From: Pat Hall [mailto:hhalljr@comcast.net]


I am writing to each of you to ask you to share your thoughts about a
dog we have had with Jackson Friends since February.  As you all know,
Stella came to us via a big hearted woman in Northeast Jackson who had
found her and didn't want to take her MARL which was her only
alternative at the time she called our organization back in the winter
of 2009.  We agreed to take her on and had her kenneled at Dr. Ford's
for about a month.  She was getting kennel aggressive but she loved
people and we had her assessed by me, Amy, and Sylvia Burnham.  Sylvia
said Stella was "doable" and "teachable" and knew Stella couldn't stay
in a vet's office any longer.  So we worked out a contract to have her
boarded and trained at Sylvia's where Stella was lovingly trained to
leash and had the best months of her life.



She had several interested people who came to visit her and see about
adopting her but Stella, though trained, had a tendency to get
energized and sometimes couldn't calm herself and she would end up in
a fight with Sylvia's other dog(s) which was broken up by her husband
or herself, both being trainers.  Most of the time Stella got along
with the other dogs.  She was taken to doggy obedience classes as a
demo dog sometimes and performed well in these settings.  However, we
all knew Stella, to be homed successfully, would need to be in a place
where the people knew how to bring her energy level down and get
Stella under control.



Amy contacted Best Friends in Utah and they said they were full.
Fortunately Sylvia didn't say come and get the dog right now but I
feel like, as a courtesy to her, we should get Stella this week.

It appears to me that we have no other place to take her so we should
probably consider having her euthanized.  I believe this is the first
time we have run into this kind of situation and it is deeply
distressing to me and I suppose to several of you.  It is distressing
because basically she is a good dog in a lot of ways and she is a
healthy dog and always has been.  Also I do not like to be in the
position of being the one who decides the fate of any living being.  I
have given prayerful consideration of this situation.  I don't believe
any of the rest of us have nearly the training and place to take her
on as our own.  So please think about this and again, let me and all
of us make a timely decision.  If we decide to euthanize her, please
advise as to particulars.  I am available Monday and Thursday of the
coming week.  If we decide to have her put to sleep, I feel like we
should think about being present with her and I am willing but would
like someone with me as not to shoulder this alone.  Pat