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WASHINGTON AKITA RESCUE NETWORK
Please page down to read "How Could You?" How important are the
pets in YOUR life?
This Page is dedicated to the
memory of Amiya, the Everett Akita that was euthanized before we could
help her.
Akita Lovers across Washington and the Pacific Northwest are networking to help prevent any more
adoptable Akitas from being put to sleep unnecessarily. Please
check this page often as we will update it frequently. Listed
below are Akitas currently at Pacific Northwest animal shelters.
When you are looking for a wonderful companion, please consider one of
these dogs.
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Amiya was
euthanized about 5 days after she was listed on
Petfinder by the Everett City Shelter. They
considered her dog aggressive because the
well-meaning person who had taken her in had not
understood Akitas. As soon as she was listed on
Petfinder, Melissa visited her. She visited her
several times, taking her outside, brushing her
and giving her the attention she deserved. This
sweet, affectionate girl should not have died.
We know we cannot save all the Akitas that end
up in shelters, but we are all guilty of letting
this one slip through the cracks when there was
no reason. We all had good intentions but we
did not act fast enough. Melissa did what she
could, but she could not do it alone. Akita
people, whether they are breeders or just lovers
of the breed, need to help. Do you have a spare
kennel? Can you contact a shelter and leave
your number to be contacted before an adoptable
Akita is put to sleep? We all need to network to
save these dogs. For future reference, the
Everett City Shelter does not wait to euthanize
a dog. We all need to keep our eyes and ears
open. We will keep Amiya on our site as a
memorial to her and a reminder to all of us.
Godspeed over the Rainbow Bridge, sweet girl.
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If you want to help, please
contact WAG.
Scroll all the way down the page
to find all the Akitas available at area shelters. Some have been
adopted; some are still searching for their forever homes.
Hailey
Spokanimal C.A.R.E.
Spokane WA
Adopted!
Tiny
Spokanimal C.A.R.E.
Adopted!
Rosie
Spokane Humane
Society
Adopted!
Kuma
Oregon Outback Humane
Society
Adopted!
Teika
11th
Hour Rescue Northwest
Issaquah WA
Added
8/19/2007
ADOPTED!
Samantha
Rimrock
Humane Society
Roundup
MT
ADOPTED!
SHASTA
Second
Chance Animal Adoption
Bonners
Ferry ID
Adopted!
 
MEL
Adopted!
5/5/07
Humane
Society of Skagit Valley
Burlington WA
ROCKY
Adopted!
5/5/07
Bonneville Humane Society
Idaho
Falls ID
 
BRAD
and ANGELINA
Humane
Society of the Palouse
Moscow
ID
UPDATE!
4/17/07
Adopted
and together in their new forever home!!
  
NO NAME - ID A385206
Humane Society for Tacoma
and Pierce County
Added 3/1/07
Euthanized 3/5/07
Failed Food Aggression test in a shelter
environment
ASIA
Klamath Humane Society
Klamath Falls OR
Update 4/17/07
ASIA has been
adopted! Hope this forever home works for her!
 
Brigit-ADOPTED!
updated
2/23/07
 
SSP-Preferred
Animal Care
Bellingham WA
Buck-
ADOPTED!!!!
Wasatch
Humane Society
Salt
Lake City UT
HARLEY
UPDATE!
4/17/07
Harley
has been adopted!
Kiko-ADOPTED!
SpokAnimal C.A.R.E
Spokane
WA
Bonsai - ADOPTED!
SpokAnimal C.A.R.E.
Spokane WA
Blue -
ADOPTED! This sweet girl has found her forever home!
Panhandle Animal
Shelter
Sandpoint ID
 
Buster-ADOPTED!
Colville Pet
Refuge
Colville WA
Lila ADOPTED!!!!!
Northeast
Veterinary Hospital /Seattle Animal Control
Seattle WA
Shammy
ADOPTED!
 
Marilyn -
ADOPTED!!!
from Clallam
County Humane Society
 
UPDATE - KOVU ADOPTED from
Missoula Humane Society!!!!
LONGVIEW WA
Contact the Humane Society of Cowlitz County
ELWOOD ADOPTED!!!!
ADOPTED!!!
Nikoda - Missoula
Animal Control
NIKODA has been
ADOPTED!!!!
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How Could You?
By Jim Willis
6-7-6
- When I was a puppy, I
entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You
called me your child and despite a number of chewed
shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became
your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your
finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd
relent and roll me over for a bellyrub.
-
- My housetraining took
a little longer than expected, because you were terribly
busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those
nights of nuzzling you in bed, listening to your
confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life
could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks
and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I
only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs,"
you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for
you to come home at the end of the day.
-
- Gradually, you began
spending more time at work and on your career, and more
time searching for a human mate. I waited for you
patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and
disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions,
and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you
fell in love.
-
- She, now your wife,
is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our
home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was
happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came
along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by
their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother
them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt
them, and I spent most of my time banished to another
room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them,
but I became a "prisoner of love."
-
- As they began to
grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and
pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my
eyes, investigated my ears and gave me kisses on my
nose. I loved everything about them, especially their
touch - because your touch was now so infrequent - and I
would have defended them with my life if need be.
-
- I would sneak into
their beds and listen to their worries and secret
dreams. Together we waited for the sound of your car in
the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked
you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me
from your wallet and told them stories about me. These
past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the
subject. I had gone from being your dog to "just a dog,"
and you resented every expenditure on my behalf.
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- Now you have a new
career opportunity in another city and you and they will
be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets.
You've made the right decision for your "family," but
there was a time when I was your only family.
-
- I was excited about
the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It
smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You
filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find
a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a
pained look. They understand the realities facing a
middle-aged dog or cat, even one with "papers."
-
- You had to pry your
son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No,
Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried
for him and what lessons you had just taught him about
friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility,
and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye
pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused
to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline
to meet and now I have one, too.
-
- After you left, the
two nice ladies said you probably knew about your
upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me
another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How
could you?"
-
- They are as attentive
to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow.
They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days
ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed
to the front, hoping it was you - that you had changed
your mind - that this was all a bad dream...or I hoped
it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might
save me. When I realized I could not compete with the
frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to
their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.
-
- I heard her footsteps
as she came for me at the end of the day and I padded
along the aisle after her to a separate room. A
blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table,
rubbed my ears and told me not to worry. My heart
pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there
was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run
out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about
her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her
and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood.
-
- She gently placed a
tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her
cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to
comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the
hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and
the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down
sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How
could you?"
-
- Perhaps because she
understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She
hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make
sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be
ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for
myself - a place of love and light so very different
from this earthly place.
-
- With my last bit of
energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail
that my "How could you?" was not meant for her. It was
you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think
of you and wait for you forever.
-
- May everyone in your
life continue to show you so much loyalty.
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http://www.indybay.org/news/2006/06/1827219.php
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