Hmmmmmmmm, no.

Mark at auterrific blogged here pointing to an article in Slate. The article describes how a dog that had been tied to a tree was "rescued" by an individual, and the dog's subsequent journey to what will be its new home.

When Mark said it had inspired him to do the same thing (as was described) the next time he saw a dog in a similar situation, I bit his head off. And then came here because I wasn't sure how much room I had there.

If I was rough, Mark, I'm sorry, but I meant what I said. Call Animal Control or the Humane Society and report it and follow up on the complaints. Do not take matters into your own hands. "Rescuing" any animal in the manner described is theft.

Tank (the Yellow Lab) and his bestest buddy, The Wonderdog, who was found on the side of an Interstate with one front leg broken, the other smashed. And yes, his front legs are still that crooked, not that it's ever slowed him down.

I've known (and know) people who walk right onto people's property and snatch animal(s) because in their opinion its neglected. Aside from being (in my opinion) just plain crazy, the superior attitude of these folk bugs the HELL out of me.

Society's laws don't apply to them. The absolute nobility of their "cause" gives them the right to do whatever the heck they want. Point out that there are organizations and procedures in place, the response is more of their opinion. The system is insufficient, it's not timely, it's ineffective . . . but, I digress.

A few years ago I freelanced the "barnyard beat" for the local paper covering, among other things, animal shelters and rescue organizations in Northeast Florida. Yes, the specific region from which "Fly" was stolen.

I noted with interest that "Patsy Beckert" didn't bother to report the situation she observed to any of the normal agencies one would contact. Why, I wondered, was it necessary to transport Fly out of state when there's an already-established, absolutely outstanding rescue organization specifically for Border Collies in the area. All "Patsy" would have had to do was drop it off, or call them and one of their members would have picked it up from her. Heck, if "Patsy" had taken "Fly" to Animal Control or the Humane Society, either one would have called that rescue organization immediately. Why? Because of a long-standing arrangement.

Why bother to check and see if the owner had reported the dog missing? (Were they going to return it if it had been?) Why check with the police? They don't handle that stuff unless the owner had reported it stolen.

(GULP!)

What "local animal authorities" were the calls made to? The system, while vastly improved, is still in disarray. There is still no central registry which is why people are encouraged to make use of The Missing Pet Network and Petfinder.

Doesn't Katz, the author, realize he's admitted to the (anticipated) receipt of stolen property?

And what happens to "Fly" if she doesn't work out. Contrary to this hearts and flowers story, not all rescues do.

I doubt it, but perhaps she'll turn out to be an uncontrolable, untrainable vicious monster. Or, it might be that the resident dogs completely and totally hate her guts from the start, and it goes downhill from there.

To whom is Fly returned?

Returned? Yep, returned.

Another thing missed in that article is reputible and responsible adoption. To keep an animal from ever again being dumped / abandoned / mistreated, the agency through which the animal adoption occurred requires that it be returned to them if, for any reason whatsoever, it doesn't work out OR the "owner" can no longer provide care.

Oh, it's a feel good story full of drama and "heroic" figures, complete with an anticipated happy ending.

It's also bullshit.