Just wanted everyone to know that mindy is still with us, being cared for by karla who loves her and is working hard to find a solution for a very difficult situation and all options are being exhausted including best friends which has turned mindy down...as you will read below in the email attached. Sadly this is the story with many of the rescues she has contacted in the last week. And for the umpteenth I am just the flipping messenger and am in no way helping with any of the details concerning mindy! Other YT members are working with Karla to find a rescue for mindy. I AM NOT ONE OF THEM! Also someone asked on this thread why before a trainer was "too expensive" and why now one is not. The answer is because Karla called all over the state of WA to find one that was reasonable for their price range/budget and would work with/had time for mindy and just recently found one. Seems around here that when accusations are made direct proof is needed to counteract their validity...so here you go....take notice of the date of this email...don't bother blasting me (yet again) I'm just delivering proof and not continuing to read comments. Again, karla's email is available to anyone who would care to make their own judgements concerning this situation and not just jump on the band wagon that she is evil...
-------Original Message-------
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From: Michele Sawicki, Best Friends
Date: 5/31/2010 10:53:17 AM
To:
mommadog1@gmail.com
Subject: RE: Need help with a small dog in need NOW!
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Dear Karla,
Thank you for contacting Best Friends Animal Society regarding this aggressive yorkie you so kindly took in for your friend.* I am so sorry to hear about your situation with her.
We receive 2100 emails a month like yours from animal lovers like yourself asking us to take anywhere from 1 to 1000 animals.* It would actually take 295,000 sanctuaries the size of Best Friends to provide for all the homeless pets nationwide: so like you, we are profoundly frustrated as well.* We average about 125 requests a week from pet owners like yourself who have dogs that can’t be safely placed in another home due to the risk of injury to others.*
We have over 200 dogs with aggression issues in our care that must live in a specialized area, receive special handling and work daily with trainers and behaviorists.* Many of these dogs will remain with us for the rest of their lives because they can’t be safely placed in a home. So it is beyond our space capacities and resources to responsibly take on any more dogs that need this kind of work.* As you can imagine, we will only accept animals when we can provide them the care, rehabilitation and quality of life they deserve.
Although I completely understand your situation and you have obviously been trying very hard to place this dog that wasn’t even your responsibility, there are very few options available for dogs with aggression issues.* The harsh truth of the matter is that without the needed behavior help, you may not find anyone else willing to take this dog on and you could also be held legally liable if she bites someone.
The most realistic approach is to work out the problem right within the dog’s current living environment as you will find that that most sanctuaries and rescues, Best Friends included, cannot accept dogs with a history of aggression because of the risk they present to volunteers, visitors and staff. Additionally, most organizations don’t have the resources to give dogs like this the regular training they need to change their behavior nor can they afford consultations with a behaviorist who can help identify the triggers of the dog’s behavior. Frequently, the aggressive behaviors of dogs in rescues and sanctuaries worsen over time due to their isolation from people as well as the over-stimulation of being surrounded by many other animals. It’s a difficult but necessary decision to make as to whether or not a sanctuary placement would be a good option for this dog. For a listing of sanctuaries, please go to
World Animal Net.
The other option we have recommended in the past is to see if you can find a trainer or a behaviorist who would be willing to take her on a live in basis to see if with time and work she could be rehabilitated. You can consult the directory of trainers certified by the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) that can be found at
Dog Trainer Search for trainers in your area. We have had some success with this strategy in the past.
Thank you for all your efforts on her behalf.* I do hope a solution can be found for you and this dog.* Please let me know if you have any questions or need further assistance.
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Kindest regards,
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Michele Sawicki
Michele Sawicki
Regional Specialist
Community Animal Assistance
Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, Utah 84741
435-644-2001 X 4509
micheles@bestfriends.org Best Friends Animal Society Home Page Best Friends Network
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"Not all who wander are lost"
'‘All animals dream, only dogs dream of us"
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Quote:
Originally Posted by YorkieMother  All I have to say is that this is just confusing and sadly the dog if here was one gets lost.
She said someone reported her and now she had to put her down. So where and to who was she reported ? She can still send her out of state and keep her alive or send her to Best Friends as they have the pull to deal with this stuff and do all the time. SHe just needs to call and or email and ask them for help and stick to it that she will let this girl go to a place that can help her.
So I went reading Wash State dog bite law and it does not say they need to be put down is say you are liable no where does it say it must be put down. DOG BITE LAW - Washington (the State)
Unless she is in town that has something else in its bylaws that dogs does not need to by law be put down.
I read Dog stealers pointed at the rescuers.. So was she looking to get money out of the mess of a dog she got given. Rescues dog not make any money on in taking dogs that need homes and then placing them out to a family that we all hope will love them for ever. There is no money in it you loose and you put in your own to keep dogs alive and well if they can be.
We have no need to steal a dog from an owner to get another dog in our care. We all rather have the dogs stay where they are if the family can look after them.
I offered help at the start and suggestions to keep the pup with her in the first place.
JL |