Image is from Scott Washburn and copied from ABC News site
The system works! I first heard this story last week on Facebook. Robert of Seattle DogSpot asked his Facebook followers if this man should get his dog back. Everyone passionately replied ‘no’ sharing their thoughts on the situation. Many people wanted to see this Colorado man charged with animal cruelty for essentially throwing away his dog.
For those of you who haven’t heard the story, a man was on a hike with his dog who (the dog) suffered several injuries and he wasn’t able to carry the dog down so he left his dog on the mountain. You would think that he would get to the bottom and call friends, the police, animal control, and search and rescue to ask for help rescuing his loyal dog. Instead, he apparently moved on with his life.
A week later, a couple hiking found the dog (Missy) on a hike and she was barely moving. They did all the things that Missy’s owner failed to do and when I saw pictures of Missy carefully loaded up in a backpack by a group of strangers to be carried down the mountain, I shouted “YES!!!” That’s what dog lovers do!
A group of strangers came together to carry Missy down a Colorado Mountain to make sure that she gets the care that she needs. The veterinarian assures the public that Missy is doing great and will make a full recovery.
Whenever things like this happen I get so excited. I believe that things like this happen to shed light on an issue. It shows people that pets aren’t disposable. I believe that people who do something like this should never be allowed to own another pet again. A habitual drunk driver should lose their license, a child abuser should lose custody, and someone who shows disregard to animals should not be allowed near them again.
I’m so happy for Missy and excited about the life she’ll have. Families are lining up to adopt her and give her the loving home she deserves. And I’m thankful for the sacrifice that Missy made to shed light on the often overlooked problem of people thinking dogs are disposable.
August 19, 2012 at 8:33 am
I am really happy that this guy is getting some charges filed against him. Would have left one of his kids behind if they couldn’t have made it?
Twitter: fishingpnw
August 19, 2012 at 9:16 am
Exactly, Chris – no one would dare leave their children up there. I’m surprised that he even came forward.
Twitter: thefurmom
August 19, 2012 at 9:00 am
Hi Kimberly.
I read about this last on another blog. Apparently Scott Washburn wants to keep the dog no contest in my opinion. Dogs are family you wouldn’t abandon your children.
As far as I’m concerned he left his Missy to die which is probably what would of happened if it wasn’t for the hikers. In that week he made no attempt to get the dog help as far as I’m aware and now he thinks an apology is acceptable after the hikers have done what he should of done, Don’t make me laugh.
He lost his right to keep Missy by abandoning her and not getting medical attention for her. There’s no excuse for it fair enough he might not of been able to carry Missy down on his own and there might not of been a mobile phone signal on the mountain, but as soon as you got down safely you would do anything to alert people.
How do these people sleep at night. If i abandoned Sheba like that i would be having nightmares wondering if she was safe it would never happen though.
Lets hope the Judge uses common sense and makes the right decision.
(dofollow)
Sheba’s life story. recently published..The extreme pet Bloggers Blog Hop.
Twitter: shebaslifestory
August 19, 2012 at 9:23 am
I’m with you. I’m surprised that he came forward and wonder if he’s at all surprised by the backlash and if he really thought people would drop his dog off at home. I’m truly stunned by the attitude that pets are property. Yes, technically they do belong to us, but they belong to us as our loved ones. I couldn’t imagine leaving any of our dogs behind. I hope he isn’t allowed another dog. Ever.
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom
August 19, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Why was he unable to get Missy off the mountain in the first place? I just don’t understand that. If Heaven forbid that had been my dog I would NEVER have left him behind. I weigh about 117 and my dog is 60 pounds so he’s quite big but I would have carried him with every ounce of strength I possessed or died trying. There’s no excuse for leaving a dog behind like that. My conscience would not have permitted anything less.
He should not get his dog back and the heroes who saved Missy have helped to restore my faith in humanity.
August 20, 2012 at 3:37 am
HE SHOULD GO TO HELL !!!! HE DOESNT DESERVE HIS DOG BACK . WHAT NOW THAT OTHER HIKERS DID WHAT HE SHOULD OF DONE OR GONE TO GET HELP HE WANTS His dog BACK that she safe and alive…..he wasnt to concern about her after his hike was over any everynight he went to sleep knowing she was out there all aone in the dark in pain and helpless…..HE should just get over the idea because there will be alot of issues in colorado if they give the dog back to him from all the true dog lovers…..Maybe if they beat him and leave him in a moutain for a week with know food or water and live what Missy lived maybe …..but i still think he should go rot in hell for even asking the state for her back….Give the dog to a loving caring home not to a selfish prick !!!
August 20, 2012 at 7:30 am
Thanks, Melissa
If he got that dog back I think there would be a public uproar. No way could that happen. I’m surprised that he even came forward. I would be so ashamed – there’s no way I could live with myself if I left one of my babies behind. I look at my dogs and cats and I love them, I want the best for them, and I want them safe, at home, with me. I will not be taking them on a hike where we could get hurt and not get back – only easy, short hikes for our family.
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom
August 20, 2012 at 6:37 am
I agree with everyone above. I wish that everyone who did it was held accountable.
Abandoning and dumping animals happens a lot where I live (east Texas), unfortunately. People here view pets as disposable when times get tough or when they have an animal that they cannot discipline. (Their fault, not the animal.) Even this morning, someone announced on Yahoo group: “Free 3 yr old female Chocolate Lab. Wife is mad at her and I dont have time to discipline and train her.” Sorry, folks. You shouldn’t have adopted the dog if you weren’t willing to train her.
We moved from Austin to the country about 10 months ago. In that length of time, 3 sets of animals showed up. The first time, it was 2 adult dogs, both were pit bulls and one was pregnant. The second time, it was a sweet little puppy — 3 months old!! We fell in love with her and adopted her. It took us a good month for her to come to us. Before that, she was so scared, but dying for human compassion as the tail wagging told us, but she wouldn’t let us get within 5 feet of her. The third time it was a mama cat with her 7 kittens.
It breaks my heart to see these animals in distress. And it makes me so mad at the people that seemingly justify their behavior to abandon helpless animals. I asked a vet here about it once, and he said that most folks around here can’t afford to spay or neuter their pets, so they justify that when the animals have litters, they’ll just post a sign for “free puppies or kittens” because who wouldn’t want to adopt a cuddly puppy or kitten. Then, when the animals don’t get adopted, they take them out to the country and dump them.
This entire mindset about animals has been going on for ages, I’m afraid. My grandfather used to shoot or drown kittens if the adult cats had too many litters and the cat population used to become unmanageable. Other farmers around here shoot stray dogs.
I don’t know how to fix the problem other than suggesting that ALL communities offer very low cost spaying and neutering services. I don’t understand why they don’t make this is a #1 priority. “Cost” is always the excuse. My argument is that they could figure out a way if they just tried.
August 20, 2012 at 7:28 am
Thank you so much for your passionate comment. You are such a decent person with a big heart and I’m thankful that I’m sharing the planet with you.
Twitter: thefurmom
August 20, 2012 at 3:21 pm
Thanks, Kimberly. You’re a sweetie for saying so.
August 20, 2012 at 9:29 am
How does a dog get injured on a hike? That seems very strange to me.
Twitter: AnnaZed
August 20, 2012 at 9:57 am
I was wondering the same thing and think that maybe the dog fell a little on an unsteady surface or pulled a muscle. Our dog did this just by running around in the yard and hitting an uneven spot.
This guy is toast
Twitter: thefurmom
August 20, 2012 at 10:05 am
Poor darling dog!
Twitter: AnnaZed
August 20, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Completely agree! Someone like this should never be allowed near an animal again. So happy to see her doing well again.
August 20, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I know, me too. I bet her new family is going to spoil her with love.
Twitter: thefurmom