the cart horse who went from cruelty to yet more cruelty, I can't even remember if Beauty had a happy ending, the misery of his life was so overwhelming. Upton Sinclair could have used Beauty as his model for Jungle. We are in the midst of re-creating animal cruelty to a level not seen since the 1920's.. And, we are doing it under the guise of No Kill. The high price of aiming low. The problem with No Kill is not that it aimed for the stars and missed; it's that it aimed for the gutter, and was right on target.. As part of this very flawed concept, the standards for adoptions were eradicated. Home checks were viewed as " restrictive" anything like money for vet care, or a residence were " intrusive, big brother"
Oreo has been active in legislation for a few years, she stays to the rear of the bus, and leaves the limelight to those better suited. At this time we are being asked to help create " Cooney's Law" I am not fond of the name, but we can work on that. The problem with "hindsight" laws is, they tend to focus on the events after the fact. We need to look beyond the man who butchered Cooney, and legislate only his punishment......we need to also consider and educate those who place the animals in dangerous living conditions..
If a releasing agency were held to task for putting an animal in harms way, they would be more selective when allowing an adoption. When a pet is surrendered to a public intake agency there is an assumption of responsible stewardship. Would you take your dog to a shelter that gave dogs to people living in Tent City? Of course not, yet Cooney lived at Tent City. She was first adopted to a woman who went to jail, she was then back in the system as a welfare hold. From there she was taken to another No Kill shelter where she was released to a man without an address. They are trying to cloud the issue with a last minute " motel" story, but Cooney was homeless....and helpless.....Here at Oreo's we are concerned about the pitbulls, no animal should be bred to be tortured, abandoned and killed; they are a potentially dangerous, and and endangered breed.. Why is a pitbull bred ? Certainly not to be a guide dog, they are not used for hunting, and they sure as hell aren't "nanny dogs" Did anybody look at the guy who adopted and butchered Cooney ?? Note the gang tattoo, check his address ?? Nope, she was a hard to place dog, and she paid the price.. We understand an agency can't do a background check, but on the other hand they can verify addresses...... They have discretion in whether or not to place an animal, to ask about having a vet, and if the person's demeanor is less than desirable they have an obligation to say "NO" In Cooney's adoption the man made a pleasant appearance, he seemed like a "good guy" This practice of turning an animal over without checking references must stop, and Cooney would be a good place to, start the stopping....
Please visit "Doggie Dreams Pass Me By " Oreo wrote that to honor the pitbull in the photo for this post. Felon was found on Pyramid Highway by Oreo and family, he was wearing a tag, so we waited there with him until AC came to his rescue. Felon's owners didn't respond to contacts from WCRAS, and NHS declined to take him.
We visited everyday to keep his spirits up, they kept him ten days trying to contact the owner, finally he could no longer be humanely kept. No Kill will allow death by vehicle, death by another animal, death by neglect, death by torture, death by starvation, death by freezing, or heat exhaustion, death by self-mutilation from kennel stress; the only death they object to is Humane Euthanasia.
Pictured is Felon at the Rainbow bridge, Oreo hopes he can comfort Cooney.....
