These are the events that resulted in my son's dog Nadas ending up on death row at Jackson County (Oregon) Animal Control.
One day in September of 1996, Sean left for work as usual. He made sure Nadas had food and water and was secured. Apparently sometime during the day, Nadas became unhooked from his leash.
Sean's next door neighbor at the time had one horse. The thirteen year old daughter of this neighber said Nadas was chasing the horse. The mother of the girl phoned animal control and an employee responded. I might add that the girl's mother did not see the "chase". There also was no injury to the horse.
The animal control officer tried to catch Nadas. Nadas evidently knew this man was a threat and would not allow himself to be captured. The officer gave up and left his card on Sean's door.
Sean works 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. He got home after 5:00 that evening and found the card stating that he should phone Jackson County Animal Control. He phoned the following morning from work. The officer asked Sean where he was. Sean told him he was at work. The officer then asked where Nadas was. Sean said he was at home. The officer, after finding out Nadas was home alone on his leash proceeded to tell Sean he was going to go pick up Nadas and take him in to be destroyed. Sean became upset so I took the phone (we work together) and spoke with the officer. To say I became upset would be an understatement. The officer said he didn't even have to speak with me since I wasn't the dog's owner.
By this time, Sean had completely fallen apart and was in no frame of mind to talk. I hung the phone up and told Sean to get in the car. We would go try and get to Nadas before animal control did. We were 5 minutes too late. The truck was there and Nadas was locked inside.
I have never begged and pleaded the way I did that day at any other time in my life. I was pleading for Nadas' life. My pleading was to no avail.
I asked the officer for a copy of the law that says Nadas must be killed for chasing a horse. He handed me a page and as I was reading it he grabbed it out of my hand and said I could get my own somewhere else because I was rude to him. He then got in his truck and drove off with Nadas. I admit that my self control was not at its best. I was shaking and probably close to hysteria.
Nadas, who has never bitten anyone, has never hurt another animal, who enjoys smelling flowers, was being taken away to be killed.
After Sean and I calmed one another down we went to Jackson County Animal Control later in the day. We spoke to the person who supervises the facility. She informed us that we could ask for a hearing before the County Commissioners, but she did not recommend it because the dog always ends up being destroyed anyway because they are bound by the law. She went on to tell us how this beautiful Golden Retriever was put down for the same thing after her owner tried in vain for months to save her life. She said it is not fair to put Nadas through this. This person did give me a copy of the laws when I asked for them. I am 40 years old and have to admit to complete ignorance of this law until this happened to Nadas.
Sean and I discussed our options. We decided to ask for the hearing. Nadas was in a cage. He was in no position to save his own life without our help. We had to try.
The day of the hearing there was a representative from Jackson Country Animal Control, the mother and daughter who made the complaint, an older gentleman whom I still do not know, Sean, myself, and three commissioners along with, I believe, counsel for the county.
The commissioners listened to Animal Control tell their story, the girl and the mother, then Sean. The commissioners never questioned the girl as to the truth that Nadas was actually chasing the horse. For all we know, they could have been playing together, or not in contact at all. There was not testimony that the horse was wounded or agitated in any way. The mother of the girl never saw Nadas chasing the horse, but said she had seen him in the vicinity.
The commissioners decided that their hands were tied and they were left with no choice but to have Nadas killed. I came to find out they did have an alternative according to information from Salem. I might add the law is written so that two commissioners must be related directly or indirectly with the livestock industry. So, after the guilty verdict we were told we could appeal the decision and go to court. Again, Sean and I talked it over. We decided to try to save Nadas.
Sean was allowed visitation with Nadas by appointment. He was allowed 5 minutes and had to stick his fingers through the cage to have contact with Nadas. He was not allowed to hold or comfort him.
We had to obtain an attorney to be able to go to court and fight for Nadas. Court day came. Counsel for the county told their side and our attorney argued our position. The judge took about 2 minutes to find in favor of the county. We were told we could appeal. Financially and emotionally draining as it was we decided to continue. At this point we felt we had been treated like an annoyance by the county. The attitude was, in our opinion, "how dare you question our authority". We felt this from Jackson County Animal Control, from the Commissioners, and from their counsel.
On October 31, 1996 Sean and some of his friends went in costume to animal control. He went in to where Nadas was kept because he said they never kept a lock on Nada's cage and he knew he would be able to go into the cage and just hold him. He told me they had never let him hold Nadas. Sean was then locked into the cage with Nadas and accused of trying to break Nadas out. He was arrested and I had to post bail to get him out of jail. When I went to get him, he smiled at me and said at least he got to hold Nadas. He said he just sat in the cage and Nadas laid in his arms until the deputies arrived to take him to jail.
Sean was eventually charged with 3rd degree criminal mischief. As of this date, we are waiting for the outcome of this eye-opening event.
Hopefully we can one day get these biased, unfair laws rewritten to save other dogs besides Nadas. Apparently Senator Neil Bryant (R) of Bend has bowed to pressure and has withdrawn a bill that would have at least made some positive changes.
There have been many people who have supported fairer laws regarding dogs and livestock. Let me end this by saying the way current laws are read, any dog could be put to death simply on the word of someone making a complaint of chasing livestock, regardless of the truth. Please write to end this horrible injustice that has already taken too many dogs' lives and left their guardians grieving.
Sincerely,
Sharon Roach
37 Shamrock Lane
Ashland, OR 97520