Wall-E’s “tail” is one of miraculous survival; the type of story that, despite our petty and not-so-petty differences, unites us all by a common thread – our adoration and love for man’s best friend. True, it may be, that Wall-E should no longer be with us – but he is, and how lucky we are! For he has already taught as an important lesson – that there is a harsh and sad reality in regards to animal over-population (that is all too-often easily forgotten) and a lack of funding to properly care for and foster our four-legged friends so they have an opportunity to find their “furever” home. On the surface, it would appear that the problems our animal shelters face on an everyday basis are bigger than just Wall-E; and perhaps just one dog cannot solve a problem bigger than himself. We would argue to the contrary - and that is why it’s important to speak on behalf of those that cannot – to make sure that Wall-E’s “tail” is told. This is Wall-E’s story…
On February 18, Wall-E and his siblings were left anonymously in front of the Sulphur Animal Shelter in Sulphur, Oklahoma to fend for themselves. At the time, there was not a single empty cage at the shelter. A staff veterinarian agreed that, due to the absence of space, concern of disease and a lack of medical history available for Wall-E and his siblings, that they be put to sleep. That very same night, Wall-E, his siblings and two other fully-healthy labs who were unable to be adopted in time were to be euthanized. Wall-E’s first injection was done through a vein in his leg. He amazingly survived. A second dose was injected directly into his chest cavity. A pulse could not be seen or heard by the staff veterinarian. Wall-E, like his siblings and the two fully healthy labs, were then laid to rest in a receptacle designated for euthanized animals. Or, so it was thought…
The next morning Amanda Kloski, a veterinary technician and shelter volunteer met with Scott Prall, a Sulphur County Animal Control Supervisor who was to release another liter of 8 puppies to Kloski (to be euthanized, as well – an underscoring of the seemingly never-ending challenges faced by animal shelters). Scott told Kloski, “There’s a problem.” He continued, “a puppy survived euthanasia last night. I found him this morning.” “My heart dropped,” says Amanda. “My first thoughts were – is he suffering?” she says. Thankfully, his tail was wagging. He was jumping up and down. He was simply hungry. What transpired over the late hours of February 18th into that early Saturday morning - how and when Wall-E awoke - we will never know. What is known is that Wall-E’s survival is, for all intents and purposes, unexplainable.
Kloski took Wall-E under her wings. She posted flyers and created a listing on PetFinder.com. She attempted to adopt him at an adoption event in front of a local grocery store to no avail. It was there, however, that he received his now-famous name when a little girl named Michelle, a member of the adoption team with her mother, called him Wall-E because like the Disney character - he had escaped death too. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Pennsylvania – Marcia Machtiger was browsing a forwarded e-mail from a friend detailing Border Collies available for adoption in Sulphur, Oklahoma. It just so happened that she worked with a number of Border Collie rescues and on this day – her normal efforts would lead her in a slightly different direction. It was through this that she stumbled upon Wall-E’s PetFinder listing. So touched and moved by the story, she contacted Amanda to see how she could help. “At this point, I was no longer able to board Wall-E at work due to an increasingly high bill from the amount of animals I was bringing in. I was even having to hide him at my apartment, something I feared would not last long,” says Kloski. Machtiger made a $100 donation to board Wall-E for one additional week to give Amanda the time hopefully needed to try and find Wall-E a home – whether it be temporary or permanent. “Prior to her donation, I was scrambling,” added Amanda. In addition, Machtiger posted about Wall-E on her Facebook and created a “chip-in” program for him.
Not longer after, the word had broke – “Despite euthanasia, Wall-E’s tail is still wagging,” one headline wrote. Another said “Wall-E, the abandoned puppy that survived a death sentence.” His story was being told on social networking sites, international press, local evening news stories, internet news sites, Yahoo, the Associated Press – even making an appearance on CBS’s Good Morning America. It wasn’t but a few days prior that Wall-E sat in front of a grocery store waiting to be adopted to no avail. Now, the adoption applications were almost too much to keep up with – approximately 3000 in total.
Meanwhile, Amanda thought “Why not?” as she stared at a piece of Ron Burns art that hung in the veterinary office she works at. An e-mail came into Ron’s inbox the following morning. “I had heard the story a few days previous, doing what I do – it moved me quite a bit,” says Burns. Amanda wondered if Ron might be interested in painting a portrait of Wall-E to help benefit the building of a new shelter in the Sulphur / Davis, Oklahoma area – something they were desperately in need of as evident with their over-population of animals. “How could I say no to helping?,” asked Ron. Burns, a professional artist and philanthropist of 20 years who is internationally known for his colorful portraits of dogs and cats, cleared his painting schedule to work on his portrait of Wall-E. “In capturing Wall-E’s personality I decided to portray him in his forever home, relaxing on his favorite chair with a pillow that conveys his big heart and love for life,” says Ron. It had then been pointed out to Ron by Amanda that Wall-E had a peculiar shamrock-shaped black spot in an even more peculiar place. “Next to him is a bouquet, again representing a “beautiful life”, with a shamrock arranged above his head to symbolize his good luck as well as the real shamrock-like image on his behind,” he added with a laugh. Two and a half weeks after entering his paint studio, Ron exited with a completed piece of Wall-E. “When I saw the portrait, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. It’s amazing. I said to myself that is Wall-E!” says Amanda. Ron pondered for a moment, then adding - “In many ways, Wall-E’s portrait is also a representation of how I wish to see all animals – in their “furever homes.” He may just be one little pup to some, but he has an amazing and powerful story to share. Hopefully... through my art, his story will continue to be told and that it will ultimately benefit all animals in need of a home.”
Today, we now know that Wall-E will indeed be finding his “furever” home. “We have it narrowed down to five families. I am currently going through their vet reference checks now.” says Amanda. Getting to this point is the culmination of a nearly three month process since Wall-E’s story first began. The happy ending that Amanda, Marcia, Ron and thousands of others have all wished for is nearly here. “If this isn’t life imitating art, then I don’t know what is,” Ron says. "There is a lot of work left to do though. There are lots of Wall-E's out there that need our help," he added.
George Eliot once said that “Animals are such agreeable friends. They ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” How right he is. When Wall-E was to be euthanized, he didn’t ask why. And when he was found alive the following morning with his tail wagging, jumping up and down at the excitement of simply seeing one of “us”, true to his nature - he passed no criticisms. The same holds true for any other instance in the human / animal bond and that is why dogs are man’s best friend – deserving of our love, care and protection.
Thank you for taking the time to hear Wall E’s story.
If you would like to support the building of The Murray County Animal Shelter, you may do so by clicking here. 40% of each Ron Burns-Wall-E art print purchased will be donated to support the building of The Murray County Animal Shelter.
On behalf of Wall-E and all of his four legged friends, thank you for your generous support. It is sincerely appreciated.
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