My story has been cut short, but those that loved me want to still tell it.....

Flash, the little dog betrayed. Can I bring him back? No. Will I ever forget him? Never. Did he die for nothing? Yes. And yet, I can hope not. And what is there left to say at this point, after all the tears and what ifs?

I met Flash over a year ago when he came to a "rescue" group on South Parkway. He was brought from a hoarding situation in another county. One of several hundred dogs, it is unimaginable what his life must have been. Suffice it to say, he was on his own. At one year of age and 30 lbs., this little French bulldog mix was a handful. Boundless energy, hyper to a fault, he couldn't wait to discover whatever life awaited him and be a part of it. Leashing Flash was akin to bear wrestling, all spins and turns - he could have taken off my face at any time, but Flash never even nipped. Once outside, he was eager for the world and its discoveries.

With this new shelter, he was placed in a 6 x 8 foot room and ignored. No one worked with him or trained him or spent any time with him. No one felt like tackling all that pent up energy, which by virtue of his living conditions, only multiplied. He was let out a few times a day and fed, but that was it. A couple of male trainers worked with him when they could, but this was not often. Both trainers remarked on how well Flash responded to training. I tried to walk him at least once a week, but this was a special dog who needed daily exercise and attention to tire him out.

On two separate occasions I was able to take him home. As I had done with several dogs there off and on, Flash needed get out of the kennel and be a dog. He spent 4-5 days with me on a 2 acre fenced area where he could run around, come in and out and just be a dog. He was immaculate. Never soiled the house. Took immediately to a dog bed (which he'd never had) and loved his squeaky stuffed hedgehog. And his rope toy. He learned to sit patiently for his dinner and tone down his energy. Each time he ran up to me and my partner, his face glowed with his smile. He would pant with an eager expression as if to say: "Am I doing ok?" "Is this right?" Joy described him. Taking him back was very difficult.

I wanted to keep him, but I have other dogs - old ones - and felt this would not be a good mix. Still . . . I gave it more and more thought about the life he could have with me. My partner agreed. Flash was young, not yet 2, with a full life ahead of him. And he had great potential just by his eagerness to learn. I made my intentions very clear to the two female operators of this organization. I had a worker come check my yard for security, we went to Lowe's for additional fencing, and I gave these women a definite date of when I would take Flash.

At this particular kennel, several vicious dogfights had broken out over the years due to human error in letting some of them out together. Vets had to be consulted. But no dog was ever destroyed over this. This should be in keeping with a "rescue" group that touts itself as "no kill" and "rehabilitation." We all know that shelters do kill - if the animal is sick, injured or attacks a human. Then common sense must prevail.

One evening, a few weeks ago, Flash was accidentally let out of his kennel with another dog. The dog attacked Flash, who, as usual, was eager and leaping. It’s likely Flash tried to play with the other dog who didn’t appreciate his energy. They scrapped, but neither was injured. This happened on a Saturday night. By Sunday morning, the two female operators whisked Flash out to a vet - Board approved they said. I seriously doubt any Board members gathered on a week-end. They never came to the kennel any other time. Why now?

Point is, a dog they didn't like (because they couldn't handle) was rushed away and euthanized. Killed. Even though it was very well known that I would have taken Flash and was ready for him. A simple phone call would have had me there to bring him home.

Yet they never bothered to call me. I was told later it was because the head female operator didn't want to associate with me any further (I had left there a week prior). So rather than deal with me, she killed the dog. A young, playful little dog not yet 2 who had his whole life ahead of him - and a life he deserved. He came to this group so eager, so trusting, so depending on them for his life. And they betrayed him. For no reason. They said he was a "dangerous" dog. Dangerous? To whom? The other dog wasn't hurt. Flash never attacked a person. He had the option of a loving home. And they refused him that and his very life.

I didn't learn of Flash's death until the next day when a friend texted me that he was gone. I was devastated. I still grieve for the little dog I see racing and leaping across my yard, running into the house to grab his rope toy or his hedgehog. Boundless as he was, I wondered if they had to hold him down to kill him. I don't even have his ashes. He was likely dumped somewhere on a heap.

All I can do now is hold this no kill group responsible for killing a dog needlessly and making them accountable so that they never haul off another innocent dog to kill out of convenience or whatever suits them. This group depends on public donations to exist. And exist they do, barely. But that's more than I can say for Flash.

Please don't forget Flash or donate any funds to such a group.