Floyd's story read this and pass it on It is important that people know what the Humane Society of Boulder Valley Did to our Dog.

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Permalink Reply by Linnea Riebschlager on November 2, 2010 at 7:51pm

Floyd’s Story


Hi my name is Floyd Riebschlager. I am four and a half years old and my life ended on the 29th of October when the Humane Society of Boulder Valley put me to sleep. This is my story. I was born on a ranch to a yellow Labrador. My mother was slight in nature and very sweet and small. My father is somewhat unknown; you know how that can be. He was either a Chesapeake or a Lab like my mother but I would say that I definitely took my mother features. I am small for a Lab just like her and I have her sweet disposition. I am glad that she bore me into this world because in my short life I got to meet some pretty neat people, and do some pretty neat things and also experience some pretty bad things, especially near the end.
I was adopted by the Riebschlager family at about five months of age when I ran away from my birth home. They met me before I ran away and later I found out that they were just discussing if they wanted to take me home. The ranch got me back from a shelter so my new family could take me home. My human Dad told me I remind him of his beloved dog Ace. I guess I wag my bottom just like his old dog used to. He was also a black Lab like myself, but much bigger than me. My human mother told me that she just loved animals and was excited to welcome me into the family. My human girls loved me because I love to jump and run around the house and have them chase me. I loved being chased. When I got to their house I was excited but also scared because I didn’t know how they would treat me. Not all animals get to choose their new homes or their owners. I soon learned that they were loving people who liked to take me for walks and all kinds of adventures. My dad trained me to fetch birds like ducks and doves but I was just too small for the geese I wanted to get them but they sometimes weighed almost as much as I did. I tried though and I loved hunting and swimming in the lakes and ponds. I know my dad said I was his best hunting dog ever. They said I was the best dog they ever owned. Can you imagine even better than Ace, which made me so happy.
My mother took me for long walks and jogs. Almost every morning, after she would drop off the girls for school, she and I would go for our walks and jogs. She even let me go with her when she would bike ride and rollerblade. Boy it was fun to feel the wind in my face. She would take me camping with the family and sleep in her sleeping bag when I would shiver because I had no fat to keep me insulated. I would run along with the horses and greet new strangers and let them pet me. She would take me to the park and little kids would pet me and put their face right in mine so I could smell their sweet breath. One day my mom brought me on a hiking trip with her and her sister and the little girls. I remember I didn’t feel good that day I had a belly ache but I ran along jumping off small boulders and chasing the little squirrels and jumping logs. My good friend Spike came with me but he had short legs so he could not keep up to well but he was one of my best friends. He was a Boston terrier. That night I got really cold and had the chills and I started to vomit. My mom took me in her sleeping bag and kept me warm and rubbed my belly. When I felt like I would be sick again she would drag me out of the sleeping bag hang my head out of the side so I could vomit again. Then she would slide me back in her bag and hold me some more. She told me I scared her because she thought I may have come down with something worse that just the doggie flu. The next day I felt much better and I was so thankful that she cared for me the way she did.
I played with the little girls everyday. They pretended to train me and I pretend that they actually trained me. I would jump all the obstacles they set up for me. When my friends came over to play the little girls would play with us. Martha, an Australian Sheppard would always bite my ears and I would roll her to the ground or she would trample me and I let her think she was bigger and badder than me. She is only a young pup so it is important to boost their confidence. When Spike and Martha would come over we would play for hours. I even enjoyed it when our neighbor dogs would come and play. I also played with our two cats, Flint and Fuzzy. Flint was definitely the head honcho around the house and he would put me in my place on several occasions. I didn’t mind, I am not a dominate dog; I am happier when I don’t have any conflicts.
I was a happy puppy living at the Riebschlagers they treated me like one of their own. I wanted to be with them every moment of my life and could not stand being away from my mom. I was sad when she would have to leave me with someone else but I would be good and make sure to try and not cause trouble. She left me at a kennel once I they owners said I was a very well behaved dog and that I didn’t even bark. I would just eat my food and enjoy the occasional pat the kennel care takers would give me. The last week of my life my family had to leave me with a friend of theirs because they could not take me with them. They said they had to go hunting and would be gone for a few days and could not take me on this trip because it was not for ducks or doves. I did not understand at that time though and I was very scared and just wanted to be with my family. I tried several times to get out. The friends of my family were very nice to me and fed me and gave me water and tried to comfort me, but I just wanted my family. After a few days I finally got out and tried to find my way home. I got lost, however and went the wrong direction. On the 24th of October an officer tried to grab at me and I was so scared that I snapped at them, though I never snapped at anyone in my life, I did not understand that they were trying to help me. They took me to a strange place that I have never seen before and there were a whole bunch of strangers trying to touch me and do, I don’t know what. Where was my family I kept wondering, why haven’t they come yet to take me home. I didn’t trust anybody from where I was at. I have never been wary of strangers before but these strangers were not like others I have met; I felt like they would harm me.
After several days in that awful place I heard them say that I did not pass some tests that a person was giving me. I didn’t know I was being tested? I wanted my family. They said they could not re-home me and I was thinking re-home? I have a home were it is warm and loving and my family loves me. You can take me to them. The shelter never did though. Instead they said because I failed some tests that they would kill me instead. I didn’t want to die; I was too young and had my whole life ahead of me. I would growl at the people because I was scared. I never growled at anybody before but I knew they wanted to hurt me after being there at that horrible place for five days. On October 29th I found out that they did not get in touch with my family, because they were on vacation hunting and they did not have any cell service or any phone service so they were not even aware of the danger I was in. The shelter, Humane Society of Boulder Valley, put me to sleep. As they put the needle in me all I could think about was how my family would miss me and I would miss them. I never got the chance to say good-bye. I know that they would try to get me back if they knew that I was in some place that was other than with them. They tried to get me back the day they go home but they were too late and to their horror they would never pet me again or stroke my soft ears because they never got the chance to save my life.
The Humane Society of Boulder Valley claims that they save lives of dogs and cats everyday but they did not save my life nor did they try. They had the opportunity to end my life without even trying very hard to find my owners nor did they give my owners enough time to claim me back. I will miss them and I hope that some people and dogs learn from my story about the harsh policies on which the Humane Society of Boulder Valley has for re-homing dogs. I never meant to fail my family but I did and they will never get the chance to hold me again. Spread my story so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else when they go on vacation and I hope that someone will investigate my untimely death to give my family some peace.
I am Floyd Riebschlager, I was murdered on October 29th by the Humane Society of Boulder Valley and this was my story!

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Permalink Reply by Linnea Riebschlager on November 7, 2010 at 12:53pm

Hi nicki,
Thanks so much for your support and friendship in this matter. What you have done for my family and myself is beyond words. I pray you will be blessed for your kindness. The day I talked to you I met with the CEO and we had a wonderful chat! I feel encouraged that Floyd's story will change some polocies and that through death Floyd will be able to reach out to families and make them aware of how important it is to have back up people to call at your vet and to make sure people have their collars and tags on their beloved puppies. I want to know that he didn't just die but that he can change things and after talking with the CEO that will happen. I am not as angry as I was just sad about his loss but I will make good of it and spread his story with attachments on how to help shelters contact owners. Please take care of yourself and thanky you once again for talking with me and helping understand some of Floydees last days.

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Permalink Reply by SunnShyneGirl on November 5, 2010 at 11:02am

Hi Linnea,
I am sorry to hear about the unfortunate circumstances your dog had to endure under the in humane actions of the Boulder Humane Society. I read your story on 9new this morning and actually came to this site to post this story and noticed you had already written about your loss. I am in tears for you and your family's loss. I am completely outraged how the Boulder Humane Society handled this and I have posted the article on my FB in order to pass this along. In my personal experience with the Boulder Humane Society I have noticed when attempting to adopt an animal you have to jump through a lot of hoops. When having to drop off an animal they immediately pass judgment on whether or not your animal is suitable enough for adoption or euthanasia. I had dropped off a chow mix several years back and was immediately told that they would euthanize him after he snapped at them. So, I let the dog go. Maybe not the best action to take but I sure did not like what they had to say. In my opinion these folks are not trained nor have the back ground or education to decipher whether or not an animal should be euthanized or not.
On a good note. Even though this unfortunate act happened you and your family had the opportunity to give your dog such a wonderful life and lots of love and knowing this will always be with you.
With empathy,
Diane

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Permalink Reply by Linnea Riebschlager on November 7, 2010 at 12:59pm

I hope that things will change so we can feel more comfortable about where we leave our pets for re-homing! I am encouraged however talking with the CEO and they been in meeting to change some polocies. Floyd will have his chance to change the way Boulder Valley handles these kind of situations. They did give me his ashes and helped me understand their process but We are going to make it better. They are going to contact me and keep me updated so I know that Floyd's death make great things happen for other dogs and their families. I think you must do what you must do and when it came to your chow mix I would never find fault with you. You seem like a great person because we think so much alike and we have to do what we think is best at the time if that makes sence? Thanks for your support and keep in touch!

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Permalink Reply by MARK SCOTT on November 10, 2010 at 11:22pm

Linnea,

I think we all feel terrible that this happened. It is an unfortunate situation to say the least. It looks like the Humane Society followed the law and tried calling you for four days so that has to very disappointing. What types of changes in policy or state law do you think should be made? What types of things do you think dog owners can do to prevent situations like these?

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Permalink Reply by Linnea Riebschlager on November 15, 2010 at 11:20am

It sounds like they want to start sending out a certified letter and get conformation that it was delivered. That will give the dogs a few more days....at least the dogs with their tags and collars on. Another is for their deffence keeping the collars possibly and installing camaras to keep track of the dogs they claim are Vicious. I think these are really great ideas and I have asked that I be kept informed so I know Floydee didn't die without a cause. I think owners need to have a back up plan if they can't be reached have a family member or friend be put on a list at they'r vets office as an emergency contatct maybe they could be reached to pick up your pet. If the name is given and there is proof of ID then I think they should be allowed to take the pet. With a signature from the owner. Just some ideas. I really want pet owners to know that you need a collar and tags on your pets and try to think about the impossible when leaving town. Especially when you know that you can not be reached like us. We had now way of knowing becuase we had no cell service and when the humane society called my cell phone it never even registered at all; not is missed messages or phone calls or anything I simply didin't get the phone call. I hope that answers some questions and we can all learn from this awful mishap so it won't happen again. Thanks for your questions and support!
Linnea

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