Giving Life
a message received from Louis Fallon, President, Raritan River Akita Club
Editorial Comment: Because there are so many rescue organizations and we can’t serve them all, the board’s policy has been to let rescue sites do the job they do best. However, this email defined the adage “for every rule there is an
exception.”
The Holiday Season is a universal time of reflection and giving. Everyone can do something, and should. Foster a dog until it can be placed, transport a dog, visit a nursing or children’s home, donate your time on the phone, or do all of that and also help fund a local breed rescue. Personally, I avoid the national charities such as HSUS which has been shown to rake in the dollars and give only pennies to benefit the animals. (see Katrina reports) Whatever fits your style but please, Give The Gift of Life To a Dog.
Wins. I have two Akita wins to report.
(1) In Groveland NY, the Akita Rescue of Western New York (ARWNY) and I were successful in saving the life of ‘Jackie the Akita’, a 6-year old spayed bitch that fought with a 2-year old intact male Airedale Terrier when both dogs were running at large. The Airedale received a 6-stitch puncture and the Akita was charged and convicted under New York Dangerous Dog law. The municipal court judge sentenced the Akita to be destroyed, the owner appealed, ARWNY sent a volunteer in along with some documentation and the municipal court judge allowed ARWNY to take the Akita out of the municipality “forever”. Mrs. Mona M. Shaw is now fostering Jackie and giving her the obedience training and socialization that Jackie needs. Now I just have to gather photos of Jackie the Akita, her graduation certificate from Dog Obedience School, slip them into a 25-page legal brief and convince the municipal court judge to reverse Jackie’s dangerous dog designation, so that ARWNY can put her up for adoption.
(2) Eight miles down the road the Bergen County NJ Animal Shelter was listing a small 1-2 year old male Akita. I drove over and looked at him – he was a really cute Akita puppy about 5-6 months old, so I paid the adoption fee and took him home with me. I don’t understand how his owners could let a really nice, cute, warm, friendly, house-trained Akita puppy get away and not hunt high and low for him, but he had been at the animal shelter for over two weeks when they listed him on www.petfinder.com. After two days with me, eating Puppy Chow three times a day instead of adult food once a day, he happily jumped into the back seat of my car and we drove 130 miles down the turnpike to ARWNY volunteer Kathy DeWees in Carneys Point NJ where Smokey joined the ten other Akita Rescue dogs awaiting their new forever homes. Smokey is such a cute lovable pup that I almost kept him, but I have to be realistic. At least Smokey is now with Akita people who know that he is a puppy, who will feed him Puppy Chow and treat him like a puppy.
The Akita Rescue of Western New York (ARWNY) does an outstanding job, website www.akitarescuewny.com. ARWNY is a 501 (c) (3) organization and always needs donations. Money is most welcome as are crates, blankets, telephone calling cards, gas cards, new leashes and collars, gift certificates to pet supply stores, etc. Other local Rescue groups may be found at http://members.petfinder.org/~TX61/map/rescue.html .
Thank you Louis, for the three decades of devotion and service to all dogs.