| Crystal writes.... It's
been a tough time, I feel profound sadness and guilt.
Kenny was shot by an RCMP
constable, after numerous warnings to the owners to tie Kenny up (I'm glad they didn't
regardless - he would have been a sitting duck for wolves, which would have been a
terrible way to go, as many dogs and pups have). Kenny was fighting with dogs and
there were complaints to the RCMP, who finally had to act. I am comforted to
know that Kenny was destroyed by the RCMP as I'm sure that was much more humane than any
other ending could have been up there for him.
Unfortunately, because of the
overwhelming problem of animal over-population on reserves and lack of spaying/neutering,
the dogs live in packs and roam the villages. Too many aren't fed or cared for,
and too many end up injured by cars, poisoned or shot as a means of population/problem
control. Most SPCA's hesitate or refuse to get involved with animal issues on
reserves and there is a huge lack of education with respect to animal care. Far too
many die by gun shots. Patches, Billy, Angelo, Bobby and many puppies were
lucky to have survived and made it to AAS.
If it wasn't for Kenny, I would never
have found AAS, so he started something - even back then. AAS saved so many from
Bella Bella, and has had such an impact on my life and the work I do. AAS was the
ONLY one I could trust for help.
For the past two years, Kenny
has been sitting like a stone in my heart. I was always so torn by what to do about
him. I couldn't justify taking him at the time. I chose to leave him
because he was one of the only dogs who was fed and fairly well cared for. He
was one of the only dogs who could claim that he had something of a home, where people
knew him, petted him and fed him. He was very independent, autonomous, intelligent
and dominant (only with dogs, never with people), which formed my decision, but which also
got him killed. The only solace I have is that he didn't die slowly in agony of
poisoning or hit by a car, or an untreated medical condition as is the case for so many
dogs on this reserve. That's the best I could have hoped for in this situation.
Or...I could have taken him. I don't think I'm trying to fool myself when I
say that I still don't believe that would have been the best thing for him. He did
have a full and good life while he was alive. It was shorter than it should have
been, and he died without dignity, but would a longer life of enforced confinement have
been better? I know this dog with my soul and he was quite like the wolf hybrids
that are forced to live out their lives in constant confinement because they don't fit
into a society that forces dogs to live as subservients. He's the only dog I've ever
NOT taken when I could have.
I am grieving for the loss of my soul
mate (yes it was him, as odd as it sounds) and for the loss of a profoundly pure good
spirit. I just can't come to terms with this - I'm a person who always takes
action when I believe it is necessary, always, but in this case, my gut said he really
wouldn't have been happy in a city. I'll never sort this out or come to terms with
what I should or should not have done.
I feel hope in my heart that
Kenny's death wasn't completely in vain, but that he is going to walk beside us in this
struggle to reach the goal of real animal welfare in BC.
It is Crystal who has done so
much for dogs and cats in Bella Bella and now in Tofino.
CRYSTAL KERR
INVESTIGATIONS - PORT ALBION DOG
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