Toots

In memory of Toots-may she rest in peace and forgive me my ignorance.

In 1984, just two years in the humane society business, I had the distinct pleasure of receiving in our first German Wirehaired Pointer. Always being a breed fancier and marveling at the beauty of purebred dogs, I was amazed that we had one of these available for adoption. Toots was her name and she was a beauty, both inside and out. The only problem was, she was six years old. Rehoming an older dog is always a chore. "Can't teach an old dog new tricks", or "we need a puppy to grow with the kids", or "I'm not interested in dealing with someone else's problem" and so on and so on. It looked as if Toots was condemned to be another statistic at the humane society, another pet euthanized.

Several months later, an older couple from Kansas stopped in to see our adoptable dogs. The gentleman was retired and did a little hunting, but was interested in a companion more than anything else. The couple saw Toots and fell in love. She was JUST what they were looking for, a settled companion for in the house, and a capable field partner for those few times out hunting every year. To all parties involved, it was a match made in heaven.

I will interrupt this story now to explain that, at this time in our humane society's history, we were offering a $20.00 refund for proof of spaying and neutering. I'm sure many agencies still operate on this type of system and I hope the rest of this story will make you look for other options to increase compliance.

After Toots had been in her new home for one month, the owners called us to let us know how beautifully it was going. Toots spent many hours in front of the fireplace, was perfectly housebroken, and was a wonderful working dog. They assured us that nothing could replace her in their hearts. She was the best dog they had ever had.

Almost a year went by, with Toots happy in her new home and her owners pleased with the addition to their family. Then one day, the gentleman called and asked if there was any way to get Toots' AKC papers. I told him that this was not possible and questioned why he wanted them. It seems a friend of his had a male German Wirehaired Pointer and he was interested in breeding to Toots. The pups would certainly be worth more if they were registered. A lump the size of Texas began to form in my throat. I begged him not to breed her, to have her spayed and enjoy her. But my words fell on deaf ears and the phone conversation ended on a less than happy note.

Six months later, I walked in to the office to see a very familiar face behind the counter. Toots, a little grayer in the face and a little slower in the rear, gazed at me with the same sparkle in her eyes I remembered from nearly two years before. Dumbfounded, I looked at our receptionist. It seems that the people did, indeed, breed Toots. Even without papers, they got a very good price for her pups. The nice couple from Kansas had decided to keep two of them for themselves. They no longer had room for Toots and returned her to us, just as our contract said they must.

My blood was boiling! The entire day, I rehearsed what I would say when I called them. After venting and fuming, I realized the reason for my anger. No matter how many names I called these people, no matter how much I blamed them for what had happened, I was ultimately responsible for the fate Toots' suffered. I had given them the loaded gun, and they had used it. I had allowed this creature to be so easily replaced, a feat that would not have been possible had I only made sure she was spayed before they got her.

I accept the ramifications of my actions. Everytime I see a German Wirehair homeless, neglected, or unwanted, I get to wonder if the dog was created as a direct result of my irresponsibility. Toots didn't find another home. At nearly eight years of age, not a single person was interested in adopting her. The one good thing that came from her death was the humane society's new policy to spay/neuter ALL animals before the new owners could have them.

God bless Toots and all others that have died because of mankind's irresponsibility.