The Town Square: HUMANE SOCIETY

Till now, till this moment I had never questioned the work of the Humane Society. That is no longer the case, and I find myself in a most difficult position this morning, quite sad, where I must report the truth. The truth is that I recently adopted a lovely dog who I had to take to the hospital yesterday (three days after getting him) and learned that he was infected with the deadly Parvo Virus. The dog’s name is Princeton and before I continue this story I must ask that as you continue to read that you will pray for his welfare to be considered in this situation. He is at the VCA Hospital on Northern in Phoenix Arizona where he has been receiving fluids and antibiotics overnight, and I will discover this morning if there has been any improvement. There is a 50/50 chance for Princeton, that he will recover, and our family is holding him in prayer that he will recover and come home.

Sadly, there was another dog that we adopted at Christmas time; her name is Harvard, another lovely dog who has also now been exposed to the deadly virus. Harvard at this time has tested negative, but we are told that there is a two week incubation period so we are waiting to see what will happen with her.

I am, as I said very sad this morning for Princeton, and for Harvard who should have been able to rely upon the expertise of the staff at the Humane Society and never been endangered in this manner. I am sad because to test Princeton took ten minutes, and it would have taken them ten minutes to discover that he was infected with something that has now placed our family in this remarkably terrible situation. I am sad for the loss for the two animals this morning who should be romping around playing eating breakfast and fighting over toys. Instead, they are separated, one on IV fluids and one waiting to discover if she will become ill.

What is wrong with this situation is that we should be assured that people that are in the business of animals are not adopting animals to the community that are so sick that they themselves would not even treat. This dog required emergency medical attention, and while one can expect to have vet bills if one is going to have a pet, one should not expect to make the decision to keep a dog alive after a recent adoption of only three days, and then be placed in a situation where the other existing pet in the family is at risk. This is an outrage, and I am both angry and hurt, and sad.

I keep checking on Harvard, every minute she is still active is a blessing. I keep looking for the signs and symptoms and waiting for her to get ill. I am so devastated by this situation and can only report what I know, and what I know is that I would have preferred if someone sent a truckload of virus into my home and dumped it in my living room. At least I would have half a chance of protecting my pet from infection, and it would have been obvious. But this was a brutal invasion and I never saw it coming and once it hit, the response so far from the Humane Society has been ‘we don’t treat animals with Parvo”, and they go on to explain their exchange policy.

This is an animal, a pet, not a sweater I don’t want to exchange him; I want someone over there to consider the best interest of this little guy, and the other little one that is now waiting out her two week incubation period. Give me some ideas on how to keep the dog alive without going bankrupt, and forget about saving your face, but don’t give me your return policy. As far as I am concerned if they wanted to safe face, they should have considered that before adopting a sick dog out into the community, its too late for that, now is the time to live up to their name.

I am outraged as a puppy mom, as a community member, and as a long time supporter of the work of the Humane Society and believe that this situation demands that we as a community assist the Humane Society in changing this policy if they are going to serve our communities.

In other words; if the Humane Society is not going to treat animals that they have adopted out to families that turn up positive for this deadly virus then they damn sure should not be adopting these helpless animals out and placing their lives, and the lives of existing pets in the homes of families at risk. Would we tolerate any other act of cruelty to pets in our homes as a society, and would we not hold accountable any agency that endangered our pets, regardless of whom they are? Yes we would, and we would make sure that they paid dearly for their acts as well. Regardless of the good intentions of the Humane Society in general as an agency, something went terribly wrong in this situation, and this wrong can not be overlooked, and we can not afford the luxury of adhering to a policy now that prohibits the treatment of this disease on behalf of this animal now. If the Humane Society wanted to have this animal put to sleep it should have done so before it sent it home to our family. We are asking for the immediate review of this policy, and the prompt and swift action on the part of the Humane Society.

We request that any and all measures be taken to provide round the clock medical care for both of our pets that have been exposed to this deadly virus and that no expense be spared and that the best interest and the comfort of these animals remain the primary consideration. No alternative considerations will be considered and we fully expect a prompt and polite response absent of all rhetoric that is based in ignorant policy regarding the best interest of these animals.

For more information about this situation or for updates please call the Humane Society directly and voice your concerns, for these animals you can make a difference by contacting your local Humane Society or by contacting the location where this animal was adopted.©

Please Call TODAY!

Nancy Blabe at:

(602) 997-7586 ext. 1043

Or

Tom Morgan

(602) 997-7585 ext 1045