Society learning lesson in humanity

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Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press Paul King tends to Baby Girl's litter of seven pups. Maybe a male could be named after Buddy, right.

THE DOGS DAYS OF WINTER... It's hard to know if it's simply damage control, lessons learned the hard way, or a combination of both.

But Winnipeg Humane Society CEO Bill McDonald says the organization is about to make some changes as a result of two recent cases involving the surrender and, ultimately, the euthanizing of dogs that the people who gave them up wanted back.

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Buddy

Unfortunately, all this comes too late for Buddy, as it did for the family of the little girl with cancer that hoped to get their dog back after it was surrendered because they didn't have the money for a vet.

On Wednesday, McDonald alluded to both cases and what they've taught the humane society about being more clear in its communications.

But, obviously, it was Buddy's case, and the outpouring of online anger it generated, that has finally prompted the promise of change.

Lee-Anne Tesluk found Buddy Nov. 25 in the front yard of an Old Kildonan home. He looked like a big, scary, pit-bull-faced dog, but he was affectionate with Lee-Anne and over the next few days they bonded. Lee-Anne and a friend from the animal rescue community, Sherri Van Wynsbergh, would have kept Buddy themselves, but both already have three dogs. Finally, four days later, the two women decided their best option was to turn Buddy over to the humane society. But only if the WHS assured them Buddy would not be euthanized.

Sherri said she got that assurance over the phone from an WHS employee. And later, when Lee-Anne took Buddy to the WHS shelter, she signed him over believing that same assurance -- although the WHS policy does allow for euthanizing of dogs for medical cause, or if they are judged to be dangerous.

Then Tuesday, Lee-Anne received a call from the humane society. Buddy had been deemed dangerous. An assessment had shown that Buddy was both object and food aggressive.

He had to be put down, she was told.

Otherwise, if he was released injured someone, the WHS could be held liable.

Outraged, Sherri sent McDonald an email Tuesday night requesting an appeal and what amounted to a stay of execution.

"I am asking that you stop the euthanasia of Buddy," Sherri wrote McDonald, "and allow us to bring in a trainer at my expense to have him re-evaluated."

Apparently, it was already too late.

On Wednesday afternoon McDonald called and told them Buddy had been put down Tuesday night. Later that afternoon McDonald returned my call. He acknowledged the humane society had some work to do. He said they will have to review the surrender documents to make them clearer to the public. And he said they want to work out an agreement whereby dogs in similar cases can be transferred to other shelters that would take responsibility for their care and, hopefully, their rehabilitation.

As for Buddy and Sherri's offer of paying for a second opinion, in retrospect, McDonald offered this.

"We should have stepped back and given that a thought."

Sherri is unimpressed by the humane society's afterthoughts.

"I'm disgusted... this should not have happened."

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AH, BUT IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO END SADLY... Last fall, a Winnipeg-based archeologist named Paul King was working on a dig near a First Nation community in northwestern Ontario when he met Baby Girl.

She was a scraggly and pregnant reserve dog who had been homeless since her elderly owner died.

And now, just as Paul was leaving, Baby Girl was about to be shot.

Paul understood why, but he couldn't let it happen. As he was about to drive away to Winnipeg, he stopped, got out and loaded Baby Girl in the back seat. That's how, late last month, Paul and his wife, Diana Good, who already share a child, also came to be the "parents" of seven pups.

Of course Paul knew what they were getting into when he rescued the pregnant dog. What they didn't count on was Baby Girl's two emergency late-night visits to the vet, and the ensuing $1,500 bill that came with them. Which is what prompted a friend named Barbara Hewitt to send an email to the Free Press.

"I am donating $100 to start a puppy care fund," Hewitt wrote, "both to help offset the cost of Mom's emergency care and the cost to spay and neuter her and her puppies before they go to their new homes. I'm hoping the Winnipeg Free Press can help me spread the word about the wonderful, selfless thing they've done and to help me make sure they don't have to forego Christmas because they chose to save this dog and her babies."

Actually, as welcome as the vet-bill donations would be, Paul says he's more concerned about finding good homes for the pups that won't be ready to leave Baby Girl for another five weeks.

His email is paulfking@hotmail.com if you're interested.

And, if I may offer Paul and Diana a suggestion...

When someone comes to take the first male pup, tell them he already has a name.

"Buddy."

And then tell them why.

gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 15, 2011 0