Viewer Viewpoint
And now, a few words from our viewers...

~~~ Tribute's Story ~~~
Afterschool Program & Community Dogwalk
(creative name in progress)
by Beth Detjens

I'd like to share with you my vision for an after-school program designed to find loving homes for unadopted dogs in kill shelters. It serves a double benefit when the dogs are paired with abused, disabled or dysfunctional kids who need a companion who loves them unconditionally and understands them. The idea came to me when I realized how many dogs are destroyed every day just because no one wants to give them a chance. My friends and I are working on a grant to implement this program as pet therapy for dysfunctional students, and I'm very excited about seeing it in action. My theory is this: as an abused child teaches an abused dog to trust people again and to obey authority, he or she is also learning to trust and obey themselves.

The tendency to get defensive about their rehabilitation is gone. The environment becomes relaxed and enjoyable, rather than pressured and uncomfortable. The dogs restore the child's self-esteem, provide a positive outlet for emotions through affection and playtime. Perhaps best of all, dogs whom no one wanted because of their background and emotional baggage (like many kids) find permanent, loving homes where they serve a beautiful purpose by simply living.

With a staff of volunteers, as large a facility as possible, and local student volunteers, we would take all the dogs scheduled to be euthanized that week from local shelters. The most unadoptable dogs (abused, disabled, old or ugly) would be my favorite picks for the program because the others have a pretty good chance on their own. Once they were safely in our facility, they would receive the very best care (ideally from a retired veterinarian volunteering for us full-time) and almost constant human contact. I want them to be as healthy and happy as possible while they wait for a permanent home - foster homes would even be available for certain dogs.

Perhaps the best way to delineate the details of the program is from the viewpoint of a homeless dog (yet to be saved by our program), Tribute. Following is his story:

Hi, everyone. Am I ever glad to meet you. I hear you really love us dogs and can help us to help others. I hope so, because Miss Beth and her friends could do so much for my friends back at Animal Control that I left behind. But they're already gone by now - "the short walk" we all called it there. We consoled ourselves by saying it's not so bad. There's no more suffering, but there's also no more kids or sunshine or ice water on a hot summer afternoon. I better stop - I'm getting all misty. Let me just tell you what happened on June 1, 2000.

I was lying on my part of the concrete slab, with my nose smushed against the chain link door, watching my pal Lucky (not really a very appropriate name for him) getting out of his kennel. The lady put a leash on him and said, "Let's go, boy. You're going home." But I was confused because she looked so sad. Shouldn't she be happy that Lucky was going home? My new buddy, Whimsy, an odd-looking fellow (the lady called him a Chinese Crested once), said, "Tribute, don't you get it? He's going home alright, but he's never leaving this building. Look, your time's almost up too, so I'm gonna level with you. If nobody wants you after four days, they walk you back into that room and boom, just like that, it's all over. This guy gives you a shot and you're gone."

"You mean if my owners don't find me in 4 days, they'll kill me?"

"Yep. You better get ready, too. You came in on Monday, didn't you? So you'll get killed tomorrow. Here, why don't you have the last of my dinner?"

About that time, I saw Lucky - alive! He and the lady had come back and were talking to another lady. I heard her say, "... and all the others scheduled to die this week."

That was me! But what was going to happen to me? Was she my new mom? Oh, I hope she has kids to play with at home. I miss Mandy and Brent. I was in a daze as they came and stood in front of my door, reading my information card.

"This is Tribute. He's had a pretty rough life - his owners almost starved him to death. You got here just in time for this guy. He was our first dog tomorrow when we opened," said the lady with Lucky on the leash.

"Hey, Tribute. Nice to meet you. I have the most wonderful surprise for you. You get to come with me and play with kids all day, and eat, and sleep all you want."

Every day for the next month was pure heaven....Continued...Page two

Page 1, 2

Tribute's Story by Beth Detjens
© Beth Detjens 2000
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