04/10/2022
In June of 2021 a mass dumping of chihuahuas occurred in Taney County Missouri and Boone County Arkansas. The dogs were primarily ran chihuahuas. Sadly the majority of the dogs were very unsocialized and had to be trapped. Got several weeks animal control staff, animal rescues and volunteers worked tirelessly to catch all the chihuahuas. The total number of chihuahuas was probably close to 100. These dogs were dumped in 100 degree temperatures. They were starving, dehydrated and anemic from the large amount of ticks they carried on them.
One dog in particular was so shut down that she lost all trust in people. Ashley Hurst who is the director of Paws and Hands United Animal Rescue and the Animal Control Officer for Branson Police spent weeks catching these dogs. She also dedicated a large amount of time to catching this very untrusting chihuahua. She spent almost five weeks working on this dog. For nearly five weeks this poor dog lived in a park so scared. During this five weeks she survived extreme heat, storms, Fourth of July and an outrageous amount of ticks clinging to her. For five weeks weeks she bypassed all attempts to catch her. Ashley went by the park almost daily just to throw treats to her and try and earn her trust. Finally on July 7, 2021 Ashley snuck up on her sleeping and quickly threw a net over her. That was it, she was finally safe! That was the beginning of a whole new life for this mistreated little dog that was named Rogue.
This entire event touched the hearts and emotions of so many people. To throw out this many dogs in strange places to fend for themselves is beyond cruel. Some of the dogs didn’t survive and some perished from being too scared to be caught. The dogs that were caught got a second chance at life. A chance to know people can be kind and that they never have to be that lost and scared again.
This page will look back at Rogue’s journey and how she is still overcoming the trauma she endured between June and July of 2021.
