The people behind the Justice for Kona Petition and the Justice for Kona Facebook page offered to help William Jones by sponsoring a poster, page and petition to spread awareness and affect change.  He accepted and authorized the poster, petition and Facebook Click for Return Hunter on Facebook

Audience: This petition is directed to the legislators and council members in Clark County.

Background: Please help Hunter get home to William Jones, Firefighter.   William Jones was out fighting fires for the state of Washington. He left Hunter his dog with a friend. Hunter jumped a 6 foot fence trying to get home.

Clark County Animal Control picked up Hunter and turned him in to Humane Society for Southwest Washington. They held Hunter three days. Called him Mick. Adopted him out on August 12th. William returned from eastern Washington and contacted the Humane Society as soon as he could on August 16th. The society allegedly contacted the family who adopted Hunter or "Mick" and the family said "no" and that they had "bonded."

Opinion: Hunter loves and misses William. Ask the family to let William visit in a neutral place and they will see that unbreakable love and bond that comes with raising a dog from a just weaned pup.  Please put effort into counseling and educating this family.  One of the purposes of a humane society is to be humane and to educate future pet owners.  Please. Hear our plea!

There needs to be a longer-term solution for all animals. Animals must be seen as a part of the family unit that needs protection by the law! Humane societies should stand behind this! Otherwise they are not leading by example.

Proposal: In the shorter term, we petition to change existing Clark County Code 8.19.040  Impoundment. The stray hold time need to be increased. 72 hours is not long enough. All codes should be at least in line with the ASPCA's position on the responsibilities of animal shelters.  The shelter is only open limited hours, and difficult to contact. Postings should be made in print as well as online.  There needs to be transparency. The public should be able to access listings for impounded animals to include details on location found and date.  If the stray hold is less than a week, there should be an adoption clause if the pet's original family is found after the pet is adopted out so quickly.  It is reasonable to have a 30 day contingency on the adoption when an animal is obviously cared for and not owner surrendered.  Adoptive families come to the shelter to provide a home for an animal without a home, not take an animal from another family.  There are many pets without a human to love them.

Consider this law in Washington State RCW 63.21.010 "Procedure where finder wishes to claim found property—Appraisal—Surrender of property—Notice of intent to claim—Publication" -- Declares that any found property be held for 30 days with public notices sent out. WA also declares pets are property.  http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=63.21.010

Shelters need to do more than a 3 day hold with a post to a FB page. They need to prove they tried to find the owner and provide some leeway for pet owners on vacation, pet owners who have had their pets stolen, or any other number of factors that would cause a delay in the retrieval process

Consider either increasing stray hold or adding an adoption clause or condition to return pet in cases of extenuating circumstances like William Jones' out fighting fires.  Adoption clause! Pause for claws!

Rationale: We have seen cases where a dog has escaped from a licensed kennel and the kennel did not know or report the dog missing. We have seen pets stolen and then dumped in other towns or states. Chips are not foolproof. Tags can be removed or fall off. Hunter did not need a new home. Too many dogs do need new homes. Adopting dogs out without giving their humans any chance to find them (3 days is not a chance) is contrary to what humane societies exist for! IF Hunter is returned an animal that really does need a home can be adopted!

There are so many animals out there without someone who loves them. Please consider having some stipulation where rightful caretakers might reclaim their loved ones.

Please consider liking the Hunter FB page here
https://www.facebook.com/Return-Hunter-Petition-Increase-Stray-Animal-Hold-in-Washington-575895905947442/