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Sadie out on the boat with her owner Shane
June first I accidentally ran over my own dog, either she was already under the car as I pulled it into the garage or she was after a stray cat and ran under the car as I pulled the ahead. I pulled the car ahead and rolled her over before I realized what was happening. I had to jack up the car to get her out. When I did I noticed her rear left leg was broken. My wife was on the phone immediately to the Fourth Street Vet Clinic as I loaded her into the back seat of my pickup.
I talked to the vet and we were on our way to La Porte City.... Long story short it was a rough drive... Sadie is 12 years old. I thought well this is it. Denny the vet didn't seem real concerned. He examined her, did x-rays and put a cast on her leg, I made him reassure me this is the best option rather than putting her down. He said she was still very mobile, no doubt in trying to save her is a good option. I thanked him and he sent us home saying, "See you in four weeks."
If any of you know me, you know I wear my heart on my sleeve. I beat myself up pretty bad the next few days, until she started to wag her tail again. Eli (9) my youngest son and I stayed home for the weekend as my wife Carrie and my oldest son Weston (11) were headed to Des Moines for a weekend baseball tournament. That morning I took off her collar since she didn't need to be tied up anymore.
Sadie didn't walk in the next four weeks... I carried her around for about three days. I would set her in the yard and she would do her business then she would bark and I would carry her back in. Eventually I was putting a towel around her waist and giving her support in and out of the house. She would hobble around. It wasn't till the last night with her cast that I caught her in the yard and she was actually up on her own and trying to be mobile. It was a great sight!!!
Friday June 29th she had an appointment to get her cast off. Same thing I have a towel around her waist and we hobble into the office. Denny took her cast off, checked her out and was happy with the healing and results so far. We chatted and he watches her hobble out and says it may take a few days or weeks before she realizes she has that leg again... She would scoot around the house a little just dragging her back end and also in the yard.
Fourth of July morning when everything went to a blur... I am left in disbelief and angrier then I have ever been. Irate!!! If you know me I'm a pretty laid back guy and takes a lot to get me so angry that I'm out of control. I was almost there! I was outside getting ready for the day. Weston had Sadie out on the patio and says “Dad I can't get Sadie down the steps.” I say ok I will do it... I walk her down the steps and throw the towel over the railing and went inside like I have done for almost five weeks now... I went in had some breakfast, 20-30 minutes tops! I look outside the window and see the towel and rememebered... She hasn't barked to come in. I go outside and I don't see her. I look around and I go back inside and tell Carrie and the boys I can't find Sadie. I go back out and walk my property line again, I check the garage and under each vehicle...
Nothing. I walk down the street and back and my neighbor for the last TEN YEARS comes out and says are you looking for something. I reply yes my dog. She says oh well the dog catcher (ACO) just picked her up. She was over here eating the bread I had thrown out for the birds... (If this is true, she has scooted farther then she had in the last four and a half weeks.) I asked her if the dog was she walking.
She said, "No, she was hurt."
I said, "Yeah she just got her cast off Friday."
She replied, "Oh, well I called her, because it's Sadie right?"
I said, "Yes."
"Well, she didn't look at me, so I didn't think it was her."
My wife ran to the house and grabbed the checkbook. We jumped into the car and drove to the "Friends of the Shelter" facility 1.56 miles from my house.
The dog catcher was sitting in front in his vehicle doing paper work. I ask "Are you the dog catcher nowadays?" He says yes. So I asked if he had a a yellow lab of mine. He hesitantly replied, "Yes, but I took her to the vet and he put her down." Carrie yells, "Are you kidding me?!" He shakes his head no and says, 'she had been hit and couldn't walk" I will have to censor what I said. But I told him that she just got a cast off and couldn't walk. I asked which vet he replies Corbett. We just assume he put her down if she is still there.
We jump in the car and speed into his office 2.39 miles away. I beat down his door because it's locked and the closed sign is up. He comes to the door I walk in. I ask, "Do you have my yellow lab?" He says, " I did but I put her down." I said, "I heard." He starts to say she was busted up. I said again CENSORED "She just got a cast off! I want to see her! Where is she?" He says that he took her back out to the pound.
We walk out the door Carrie breaks down in tears. He said she was in shock. I scream some more obscenities and I speed off back to the pound. I was within a block of my house on the way back Eli is out looking for Sadie. Carrie tells him out the window go back home. We get back to the pound and nobody is there. I call the shelter number and get a recording. Same thing when I call the Vinton Police Department. I call the Benton County Sheriff's office also get a recording but I stay on the line. The lady answers and I tell her I am trying to reach the dog catcher would you have his number. She says yes but what is your concern. She isn't going to give me his number. I tell her the gist of the story and tell her I want my dog back...I was just after a body now. She takes my name and number and says I will give him your info. I said, "Great! I’m waiting at the shelter."
I have calmed down a bit and the dog catcher calls right away and said "The sheriff's office says you wanted to talk to me?" I said ,"Yes, I want my dog back!" He replied, "Shane I am just a taxi service I take them where they need to go." He says he feels like he going to get sick, and apologized. I said, "I understand but it's been less than an hour since I took my dog out and she is now dead and gone."
He says,"Yes I put her in the incinerator..."
End of Sadie... The last time I saw her, I sat her in my yard to go to the bathroom.
I put the car in gear and drive home. Carrie got out of the car and goes straight to our neighbor’s house to let her have it... She didn't answer. I walk in to the house where our son Eli asks, "Did you find her?" I said, "No, I've got bad news." I sat on the couch and explained to them that they had thought Sadie had been hit, but we caught the dog catcher at the pound. He had already been to the vet and he had already put her down. Again everyone broke down in tears...
I sent the dog catcher a text later on asking if he can get me some ashes he replies no problem he sure would and apologized again. I told him there were no hard feelings to him just the protocol. Needless to say it's been a rough couple days. Both of the boys cried. Weston woke me up at 11:30 last night, he was bawling so hard. He said, "I just want Sadie back." I told him I do too, Buddy.
I talked to Denny from LaPorte City Vet Clinic July 5th. Denny told me he had to be able to tell she had been in care and been worked on by tape residue or the wounds on her leg from the cast because they were not fresh wounds. I also talked to the dog catcher July 5th because he was going to bring me her remains that night... He said he has to work late is it ok if the gal from the shelter brings them to City Hall in the morning? I said yeah, I could pick them up too. I didn't really understand the city hall thing. But it was fine, I walked in, the clerk showed me where they were and I left.
Anyway I start to pick the dog catchers brain. I asked, "Where did you pick her up?" He said the middle of the 1200 block of 3rd Avenue. I told him that that’s where I live. He said she was near the road in four different yards. (Which I still don't understand if she was on my side of the street she was either in my yard or the neighbors.) But anyway, he said the neighbor called Dave Upah which is her ex-son-in-law and also a county deputy. I told her I knew who he was. He says he checked on her and thought she had been hit. So he called dispatch and they then called me.
He said normally he would have had to come from La Porte but was only two blocks away. I asked, "Then what?" He said he picked her up and took her to the vet. "They do an exam and they decide what to do and I take them to the shelter." I ask, "So did he x-ray her?" He said, "No, he was just was pushing on her hip. I got a phone call and walked off. In fact, we didn't even take her out of my truck." I said, "So he just gives her a shot in your truck?" He said, "Yes." I was just...like, wow. I said, "Did anyone check her for a microchip?" He said, "No, I do that when I take a dog in, but only they aren't injured."
Last night Eli said the neighbor had asked what happened to Sadie. I asked, "What did you say?" He says “I just said I don't know.” I told my wife Carrie about it. and she went and talked to the neighbor. She came back about ten minutes later and said the neighbor is devastated and is crying. I said, "Do you think she was sincere?" She says, "Yes." So Carrie felt better about the whole thing.
This is what I think.... She had no intention of Sadie being put down but considering the history between her and us since we moved in possibly she was in her yard she thought she would teach me a lesson and I would have to pay to get my dog back. I'm not convinced she wasn't in my own yard!!! I didn't sleep more than an hour at a time the first night, and this morning 7-5-12 I woke up at 3:30 a.m. mad as a hornet. I got up and started to type this.
Here is my thinking on the whole thing. I should have had her tags on period! Why wouldn't my neighbor just call or knock on my door to make sure it wasn't Sadie? The dog catcher is just doing a job, a part time job that he was hired to do... Corbett Veterinary Clinic on the other hand... Can you really examine a dog without an x-ray and determine in minutes that she needs to be put down? It was 4th of July and it was a hundred degrees... I think she got a rushed job!
I put myself in the dog catcher’s shoes. I couldn't do what he did without trying to find an owner. He talked to my neighbor that didn't think she was Sadie. Why wouldn't you knock on a couple doors asking if they knew where she belongs before you haul her to the vet? I was home the whole time!!!
I think Corbett didn't do what he should have done. I think there needs to be something changed in the protocol for whoever is over the ACO.
This is what is so disturbing to me.
There was ZERO attempt to find out who she belongs to.
Corbett didn't even x-ray her.
No one checked for a microchip.
From the time I let her out till the time she was put into the incinerator was less than an hour!
Why is there no holding time?
Something has got to change!!!
If the neighbor wouldn't have told me I wouldn't have ever found out what happened to my dog, and assumed someone took her or she ran off and died. THIS IS WRONG!!!
This is what I sent to our City of Vinton Iowa Council members...
The meeting was tonight, Thursday July 12. I got a personal apology from the mayor, which was nice and sincere. I told him I appreciated it! Then when they all got in their chairs, the mayor just turned it into a tight lipped apology and asked if we can possibly implement a 12 hour hold time, but you got to understand these things don't happen overnight. I said a few things but it was very discouraging because I got a hurry up and pushed to the next task at hand.
Come to find out the City of Vinton uses Dr. Corbett because he donates his time. He doesn't even had x-ray capability! I will have to stay involved to get anything done... Anyway I appreciate comments good or bad I admitted my fault... Why can't anyone else involved? I gave Dr. Corbett a chance to pay my vet bill from the broken leg and give me a donation toward a new purebred and papered lab like Sadie was. I didn't request total price because she was 12. How many years did she have left? I think it was more then fair on my part. I told him if he didn't I was going public. This is where I am at now. If I had wanted a fat wallet I would get the biggest and meanest lawyer. But letting the public know is even more gratifying then getting my last vet bill paid!!!
Shane Powers
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This is a unfortunate story but a lesson that can be learned by all. Good Luck with your persuit of policy change.
It seems to be everyone else's fault. The ACO endured an admitted obscenity filled lashing; Dr Corbett, a volunteer medical professional, should have felt intimidated by the tone of the conversation and manner of notification by Powers when his office was closed; and the Powers family went to the neighbor's to "let her have it".
There's two sides to every story and people have to be careful what they ask for - they might get it. I can see a lot of tax money being spent when we no longer have a volunteer veterinarian, an ACO who isn't paid enough to get the abuse and an increased budget at the shelter to care for animals who are not humanely cared for - rather left to suffer for someone to claim them.
I am a dog owner and dog lover. I believe we oftentimes treat our pets better than we treat people by relieving them of their pain, suffering, and misery in a timely manner.
Guess I also have to be careful for stepping forward to state my feelings. Retribution for standing up for what you believe in can be costly as well.
Mr. Powers, was the dog in fact micro-chipped? And if so, what Vet implanted it and with what Veterinatian was it registered?
We live in a small rural community, neighbors know their neighbors spouses, kids and most likely their pets as well. This was a neighborhood dog who should never have been removed from that neighborhood, but rather led door to door to find the owner.
The vet put the dog down without the owners permission, the person at the shelter could have easily kept that animal for at least 24 hours to see if the dogs owner would show up looking for their precious family member!
Maybe Sadie didn't have her tags on, was not on a leash and may have been out of her own yard.. .BUT.. Sadie was injured and being cared for by her loving family. When your family member is sick do you make them wear a necklace, bra, wrist watch or tight jeans?
It had to be obvious that this dog was NOT a beaten, starving stray animal. Nor was she a threat to other animals, humans or herself. What harm would it have done to make her comfortable overnight in hopes that her owner would be looking for her soon?
Sadie was NOT just another stray dog. She was a cherished FAMILY member!
This is a very sad story that we need to use to define new procedures of how an animal is to be treated upon arrival at the local shelter.
It's time to STOP pointing fingers at others, stop making accusations of "black mail" and "defamation of character" and START to pull together as a community to make changes to ensure that this atrocity doesn't happen again in Vinton and/or Benton county!!
First, it is terribly unfortunate that so many unsigned comments were posted. The family, the ACO, Dr. Corbett, the neighbor and city officials have all been vilified on this forum by people who were too cowardly to sign their names. And what is worse is that for a time, they were allowed to be seen.
We have become a society of indirect confrontation. Instead of talking to people directly, we go behind their back. If we have a problem with a person, we don't talk to them, we talk to their boss. Or we post mindless things on a comment board and don't sign our name; that will show them.
This is America and we have the right of free speech. But with that right comes the obligation of responsibility and the courage to own up to your own opinion.
Whatever side of this unfortunate story you are on, that's up to you. But if you don't have enough courage to sign your name to your opinion, save it.
Dr Corbett is in no way responsible for any money to "pay my vet bill from the broken leg and give me a donation toward a new purebred and papered lab like Sadie was." Dr Corbett was doing his job, and with every experience I've had with him, he's a damn good vet.
At the end of this opinion post, it is stated that "letting the public know is even more gratifying then getting my last vet bill paid!!!" This completely contradicts the above statement of "I told him if he didn't I was going public." This was an attempt to get money from a good man, and then a lesser man throwing a toddlers fit when he didn't get his way.
For the supporters of the dog owner, I would like to share this statement, (which is accessible to the public on Facebook,) left by the owner on the social media site the day of the original incident:
"Nothing like having a good time. Friends were here the egg was fired up, had a fire going, had a few beers. Every one headed home & I run over my dog! 13 years old and still kickin!!!"
It appears to me that the dog owner is admitting to drinking and driving. Even if he was just 'buzzed,' thanks to an extensive ad campaign by the ad Council I am very aware that this is still drunk driving. So he hit his dog, driving drunk, told the vet it was ok to put her down if it was best, left her outside unattended, without a collar, injured, all-the-while miraculously subtracting a year off of her age (see difference in Opinion post and Facebook post)...and somehow a man that spent four years in veterinary medical school, that was DONATING his time to the City of Vinton and its taxpayers, is expected to pay for making a professional decision?
Shame on this website for leaving this post up and letting anonymous accounts leave comments, all you are doing is encouraging one man to break the law while he attempts the defamation of a good man's character.
1. If you are going to post a comment on here either put your name down or don't post. Basically put up or shut up! Dean..not sure of your policy but people who post comments should have to put some kind of name down.
2. The person "reciting" city policy...thanks Captain Obvious! Now go find your heart...you left it outside!
3. The neighbor that called I'm sure didn't mean to have that kind of outcome but sometimes rash decisions end badly for all involved. I know this person and I'm sure she does genuinely feel bad..but maybe a phone call or a knock on the door to the Powers house would have been more appropriate and more neighborly. I'm sure things will not be the same between everyone and that's sad.
4. For those of you that think this is "slander" to talk about Dr Corbett actions they are of public record..therefore its not slander..its fact.
5. What needs to be asked is if there was "due diligence" done on the vets part? A physical assessment takes more than just a best "professional opinion"..assessments should be done as fact finding and all tools should be used to make the basis of the diagnosis. It doesn't sound like all of the assessment tools were used. The dog was probably scared and was recovering from an injury that sounds like a trained person would be able to detect.
6. What is the City of Vinson's protocol for examining animals and what criteria has to be met to determine putting an animal down?
7. Does the city have a policy of checking for microchips? What's the policy for attempting to contact owners? Isn't there supposed to be a hold put on all captured animals?
8. Lastly, what is the city council going to do about this? Address it with a policy review and public discussion or ignore it and hope it goes away?
Time to speak up people! How do you want your pets treated? A dog that gets "loose" most of the time is not on purpose...to those that want to say its Shane's whole fault..think about it...pets are like kids...turn your back two seconds and they can be gone! Lets be compassionate and all agree its a bad situation that shouldn't have happened and everyone involved wishes they could reverse it..but they can't..so lets see what can be done to not have this happen to someone else. Lets establish a better policy and protocols to avoid this in the future.
oh and I post my comments with my name..I stand behind what I say...:)
- - - I will agree that the policy is flawed - something does need to change - I am so sorry for the parents in this case as well as the kids - I do feel that the publishing of what happened is a good thing - people should know - but comments with no names and comments with direct insults are WRONG and for me erases all the good that this web site does - BAD BAD POLICY all the way around...
1) Shane has admitted all wrong doing on his part. He realizes the law, and realizes that he should have had the collar on Sadie. I think (can’t speak for Shane) he is saying that the law needs to changed before a decision is made on killing a dog within an hour timeframe. That is way too fast and that is where the problem is. This dog wasn’t a habitual offender or an aggressive animal. PERIOD. And I’m sure the people who had Sadie could tell that.
2) He isn’t asking for someone to foot the bill for a new purebred, he's asking for a donation. Careful with what you assume.
3) In this day and age…why can’t we as pet owners have a website to go to that lists all pets that are found or captured? It could list information and a picture about the animal. That way it gives the owners some time to locate them before they decide to euthanize the animal. Give some people a chance. There was no chance given to Shane and his family to find his lost family member. No chance given to Sadie……. But that costs money, right? Give me a break. A website set up with a photo gallery is not costly at all. And if we have people donating their time and making this type of call within an hour…we can have someone donate their time and list a description of the dog and have a pictured posted in a matter of minutes.(most of us can do it on our phone)
4) The law also says not to speed down the highway..but I bet we all have done it, and I bet once we get caught we are praying for a “warning” and not a ticket. Sadie and the Powers didn’t even get a warning.