Remembering Little Bowie
Today marks the solemn anniversary of the killing of Bowie, a 10-pound puppy, by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care & Control.
After Bowie was surrendered because of a landlord’s no-pet policy, he sat at the pound for over three weeks, locked away from public view, in a cage by himself. Although scared, no one on staff socialized him. No staff member tried to get him out of his shell. No one showed him the compassion and kindness that studies prove make a life-and-death difference for shy little dogs.
Still, Bowie had an out. A rescue group came forward to give Bowie what staff at LACDACC would not: safety, love, and a loving home. It would be of no use. The same day that rescuers expressed interest in Bowie, the pound killed him without warning.
Instead of a new beginning, the little dog, who should have had his whole life ahead of him and posed no threat to anyone, was injected with an overdose of poison and turned to ash. He was barely 15 weeks old.
To make sure that never happened again, Bowie’s Law was introduced to require California “shelters” to notify rescuers before killing an animal. And given that such notifications are possible through shelter software already used by these facilities or available for free, complying would have required nothing more than a stroke on a keyboard: one click to notify rescuers that a life needs saving.
It was such a simple, commonsense law it is astonishing that anyone would oppose it. But it was opposed by most pounds in the state and their enablers, such as the National Animal Control Association and the California Animal Welfare Association, even if it meant killing puppies. And because of that opposition, it failed to pass.
Bowie; gone but not forgotten.
Do you believe in second chances? Millions of animals are betting their lives on it.
Please remember them this holiday season by making a gift to The No Kill Advocacy Center. Doing so supports our efforts to pass Bowie’s Law and other “shelter” reform measures.