Stop Kansas K-9 Resq and Help us Bring Patches Home!

In early April Patch and Moe got out of their fenced yard and while Moe returned Patch did not.  The owner of the dog reported her missing to the El Dorado Animal Shelter and hoped for her return.  On April 30th the owners were contacted by a friend who notified them that Patch was listed on the website of Kansas K-9 Resq.

The owners sent the following e-mail to Kansas K-9:

On Sat, Apr 30, 2011 at 1:42 PM, Roxsanna Spires <roxsannaspires@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear K-9 Resq,

            This letter is in reference to my Australian Sheppard, Patch. I want to start off by thanking you for taking her in when she was in need. I have been very concerned and have searched for her for the past couple weeks. I have cared for, and loved, Patch for the past year. I have raised her along with her best friend Moe, also an Australian Sheppard. They share their home together in comfort with my husband and I. They are provided with shelter, food, and love. They sleep indoors and have been socialized with both people and with other dogs. They receive regular veterinary care with, Prairie Station in Towanda. Their number is 541-2320 or 775-9943. As you have already talked to them, I am sure you have found that she is healthy and up to date on her vaccinations. Along with my veterinarian%u2019s reference I will provide you the phone numbers of references that I have both %u201Cdog sat%u201D for and had %u201Cdoggy play dates%u201D.

Rhonda Turnquist (dog sat 3 dogs): xxx-xxxx

Katie Daniel (numerous doggy play dates and provided care for her dogs): xxx-xxx-xxx

James Mcqueen: xxx-xxxx

Bob and Lachelle King: xxx-xxxx

Denver Collins: xxx-xxxx

Sarah Clifton(been to my home on numerous occasions and witnessed interactions between my dogs and I): xxx-xxxx

More references can be provided up on request. I have also attached pictures of Patch and Moe along with some of the dogs I have watched and my dogs have played with.

I want you to understand that my dogs are part of my family. Patch is very missed at home. She loves to sleep on the arm of the couch and bed. She loves to play in the snow in the winter and cool off in the A.C. in the summer time. They also love to run through their pool on warm summer days. She has plenty of fresh air and room to play and with her friend, Moe. I would welcome a visit to my home or a meeting with Moe wherever you prefer. You can see that they truly are family and need each other. Our home is off balance without Patch. I urge you to call my references and vet so this process can move along promptly and Patch can be reunited with her family. Thank you again for rescuing patch. I am grateful that you take the time to make sure that these animals are loved and cared for.

Sincerely,

Roxsanna Spires

 

To which she received the following response:

 From: Toni Wenger <tlwengster@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Patch
To: "Roxsanna Spires" <roxsannaspires@yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, May 2, 2011, 2:16 PM

Roxsanna,   Please know that we are all dog lovers and do understand your feelings in the loss of your Patches.  While none of us are perfect, we are a group who have studied ways to keep our precious dogs safe and happy for the last 10 years.  Many of us have made mistakes and we have learned from our mistakes.  Our biggest mistakes result in an adoption where the dog is later found in very poor health, to have suffered injuries or untimely deaths, or have escaped never to be found.  All of these outcomes weighs very hard on the volunteers and foster homes who work every day to make sure that the poor dogs we bring into our homes have a bright future.   You have given many references and your veterinarian in your effort to regain your dog, however, our most important reference is Shela, herself.  When her foster mom took her from the Wichita Animal Shelter on April 15th, she was filthy and infested with fleas and ticks.  In our care, she was bathed and given medications for the fleas.  Ticks were tediously picked off.  As our vet did not find a definitive spay scar, she was scheduled for surgery and her foster mom requested additional expenses from the rescue for her to be examined for remaining ticks while she was under anesthetic.  She was also vaccinated for bordetella, distemper, parvo, rabies and was tested for heartworms.   Shela's first week in her foster home was spent in fear of coming into the house.  She would follow the 2 resident dogs around the yard, but stop and turn back when they came in the door.  This behavior is consistent with a dog who has spent little or no time in a house and has been punished when coming in the door.   We did receive the information from the El Dorado shelter confirming your husband checking there for your Patches on April 12th.  He reported to them that Patches had been missing since April 10th.  We know from Shela's Wichita Animal Shelter report that she was brought in to the shelter on April 11th.  Here is the dilema, had Patches been on the run for several weeks, we could understand her deplorable condition when brought in to the shelter.  However, since she was taken in just one day after her escape from your yard, we have to believe that the filth, fleas and ticks were on her while in your care.    Also, by your admission to me, Patches and your dog Moe had gotten out of your yard in the past and had been gone as long as 4 days.  In spite of that, you still did not insure that your dogs had any identification that would have allowed anyone finding your dogs to returned them to you.  I continue to be confused by your statement that you "do not believe in microchips".  Had Patches been chipped, she would have been returned to you from the Wichita Animal Shelter.  Since she had no identification, she endured 3 days in the shelter (scared and alone), unnecessary surgery and vaccinations.    I understand that many rural dog owners have a standard of care for companion animals that is less than what we require.  Kansas K-9 ResQ has very high standards of care for our dogs and does not adopt to homes that do not conform to our standards.  This is why Shela will not be adopted to you.   Please know that we will find a home for Shela where she will be cared for and loved for the remainder of her life.  We hope that you will ensure the health and safety of your dog Moe, that includes providing him with identification in the event that he again escapes from your yard.   Sincerely, Toni President, Kansas K-9 ResQ, Inc.

Without making any effort to look at the home where Patch came from or give the owners any opportunity to prove that they are in fact good, loving pet owners Kansas K-9 has refused to return the dog simply because they are "rural pet owners".  We have obtained pictures as well as an statement from the couple who found Patch and they do not show a dog covered in "filth, fleas and ticks" nor does the statement from the couple who found Patch show that the dog appeared to be uncared for in any way.

"I am attaching the two pictures I took of her that day trying to find out who she belonged to.  I did not notice any fleas or ticks on her and her ears were spotless, so I figured that she belonged to somebody."   

"When we had her on Sunday, April 10, she seemed like a very friendly dog.  It took her awhile to get used to being around our two dogs, but after awhile she was playing with my daughter and chasing her around the yard."

I ask you to sign this petition to support the return of Patch to her rightful owners.  This petition will be sent to the Commissioner of the Kansas Animal Health Department, Kansas pet animal advisory board and the Kansas Humane Society.