They began calling to get training set up for Echo to begin as soon as they got him back. We are committed that we want Echo better behaved and safe for society.” “We agreed to do anything we need to to get him back. I’ve got her email, said Sophia Vrooman, who showed the message to Ark Valley Voice. “Ark-Valley Outreach Manager Emy Luebbering said our application for four training sessions of behavior training was approved and sent us training vouchers to get him more training. 13 after his bite quarantine and can do some training.” Vrooman says he assured them that as long as Van Leuken, gave the green light, “You guys can take him back on Monday, Feb. They spoke three times with Operations Manager Johny Sandoval. It occurred when Van Leuken was not at the facility.Īfter being told Ark-Valley Humane Society determined he wasn’t adoptable because of the incident, the Vroomans discussed Echo’s return with staff, explaining they would do whatever was necessary to get more training for the 170-pound mastiff, who like so many giant dogs appears to think he is a little dog. This ended with Echo being put in bite quarantine for 14 days. They were told the staff tried again to switch out the leash, and the dog bit toward the staffer’s arm, drawing blood. But after they left, that direction apparently wasn’t followed, and Echo did a warning nip. They explained to them not to put a choke hold leash on him, to keep on his collar harness (as a big dog of 170 pounds, the harness is better to slow him down). “He was good, we and the staff were all playing with him.” The day last week when they brought Echo to the Humane Society, they spent time getting him used to the staff. The Vroomans say they signed the Humane Society document with that understanding that Echo could be returned to them if a home wasn’t found. “The executive director and operations manager weren’t there but we talked with two staffers – we thought they did represent the values of the organization.” Then we went and talked with them in person,” said Shawn. They were also careful to select Ark-Valley Humane Society, which advertised itself as a no-kill shelter that “helps keep pets with the families they love.”Įcho, wearing the harness that the Vroomans say the dog is used to wearing. They didn’t want Echo to be alone so much. The couple said making the decision to see if the Humane Society could find Echo a new home was wrenching and basely solely on the fact that they had sold their house to fund the new business, which had them away for long hours. When they tried to explain what was going on, they were told “leave or I put you in handcuffs.”Ī Decision based on the Human Society’s “Kindness” Pledge Instead, he ordered them off the premises. When the deputy showed up, Vrooman says he did not listen to them at all. Shawn (whose two cousins are in law enforcement and he’s done more than one ride-along with them) said they purposely waited, assuming that they would at least be able to present their case to the Sheriff. Not only were their pleas ignored, but Van Leuken called the Chaffee County Sheriff to have them removed. When told of Van Leuken’s decision to euthanize Echo, they dropped everything and rushed from Salida to the Humane Society. “They assured us that they understood that we wanted him back if they weren’t successful in finding him a good new home.” “It was we two and two staffers in that meeting,” said Shawn Vrooman. We were just trying to do the right thing for him.” We told them that we wanted him back if no other home could be found,” said Sophia. “We were very clear– we did not want Echo put down. When they made the difficult decision to find him a new home due to their schedule (they own a year-old tree business called Tree Cycle that has them working long hours) the couple was assured by staff with whom they met that if Ark-Valley Humane Society couldn’t find Echo a new home that they could have him back rather than see him put down. Shawn adopted him from a breeder in Howard. Echo on an adventure with Sophia and Shawn Vrooman.
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