As all of you already know, Echo is finally at peace. Kristi and I were with him as well as Judy and Dr. Riordan, his other guardian angels.

He was ready to go, we saw this in his eyes and the fact that it was getting harder for him to move about. The valley fever test was negative as we all had expected but he enjoyed his last day with his human friends. Kristi was his best buddy because who wouldn't be when they were given yummy STEAK for lunch!

I won't go on and on because their has been so many emails already that really explain Echo and the feelings of everyone. Let Echo be a constant reminder of how very important we/PARR continue doing what we do.

I will let you know that we made the decision to have him cremated"by himself" and his ashes will be buried in a very special place with a beautiful tree that will be dedicated to only him. He will Echo through the mountains and feel the love of all of the animal loving people that come to visit and the numerous dogs that visit as well. Echo's final resting place will be at a small place very dear to me and many others called Bugtussle, Parks Arizona.

Thanks for all of the support and kind thoughts and prayers for Echo, he deserved everyone of them!

Missy

Echo only spent a short time with us, but has certainly changed the hearts and minds of those he touched. Read below to learn more about Echo and our privilege to have helped him in his final days.

Missy and I want to share a story with all of you that began yesterday. This story is about PARR's latest rescue dog, Echo. The reason we feel it is important to share is because we are all PARR. It was never so evident to me as it was this past weekend with the parade and faire. I was overwhelmed at many moments on Saturday with the show of teamwork and pure love of our breed that you all expressed so wonderfully. I was proud of our group and have never felt such a positive outlook for the future of PARR and all of the great rotties we have yet to save.

This brings me to Echo. Yesterday we received a call from Sheriff Joe Arpio's Maricopa County Sheriffs Office Animal Safe Hospice (MASH) division about a Rottweiler they had confiscated from a home due to cruelty and neglect. They could no longer invest the little funds they have into the medical care this dog needed, and Echo was ordered to be put to sleep. Through an awesome display of teamwork and persistence, we were able to go meet Echo that afternoon. We had no idea what we were about to find.

Missy arrived first and forewarned me about what condition Echo was in. I took it with a grain of salt because, well, I have been doing rescue with PARR for almost four years now and I have seen a lot. As we walked through the 1st Avenue street jail, where Echo was housed, our eyes must have been as wide as saucers taking in the surroundings. The last door we went through opened up into a wide hallway where two inmates were sitting on the floor petting what looked to be a dog. As we walked in, this skeleton of a dog hobbled over to us on three legs with his tongue hanging out and bone of a stump wagging. He was obviously looking for more of the french fries that Missy had been giving him earlier because he was all tongue. Lick, lick, lick. Kisses on my hands, kisses on my arms and kisses on my face. Then he hobbles over and picked up a plush ball that he had been playing with and brings it over to me. My chin was on the floor in disbelief that this dog was even alive. I had to sit down and just stare at him and shake my head as the onset of tears burned my eyes.

One of his rear legs was swollen to three times the normal size and his hip and pelvic bones were sticking straight up in the air on that same side of his body. Not to mention the clear outline of his ribcage and nothing for a stomach. Picture a greyhound if you will, and then imagine it underweight. I mean there is nothing there. His skin is tight to his body as if he has been starved for many many months. We were told that the first week he was there all he pooped out were rocks and gravel. He was still not eating well and couldn't even hold himself up to pee, it just goes all over his legs and body. One of the inmates held Echo as he urinated, being careful so that he wouldn't get it on himself. And she is the same one who cried when we took him, quietly asking Missy if there was a chance she could adopt him since she was going to be getting out in a few months.

We knew he needed immediate vet care and had already called ahead to All Creatures, letting them know of our pending arrival. Dr Riordan was there waiting and I watched his face carefully as he set eyes on Echo. He didn't say much to offer relief of our worried thoughts. Anyone who knows Dr Riordan understands that quiet isn't good. Missy and I exchanged nervous glances as he solemnly talked of possible reasons his bones and leg were in such bad condition. X-rays were scheduled for the next day because Echo was going to have to be knocked out in order for him to tolerate being placed on his back on the x-ray table. His spine and hips were so exposed that it would be very painful for Echo to be held in that position for any amount of time. Judy stopped on her way into the vet office to get "egg carton" beds and blankets for Echo to sleep on that night. He needed a lot of cushion to lay on the floor without being hurt.

The most amazing thing is that Echo does not whine or cry, he always offers a stump wiggle and willingly gives kisses to anyone who asks. For all that he has been through in his 3 short years of life, I have to ask myself how he can still be such a sweet dog and why would anyone do something like this to a dog like Echo, or to any dog for that matter.

I am angry and sad and even feeling vengeful towards the people who did this to him. But this is part of rescue and we have to take the losses with the many wins. The people that Echo was taken from are being charged with animal cruelty and the prosecuting attorney is supposedly top notch. We will keep you updated and ask that you keep Echo in your thoughts over the next few days. Photos will be posted to the web site shortly. If anyone wants more information, feel free to email me or Missy.

Thanks for taking the time to read about Echo.

Kristi and Missy
Directors
PARR