IN LOVING MEMORY
of the 73 wonderful dogs who lost their lives
in the shelter fire April 14, 1993.
You were much loved and are not forgotten.
With grateful thanks to all those
Who gave so generously in every way
Enabling us to survive the dark days that followed
And whose continuing support will help us all
Create a safe haven for those who have none.
The Humane Society of Seminole County
This is Matthew, lone survivour. His mother was unable to feed her new babies. This was due to the fact that she could not deliver all her babies. The owner decided it was a good idea to leave the new family out doors to teach them to fend for themselves. Never taking mom to the vets. All the puppies save for Matthew died of starvation and exposure. When Matthew was found by Arlene Silva, he was only 2 days old and almost dead himself. He is now 10 years old and very much loved. The mother and father were later shot by irate neighbors for roaming the neighborhood. This should have never happened. This was pure neglect and cruelty on the owners part. These babies deserved better than that. They did not ask to be born.
I found your dog today. No he has not been adopted by anyone. Most of us who live out here own as many dogs as we want, those who do not own dogs do so because they choose not to. I know you hoped he would find a good home when you left him out here, but he did not. When I first saw him he was miles from the nearest house and he was alone, thirsty, thin and limping from a cactus burr in his paw.
How I wish I could have been you as I stood before him. To have seen his tail wag and his eyes brighten as he bounded into your arms, knowing you would find him, knowing you had not forgotten him. To see the forgiveness in his eyes for the suffering and pain he had known in his never-ending quest to find you...But I was not you. And despite all my persuasion, his eyes beheld a stranger. He did not trust, he would not come.
He turned and continued his journey; one he was sure would soon bring him to you. He does not understand you are not looking for him. He only knows you are not there, he only knows he must find you. This is more important than food or water or the stranger who can give him these things.
Persuasion and pursuit seemed futile; I did not even know his name. I drove home, filled a bucket with water and a bowl with food and returned to where we had met. I could see no sign of him, but I left my offering under the tree where he had sought shelter from the sun and a chance to rest. You see, he is not of the desert. When you domesticated him, you took away any instinct of survival out here. His purpose demands that he travel during the day. He doesn't know that the sun and heat will claim his life. He only knows he has to find you.
I waited hoping he would return to the tree; hoping my gift would build an element of trust so I might bring him home, remove the burr from his paw, give him a cool place to lie and help him understand that the part of his life with you is now over. He did not return that morning and at dusk the water and food were still there untouched. And I worried. You must understand that many people would not attempt to help your dog. Some would run him off, others would call the county and the fate you thought you saved him from would be preempted by his suffering from days without food and water.
I returned again before dark. I did not see him. I went again early the next morning only to find the food and water still untouched. If only you were here so you could call his name. Your voice is so familiar to him. I began pursuit in the direction he had taken yesterday, doubt overshadowing my hope of finding him. His search for you was desperate, it could take him many miles in 24 hours.
It is hours later and a good distance from where we first met, but I have found your dog. His thirst has been stopped, it is no longer a torment to him. His hunger has disappeared, he no longer aches. The burrs in his paws bother him no more. Your dog has been set free from his burdens, you see, your dog has died. I kneel next to him and I curse you for not being here yesterday so I could have seen the glow, if just for a moment, in those now vacant eyes. I pray that his journey has taken him to that place I think you hoped he would find. If only you knew what he went through to reach it.... and I agonize, for I know, that were he to awaken at this moment, and (if) I were to be you, his eyes would sparkle with recognition and his tail wag with forgiveness.
This story is shared by Steve Summar who is active in Rottie Rescue along with Donna Stamper in the Greater Tulsa area of Oklahoma
Most of you know the story of the Bub Pup, and for those who don't he is a sweet little rottie we rescued from death row, at the local animal shelter. A few days after we rescued him, the McIntires adopted him, and we delivered him to his new family, who lives in Arkansas. While we were gone, Donna received a phone call from a "family" who wanted to surrender "Tipsy". Donna is well known in the Tulsa area as the "Rottie Lady", and receives numerous calls like this one. Donna was familiar with "Tipsy", having done some early obedience work with her. Tipsy, was a seven month old registered AKC puppy who lived with a rural family, north of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Donna returned their call leaving a message on their answering machine, a few days went by and no response. People often reconsider surrendering their animals. Later in the week the local animal control officer, stopped by to visit with Donna. Responding to a report of suspected animal cruelty, Charles found little Tipsy's lifeless body lying in a ditch with a garbage bag wrapped around her head. Seems little Tipsy wasn't worth a ten cent bullet, she was bludgeoned and wrapped in a garbage bag to slowly suffocate at the hands of her master.
The D.A. promised action, but the neighbors who witnessed this atrocity, changed their mind, and didn't want to get involved, after all it was just another Rottweiler. Charles buried Tipsy at Donna's place in the country, no head stone marks her grave, just a mound of earth to remind us of her, and all that she could have been.
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