Oxford News

TRENTON — "Our mission is to promote humane principles, to protect lost, homeless, abandoned and mistreated animals and to act as advocates for the animals in the community."

That's the mission of the Animal Friends Humane Society in Trenton.

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Kerri Ann Flowers with her dogs Wednesday in her Hamilton backyard.Click to enlarge

A Hamilton woman would like to rewrite that mission statement — and after she was done, it couldn't be printed in a family newspaper.

She wants to know why the shelter that claims to protect animals and their owners charged her $100 to adopt her own lost dog, a 2-year-old Siberian husky she had hoped to breed, then neutered the dog before he was returned.

"I've learned to not trust," said Kerri Ann Flowers, 26, of Hamilton. "And that's a sad lesson."

On Thursday, when Flowers' name was mentioned to Leland Gordon, executive director of the shelter, he sighed and said: "I know that lady."

The ordeal for Flowers, her husband, 4-year-old daughter and two huskies began May 14 when they discovered their backyard gate was unlocked and opened. One of their dogs — Moki — was missing and the other — Geronimo — was limping noticeably.

"Something happened to those dogs," she said.

The family frantically searched for Moki. They printed signs. Called the police, sheriff's office and Animal Friends Humane Society.

For the next two weeks, Flowers said she called the humane society, and every day, the answer was the same, "No lady, we don't have your dog."

Finally, on June 4 — three weeks after Moki disappeared — Flowers was told a dog matching his description and photo was located in the shelter. The woman said Moki was found on May 30.

From here, you'd think the story would have a happy ending, right? Lost dog wags tails, licks owner's face, reunites with his backyard running mate and spends the rest of his life sitting in a pickup truck.

Cue the country music.

Not so fast. According to state law, since Moki was found wearing no dog license — Flowers said it must have fallen off when the dog was stolen — he became property of the shelter after three days, Gordon said.

When told Moki had a tag that was lost, Gordon said, "We hear that all the time."

Later, he called Flowers "an irresponsible dog owner" because the dog was running loose without his license and he wasn't neutered.

He said cases like Flowers' makes his "blood boil."

Gordon said the shelter had three options, according to state law: put Moki up for adoption, euthanize him or release him to a rescue organization.

When Flowers and her daughter, Caitlin, arrived at the shelter Monday, they identified Moki and were told they could adopt him, but only after he was neutered.

"I got hysterical," Flowers said. "I said, 'This is my dog. This is my dog.'"

On Tuesday morning, Moki was neutered, and several hours later, he was reunited with his owners.

As part of the $100 adoption fee, Moki also received a microchip implanted in his back, updated shots and a dog license, Gordon said.

"At least we have him back," Flowers said. "Let's just say I'll never go back there and they'll never get a cent from me."

Gordon said the blame falls on Flowers because her dog had no license, no microchip, which would have made his identification — and quicker return — much easier.

"We aren't the bad guys here," he said. "The public is the bad guy. We did the right thing."

Contact this columnist at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.