 Hammer by Marion Churchill
It was the carefully collected and neatly packaged and folded assortment of coats and other heavy winter clothing that brought me to the non-profit children's community group in the first place. The agency director appeared pleased.
Later on, the director gave me a tour of the place. It was there, from a third floor bedroom window, that I spotted Hammer for the first time.
I stood for a moment and observed the ashen-colored dog through the drizzle of an overcast day. A heavy chain was wrapped around the dog's neck and the extension was fastened to a dilapidated fence that partially surrounded the filthy back yard.
"Did you know there is a dog in that yard?" I quietly asked the director.
Looking puzzled, she replied, "Oh, sure. It's been there like that for over three years."
I was dumbfounded by her callous attitude. "This dog," still staring out of the window, "has been chained out there without any shelter for three years?" I said, and then turned to look at her. "Couldn't you have called a —?" trailing off as I noticed the director's surprised and now irritated look on her face.
"There's a piece of plywood for shelter," she stated, determined to conclude the conversation.
The plywood that the agency director had pointed out as shelter was leaning up against the chain link fence. 'I guess that's the end of my tour,' I thought. It was.
A while later, I pulled up in front of the dog's house. Just like the back yard, the front yard, and the house itself, was equally decayed and strewn with trash.
'For the hundredth time, I'm late again,' I mumbled as I'm knocking of the front door. A woman opened and I introduced myself. I smiled and handed her my business card. "I'm here about your dog," I said.
"My dog? I don't have a dog," the woman responded. Then, moments later she seemed to remember a dog. "Oh, you mean Hammer? It's my son's dog." The young person now standing behind her appeared to be about 14.
"Hammer may be his dog, but all responsibilities of harboring a dog in the city fall on you," I said with the biggest smile I could muster, "but all of us at Compassion for Camden are always happy to help."
Although completely confused, the woman invited me into the house. A short while later we were standing in the back yard. The light drizzle had turned into a freezing rain. Hammer climbed out from under his plywood. The large, gray pit bull was exited to see us. He immediately began showing off his back yard by climbing over all sorts of junk.
The big dog carefully avoided getting tangled up in all the debris by constantly throwing his heavy chain in an almost elegant motion. He came over to me and I bent down and hugged him, thinking of the agency director's words.
"Why do you care so much about this dog?" the woman asked, bringing me back to reality.
"He…" I hesitated quietly. Still hugging Hammer, I whispered into his fur and lied, "reminds me of a dog I once knew."
All told, I did the best I could that day. I drove out to the suburbs to buy Hammer a dog house, bedding and food. Later, back in the city, I realized that I hadn't and couldn't buy what he needed most.
Postscript
We monitored Hammer for several weeks, including trips to the vet. Things seemed to improve for him for a while. But as it often happens, it was the people of the house who eventually felt left out. Perhaps in an effort of profiting somehow for themselves they let Hammer go. We were told he ran away; our searches for him were in vain. Knowing the apathy of the court system, there was no need to take any other action.
Please consider this:
If you contribute to non-profits for any cause, including animal welfare, think of these groups as potential partners to help fight animal abuse. Don't assume that just because you're giving to an animal shelter that the group is involved in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Sending a check is often more of a gift to us than the charity involved, and of course, sometimes we just don't have time. But, please realize that your money may end up funding programs contrary to your beliefs. The old phrase — think globally, act locally — still stands. It's best that you familiarize yourself by visiting the facility in person, asking questions, and checking their newsletters and web sites.
We often get calls from people who have no idea what we stand for, but wish to donate anyway. We always send a newsletter and give our web site address before we give our physical address.
This year, before sending your check, ask what the group's level of interest in animal welfare is, preventive and otherwise: do they offer humane education — do they understand the animal cruelty/child abuse/other violent crime connection — do they incorporate proper companion animal care information as part of their community outreach — would they report animal cruelty?
Your efforts will make a difference. Thank you.
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