Class Brings a New Housemate - Everman, TX

"This is a remarkable story of a heart being touched under dire circumstances," says Anna Horton, volunteer. "The dog Giddings is named for the town where Everman Animal Control Officer Theresa Weldon met him."

Everman, Texas is on the southern brink of Fort Worth and Giddings is about three-and-a-half hours south of there or an hour or so east of Austin.

"These two souls had to journey way out of their usual environments to encounter each other in the little town of Giddings the week before Christmas," said Horton. "We don't know why the dog wound up there."

Weldon was enrolled in the Texas Academy of Animal Control Officers to learn, improve her credentials, and better her professional standing. Giddings was there as a role of a "teaching aid" for the most awful of duties.

The last day of classes, Weldon stated in an email, "was Euthanasia Day. I dreaded this day but I was prepared."

People who work in shelters have to know how to euthanize an animal - how to send injured or ailing animals on without torture or additional agony. It is a kind thing to do in some instances.

Students were told to bring in three crates from an SUV parked outside the classroom.

"The first crate that we opened was a black and white male Pit Bull," Weldon wrote. "Anyone that knows me knows that 'Pits' are my absolute favorite."

Weldon writes that she also knew that these breeds are overbred and when they are in this bad of shape, there is no good chance for them so she accepted that one.

"The next crate was a Collie Mix that was in very bad health," Weldon detailed. "I could accept that one, too."

But the last crate that was opened changed everything.

"We opened the crate and I was met with these big beautiful brown eyes," Weldon explained. "They were looking at me as if to say, 'Please do not let them kill me.'"

Weldon asked why the dog was being put to sleep and was told "Because he is on the euthanasia list."

"Sorry, not good enough for me," she said. "I told them 'I will not put him to sleep.'"

Weldon felt she had to have a medical or behavior reason before she would do it.

"We did a heartworm test which was negative," she reported. "We did a fecal which showed he had a few worms which is treatable."

Weldon took a deep breath, went into the director's office, and politely said she was not going to euthanize the dog.

"I was asked what I was going to do with him," she reports. "I just stated that I was going to bring him back to Everman and find him a home."

Weldon says the instructor looked at her and said, "Well, how can I say no?"

After being around Giddings for a month, Weldon tells everyone that Giddings has turned out to be a great dog.

"He is house, crate, and leash-trained and gets along with all the dogs at my house," she conveyed in an email. "You could not ask for a better dog."

So, what's next?

Giddings will be neutered Feb. 10, then be available for adoption.

To ask about auditioning to adopt Giddings, e-mail Weldon at evermananimals@yahoo.com.

"Everman does not euthanize for space," she said. "That is where our smallness works for us."

Weldon says she has the support of the city council, city manager, and chief of police.

"The most important is the wonderful group of volunteers that I have that make it possible," she explains. "Giddings is at my house and he will never see the inside of another shelter."