The following statement was released by Judith C. Walz-Harris, president of the Greenbrier Humane Society Board of Directors in response to articles published last week in the West Virginia Daily News and the Mountain Messenger regarding a gravely ill dog adopted by an Alderson couple.
“The Greenbrier Humane Society and Shelter Advisory board members have been working almost daily with the Alderson couple since their ‘foster’ of the dog they named Marty.
“The Snyders signed a foster application and foster care agreement on Sept. 18, before they were able to take Marty to their home. The agreement notes that the dog could be incubating a disease we are unaware of.
“Prior to the Greenbrier Humane Society taking over the animal shelter, very few, if any, animals were vaccinated. When the Humane Society took over the shelter, it aggressively looked for funding to pay for the very expensive vaccinations. We have received a grant from a local foundation that has let us to begin this process.
“We acknowledge in both our foster and adoption agreements that we cannot give any guarantees in regard to the animal’s health. Unfortunately, we do not have histories on our animals as they have been abandoned and unwanted.
“The Greenbrier Humane Society would like to point out the reward to both the animal and the individual for successful foster and adoptions. The case pointed to on the front page is a rare occurrence.
“It should be noted that Marty was seen by two separate veterinarians after it left the shelter’s care, which treatment was paid for by the Greenbrier Humane Society pursuant to the foster agreement.”
Walz-Harris closed with assurances that the animals brought to last weekend’s T.O.O.T. festival were fully vaccinated, including rabies vaccinations.