Andrea Rosebrock 
Update 7/13/09 – Surveillance Video Shows the Truth, Walker County HS Lies Unveiled About Dog Killed – VIDEO
A few days ago I shared with you the heartbreaking story of Marcus Campbell and his sweet Boxer, Boost, that was killed a half hour after a couple dropped the dog off at the Walker County Humane Society. Boost had escaped from his yard and although collared, he had no tags so when the couple found him they did all they could. Unbelievable, within a half hour of being dropped of at the shelter, he was labeled aggressive and killed. Now the couple has come forward to dispute the shelter’s claims that Boost was acting aggressively.
Peggy Dunn and James Martin, neighbors of the dog’s owner, Marcus Campbell, said they had no problem getting “Boost” into a pet taxi provided by the agency on June 19.
“He didn’t fight or nothing,” Dunn said.
Martin said there was no reason for Boost to be euthanized.
“He was too friendly of a dog,’ Martin said.
However, Walker County Humane Society Director Lane Reno said the dog was acting in a hostile manner, behavior she said played a part in the decision to put the dog to sleep.
“The dog would not come out of the carrier so we had to use a capture pole. That is when he became aggressive.”
The couple, however, disputes this.
“They put a leash on him and he jumped out and walked right in the place,” Dunn said. “It was a regular leash.”
Martin said he watched every move the dog made once unloaded at the Humane Society. From his account, Boost showed no sign of aggression.
“When they took it (pet taxi) off the truck they took a little old leash and put it on him,” Martin said. “He got out of the box and they went inside, walked down the hallway around in the back and that was the last I saw of him.” (Mountain Eagle)
Peggy and Martin watched everything, they saw how Boost acted and responded and insist that he was not aggressive and there was no reason for him to be killed.
Reno of course says that dogs often act out and get aggressive at the shelter.
“Some of the friendliest dogs change their demeanor as soon as they get here,” Reno said. “They smell the smells and hear all the dogs barking and it scares them. It changes their mind about cooperating.”
Well if this dim-witted bitch knows this, and it’s not surprising that a dog, probably used to only love and gentle handling, being man-handled but a bunch of heartless dolts would get scared and act defensively, why would she find some way to give him time to calm down and get used to these new surroundings?
“Some of the friendliest dogs change their demeanor as soon as they get here,” Reno said. “They smell the smells and hear all the dogs barking and it scares them. It changes their mind about cooperating.”
Makes you wonder how many other family pets were mercilessly killed at this “humane society” doesn’t it? Actually since Campbell and Boost’s story has been publicized, Brett Wadsworth, Campbell’s lawyer, has gotten quite a number of calls from people sharing their own horror stories about Walker County Humane Society.
“We’ve had numerous calls since this has happened with similar stories,” Wadsworth said. “A lot of people said they quit donating to the Humane Society because of the way this place is run.”
Now Campbell and many others are calling for a complete overhaul of the Walker County Humane Society including getting rid of Reno and the whole heartless bunch there. Sounds to me like this is long overdue!
“I want to see a change in the way things are done there,” Campbell said. “I want an upgraded facility, if not a new one, and I want to see Mrs. Lane Reno gone and the supporting employees as well. None of them showed any class or heart or any compassion to me when I was standing there. They could have cared less. They don’t need to run that type of facility because they just don’t care.”
Please take a moment to support Marcus and sign the petition below!
10 years ago, I visited my dog Dopey (westie/yorkie mix) in a vet hospital in Tenerife, deskinnned waistdown by Rottweiler, took my puppy Barnaby with me to visit Dopey, 9 months old, and he started foaming from the mouth first thing going in the vet hospital, Barnaby has never been to a vet before, just the normal shots, nothing else.
Violent physical reaction, even the vet said WOW.
When I buy my tofu food or Quorn, which is always next to the meat counter, my stomach goes funny, he smell of blood makes me uncomfy.
A dog on his own, between beings he/she doesn’t know goes where ever.
They should have picked up on that, as I did when I worked in dogshelters.
Shame on people who say they care.
RIP, Marcus, and Courage for Marcus’s family fighting dipsticks.
Hilke
Well, I have heard too many horror stories about the Human Society and I will never donate to them again. They point blankly don’t give a damn about animals. They probably get more money for those they kill. I did belong to Mich Humane Society and the Humane Society of the United States. Will no longer do that. This just disgusted me to no end. Any dog that is treated in such a manner is only trying to defend themselves, this is not to be considered hostile. Organizations like that give others a bad name. I will do some checking in my state to see who cares and who doesn’t and see if I can post them. What a shame about Boost. Just look at his picture and you can tell he is a gentle dog. My God, what is going on in this country. The more things I am seeing the sicker I am getting and fed up too.
Like I commented on the last article…it seems Lane Reno and her posse only had *close of business day* in their minds. NOT the care of a lost dog. She’s talking out of both sides of her mouth. If she is SO experienced in this, she would know a scared dog from an aggressive dog.
I’m glad the witnesses came forward. She is BUSTED and she knows it!
It was obvious from the beginning that something was not right with this story.No way could they have made a proper evaluation of any animal under these circumstances and in a half hour.I keep hoping for a miracle that Boost has been sold and that Marcus will be reunited with his beloved friend.These people who are supposed to be doing good are so far off the mark in this case it is reprehensible.Shame on them all.I am glad the truth is coming out and they are being exposed as liars and spiteful people.
I am so glad those good people came forward. Reno should be shot! Never mind…a bullet cost too much money these days. I am so PO’d about this one. Boost is beyond aborable and this should have never happened. What a freakin’ nightmare! Poor Boost…this in-human thing should have a leash put around her neck and dragged down to a very scary room and put to DEATH! She is a full blown MURDERER! I am so angry about this one….so very angry. Boost should be alive and with Marcus right now, and as I said before…Marcus, you should sue them for every penney they have, shut them down, and build a bigger, more HUMANE shelter in your area…..every penney they have AND to be honest, I would go after a personal suit on that B*** Reno as well. It will be one hell of a beautiful shelter you have built. If it were closer to me, I would work there and try to save every little critter that comes in. RIP Boost. I know you are extremely missed! This story really sucks! By the way D…never saw an age on Boost. He looks like a youngster in the picture. Oh! And people…I am far from the sue type person, but this is an entirley different case.
Just a baby Jess, only a year old
ONLY 688 SIGNATURES ON PETITION, NOT ENOUGH, NO CAN DO.
One reads every day about horrible acts of violence committed upon animals by cruel and heartless people. But to have this happen at the hands of a “Humane” Society is too sickening for words. These are supposed to be the people who care about animals, not looking for excuses to put them to death because they are overcrowded.
This confirms my decision never to donate to the HSUS again, a decision I reached after reading about its campaign to kill all the dogs they “rescued” from Michael Vick
God bless Boost and help heal his owner’s heart
Thank you so much Deanna for posting this story on your web site ,I was truely horrified when it aired.something has to be done so this will stop.
I work for a shelter, and we hold all strays for 5 full days.. even the aggressive ones to give the owner time to find them. I think every shelter should have a hold time on all dogs. It is true that even friendly dogs act different in a shelter.Thats why we hold them 5 days.. It is true we put dogs down but we think they all deserve a chance . We keep them as long as we can….If you are in this for the love of animals then you try to find the owner first…My staff and I are all about the animals. We work late come in early and i take work home with me. We have dozens of people who post for us out of love. Boost should have never been put down the first day. This makes all shelters look bad..
Thank you so much! The way you describe yourself and your staff is exactly the way I think shelter workers should be. If you don’t care about and have compassion and empathy for the animal you work with, then for God’s sake, find something else to do!
These animals live and breathe and feel. They are very intuitive. We all know the sad reality that animals are euth’d but if it can be done with love and compassion, and as the last resort, like it or not, we have to understand.
And yes, you’re very right, incidences like this does make shelters look bad, especially to those who don’t know that there are many, many excellent shelters with wonderful staff.
Thank you again!
D.
Thank you Shelter Director for shedding some light on the holding process. I volunteer with rescue, and we do cross post from shelters to find all these babies new homes. I know that shelters have only certain amounts of space, but what has happened to poor little Boost is the most outrageous act I have ever heard of from a shelter. I too, have stopped donating to the Humane Societies, and now send my donations to help dogs and their medical bills at shelters I volunteer with. At least I know where my money is going. The whole lot of people who work at that place should be fired. They have no care or concern for these babies. And Boost was just a baby. Lousy bastard.
how could they kill a dog after one half hour that isnt enough time for a dog to not to be scared
of new people dragging him by a catchpole.the person who did this should be fIREd!!!!!
a boxer is 99.9 usually a very very sweet dog never agessive.what do they think hes notgonna be afraid.
hes picked up and took to the shelter and had a control stick put on neck.id be scared to.what you do to me next.Put a control stick on that witch who
had him killed.she if she likes it or not. FIRE HER