Bill and Buck died on 3/27/14

This is the last post I will make about this as the situation is so painful to me. I can't help but cry every time I think about Karen and her dogs, Bill and Buck.

This is what Karen had to say after the deed was done:

My heart is too heavy to write very much tonight, but I wanted to reach out to all of you for a few moments.

This is another photo of the last day of the life of Buck and Bill...go run with the angels boys, you deserved so much more.

The last moments of their life were marred by a cruel joke that the governor was on the phone with a pardon, the cruelty of a man sworn to uphold life, and the threat of being physically removed from the building by a sheriff's deputy when I asked for just a few moments to see if a pardon might come through.

Even so, there were blessings also:
the presence of the veterinarian and his technician...so very skilled and compassionate in their work; Nicki, whose hand lay over mine on Bill's head...and on which my cheek rested with his final breath; the same sheriff's deputy...with tears in his eyes as he left the room; and all of you who greeted me with love as I walked the longest walk out of that hellhole. I don't know if I would have been able to make it without the vet and his tech each taking one of my hands.

That us what Buck and Bill have taught me...to find every ray of light even in the darkest hour.

I have not yet received the remains of the dogs, they were incinerated despite the order of the judge to return the remains intact. The remains from the "bone bucket" (as the incinerator is called) were ready today, the order of the judge is that I receive them, and yet permission has to be granted for this transaction. I don't know when I will finally be gifted with what has been promised.

Even in this last simple step, the County could not see fit that it transpired without harm or insult.

My heart hurts...

I will post you on what passes tomorrow.

Our love,
Buck, Bill, & Karen

Apparently, Karen is thinking of suing the County of Manatee. I think it would be in her best interest to walk away instead; to move on and hold her head high knowing she did everything possible to stop the County from killing her dogs.

It is not that I think she should not receive justice, it is just that peace will not be serve by continuing to go to court against these people. Instead, if it were me, and *thank God* it's not, I would do everything possible to make sure every elected official in this case loses their next election. I would also turn my energy into a crusade against unequally applied laws and a justice system that is out of control.

One last photo allowed by the County officials

Her vet's tech, Karen, and the vet leave the "animal shelter" one last time

No one can hurt them now. This piece of art is really beautiful and emotionally evocative

I had to euthanize my own dog the same day as an emergency. She was 15 and had a good long life but had gone down hill drastically in only a few days. This is the correct scenario for euthanasia. Long life well lived, and gone to the other side before real misery and suffering set in.

I will miss my Trinity. My son was sad to hear she passed away. He remembers when we adopted her and what a rascal she was. Home always included Trinity.

Trinity was a farm dog in her previous life before me. She looked and acted like an Aussie but with a tail

Trinity playfully licks baby Loki until he starts wrestling with her face.

Here grown up Loki invades her space, which she tolerated daily

I was sad to lose Trinity and I am sad about Bill and Buck. But they are all now on the other side. No one can hurt them now, not people or age or disease. This fact is a great comfort to me, and having lost a number of pets, I will take comfort where I can get it.

"Save Bill and Buck" Manatee County wants them dead (Thursday 3-27-14)

I found this posted this morning on facebook:

"Status Update

By Save Buck & Bill from being killed

Due to the untimely filing by attorney Thomas Ostrander, of the petition to the second district court of appeals, Manatee County is upholding it's decision to murder Buck and Bill.

They are siting that because it wasn't filed on time, thus not abiding by the law, this is a good reason to kill the dogs.

Anyone in the area, please go to the shelter as Karen need all the support she can get."

http://www.examiner.com/article/buck-and-bill-two-dogs-sentenced-to-die-manatee-county

For an entire year I have followed this case. The owner's entire last year has been spent driving 200 miles each way as often as possible to visit her pups in jail. She is limited to 1/2 hour visits. Karen's last memories of her dogs will be like the above pictures, living in a cramped cold dirty concrete prison.

You see, I own Aussies. I own Aussies just like her. They are my heart children. I don't know that I would be able to pick myself up off the floor if this happened to me.

Kona and Torvald

Professor Jones, Indiana!

I think Bill and Buck may die today. And I can't get there. I wish I could. I've tried to help, sent money and prayers. I never pray. I don't believe God works that way. But in this one case I broke my usual mode of operation and asked the universe for help. I really did. I have poured a huge amount of positive energy into this, someone else's struggle against injustice and inequality. I've sent her my lunch money over and over to help in some small way defray the attorneys' fees. And all for naught? Really?

I am just heart broken for Karen. She could be me. I could be her. If they are to die, I fear I can't help her anymore. She's going into territory I've only had nightmares about. It is hard enough to lose your companion to age, disease, accident. But to lose your buddies through human incompetence? Through unequal application of poorly written standards and laws?

The death warrants are typed up and signed for yesterday (3/26) but they had hand written over them today's date. Today they die, "before 11:59 pm." She will be allowed "no more than 1/2 hour" with them before they are euthanized. She is not allowed to take any photographs or make any recordings, or even conference call with any of her friends and supports as this goes down. 

I know they are "just dogs" and really nothing but property in the eyes of the law. They have no more value than a flat screen tv. A friend's dad just died tonight. And another friend has had both parents in the hospital doing poorly. When I weigh these things in my mind I understand that the unjust death of a pair of dogs does not hold the same weight as these human examples.

 And yet I know that to have a dog (or cat), to be privileged to experience their love, is so special and has such a high emotional value, that really only having and loving a child compares. Human lives are so long and our companion animals so short. Baring an accident, my son and I will enjoy another 1/2 century (!) with each other. My dogs will be gone in a decade or less. It is this fleeting joy that raises the emotional stakes of risking love. You know they will be gone so soon.

To love is to lose, this is what I've learned.

Shame on Manatee County, Florida. Shame on the officials and county employees who have lied, and told wild tales that have no factual basis. The death of these dogs suits their own private agendas. They just want to make sure their own incompetence is not revealed, and the potential profit achieved. After all, now these dead dogs can be labelled "vicious and euthanized." Maybe the suing family will choke on their profit.

Shame on you, Manatee County. Shame on you. Oh, and by the way, my husband and I won't be moving to your lovely state after all. Too backwards. Not that you care, not that your state cares one wit about anything but money. You've really out done yourselves. Good job, guys.