Justice for Anakin

Anakin's story.

We pulled Anakin from Fulton County high kill shelter in GA, July of 2022. Anakin was a black male pit at 2 years old sitting in a high kill shelter. We all know the fate of this. Anakin received a great behavior evaluation, and the staff all loved him. Anakin got to NY and was fostered in Manhattan. His foster immediately recognized and shared some behavior issues in Anakin. The city seemed to also be stressing him out. He was not walking well on leash, and had begun lunging at people and other dogs while on leash. Anakin was moved to LI where he was then fostered by me (Kristina). Anakin definitely had some quirky behaviors, but nothing that was not manageable in the correct setting. Anakin went to board and train and did fantastic. He was then moved to another foster on LI, months later, where a friend of the foster applied to adopt him. Anakin went to his new home in May of this year. His new owner bought a home in TN, so Anakin became a country boy and from what we were told and photos and videos that were sent, he was happy and thriving.

Thursday, August 31st, we received an email from the Morristown Humane Society in Morristown, TN. Their Animal Control Officer (ACO) had picked up Anakin the night before walking through the streets of Morristown bleeding from the mouth. He was scanned, and his chip was still registered to BARRK. Upon further conversation with the shelter, we learned Anakin had been shot in the face. The bullet entered the top left of jaw and exited the bottom right of jaw. We immediately reached out to our foster who was friends with the adopter asking her to please get in touch with the family as they were probably out looking for him and upset he was gone. We naturally assumed that Anakin had gotten out of the yard, escaped, ran off after an animal (etc.), and the family was doing everything they could to find him. We also provided the shelter with the adopter's information and contract so they could also communicate with him.

Much to our horror, the shelter reported back to us that the adopter advised his son had shot the dog when he wasn't home, because the dog had bit his other son. His older son claimed that Anakin had latched onto his brother's arm and would not let go. He had no choice but to shoot Anakin to help save his brother from being mauled.

The family provided photo evidence of the bite, which we will share, as well as a video of the "incident" to the ACO. Well, the photo speaks for itself, but the video was an old video from December of 2022, before Anakin even went to TN. A video that does demonstrate a behavior that occurs when Anakin gets nervous and someone moves too quickly past him. But is most definitely not representative of anything that happened in TN. They lied to the shelter, they lied to the ACO, and they lied to Anakin.

On Friday, I contacted the shelter to get an update on Anakin as their surgeon was coming for a consult. The shelter vet had examined Anakin upon intake, and recommended euthanasia, so the shelter brought in the surgeon. The update I received was that the surgeon also recommended euthanasia. They apologized profusely for our loss.

At this point, I didn't have words. I couldn't swallow. I couldn't see straight. I cried. I screamed. I sobbed. I felt utterly responsible for sending this dog to his death. It's just the guilt that comes with rescue. The responsibility every good decent rescuer feels when they make a promise to a dog to better it's life. I AM a practical person. I DO accept that I can not save them all, I DO accept that I can not help them all or fix them all. But when you spend months fostering a dog in your home, working with him, getting him through training, witnessing the improvement, recognizing the potential, making decisions for his future, and watching him grow in your home with your children and other animals. It creates the sense of responsibility that every rescuer understands. I wanted so desperately to wrap my head around this. I wanted answers. I asked the shelter to connect me with their vet. I needed to understand the extent of the damage. My heart was utterly broken, and I was shattered thinking this poor boy's last moments in life were being shot in the face by the family he thought loved him and dying in a room where no one knew him. It destroyed every human piece of me.

The vet advised, both top and bottom jaws were completely fractured. Most of his teeth were broken, fractured or missing. He had lost half of his tongue. The amount of reconstructive surgery he would need was extensive, and there was no guarantee his mouth would ever properly function again. He couldn't swallow. He couldn't eat. I asked the shelter if their vet would contact our vet and provide detailed information, and I once again questioned why he was euthanized without at least giving me the option to help. This is when I learned Anakin had not been euthanized yet, and was still alive, waiting on their euthanasia schedule.

At this time our amazing vet, Dr. Ned Horowitz, spoke with their consulting vet. We made the decision to bring Anakin to NY. Our incredible transporter Regina immediately left NC and drove to TN last night to scoop up our boy. And our one and only Uncle Walter is meeting Regina and bringing Anakin home to me today. Dr. Horowitz will perform however many surgeries are needed to help Anakin live a happy quality of life. And if the injuries are too severe, and his quality of life will be poor, then I will hold him, and love him and help him find his peace. Anakin is medicated now and is comfortable for his trip home. The shelter has been amazing in assisting us with Anakin.

I will share photos and screenshots and any other details I can.

And yes, we are looking into cruelty charges, but it is not very black and white. The adopter was not home. His children do not live with him full time. His sons are 12 and 15. Gun laws in TN are lax. The ACO will contact me with any updates. My decision to move Anakin to NY did not come lightly. I can assure you. Typically, with cruelty cases, the dog must stay on legal hold in the shelter. My priority however, is Anakin. I know our community will help find him the justice he deserves. And once Anakin is stable and safe, we will fight any fight we have to, to bring him justice.

I ask, during this time, to please be kind. I am sure many people have opinions, and things they would have done differently. I am sure we will be accused of not properly doing our part. Or how we could have done something better. I can assure you, myself and my amazing team, have beaten ourselves up plenty, trying to understand. We are hurting. But Anakin needs us, and we will do our best to make things right for him.

Follow his page “Justice for Anakin “ for updates and information regarding Anakin's story. Prayers, donations, supplies, support of any kind is what will help Anakin now.