FLOWER

TO LATE FOR SWEET FLOWER

On February 1st 2001 we were arranging transport for 3 owner surrendered puppies to be taken in by Northern Hope Rescue. For some unknown reason our DEATH ROW WALKER Connie stopped by the Muskegon Animal Control. As she got there one of the AC officers was bringing in a small black dog. One look at the dog and Connie knew we needed to help her right away. She called me but I was at the vets with another dog, but she knew I would help this dog so she scooped the dog up and met our transporter CJ with the pups and the small black dog...They stopped long enough to feed the small black dog. Got every one loaded and away Cj went in route to Sister's Haven she called me on her cell phone she told me about the small black dog and that it was starved..I started getting things here ready to receive the dog and had everything needed to nurse it. It is about an hour drive from Muskegon to Sister's Haven...CJ called again to report to me how the small dog was doing. It was almost time for Cj to arrive and every thing was ready ..Cj arrived and Tracy and I went out to meet her, the pups and small black dog , who was in a crate in the front seat, Cj open the door to the crate and asked me to check on the dog when I put my hand in to touch the dog she was lifeless ...IT WAS TO LATE FOR FLOWER ...I picked her up from the crate and held her and we all stood crying like babies... After a while we got Tracy's pups (Northern Hope Rescue) loaded and she got on her way...Cj and I took the small dog into the shelter now normally all the dogs all ready here would be barking their heads off...there was not a sound not even a peep it was scary ... Cj and I laid her small body down and we talked to her and petted her and told her how sorry we were...How could this dog get into this condition? Who would do such a thing . This is what we were told someone moved out and left this small dog CHAINED UP out side ...Do you know how long it takes to STARVE AN ANIMAL ..IT TAKES WEEKS... Where were the neighbors someone had to have seen this dog out there WHY didn't ANYONE call on this dog or at least UNCHAIN HER ...
Even as weak as she was she still had enough strength to kiss Connie's hand....

Flower was a Black Lab Mix and about 1 year old according to her teeth , and according to her bone structure she should have weighed around 40 pounds
she weighed about 15 pounds...

It was dark when Cj got here but we needed to decide what to do with the dog's body but first she needed a name . We named her FLOWER ...We wrapped her in a new beautiful Flowered sheet and decided I would bury her the next day in our little cemetery. After Cj left to go home I took pictures of Flower just in case we needed them to go to court with if we found the people who did this to her...

In the morning our volunteer Sharry came over to walk the dogs as she does, I asked her to bring her tractor down so we could bury Flower..There was only one thing wrong the tractor was to big to fit where Flower was to be buried and digging for a grave by hand in Michigan when the ground is frozen is out of the question.......Sharry offered to take Flower to her home and bury her ...We found a nice food bowl and a cute pink stuffed bunny for Flower ...
Later in the day Sharry emailed me

Sharry's email to me...

Just wanted to let you know that Flower was laid to rest this afternoon.
We picked a nice little clearing in the woods behide the barn where the
sun will shine through the trees and nourish the flowers that I will plant
there for her this spring. My husband put her bowl and bunny right beside
her. He was very, very angry that someone could do that to an animal and
feels that person is nothing but a burden on society. I think we all agree
on that!

Thank you for allowing us to do this for her, Carol. I'm just sorry that
our love and nourishing are coming when it is to late for her to enjoy and
benefit from it.

You guys take care,

Sharry

I forwarded Sharry's email to the rest of the group...

Connie's Reply

thank you Carol. It is still very hard for me to even talk about her
without crying. We have lost a lot of babies since you and I met but this
one really hit me hard. It was a little selfish of me because it had been
one of those months that I really wanted something to go right. I just
knew she would get to you and you would make her better and find her a
wonderful home. Sharry and her husband are wonderful people to do that for
that little gal. She isn't suffering anymore and for just a little while
she had some comfort and some kindness. Would you forward this on to
Sharry, please. ck

Morning group....(you will notice I did not say good for a change)

Let me share with you a little more about Flower so although we are saddened for her, you can know she found peace. Connie brought her to me with the puppies and we gave her about 3 or 4 packs of Moist and Meaty food. She went right after it, but was so weak she would have to rest to save her strength to eat. She thumped her tail at us a couple of times and tried to lick our fingers when we put them up to her. As I did my usual rant and rave through my office as I was going back in to get my keys, about 5 or 6 of my co-workers followed me out to my vehicle to talk to her and pet her....funny how this poor girl was soooo much more important than the cute fuzzy puppies in the carrier right behind her...she looked at all of them and occasionally mustered up a thump of the tail. I had her facing me in my front seat so I could scratch her with my hand as I drove. I had the heat on high, the music down low and continued to talk and sing to her, as I patted her and petted her. She sat up twice, and actually stood up to turn around and get more comfortable. She stretched out, and actually brought her tail out from between her legs and relaxed...the last thumping of her tail was around Grant. Our little flower told us it was okay by her actions. She went to sleep stretched out and comfortable on a soft pillow, with a full belly, warm , with voices to her and pets and pats. It broke my heart, but all of this was meant to happen...Pam was supposed to find her by accident, Connie was supposed to be at the shelter unplanned, and I was supposed to be transporting...She died with more love in her last hour than she had seen in a very long time. Now my alter ego will speak and hope they catch the son of a bitch that did that to her....I would personally love to give them a day in MY court!!! Let us pay tribute to our little Flower by continuing the fight for all of those like her!

Cj's Reply

Now the sad news is NOTHING can be done about Flower as there is no way to prove who did this to her..This is so hard to accept as this poor sweet Flower suffered so much for so long..We will hold her close in our hearts and honor her with a beautiful ANGEL to watch over her set next to her grave site...
Her suffering is over...
and
DAMN THOSE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS!!!

This page was sadly made 2-8-01

SHAME ON YOU WHO HAD TO HAVE SEEN HER CHAINED TO A TREE .STARVING .........

See Flower's Pictures
CAUTION HEART BREAKING !!!!

Click Here

If you would like to leave your thoughts for Flower ..this guest book is set up for her as well as Voice Of Animals...

Tied to a tree
With no reprieve
Tied to a tree, Did no one see me?
I cried and cried
Did no one hear me?
Tied to a tree ,day and night
No one spoke of my plight

Tied to a tree,and left to die
So starved and dehydrated
I couldn't even stand

When I was finally found,it was too late

Untied now, In the arms of a rescuer to lay
With food and water as I make my way
To the Rainbow Bridge, as I lick her hand
I need to say
DON'T LET ANOTHER DOG DIE THIS WAY .

In memory of Flower ,a sweet black lab that didn't need to die .
Blessed are the purr in heart

Lynn Kossen