Costly Justice for Homeless Emotional Support Dog

A dog worth saving

After years of being a stellar emotional support animal (ESA), Vegas' life tragically changed. Now he needs an emotional support HUMAN. We're currently taking applications for fosters or adopters. 

Please copy and paste this link into you browser to read his Petfinder bio: https://www.petfinder.com//dog/vegas-53502420/nh/belmont/masspaws-ma292/

 

Vegas is an 11-year old brindle mix from a town in Massachusetts who has fallen victim to a series of circumstances that are the result of human failings. A team of people, from family and friends to animal organizations, have come together to save him to see that he lives out the rest of his days in a loving home. But his journey has come at a great expense emotionally and financially.

 

A fateful day

In December 2020 something life-changing happened. When his owner fell, Vegas defensively bit a bystander who attempted to help. As a result, the town deemed him a nuisance dog, which on paper meant that he had to go through training, be insured, and wear a muzzle and two leashes whenever walked in public. If Vegas (or his owner) was noncompliant in any way, the town could seize the dog and potentially euthanize him.

 

Unfortunately that dreadful day came. In June, Vegas began choking during a walk so his owner removed his muzzle, and just then, Animal Control drove up and witnessed it. The officer seized the dog later that day and put him in the shelter, where he would wait for the town council to determine his fate. A team of advocates worked tirelessly to try to have the decision overturned and have Vegas reunited with his owner.

 

The Council voted to go with the Animal Control Officer's recommendation, which was to find a new home for Vegas-- never to be returned to his owner again. Vegas’ advocates tried to appeal only to learn there was no appeal process in such a case.

 

Vote to euthanize

No organization wanted to rescue a senior dog with a muzzle/leash and insurance requirement in Massachusetts. Despite the attention and appeals of a lawyer and a rescue organization, at the recommendation of the ACO, the city voted that Vegas be euthanized.

 

One small medical mishap. One act by a caring owner. And now a man has been robbed of his emotional support dog of 11 years, and the dog has lost his whole world: his owner. This is a punishment that has broken hearts and changed this human and canine forever.

 

Changing the minds of the town council seemed hopeless.

 

Last chance effort

Just days before his euthanasia, Broken Tail Rescue (BTR) volunteered to take custody of Vegas. No other rescue would take this on, but BTR and Animal Rescue Konnection (ARK) collaborated for weeks to form a plan. After Vegas’ owner and the rescue director signed a contract with many strict requirements, only then did the city agree to release Vegas on October 23.

 

On October 24, Vegas began a five-week board-and-train course so he could return back to the Vegas he was before being subjected to four months in a highly stressful kennel environment. He will also gain more skills to take to his forever home.

 

It is unclear whether the right owner will come forward, but in the meantime, this effort requires a substantial amount of money. ARK will pay for the board-and-train, but really needs your help in covering the $5500 cost.

 

Where YOU come in

Vegas has a chance to succeed. But his second chance has come at a great price.

 

If you are looking to make a difference for an animal who deserves it, and support the humans who have made this possible for him, you can.

 

Donate. Your donation will go 100% to his case.

Share. If you can't contribute monetarily, please share this information and Vegas' story so that we can raise funds and find him his forever home.

 

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It is important to note what we discovered in this process:

Dog owners in Massachusetts -- particularly those with dogs who’ve been deemed a nuisance or dangerous -- should be aware that their town council can act with complete authority over their dog. It states in MGL Chapter 140, Section 157 that if a dog has an alleged first offense, they can permanently seize the dog with little consideration of the intent or circumstance behind the alleged offense. Additionally the town can order you not be allowed to own a dog for five years in the state of MA. Generally penalties are weighed against the severity of the alleged violation but it hinges on your town and your Animal Control Officer(ACO). Vegas’ case illustrates how a town council and ACO can inflict the harshest of penalties by permanently seizing a dog even when lesser punishments are available and more fitting. The team that has been working on Vegas’ behalf is also working on revising this statute so that other dog owners aren’t punished so severely for nonviolent offenses as that was never the intent of the statute.