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Snaps FAQ
- What happened to Snaps?
- How did Olympic Animal Sanctuary get Snaps?
- Where was Snaps before the Sanctuary rescued him?
- Is Snaps vicious/aggressive/dangerous?
- Why rescue a dog like Snaps when there are so many nice pit bulls that need homes?
- What will Snaps' life be like at the Sanctuary?
- Can I adopt Snaps?
- How can I help Snaps and the other dogs at Olympic Animal Sanctuary?
- What happened to Snaps?
Snaps belonged to a 15-year-old girl who was violent and abusive; in June, 2009, the girl and three, younger boys were seen in SeaTac, WA, kicking Snaps. When a concerned citizen confronted the children, they attacked her, and one of the boys dragged Snaps into the fight, kicking him until he bit the woman. The police were called and the children ran away, but another witness followed them. They assaulted her as well, and once again, used the dog in their attack. The second victim was hospitalized. Snaps was confiscated and held as evidence for about two and a half months at an animal shelter, where he was regarded as highly dangerous. Because he was not allowed to leave his kennel, Snaps became stressed and defensive. His behavior was assessed by representatives of two different organizations, but because Snaps wasn't removed from his kennel, the results of the evaluations were not viable. Despite the recommendations of the so-called experts that Snaps should be killed, a group of dedicated advocates fought to save his life. Petitions were circulated, phone calls were made, and the local government took notice and mandated that Snaps be placed in an animal sanctuary. (back to top)
How did Olympic Animal Sanctuary get Snaps? After Snaps had been in evidence for about two months, one of his advocates was referred to Olympic Animal Sanctuary by a representative from Best Friends Animal Society. The Sanctuary was asked if they would take Snaps in the event that a certified behaviorist was able to determine that he could be rehabilitated; director Steve Markwell said that he would be more interested if the dog was determined to be a lost cause. Steve was invited to visit Snaps at the shelter to assess him, however he did not conduct an assessment, feeling that the shelter environment would corrupt any conclusion he could draw about the dog's behavior. Steve agreed to take Snaps, and on September 11, 2009, he was transferred to Olympic Animal Sanctuary. (back to top)
Where was Snaps before the Sanctuary rescued him? Part of the Sanctuary's transfer agreement with the shelter where Snaps was being kept was that we would not make any mention of their organization on our website without their prior approval. Even though the clause was not legally enforceable, and we aren't accustomed to letting others tell us what we can and can't say on our own website, we've opted not to mention the shelter by name. It should be fairly easy for you to find out with a little research. (back to top)
Is Snaps vicious/aggressive/dangerous? Words like 'vicious' and 'aggressive' are used by people to describe behavior that they don't understand. We do not believe in such a thing as a vicious or aggressive dog, only fearful, confused, and misunderstood dogs. We believe that there are no dangerous dogs, only dangerous situations. In King County, the term 'vicious dog' is a legal designation; Snaps was declared vicious and is therefore banned from King County, however the vicious dog declaration did not follow him once he was removed from the county. Under the Revised Code of Washington and the Forks Municipal Code, a dog is not considered dangerous unless it bites when unprovoked; Snaps does not meet the definition of a dangerous dog because he was kicked and goaded into biting. It is our opinion that he does not meet the definition of a vicious dog in King County, either, however there is no reason for us to appeal the declaration because the dog will never return to King County anyway. Had Snaps been declared dangerous under state law, Olympic Animal Sanctuary would still have been able to take him, as we meet all of the legal requirements for housing dogs that have been declared dangerous, including appropriate enclosures and liability insurance. Legal designations aside, Snaps is a sweet dog who has been terribly abused and it will take time for him to learn to trust human beings, but if we were to conduct a temperament assessment with no knowledge of the dog's history, based only on his behavior in our environment, we would determine Snaps to be an adoptable dog. However, in light of his history, we do expect there to be a few behavior issues that become apparent as he becomes comfortable with his new surroundings; how severe these issues will be remains to be seen, but they will likely be fairly minor. (back to top)
Why rescue a dog like Snaps when there are so many nice pit bulls that need homes? Our skills would be wasted on 'easy dogs', and to suggest that one dog is more deserving of rescue than another because of its behavior assumes that dogs are morally culpable for their actions. We think that's insane. We fill an important niche by providing a home for dogs that can't be placed into a traditional home environment. If you are concerned about the adoptable dogs that are languishing in animal shelters, we encourage you to adopt one, become a foster caregiver, or even start a rescue group of your own. (back to top)
What will Snaps' life be like at the Sanctuary? Snaps will enjoy human companionship, plenty of exercise, a healthy, homemade diet, and if he can handle it, socialization with other dogs. There has been speculation that Snaps will be kept in intensive confinement with very little enrichment or interaction with people - this is simply not the case. (back to top)
Can I adopt Snaps? No. We are not an adoption organization, and due to the terms of our contract on Snaps' behalf, we will be caring for him for the rest of his life. If you are looking for a dog to adopt, there are millions of them available, and they all need care and nurturing just as much as Snaps does. (back to top)
How can I help Snaps and the other dogs at Olympic Animal Sanctuary? You can help Snaps by spreading the word about us and giving our website a link on your homepage or weblog; you can make a donation; you can buy something from our store; if you want to volunteer, click here. (back to top)
Posted on September 13, 2009
