THE "RIGHT" THING
by Ron Hevener
ON WITH THE SHOW! ... THE "RIGHT" THING ... RON HEVENER
They were happy dogs, the two German Shepherds. They lived on a big farm,
with fields to roam, and laughing kids to play with. They had fresh milk
from the cows every day, and lots of interesting things to stimulate their
souls. They had a home, jobs that dogs are very good at, and, most
importantly, they were loved.
Working dogs are brave dogs. They chase cattle, they herd sheep, they save
travelers in Swiss mountains and they guard our property. So it was, that
one of the happy German Shepherds living on the big farm got herself kicked
by a horse and found herself landing smack in the middle of the biggest mess
anybody had ever seen.
It's not that anybody did anything particularly wrong. Indeed, everyone
involved seemed to be doing what they thought was right. It's just that
everybody seemed to have a different idea of what that "right thing"
actually was.
The farmer, trying to do the right thing, took his dog to the vet and x-rays
were taken.
Upon looking at the x-rays, the vet referred the farmer to a clinic known
for veterinarians with great surgical skills.
At the great clinic, the dog was examined, surgery was scheduled for a few
days later and as the farmer left for home, a staff member offered pain
killers in case the dog needed them. Thanks, but I'll just take her home
now, the farmer decided. Most farmers have such medications on hand and so
far she was handling things pretty well on her own.
Someone didn't agree. After the man left for home, the miffed and
self-righteous staffer called the local animal shelter and reported him.
Easy enough to do. After all, the poor dog needed pills and the owner
wouldn't buy them for her. Bad owner! He doesn't deserve to have a dog and
put her in such danger that she would be kicked by a horse and be made to
suffer, right?
Not long after he got home, a truck from the local humane shelter rolled in
the farmer's lane. "Animal cruelty!" they charged. Give us your dog - or
else!
Intimidated and unsure of his rights, he surrendered his dog.
"And what about that other one!" they cried.
They snatched him, too.
Distraught and unsure of what was happening or why, the owner called his
brother for help. The brother went to the animal shelter wanting to know
what was going on. He offered to adopt the dogs, but his offer was refused.
Monday came ... time for surgery now.
When the owner didn't show up with his dog, the vet wanted to know why.
"But, I don't have her anymore," the man said. "Right after I came home from
your office, they came and took my dog away."
Pleased with herself, the staffer at the clinic who turned him in bragged
about it and soon found herself being questioned by her supervisors.
Defiantly, she stood her ground and made it clear that she knew better than
they did what was right for the dog. She was fired on the spot.
When it comes to animals, how could so many people have so many different
ideas about what is, and what isn't the right thing?
If animals could talk for themselves, is this what they would ask for?
Somehow, when it comes to a pair of lonely German Shepherds being kidnapped
from their family on a big farm and shoved into crates at a loud, smelly
humane shelter with a bunch of strangers ... I don't think this is their
idea of "the right thing."
Do you?
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"True animal lovers only want to live in peace and love their pets. They
would never dream up such laws. Hurting pet lovers this way is heartless,
crude and mean-spirited. Instead of preventing cruelty, this is the very
license for it." Ron Hevener - Author, "High Stakes"
www.RonHevener.com
(Submitted by Ron Hevener's Publicist)
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