Tanky Euthanised After Happiest Year at Shelter

He spent much of his life chained to a tree, outdoors in all sorts of weather.
After spending a year in the county Animal Shelter, Tanky, a five-year old collie-shepherd mix was euthanised Jan. 3. He drew the public’s attention when he was held as evidence in an animal cruelty case.
Last year, Tanky’s owner, Lizzet Laboy, of Woodbine, was ordered to give up possession of the dog. Tanky had been hit by a car two-years previous and not given any medical attention.
His front leg healed in a curled up position. He bore weight on that leg which gave him a sore spot that would not heal.
While he could walk on his three healthy legs, he balanced some of his weigh on the injured leg, in a manner similar to a human walking on their knee.
That would prove to be his undoing.
Shelter Director John Queenan said a continuing infection in Tanky’s leg worsened. Amputa-tion had been an option throughout Tanky’s stay in the shelter.
“I wasn’t successful in finding anyone that would be willing to foster him if I would have had the leg amputated,” he said. “If I would have had the leg amputated and just put him back in the kennel, he would have suffered more.”
A sore on Tanky’s leg was almost down to the bone, said Queenan. 
He said it was a very difficult decision to put Tanky to sleep. 
Tanky had won the heart of Queenan and shelter employes.
The shelter had a list of 15 applicants interested in adopting Tanky after his story was printed in the Herald. Somehow, none of the applicants adopted him.
Shelter visitors walked past the kennel of the handsome dog with the blonde coat and white chest but with a lame leg, perhaps searching for the “perfect pet.” Tanky was hard to place in a home because he needed an adult-only environment without another dog or cat.
When he arrived at the shelter one year ago, Tanky had heartworms, Lyme Disease, and was underweight. He had frostbite on the tips of his ears from spending much of his life outside.
Never did he lose his enthusisam for life. He enjoyed human attention, was curious about his environment and enjoyed going for a walk.
The best year of Tanky’s life may have been spent at the shelter. Queenan said he received plenty of attention and a good meal every day.
After his time at the shelter grew longer and longer, this reporter spent a day with Tanky as a prospective adoptive parent but discovered Tanky had no ability to climb stairs to a second floor apartment. A hairbrush filled with Tanky’s brownish-blonde hair remains in this reporter’s kitchen as a memento of a happy day spent with a dog that needed a second chance but unfortu-nately did not get it.
Contact Fichter at: jfichter@cmcherald.com