Mozart, August 2013
Update: The lead picture posted of Mozart with the breed evaluator in August 2013 was deleted at the request of the picture's purported owner. Mozart remains as originally portrayed; He has not objected.
Mozart, a 6 year old beloved family Malamute who once had a wonderful life, is now facing a death sentence. His life has been documented on YouTube; he is trained, highly responsive, and has many behavior skills including walking backward on command. He once found rats in wood pile and played with them rather than attacking. Despite two highly qualified rescue offers,both including qualified trainers and one a Northern Breed rescue and sanctuary, Multnomah County Animal Services in Troutdale Oregon has stalled any decision to release him to rescue and the kennel care technician working for MCAS who evaluated Mozart has recommended euthanasia. No one else believes that is necessary. The two rescues who have offered to take him continue to wait for a response.
The county’s indecision and delays in releasing Mozart to rescue cannot continue. Every concern has been met. Excellent options exist. When humane options exist it is unconscionable to kill an animal. Mozart has been held at MCAS in stressful solitary confinement since November 29, 2013, deprived of exercise and socialization after he was released to be killed by an adopter who did not follow the adoption terms. The short term adopters were repeatedly advised that Mozart was a wonderful dog but his stressors were food guarding and head patting. The advice was completely ignored. As a result Mozart bit the hand of one of the new owners after the second pat to his head. It required several stitches. Mozart’s life long owner has contested the county’s ownership of Mozart and wants humane options for Mozart. There has been no response.
Multnomah County has so far made no public announcement about Mozart’s availability to rescue or if he will be permitted to go to the rescue that has requested him. A citizen reports that when she contacted MCAS after being forwarded to the agency by the county commission that Mozart remained at MCAS because apparently the owner had not so far picked him up. That statement is categorically false. MCAS refused to release Mozart to Mr. Herbold, the person who owned Mozart for 6 years. On Monday, January 06, Attorney Robert Babcock filed a lawsuit charging MCAS and Director Michael Oswald with the tort of conversion: unlawfully holding the property of another. To date the county records pertaining to this case that were requested by Robert Babcock have not been provided.
There is a report that a staff meeting was held at MCAS on Monday, January 13 to decide Mozart’s fate. The shelter manager then left on vacation and will be gone until January 21.
I believe that the data being considered in the decision are:
· The veterinary technician’s notes of Mozart in the shelter (MCAS has no behaviorist; the term used by the agency technician and MCAS is self ascribed; the individual who conducts and conducted this temperament test has a certificate for private dog training). The technician recommended euthanasia.
· A review of the veterinary technician’s notes and her own summaries by a behavior veterinarian who conducted no independent first hand interviews and never saw the dog.
· The bite: The bite was reported to result in stitches to the hand. The individual went to work: the reason offered for the lack of pictures. There is apparently no photograph of the bite on file. When picture(s) were requested through public records MCAS reported they had none.
His status remains uncertain. All negotiations have been behind closed doors. We will start a petition if silence,lack of communication, and uncertainty continue.
Please help prevent this needless killing. Write the Multnomah County Commission and ask that Mozart be allowed to go to a rescue.
Contact information:
Multnomah County Chair: Marissa Madrigal
E-mail: mult.chair@multco.us
Telephone: 503.988.3308
Commissioner Liesel Wendt, District 1
E-mail: district1@multco.us
Telephone: 503.988.5220
Commissioner Loretta Smith, District 2
E-mail: district2@multco.us
Telephone: 503.988.5219
Commissioner Judy Shiprack, District 3
E-mail: district3@multco.us
Telephone: 503.988.5217
Commissioner Diane McKeel, District 4
E-mail: district4@multco.us
Telephone: 503.988.5213
More Photos of Mozart:
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