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Dealing Dogs - The Dogs of Martin Creek
Kennels
“REBEL”
As told by “Pete,” LCA’s undercover investigator
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 “There
was one dog at the kennel that stood out to me. He was a
small, brown beagle who barked anytime someone walked by
his pen. The other animals ignored me, but he would run up
and bite my rubber boots and gloves. Many of the dogs,
including this beagle, were often dragged around the
facilities by their necks. This dog, however, would set
his feet in the ground and slide the whole way, resisting
everything the workers tried to do to him. Because of
this, I secretly named him “Rebel.” |
One day, Rebel was moved to the inside kennel, a
space designed to hold 50 dogs at a time, to collect a feces sample for
worms testing. It was evident that Rebel had developed a tapeworm, but
the feces samples became disorganized, and as a result, all of the dogs
in the inside kennel remained in their three by six-foot concrete pens
with chain link walls for 10 days longer to re-collect their feces.
In his new surroundings, Rebel became bored and frightened. He was only
able to lie on the cold, wet concrete all day. These elements, combined
with the symptoms of his tapeworm, eventually destroyed him. He stopped
barking at me or biting at my boots and, instead, cowered in the corner
of his pen shivering. Rebel was later moved to the outside pen, where I
found him dead on Saturday morning, February 3, 2002.
I watched a lot of dogs die in that kennel, but Rebel’s death hit me
hard. Was it better or worse than death in a vivisection lab? I could
only guess, but do nothing about it. I noted his USDA tag number
(#35330) and dumped him in a pile of other dead dogs in the kennel yard.
I never named another dog at the kennel again.”
-“Pete”
“GEORGIA”
As told by Georgia’s guardian
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 “I
have wanted to contact someone from your organization in
reference to your "Dealing Dogs" documentary. I have
adopted a dog awhile back that came from that awful place.
About 6 months after we adopted her, the shelter in which
we worked with called us and told us about the film airing
on HBO, I did not want to see what she went through but
thought it may help in our recovery steps to help get her
well. |
Here is a brief update about our wonderful dog we
have adopted and a great success story:
I am the lucky owner of 3 amazing dogs who have each brought such an
indescribable joy into my life. Although I should not pick favorites,
one holds a special place in my heart like nothing else ever has in my
life. She is a 9 year old beagle we named Georgia. My precious Ms.
Georgia came from Baird’s horrible facility. After being seized from
there she ended up at a wonderful shelter in Washington D.C. Georgia's
spirit had been broken and she trusted nobody, was extremely timid, and
just trembled at all times with her tail stuck between her legs as a
permanent fixture.
After being in the shelter for over 8 months, I saw her profile on their
website and her lost eyes just spoke to me, I knew I needed her in my
life. Not many people wanted to take her into their home as she was
going to require some work. I went down to meet her and feel in love.
When she first came home with us she stayed huddled up in one corner in
the upstairs of our house for about 4 months. She would not eat in front
of us or even look at us she was so scared. We could not touch her or
give her any affection, although it was hard we knew we had to wait for
her. It would take about 10-15 min just to get a leash on her as she did
not want to be touched. After the 5th month she started sitting on the
landing of the stairs and looking down at her new pack. Slowly she came
around and began eating in front of us and playing with the other dogs.
Then a few months later she started to let us pet her as her trust built
up. It has been over a year and a half now and our little broken spirit
dog is now full of life, wagging her tail, goes crazy when we come home
and wants affection all the time. Her transformation and process to get
her over her abuse took a lot of patience and a lot of love, but it is
the most rewarding thing I have ever done. To truly learn a language on
non verbal communication between a human and an animal is something I
wish everyone could experience. When I look at her from then until now,
there is such a special feeling of love in my heart that no words can
describe.
Thank you for all the work you did at getting these animals out into
loving homes. Thank you for shutting this man down. And most of all
thank you for the awareness this film brought to many people!”
Stay tuned for more stories!
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