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The Story of ‘Bones’
written by Daniel S. Wall. All rights reserved.

“Sometimes it is personal.”

With dozens of dogs and cats in the shelter at any time, and with many of them leaving (thankfully) for other homes within a day or two, the majority of animals at the shelter do not leave much of an impression. Okay, sometimes we get a dog with a voice so high pitched it hurts to be within 30’ whenever it yelps. There is the occasional cat big enough to generate oohs and awes from the staff. (I was going to say ‘big enough to eat a horse,” but we would not want anyone to get the wrong idea.) And every now and then you get a puppy or a kitten so damn cute, your heart melts just looking at the little critter. But even these precious novelties come and go.

And then there are cases like “Bones.”

Bones was brought to the Humane Society this September. Animal control had seized him and one other animal. The reason was painfully obvious. Both animals were starving. Bones was in especially bad shape at 25 pounds, which was no weight for a full grown pit bill terrier. Shelter staff was unsure that he would survive. The case would be turned over to a prosecutor for potential charges. But for shelter staff, the task at hand was to keep this poor creature alive.

Bones was first taken to the Flagstaff Animal Hospital where staff gave him a check up, ran blood-work, and devised a treatment program. He then spent 2 weeks in isolation with a high calorie diet and limited physical activity. Additional visits to the Vet were made as necessary.

When Bones had made it past the critical period, the next question was what kind of life could be made for him? A pit bull terrier with an alleged history of abuse is not easy to adopt out of a shelter. If Bones was to have a life, he would need to learn how to handle a human.

So, off he went to a doggy trainer. Bones spent the next 5 weeks with Tony Nila of Grumpy Puppy Training. Tony helped Bones pack on the pounds, gave him training in obedience as well as socialization. After graduating from Nila’s school, Bones returned a well mannered dog, ready for adoption.

Next came the hard part, actually finding this animal a home. Bones was healthy and friendly if a little sad. He had a habit of looking away from people that could easily strike one as hostility. If someone actually approached him, Bones quickly showed himself to be friendly. But a big dog like that, showing obvious signs of stress. Many walked past his kennel without a second look.

Bones could not help but come across as a little sad. His eyes could really light up when he was taken outside to play, and that made Bones seem just a little more tragic. One could not help but want more moments like that for the big lug. …fewer of those with the worried look in his eyes. But we could only do just so much here at the shelter. If Bones was to enjoy a happy life, someone else would have to see that look in his eyes. …someone else would have to want to give him more of those happier moments.

For several months Bones remained in his own kennel here at the Humane Association. Many walked by him. Others marveled at his story or even took him out to play before returning him to his kennel. If anyone made a personal connection to this sad dog, it was the staff here at the Humane Association. A little extra care was common for Bones, and it became ever more important to find him a home. We tried a few things.

Other shelters were contacted, but none took him on. Online ads were placed, but they did not lead to adoption. Bones was put on the local news station, but no-one called to ask about the dog from TV. Unusual steps were discussed. Maybe we could trade Bones to a no-kill shelter in exchange for some cats. Maybe we can get the newspaper to do a story about him. Could anyone think of anything else? Every effort was made to find this dog a home, and as each effort failed, the importance of finding Bones a home somehow grew that much more important.

Bones stayed through the better part of the winter with us at the shelter. Our numbers were low through most of that time, so we could afford him the space. But as the last couple snow storms subsided, we all grew just a little more anxious. In time, we would be flooded with puppies and kittens and space would come to be at a premium. The need to place Bones became ever more urgent.

And then one day it just happened. The moment began simply enough, a young couple arriving late in the day and heading back through the kennels to look at the dogs. When they came back smiling with an information card in hand, one had to wonder which of the other dogs would be lucky enough to find itself a home. But no, the card they had in hand belonged to Bones. For some of us, there was just a moment of disbelief. It seemed almost impossible that it would be so simple after so much work. Bones would be leaving with them just as soon as the paperwork was done. And that is when it became clear just how important Bones had become to the staff here at the shelter.

This was exactly what we all wanted for this sweet, sweet, animal, and yet it was all just a little sad. In a short time, he would be beyond our protection, in a better place to be sure, but that didn’t make it any easier to let go. Bones left the shelter that day a bit like a child leaving its home. He left just a few tears behind him.

We can only hope that’s where the tears stay for this beautiful animal.

Behind him.

Biography: Daniel Wall is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a doctoral candidate at the University of Chicago. Formerly an Instructor at Dine’ College on the Navajo Nation, Daniel is now the Community Relations and Volunteer Coordinator at the Coconino Humane Association in Flagstaff, Arizona.

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By creating a society who feel certain breeds are ‘mad, bad or dangerous’ good dogs die or can be stigmatised. Every dog, no matter what breed, what background or what ‘pedigree’ is the product of its upbringing and environment. By labeling certain ‘types’ of dogs as dangerous or - worse - banning them, we show that humans haven’t learned much over the years since we first domesticated the dog. It’s wrong. It has to stop. End BSL now. There are NO excuses. There is NO justification. There is NO benefit to the public.

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Are you a dog lover in the UK?
Can you offer help to some of the many dogs who have been caught up in legislation which may see their lives ended as a resut of what they happen to look like?Please email bsl@petparliament.com - we’d not only LOVE to hear from you, there are some dogs who NEED to hear from you.Thank you.

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