A beagle named Flash found an escape route and ran off when construction work was being done on the house in which he lived in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania. .
According to NBC10, Alex and Rob Krekstein searched for Flash, called the police, and their local SPCA.
Flash was taken to the SPCA where the micrchip that was implanted in him showed the Krekstein’s adopted him from Main Line Animal Rescue (MLAR).
When the Krekstein’s received a phone call telling them Flash was found, it was Bill Smith from MLAR stating they had Flash and asked for them to return the phone call. According to the Krekstein’s, they attempted to call numerous times with no one answering the phone.
The adoption contract stated if their dog would go missing, they MUST call MLAR to inform them. The Krekstein’s didn’t do this.
So it boils down to the Kreikstein’s not making the phone call to MLAR that Flash won’t be returning home where he has lived for the last two years. Extenuating circumstances have also been added to this equation to arrive at at their decision to keep Flash.
While I understand MLAR’s position is valid, I feel they have stretched the terms too far.
Bill Smith sent the following email to the Krekstein’s:
“After last night we decided it would be best to pass Pablo onto another rescue. A rescue we have worked with for years and shares our very high standards as far as screening applicants. If you had accepted the slightest bit of responsibility for what happened to Pablo or made some effort to find him, things would have… turned out differently. This could have been a real teaching moment for your sons – accept responsibility for your mistakes and try to work things out in a civil manner. Instead you have shown them that blaming other people when things go wrong and screaming the loudest instead of making a sincere effort never really works. Yesterday morning we decided we were all going to take a deep breathe, and after the dust settled in a few days, decide what we were going to do (my email on Friday was in response to your wife’s verbal abuse of one of our best volunteers). NBC 10 closed that door. If you wanted the dog back you both certainly went about it the wrong way.
I won’t be contacting you again –
Bill Smith MLAR”
The assumption from Smith is that this couple was irresponsible, didn’t take action to find Flash and had they attempted to handle the matter in a more civilized manner, perhaps, the end result could have been different.
For Mr. Smith not to sit down and talk to this couple first is quite troubling. The couple didn’t abuse Flash. This would give immediate cause to make a quick and plausible reason to not return him to his home. That isn’t the case.
According to Smith’s email, the Krekstein’s allegedly yelled into MLAR’s voicemail. Who wouldn’t after the rescue wasn’t cooperating with them. If my dog, Jazz, was missing and the rescue wouldn’t cooperate with me, I, too, would be yellling. I would move mountains to find my precious Jazz. I’ve been through an ordeal when one of my dogs, Buddy, found a way to run away from my dad while he dog sat for my husband and me. It was an accident on my dad’s part. My heart was broken and we searched day and part of the nights while he went missing for five days.
MLAR’s claim that Flash had no ID on him is well-founded. However, not all dogs wear collars inside the house all of the time. I don’t know if Flash wore a collar at all. In their defense, I can say I don’t keep a collar on my dog at all times. My dog only wears a collar with ID when he is away.
Not wearing a collar does not make one a bad pet parent. It certainly makes a difference if your pet is lost.
Smith claims they made no effort to find their dog. I searched their Facebook page, “Send Flash Home”, I found evidence to the contrary.
The couple took their case to the media. If they didn’t care or didn’t want the return of Flash, why would they puruse this avenue?
The Krekstein’s have hired a lawyer and have been in discussions with Bill Smith and MLAR yesterday and today.
As I said, I could understand if they were cruel to Flash but they weren’t. By all accounts, it appears Flash was a loving member of the family.
Of course, I don’t have all of the facts. I do believe there are valid points for each side.
The ultimate question- what is in the best interest of Flash? Yes, the Kerkstein’s made mistakes, but they certainly weren’t abusive toward Flash. No one is perfect.
To take away a dog from a home where he lived for two years seems cruel to me and not in the best interest of the dog.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe Flash belongs back home?
Whoever stands by Smith on this one doesn’t understand the gravity of the case. Rescues like them treat people like dirt. I gave up on them. I will never good enough for them despite treating my pets as part of my family. I don’t know who they think they are but they’re getting a much-deserved bad rap.
Bill Smith thinks he is God and has the power to do whatever he wants. I read the fb page to save Flash and saw what Bill wrote on his own fb page. This man is arrogant. He has no right to keep that dog! Flash belongs to this couple! Smith needs to be brought down several pegs and get off his high horse. If he really cared about animals, he would work with this man and woman and not take away the dog. Loser!
The clause that this couple violated in their adoptioj contract should be overlooked for two reasons. One, they notified their SPCA and police. Two, there is no way mlar has the time to go out and look for a lost pet. I’ve never heard of a rescue that large having the time to search for lost pets. They did what anyone would do when their pet is lost. They did search. i can’t stand this place!
I hope MLAR does the right thing and give the dog back to the family where it rightfully belongs. How mean can they be to write an email and tell them you can’t have your dog back and giving it to another rescue. They certainly didn’t have the dog’s best interests in their hearts. Shame on them.
Mainline has a bad reputation. It’s finally coming out. It’s time people know about this place. They’re not who they think they are. There are better rescues. They could learn a thing or two from the others and hope they do in handling the public. They’re rude and can make you feel unwelcome.
I won’t ever adopt from a rescue. Some make you feel unworthy of adopting one of their animals. Some won’t even tell you why they didn’t choose you. I have always loved dogs and when they live with me, they have the best life. I’d do anything to keep my pets safe but that isn’t good enough for rescues like Mainline. Their regulations are too extreme. Look at what they’re doing to this couple. They’re saying unfit to have Flash which they already renamed because it ran away. It wasn’t even their fault. Plus, beagles are known for running. Smith needs to wise up. This is going to hurt him as well as the dog if he keeps him.
This place is notorious for being so mighty and righteous. They try to play God. A dog lived with his family for two yrs. and they feel they have the right to keep him and give him to another rescue. They disgust me!
How selfish and self-rightoues is MLAR? Who do they think they are playing God with someone’s dog? Not a good sign of a good rescue, obviously.
This is so wrong on so many levels. This gives rescues a bad name. They don’t want anyone to write negative comments about them. They do wrong but they tell us to shut up. They sure like to be in control. first, not going to give the dog back and how we’re not allowed to say what we feel. Yeah, right. They need to be exposed. Stop the holier than thou attitude MLAR. I read comments that were written on your fb page about this family. So classy. You think you can have it your way, all the way. Guess what? You lost. Please learn and respect us.
I enjoy your blog and what you have to say. I don’t always agree but You certainly know how to keep a reader interested.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well,
almost…HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really loved what you
had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!
Wow. I wouldn’t adopt from them.
Bill Smith just did the same to me at his new place 1 Love 4 dogs