Emily Geurts

COM 161-002

October 4, 2019

Champaign County Humane Society

October 4, 2019 Contact: Emily Geurts

For Immediate Release Phone: (217) 480-0050

Email: egeurts22@gmail.com

Junkyard Dog Gets a Second Chance

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Kevin was no stranger to a tough life. In fact, the little dog was almost too well

acquainted with the darkest side of the world.

He and the other dogs in the kennel stuck together unless the people came out of the house.

There were two people, and they found creative ways to punish the dogs for misbehaving in ways the

dogs did not understand. Spray bottles, brooms, flyswatters and more were all used to beat the dogs

until they cowered and whimpered. Kevin was small, but that did not help him hide.

Kevin was just one of the 70 million dogs and 74.1 million cats beaten and abused on American

soil every year according to the Humane Society of the United States.

He lived with the other dogs in the filth. It smelled like old feces and urine to the point it stung

his sensitive eyes. Even the water tasted stale. There was food, but never enough of it. Sometimes the

dogs fought to get the most food. Kevin usually lost the fight. He was the smallest dog. The people just

stood by holding the bag of food and laughing as the dogs fought for every bite. All Kevin wanted was to

be happy and free.

Then it happened. Kevin managed to wriggle under the wire fence. He ran. Kevin ran and got as

far away as his little legs could carry him. Then he realized he was alone, and there was no water.
 Soon he got hungry. The sun was heating up the black spots on his back and head. He got so

hungry he started eating rocks when there were no black and white bags to chew through. He did this

for what felt like years. Maybe it had been years. Dogs do not have calendars.

Kevin eventually wandered up to a big, metal building. There were puddles outside, and he

hadn’t seen water in days. It smelled funny. It was not stale like the kennel water. Kevin could not quite

figure it out, but he was so thirsty he did not mind. There was a big door open, and Kevin thought he

might find some food inside. Instead, he found men. One of the men picked Kevin up and put him in the

backseat of a truck. He was frightened by it, but he had learned it was best not to fight back.

When Kevin came to the Champaign County Humane Society his fur was thin and falling out

from fleas. He had an infection in his eye and was severely underweight. He was unable to jump from an

injury to his hind leg. Kevin had no interest or trust in people whatsoever.

Veterinarian Thomas Updike said, “I didn’t know if he would pull through. A lot of dogs in as

rough of shape wouldn’t have made it. This little guy has a lot of fight in him.”

Kevin was hardly the first pick at the shelter. His fur was not fluffy, and he had green pus on his

eye from the infection. He didn’t like people to get too close. Children were so loud and unpredictable

that Kevin shrunk back in his kennel away from them. Kevin had given up on people. It seemed like they

had given up on him too.

Then a family came in to see him. They found his photo on the humane society’s website and

saw past the pus and lack of fluff. The family had a daughter battling a chronic illness. The daughter saw

a dog that was a lot like her. They were both trying to make it with the odds stacked against them. They

sat in the grass outside the humane society. For the first time, Kevin was at peace with a human by his

side.

That family adopted Kevin two years ago. The daughter and Kevin healed together. Kevin gained

weight and grew most of his fur back. Because he is still missing fur Kevin has a coat he wears when it is
cold out. He learned to play fetch and even has a playmate. He has learned to ask for help from his

family when he wants to get up on the couch and learned quickly that frozen french fries are the best

things that fall on the floor.

Kevin’s owner Kim Geurts said, “Kevin was super nervous and guarded at first, but he opened up

little by little. He loved our older dog from the moment they met. I think she helped him adjust to his

new life a lot.”

Kevin learned that freedom was not happiness. It was a good family that never hurts him.

Millions of animals across the country just like Kevin are waiting for a second chance. The

Champaign County Humane Society will hold a “No Tricks, Just Treats” adoption event in Market Place

Mall on Oct. 19. All animals at the event will be adoptable. They invite the community to save a life and

find a best friend.

For more information visit the Champaign County Humane Society website at

www.cuhumane.org.

###