11/06/2025
Update: As long as all goes to plan, Sāmore Dogs Rescue has committed to a transfer of Major Tom into their care. After the transfer is complete he will be heading to Seattle tomorrow afternoon (11/8/2025) to Sāmores board and train facilty and once completed he will return to Tri-Cities and be available for adoption through Sāmore Dogs Rescueš¾
72-hour public notification process for long-time TCAS resident, Major Tom.
Major Tom arrived on April 11, 2024, after being found abandoned and tied to a transformer in Kennewick. Since that time, he has had documented human bite incidents, rooted in a strong protective instinct and fear of unfamiliar people. Those who have earned his trustāstaff and volunteers who work closely with himāknow firsthand his loyalty, intelligence, and depth of connection. However, his history shows that he does not accept strangers easily, and that reality must be acknowledged honestly when considering his future.
To support his safety and handling, Major Tom has been successfully muzzle trained, and he has had no incidents since that training began. An assessment was done by a behavioral consultant and it has been determined that Major Tom is rescue-pull only, and that placement should be with an organization experienced in dogs with behavioral challenges.
At the conclusion of this 72-hour notice, an email will be sent to our network of rescue and shelter partners, beginning the 10-day rescue response period. His full case history, behavior notes, and incident documentation are available publicly on our website under the Policies & Procedures section as part of our commitment to public transparency.
Click here to view the file:
https://www.tricitiesanimalservices.com/items
Major Tom is not available for adoption. He can only be transferred to an approved rescue or shelter partner. If you know an organization with the capacity to support a dog like Major Tom, we invite you to tag them in this post. Rescue organizations may also direct any questions to [email protected].
If no rescue partner is able to take him within the response window, his case will continue through the review process, which includes internal veterinary review, administrative evaluation to ensure all protocol has been followed, and a final external veterinary review for outcome determination which includes the possibility of behavioral euthanasia.
These situations are always heavy. But as a municipal shelter, we walk a delicate balance between compassion for the animals in our care and our responsibility to community safety, staff and volunteer welfare, and the ongoing needs of incoming shelter animals. We are not a long-term behavioral rehabilitation facility, and every step taken in this process is guided by protocol, professional assessment, and the obligation to make responsible and ethical decisions.
Major Tomās story has impacted many, and we know it may impact many more. Our goal is to navigate this with honesty, fairness, and careājust as we do for every animal who comes through our doors.
Thank you for your understanding, support, and for continuing to advocate for the animals in our care.
ā Tri-Cities Animal Services
