Washington Humane Society Blog

Trooper's Road to Recovery

 

By Lisa LaFontaine, President and CEO WHS 

Many words have been written about Trooper, the dog found near death in a DC dumpster, and many of us have carried her in our hearts for the past two months. When we first saw her we weren’t sure she would make it, or whether we would have the resources to do what was needed for her. Fortunately for us, but more so for Trooper, she was taken in by the dedicated veterinarians, technicians and staff at Friendship Hospital for Animals and given the best possible care.

 

An amazing thing happened along the way. This wounded little dog with a fighting spirit touched a nerve in the community in the broadest sense. Perhaps it was because she was found during the same week that Michael Vick reemerged in the NFL and focused the nation’s attention on the cruelties of dog fighting. Maybe it was her confused and vulnerable expression – one eye closed and bite marks swelling her muzzle – as she was featured on the local news. Certainly social networking sites like Facebook and individual blogs helped; people were able to follow her fight to survive and were pulled along by the momentum.

 

Toward the end of her first week in the hospital Trooper’s plight had reached people across the country and donations to Sophie’s Fund allowed us to pay for her care as well as the care of dozens more animals with extraordinary injuries or medical conditions. A whole club of WHS alumni owe their lives to Trooper.

 

Without our own veterinary hospital we rely on the goodwill of veterinarians in the community. The staff at Friendship more than rose to the occasion, becoming deeply invested in her survival. The hospital held a fundraiser to help defray her medical costs and donated funds from their Brudder Sullivan Memorial Fund to help her recover. Children and adults brought us toys, treats, dog beds and good wishes. A little girl in Stamford, CT, who heard about Trooper through the internet, started a lemonade stand to raise money for Sophie’s Fund during the waning days of summer.

 

We have not yet received the leads we hoped were forthcoming to help convict Trooper’s tormenters. That is disappointing, because we hope for justice as we always do. Last Thursday, Trooper finally said goodbye to the staff at Friendship and walked out the door and into the next chapter in her life. I was fortunate to be one of the people who brought her to the organization where she will now begin to heal from her emotional wounds and become a dog in the best sense of the word.

 

Although the location is private I can tell you that the facility and setting are spectacular, beautiful and serene and the staff is extraordinary in their knowledge, compassion and skill. She is in the best possible place to take the next steps of her journey and when we left her there we saw Trooper wag her tail for the first time and our hearts were full. Someone asked me why we went to such lengths to save her … the answer is both simple and multifaceted.

 

When you touch the lives of tens of thousands of animals a year, as WHS does, you have to guard against viewing them as a never ending and faceless herd. Our officers and staff on the front lines, animal lovers who engage in intense and heart-wrenching work, need to have strong, positive and powerful experiences to keep their fuel tanks full and to prevent from becoming burned out, bitter, or worst of all, hopeless.

 

A broader and more global reason is that when a community comes together around an individual animal like Trooper we are reminded of what is possible. It brings out the best in people and shows us the best we can be. Her story reminds us of what is possible when our priority is to improve the well being of all living things, where none are left behind or left to suffer.

 

While her legacy may not be the conviction we had hoped for it will be profoundly important in its own way. Trooper saved the lives of many other animals who needed Sophie’s Fund to pay for their care. She helped shine a much needed spotlight on the dark underbelly of dog fighting and will hopefully spare other dogs a similar fate. She brought out the best in hundreds of people who showed us what can happen when people unite around their love for animals. And if we could ask Trooper? I’ll bet she would tell us quite simply that everyone is precious, her life matters and she is thrilled to have a shot at happiness after a very tough journey.

Trooper leaves hospital!

 

On a sunny autumn day with TV news cameras rolling, Trooper, the dog left for dead in a dumpster left the hospital to start a new life. Her physical recovery has been remarkable and today marked the start of her emotional recovery.  Trooper is now at a rescue organization that specializes in rehabilitating animal victims of dog fighting. 

Washington Humane Society President and CEO, Lisa LaFontaine, Chief Programs Officer, Scott Giacoppo and Chief Development Officer, Julie Conway escorted Trooper to her new temporary home.   The hope is she will get the care she needs, in order to fully recover from her ordeal and one day be adopted by a loving family. 

WHS will be monitoring Trooper’s progress so please stay tuned to our blog, faceback and twitter pages.

 

Dog Tags Graduate in the news...

Level III Dog Tags Graduate, Seth Stephen, was in the newsrecently when his hometown in upstate New York held a ceremony honoring him for his 3 tours of duty in Iraq.  While recovering at nearby Walter Reed Army Medical Center for injuries sustained from an IED attack last year, Seth enrolled for 6 months in the Washington Humane Society's Dog Tags program.

WHS' Dog Tagsprogram prepares Wounded Soldiers recovering at Walter Reed for a future career in the animal behavior and husbandry industry with a 3 tier, certificate based, vocational training curriculum.  The program, which has been in operation for a year and a half, gives the Injured Soldiers the option of using their time spent at WHS' Behavior & Learning Center as a recreational means or as a launching pad for a new career working with animals.  At the same time, the Injured Soldiers provide enrichment, training, and companionship for the animals in our care, while they await adoption.  This program gives WHS an opportunity to give back to the men and women of the Armed Forces while creating healing relationships that benefit both humans and animals.

Seth received the Purple Heart for Bravery and will officially retire from the Army with an Honorable Medical Discharge. The Daily Mail

Trooper

 

Friends of WHS,

This week, WHS Humane Law Enforcement Officer Eve Russell was dispatched to a dumpster where a DC resident had reported seeing a dog’s head sticking amongst the garbage. She arrived within moments to find a dog alive in the dumpster, her face swollen and bloodied and covered in flies, her body tightly wrapped and taped in a plastic garbage bag. The heat was stifling, the situation horrific.

The dog had thrown in the dumpster to die after “losing” a dog fight. She was nonetheless a fighter, having chewed her way out of the bag enough to stick her head and leg out, and was clinging to her life.

When Officer Russell pulled the dog out of the dumpster and cut the garbage bag and duct tape off of her body, the dog leaned against her, unable to stand upright on her own. She looked up to make eye contact and slightly wagged her tail. Officer Russell raced her across town to Friendship Hospital for Animals where she remains in intensive nursing care. The staff there reports her as gentle and, most importantly, on the mend.

It is a sad reality of the brutality of illegal dog fighting: when a dog loses a fight, he or she is typically discarded in this cruel and gruesome manner. WHS is committed to ending this inhumane and illegal practice on our city streets through education, legislation, and law enforcement.

Officer Russell has named the dog Trooper. The forgiveness of animals is a remarkable gift, and Trooper’s willingness to trust those of us trying to save her life, despite her previous experience with human beings, is inspiring. She is giving as much to us as we are to her.

Trooper has a long fight ahead of her, and her rehabilitation and medical care will be tremendously expensive. How could we not invest in her worthwhile life? These expenses will come from – and may likely deplete – "Sophie's Fund," a special fund designated for emergency medical care of homeless animals. We will work diligently to give her every opportunity to rehabilitate physically and emotionally, and eventually to live a life as a companion animal with a loving human relationship.

We need your help in order to help animals like Trooper, and to stop this from happening to others. Your contribution will help in these areas:

• Keep Sophie’s fund alive and available to others who will follow Trooper into emergency medical care.
• Provide the ongoing support needed for Officer Russell and all of her colleagues who work to care for these animals.
• Support the emergency hot line that enabled the DC resident to report this crime in a timely manner, ultimately making Trooper’s miraculous rescue possible.

Donations to help Trooper can be made online by clicking here or visiting:
http://www.washhumane.org/HelpTrooper.asp

Thank you for your help and support.

Lisa LaFontaine
President and CEO
Washington Humane Society

Support Bark Ball to Help Animals like Smitty!

 

As we prepare for our 22nd annual Bark Ball to take place this Saturday night at the Washington Hilton, I wanted to take a moment to introduce you to a special dog. Smitty, a 2-year-old Puggle, was surrendered to WHS from a neglectful home where he had become severely emaciated and his weight dropped to only 9 pounds.

After three months of proper care at WHS Smitty’s weight has nearly tripled to 25 pounds – which is right about where it should be. But that’s not all; during the course of his rehabilitation, Smitty was enrolled in our Shelter In-House Training (SIT) Program, where he learned basic obedience training and socialization at the WHS Behavior& Learning Center daily. Smitty excelled in the SIT Program, and after only a few weeks of training by WHS staff and volunteers, he graduated as a certified Canine Good Citizen as part of the American Kennel Club program designed to reward dogs that have good manners at home and in the community.

This year we expect to care for nearly 15,000 animals in our facilities, and to respond to calls from community members about an additional 15,000 animals experiencing some form of distress in the District. As the summer begins, we are entering our very busiest season when our shelters are bursting to capacity and our phones are ringing off the hook.

So, as you prepare to attend our Bark Ball on Saturday night, please remember how much your support means to the programs of WHS, and most of all to individuals like Smittty. Whether you are bidding on silent auction items such as travel packages to a variety of incredible destinations, jewelry and theater tickets, taking part in our newly added live auction for five exclusive items, or simply attending the Gala, the animals are counting on your support!

Smitty’s story has the happiest of endings. He is now available for adoption, and his case is still under investigation. An arrest warrant has been issued for his former owner. Please look at the before picture of a dog who was clearly suffering, and compare it to the current picture of a happy, healthy dog on graduation day. Those pictures tell a story, more clearly than I ever could, of why the work of WHS is so important – and why we hope to see you at the Bark Ball.

Thank you for your support.

For the Animals,

Lisa LaFontaine
President and CEO
Washington Humane Society

P.S. Please click here to learn how you can celebrate DC Week for the Animals with WHS from now until June 7th!

Don’t end up in the Dog House: Buy Your Bark Ball Tickets Before it’s too Late!

  By: Lisa LaFontaine, President & CEO, WHS

The Washington Humane Society’s 22^nd annual Bark Ball is fast approaching – tickets and tables are selling quickly! Don’t let your best friend down – be sure to buy your tickets soon for the only black tie gala in the nation’s capital where your dog can accompany you in a tux or a gown … Visit http://www.washhumane.org/barkball.asp to purchase your tickets or table today!

The Bark Ball will be held on Saturday, June 6th at the Washington Hilton (1919 Connecticut Ave., NW. Just picture yourself surrounded by Washington’s finest, with your four-legged best friend by your side. Everyone is dressed to the (ca)nines. You will be seated with nine of your closest friends – and four or five of their best friends – some wearing black tails, some wearing their own tails. Where else can you attend such an event?

The Bark Ball draws many of the area's most illustrious residents who bring their four-legged friends as their dates. Dogs (and people!) attending the Bark Ball will dine in style. The VIP reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by an extensive silent auction featuring jewelry, luxury goods, hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates and travel packages – all to benefit the 20,000 animals who are served by WHS each year.

This year we will premier our Live Auction, with some phenomenal items. The Bark Ball is the largest fund raiser for the Washington Humane Society and this year, the animals need your help more than ever!

Won’t you join us? It is the best $250 you will ever spend – and the dogs get in for free! Visit: http://www.washhumane.org/barkball.asp for tickets and more information!

Look forward to seeing you at DC’s best and most unique party!

Lisa LaFontaine
CEO,

Washington

Humane Society

Bark Ball Moves to Washington Hilton! Buy your Tickets Today!

THE WASHINGTON HUMANE SOCIETY
CORDIALLY INVITES YOU & YOUR CANINE
COMPANION TO...

THE 22nd
ANNUAL Bark Ball
SATURDAY, JUNE 6th

6:30pm • Cocktails, Silent Auction & Doggie Bar
8:00pm • Dinner, Live Auction, & Program
9:00pm • Dancing

Please click here to purchase your tickets or table!

Hilton Washington Hotel
1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

Doggie Bar Courtesy of:
Barkley Square®
Gourmet Dog Bakery & Boutique

Cover Artwork by Karen Derrico • www.painting4paws.com

Honorary Host Committee

HONORARY HOST COMMITTEE CHAIRS:
Mary Matalin and James Carville

Morton and Grace Bender
The Honorable David Catania
The Honorable Mary Cheh
Senator John and Mrs. Darlene Ensign
The Honorable Jack Evans
Ambassador and Mrs. Ichiro Fujisaki
The Honorable Jim Graham
The Honorable Vincent Gray
The Honorable Maurice Hinchey
Ambassador Stuart and Gwen Holliday
The Honorable John Larson
Gordon Peterson and Anne Fleming
The Honorable Adam Schiff

The 2009 Bark Ball Committee

EVENT COMMITTEE CHAIR: Anissa Grossman
Eddie Adkins
Cynthia Case
Jennifer Case
Jan Cousteau
Paul Garrard
Lindsay Robbins
Steven Stone

Special Thanks to our Sponsors (as of 04.17.09)

Canine Champion
EJF Capital LLC

Best of Breed
American Airlines
Comcast
Nelson B. Delavan Foundation
Weir Foundation

Big Barker
Ambassador Priscilla Clapp
Ernst & Young LLP
Friendship Hospital For Animals
Anissa Grossman

Media Sponsor
Washington Life Magazine

Sincerely,

Lisa LaFontaine
President and CEO
Washington Humane Society

WHS Offers Puppy Kindergarten Classes to First Family Adopters

  By: WHS President and CEO, Lisa LaFontaine

Dog lovers across the nation have been captivated by the mystery of who will become the nation’s next First Dog. President-elect Obama’s message to his daughters that they have earned their new puppy has generated a flurry of speculation about the breed and gender, with contests, polls and countless recommendations.

At the center of the discussion is whether the new First Family will adopt a purebred, rescue or shelter dog.

The Washington Humane Society (WHS), the largest humane society in the nation’s capital, has been inundated with calls from supporters who hope that the First Family will adopt a dog from their new hometown shelter. Those of us in the animal sheltering community are thrilled that the President-elect has, through his public statements, raised awareness about the issues of pet overpopulation and homelessness. We are particularly appreciative of their desire to consider a shelter dog.   

As with every family considering adoption, the Obama’s have unique needs to be taken into account. They deserve the opportunity to choose a dog in their own way, and in their own time. All of us who have adopted a dog know it is a meaningful experience in the life of a family, and we hope the spotlight they are under as First Family-elect doesn’t compromise that experience in any way. We are certain the Obama’s will approach this important family decision with care and deliberation, and trust they will make an excellent choice. If they adopt a dog from WHS, that will be a wonderful thing. If they adopt a dog from another rescue resource, we will celebrate the adoption of a dog, no matter the organization the dog is from.

Perhaps WHS can best be considered as a resource in helping the family, and particularly the girls, with training and socializing their new companion with the guidance from professional  trainers from our WHS Behavior & Learning Center. It is always an important undertaking to integrate a dog effectively into the family and household, and we have some of the best professionals in the field to help with that transition. We stand ready to offer ongoing support and behavioral training to help get their new companion off on the right paw.

WHS Launches New Program Working with Wounded Soldiers

By: Lisa LaFontaine, WHS President and CEO

It is my honor to announce the launch of the Washington Humane Society’s (WHS) “Dog Tags”, a very unique and inspiring program which brings together wounded Soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center with homeless dogs in the District who are awaiting new homes.

Throughout my career in animal welfare I’ve had a special place in my heart for animal assisted therapy – there is nothing more satisfying than enabling people and animals in need of healing to come together. When I arrived at the WHS last year, I saw that the Soldiers from Walter Reed – located just a few blocks from our Georgia Avenue animal shelter – would magnetically gravitate toward our dogs as they were out daily walks with our staff.

Shortly thereafter I had the privilege of touring the hospital and campus at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. I was impressed by the amazing facility, the compassion of the Walter Reed staff and most of all the bravery of the Soldiers in the midst of recovery.

Our Director of Training and Behavior, Kevin Simpson, shared my vision for a program whereby WHS could give back to the Soldiers at Walter Reed. Over the next several weeks, he and I visualized and fine-tuned concepts for our program that would benefit the soldiers in a meaningful way—and equally important, feasible and within the grasps of the new WHS Behavior & Training Department.

We decided to start with a three-tiered program which would teach the Soldiers the basics of dog training, with a certificate based curriculum that would give them an opportunity to pursue a future career in the field of animal training, care, and welfare. The beauty of the program is that in the process of gaining skills for themselves, the Soldiers provide the homeless animals in our care with training and nurturing as well.

After much preparation and extensive work with the fine staff at Walter Reed, we submitted a proposal and ultimately were given the green light to begin our WHS Dog Tags program. We were thrilled to see our ideas come to fruition when we launched the first level of the course just a few months ago.

The first group of Soldiers to volunteer in our program was comprised of both men and women who met at the Behavior & Learning Center twice a week to learn and study animal behavior and training. Each tier of the program is certificate based and lasts for eight weeks, sequentially building upon the prior level. Upon completion of the 3rd level the soldiers will have the tools and skill-sets necessary to pursue a professional career working with animals. We are now thrilled to welcome our second group of Soldiers starting in the program next week – and we are told there is a significant waiting list.

I’ve always believed that in addition to adopting out animals and protecting them from cruelty, it's important to have programs that bring people and animals together in meaningful ways. Please help us to continue to do this important work and make a donation today by visiting www.washhumane.org.

WHS on Fox's Mike and Juliet Show

By: WHS President and CEO, Lisa LaFontaine

 

Last week, some of our beautiful adoption candidates were featured on national television on the Fox “Mike and Juliet” program. In an effort to promote shelters as the locale of choice when adopting a four-legged family member, they selected ten shelters across the country. We were fortunate to be one of them. In watching this program, you can see just how wonderful our adoption candidates are, and if you are like me, you will marvel that the vast majority of these precious animals were dumped somewhere in our city.

 

I’ve attached the video for those of you who didn’t see it; there are two clips to watch (pre and post commercial!)

 

http://www.mandjshow.com/features/mj-save-the-dogs-this-week-washington-dc/ 

 

Thank you so much for supporting our work and making it possible to give animals like these a chance at the life they all deserve. At this point, all of them have adoptions pending!

 

And please tell your friends and family that we have a shelter full of cats and dogs just like this who are awaiting a good home. You would be surprised at the variety of breed, temperament and personality; for example, I was just told that a four-month old purebred Yorkshire Terrier was surrendered to us about an hour ago.

 

Again, on behalf of our staff and these great animals, thanks for standing behind us….