Group Wants “Miracle Dog” Patrick Moved to Rescue Zoo

[DainBramaged]

Patrick, the horribly emaciated pit bull whose close-to-death body was found in a trash bag in a garbage chute of a 22-story apartment building in March, has been through enough during his one year of life. But now the very agency that helped rescue him is asking for him to be moved from the only good “home” he has ever known and into a “rescue zoo.”

The Associated Humane Societies claimed in a 40-page motion filed in New Jersey Superior Court this week that it has legal ownership of Patrick. According to the Associated Press, the AHS wants to take him from the veterinarian’s, where he has been recovering, and place him in the Popcorn Park Zoo. The Zoo is a refuge for farm, wild, and domestic animals who have had bad lives. People pay admission to see the 200 or so animals who call the zoo their home.

The AHS claims Patrick is theirs to do with as they please.

“Patrick is no different than any other stray or abandoned picked up in Newark or any other city — once he was rescued by AHS, he became the property of AHS,” the motion reads. “AHS did not surrender possession or control of Patrick, but merely turned the dog over to GSVS for treatment, with the expectation that Patrick would be returned to AHS once his medical condition improved and he was able to be released.”

This is what Patrick looked like when they found him



:cry:


This is Patrick today



AHS, which had garnered such good will after Patrick’s rescue, is fast losing it by this leg-lift maneuver. A rescue organization that refers to dogs as their “property” doesn’t inspire warm and fuzzy feelings. Moving a dog like this might be protocol for them, but Patrick isn’t your typical rescue: He looked like a corpse when he was brought in. Two months of round-the-clock care and nurturing have gotten him past the danger zone. And he has bonded with his caretakers — something he probably never had the chance to do in his short, tormented year of life. They say he’s a real “people dog.”


http://dogblog.dogster.com/2011/05/06/group-wants-miracle-dog-patrick-moved-to-rescue-zoo/


(AP)

[virgogal]

1. Words fail me,and they rarely do.

[DainBramaged]

3. It took a few minutes to post this story.

:cry:

[virgogal]

4. I can well imagine---the human race is something,isn't it?

[LiberalAndProud]

2. Reporting -- where is the why?

I really would like to understand the underlying motivation for this. Seems a lot of resources to expend for a dog who is being well cared for. So ... WHY?

[Honeycombe8]

10. There must be a reason. No reason why? nt

[csziggy]

11. Could be to raise money since they charge for people to see the animals

Maybe AHS wants a high profile rescue to attract more visitors to their zoo. The part I find doubtfull is that the animals are better off in the "rescue zoo" than they would be in a regular home or at the vet's office.

[snagglepuss]

16. Spot on. They want him as a money making tool.

:mad:

[LiberalAndProud]

12. Patrick has been copyrighted bythe AHS, which goes a long way toward explaining the why.

This is about potential donations, not about the dog. It's a guess, but I'll bet I'm not wrong.

[ejpoeta]

5. is he dangerous in some way? because i would think the goal would be to place him in a good

home so that he can be a part of a family.

[sasha031]

6. when ever I see stories like this I hug my cat

thankfully there are angels in this world, for instance Patrick's caregivers.

[Honeycombe8]

8. I hug my rescue doggies. My heart breaks when I hear stories like this. nt

[sasha031]

15. good for you for saving doggies, I rescue cats

:hi:

[kestrel91316]

7. This particular veterinarian finds the very concept of a

"rescue zoo" horrifying.

[smokey nj]

14. I think the companion animal rescue facility is separate from Popcorn Park Zoo which

provides a sanctuary for more exotic animals.
http://www.ahscares.org/aboutus.asp

[xchrom]

9. He needs a home. A real home. Nt

[kestrel91316]

17. For some animals, a vet clinic IS a real home. I had my grandparents' cat

at my clinic as a mascot for the last 10 1/2 of her nearly 19 years. She was happy as a clam. She had way more interaction with people than my cats at home did.

A dog needs a lot of human interaction and a vet clinic can be a great place to get it. Plenty of vets have canine mascots, though not generally for the decade I had that particular cat.

A ZOO, OTOH, particularly where an animal is on display to generate income for anyone (person or nonprofit or for profit corporation) just seems wrong to me.

[smokey nj]

18. A staff member at the hospital wants to adopt Patrick.

Everybody on the various Facebook Patrick fan pages, the NJSPCA, and Mayor Corey Booker all think this is a wonderful idea. Unfortunately, AHS disagrees. :(

[DainBramaged]

21. Our vet has their dogs and cat at the clinic too

Two of the BEST vet's I have ever known, husband and wife. We have bought all of our babies in at various times for as little as a nail trimming or Cash's referral heartworm removal in Philadelphia and they are kind, many times don't charge, and genuinely love animals.

Byram Animal Hospital

[Booster]

13. You know there must have been someone who wanted to adopt

him after reading his story and seeing his pictures. This is wrong in so many ways. Poor baby.

[Curmudgeoness]

19. Sorry, I can't get past the picture of Patrick when he was found.

How was that dog not dead? OMG.

:cry:

[smokey nj]

22. He's come so far since then, he looks like a different dog. GSVS used to post

pictures and videos of Patrick on Facebook and gave regular updates about Patrick's condition. When all the legal nonsense started, they stopped the posts. According to one of the last updates I remember, his weight was up to 36 lbs. He's probably over 40 lbs. now.

[ClarkUSA]

20. Contact Popcorn Park Zoo now to register your objections.

Link: http://www.ahscares.org/shop/contactus.asp

I've visited Popcorn Park Zoo. While I have visited their cat & dog kennels as well as their rescue zoo (all areas are immaculate) I doubt Patrick will get the kind of care he is getting now at this vet's where he is at. Not sure why they won't let him be adopted out to the hospital staff member who wants him (perhaps they want him to be with someone who is stay-at-home?). There are both sides to every story. Be polite.

[WatsonT]

23. I don't think they would have any trouble finding a home for him

I really don't care for people some times.

If you don't want a dog don't get one. We have an obligation to those animals we choose to care for, this person obviously didn't bother to realize that. Hell shooting it would be kinder than that.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

24. MUCH better photos of Patrick today...

http://www.ahscares.org/Patrick_Photo_Gallery.htm



I hope he ends up in a loving home, away from the spotlight. I've been reading AHS updates at their website and something definitely seems "off" about them.