This page is for our supporters to share the story of how animals have touched their lives and inspired them to use their voice to speak for the voiceless. For comments, concerns or questions for The Network, please use our Contact Us page.
This page is for our supporters to share the story of how animals have touched their lives and inspired them to use their voice to speak for the voiceless. For comments, concerns or questions for The Network, please use our Contact Us page.
Showing 18 reactions
I named the German Shepard that was abandoned Nyle which I have been feeding her for the past 4 weeks. Need someone to Foster or Adopt.
Would also like the updated laws for animals in Texas, Please email me the Laws for animals. I will take theses Law to the Sheriff Department and the County Commissioner Sammy Farias.
Hope to hear from you,
Telma Sepeda
The call came from the Humane Society asking if we could help a cruelty seizure. When first meeting, he looked like most other rescues, he was emaciated, walked a little gingerly. Appearances, did not tell the whole story.
It was upon hearing the initial vetting report that I became physically ill. His gingerly walk was the result of injuries suffered from repeated sexual abuse. Each word from the vet’s mouth caused additional nausea. To the point, I realized my limit of what I could process emotionally had been reached. It was a point in time, I realized I needed help in other ways. That is when I got involved with THLN and their efforts to pass better laws to protect the most innocent among us.
Luckily, CJ’s story has a happy ending. His adoptive family is perfect and his abuser was charged and arrested. While awaiting trial for her crimes, she passed away.
I walked into that building convinced I was prepared for the sadness. I was wrong! Walking past the line of people who without a thought or care were surrendering their once family pets. Doing so knowing they most likely wouldn’t make it out of that shelter alive. Seeing the ACO’s driving in with trucks full of more discarded litters, dogs that didn’t meet breeder standards, the dumped and neglected. This place is the house of horrors for any animal or human with a soul. I didn’t make it past the sign-in station before walking out to cry in private. I’ve never felt so helpless, useless, and hurt in my entire life. Just when I convinced myself I couldn’t handle it and had thoughts to bolt. I see this man using his entire body to drag his dog into the shelter on a heavy gauge chain. This dog knew. The smells and negative energy sent his instincts into fight or flight. Still even with the effort to stop his owner, his crying and barking out as pleas to just go back home. This man handed over his chain and told an employee, “I don’t want him anymore, do whatever you need to do with him.” I inquired about the dog while waiting but was told it was said the owner requested he be euthanized. What was left of my broken heart shattered in that moment. I’ve been told a thousand times, “you can’t save them all.” In that moment it became truth.
Crying once again in a room full of strangers, the staff kindly sat me in a private room to wait my turn to meet the handsome boy “Monty” who’s smile won my heart online. I finally walked through the kennel room door to meet Monty and could hear him over every bark and howl in the building. It truly was love at first sight. It’s as if he realized he was safe. My poor boy, his body telling the story so many Houston dogs endure. Emaciated, his skin embedded with bb pellets, a mouth of broken teeth. How could this boy still want to smile or wag his tail with joy? His will to love and be loved through all his pain taught me there is no such thing as a bad dog. After all he had been through, he proved that it’s not the breed but the deed. This dog had been beaten, starved, and shot in his short two years of life. Yet despite his past he is the kindest, most gentle, whimsical dog full of personality and love that I’ve ever been blessed to have in my life. We left his shelter given name of Monty and all his tragic history behind with it. Now named Mr. Wilson, because of his fond attachment to Wilson tennis balls. I promised him for the rest of his years that he will feel everything it means to be loved and never see the house of horrors again.
The day I fell in love with Mr. Wilson is the day I fell in love with Rescue. All shelter dogs, strays, and dogs on chains are Mr. Wilson’s with a tragic story of their own. Every single one is deserving of love and a life outside of pain and neglect. To make that a reality I advocate. I advocate for enforced animal cruelty laws, spay/neuter ordinances, stricter guidelines for breeders, and against puppy-mills and pet stores. I advocate to vote legislators into office that have the best interest of animals top of mind. I advocate for the voiceless. I advocate for change. I advocate for peace. I will advocate until it’s said, “we saved them all.”
Because we know not all dogs are as fortunate as Cairo, we make monthly donations to rescues. Adopt, don’t shop!
I’m writing this in honor and memory of “Red & Roxy” two stray sisters who deserved a better life….
Becky Whitlock
Palestine, Texas
abandoned and abused animals. I have tried to call the Humane society of North Texas and they told me to call my Sheriffs department to handle animal abuse and neglect calls in my area. I called the Sheriffs department , they would come out and ask a few questions then leave. Then the abuse and neglect continue. I want to be their voice. I want to make a difference here in Johnson County. We need change in this County.
It was a typical summer day (hot and humid) as we visited two labs in the kennels we had seen on the Lab Rescue website. It seemed they were miserable in those conditions and not really interested in being displayed. But before we left the shelter (which was almost overwhelmed with hundreds of animals), we asked the director where “Rufus” was. They had not shown him to as we had requested when we got there.
We were told that he was “aggressive” and being kept in isolation, where he had been for weeks. It has also intimated that he probably would “not be around much longer”.
They asked us to step into a fenced enclosure behind the building and they would fetch Rufus.
Three of us were waiting when they brought him through the gate and took his leash off.
He immediately took off running the fence line at top speed. On about the third lap around the large yard he stopped about 100 feet from us and looked down. He then picked up a doggie toy, trotted over and dropped it right at my feet.
He is our “Bennie Boy” now for over a year. He is a playful, funny, beautiful companion and we are so happy he chose us!
.
Currently, the process to get my dog back is taking too long. I am concerned about the welfare of my dog. I have had to speak to officers in both Bell county and Howard county (This is where Ermelinda took Reggie my dog) I have sent her certified letters requesting the return of Reggie,spoke with family members, made civil and now a criminal case, as well as, sending Animal control in her county to check on Reggie. Today, Killeen police made a criminal case, but depending on the case load of the Investigator that will handle our case; it could be weeks, months,or a year before we can get our dog back. This is simply unexceptionable! His welfare is in jeopardy and we worry we will never see him again. This type of situation needs to be a priority and should be handled with in a 48 hour period. When the welfare of an animal is being questions officers should be able to use their better judgement and apprehend the dog, returning it to the rightful owner.
Especially when the thief is a known criminal and has a history of drug use. Please help me not only get the safe return of my dog Reggie but also to help others in similar situations get their pets home as well. I thank you for your time. I look forward to speaking to you soon about this matter in the future, hopefully. #ReturnReggie
Our own pet, Cooter was hit when we moved into a house with a no-fence policy because we are in a flood plain. That’s when we found the Invisible Fence solution and ended up being able to acquire that business when a new owner was needed. Every day we and our staff are able to save pets that would otherwise be in danger.
P. O. Box 301501
Austin, TX 78703
January 3, 2017
Tawny Hammond
Chief Animal Services Officer
Austin Animal Center
7201 Levander Loop
Building A
Austin, TX 78702
Dear Ms. Hammond-
On September 15, 2016 I surrendered my tortie cat Pretty Boy #1 (now known as Pretty) to the Austin Animal Center on Levander Loop. I adopted the cat 8 years ago when it showed up in my neighborhood, and I have provided regular care for her (it is a female cat) during that period of time, mostly at the Central Texas Cat Hospital in Round Rock. In the last year the cat developed stomatitis which, as you know, is a treatable but not usually a curable condition characterized by bleeding and inflammation in the mouth. This causes the cat great pain and interferes with its ability to eat. I turned the cat in because I could no longer provide care for it. It was costing $100 to $150 per month at the veterinary clinic and the cat kept hiding outdoors and not eating once its mouth started hurting. When it received its monthly shots at the veterinarian office the condition would clear up and the cat would be able to eat kibble with no problem but its condition would deteriorate over the course of 4-6 weeks until it got its next round of shots. I believed that the Austin Animal Center would be able to either give it the continuing treatment it needed or euthanize the cat to take it out of its misery. After the Austin Animal Center did give it some treatment, they passed the cat to Austin Pets Alive at 1156 W. Cesar Chavez. I visited the Austin Pets Alive facility on January 1, 2017 and observed that the cat was ill and didn’t appear to have received medical care recently. The cat was listless and had foaming blood oozing from its mouth. In the past, when I have brought the cat to Dr. Smith in Round Rock and gotten its shots, its mouth clears up and the cat becomes very active outdoors going on hikes with me and catching mice. It is my contention that this cat is not receiving proper care and is in a condition of suffering. I can recognize when the cat is ill because I cared for it for 8 years. I spoke with the cat manager at the facility who claimed the cat was receiving treatment. I asked her to show me the treatment record which she refused to do. I informed her that I did not believe the cat was receiving proper treatment based on my familiarity with the cat and I told her I would be filing complaint. At that point, and in a very intimidating manner, she escorted me off the premises. She was not willing to listen to the information I had to give her about the cat. I believe the condition of the cat now may constitute animal cruelty even though it may not be intentional but is related to a lack of understanding of what the cat needs. On Monday, January 2, I called Austin 311 and filed an animal cruelty complaint and I am waiting for a response to that. What can you do for this cat Tawny to ensure that it will be taken care of?
Sincerely,
Stephen Allen
[email protected]
512-963-6287