The Real Reason Johnny Wags His Tail
Springfield, Louisiana

It was a hot July night in Louisiana, which wasn't unusual. But as Kevlin Sibley pulled into his driveway around 11 p.m. on a Saturday night, his eyes had to adjust to the horrific act in front of him.

Three children, 15 and 16-year old boys and a 13-year old girl were beating a dog to death with an aluminum baseball bat. Kevlin recognized the kids immediately and they ran. The dog they left behind was a community dog, his face nearly unrecognizable.

It was a Treeing-Walker Hound they called Johnny Walker. Abandoned as a puppy 2 ½ years ago in the trailer park where Kevlin lived, three families, including Kevlin's, took an interest because he was so sweet and docile. Singly, each could not afford to feed him. But as a group, they shared the expense.

The night of this brutal act, Johnny had been peacefully sitting on Kevlin's porch when he was lured away by the kids. Johnny loved everybody. That was the world he knew. Expecting nothing more than some loving hugs, these kids began to viciously beat him about the head with the aluminum bat.

Now as a result of his loving nature, Johnny lay bleeding to death. Kevlin quickly called the police. Within minutes, the sheriff's department and two other law enforcement officers arrived on the scene. The kids were later arrested on charges of aggravated animal assault. A fourth child, a seven-year old boy, could not be legally arrested. But it was strongly encouraged to the parents to have their son get counseling.

But at the moment he saw Johnny, Kevlin was filled with disgust and fear. Blood was streaming through Johnny's wasted mouth and crooked nose. His jaws were shattered and he was unable to close his mouth. It made Kevlin's stomach turn.

Kevlin scooped the dog up and rushed him to the Louisiana Veterinary Referral Center's 24-hour emergency care center. There he was immediately put on IV's for pain and food. But surgery could not be scheduled until the issue of payment was resolved. Until then, Johnny was kept stable and protected.

That is, until Trish Monie, Hospital Administrator, happened to stop in that Sunday. One of the staff asked her to take a look at Johnny. "It was unbelievable," she said. "I don't think I will ever get that picture out of my head."

Trish took immediate action. She called Kevlin and the other two community owners. All were extremely concerned. But none knew how to help financially. No one wanted Johnny euthanized, but none had the financial means to help him. However, they were all in agreement: they wanted to help this sweet, gentle dog live a full life.

They didn't just talk about it, either. Each put forth effort to get the money necessary for surgery. Desperately, Kevlin canvassed his neighborhood to help raise money for the dog. Jason, the 19 year old who lived nearby with his aunt, Kelly, posted Johnny's plight on the internet. He even contacted the Ellen Degeneres show and major pet food companies, pleading for Johnny's life. But to no avail.

On Monday, Kevlin and his two young daughters brought in a Folgers can filled with pennies, nickels and dollar bills, about $50. It was all the money they had been able to raise for Johnny. Then they asked to see him. Nobody was prepared for what they saw. The two girls and their father began to cry. "We've got to save him," Kevlin said through tears.

Trish could see that the family genuinely wanted Johnny to recover from this horrendous act of brutality. "We'll save him, Kevlin. We're going to do this." For the rest of that day and Tuesday, Trish worked diligently to raise the funds needed. She immediately sent out emails to friends, families and organizations asking for financial help for Johnny.

That's when The Mosby Foundation heard about Johnny's ordeal. We immediately got on the phone with Trish and pledged our support. There was no question. This dog had to have help.

D.J. Rotter, retired humane investigator and founder of Chevy's Hope Foundation in Michigan, also raised a significant amount of money for Johnny, allowing him to get on the surgery table quickly.

In no time, Trish's email went viral and donations from all over the world began to pour in. By Tuesday there were enough donations to schedule the surgery. By Friday, donations exceeded the amount needed. Working late each night, Trish processed the money for Johnny's recovery.

All the donors asked the same questions: What happened? How is he doing? And she told them.

With donated surgery time, Louisiana Veterinary Referral Center's physician, Dr. Kergosien, went to work. Several of Johnny's teeth had to be pulled due to misalignment. Metal plates were inserted in each jaw for support. The only evidence that would remain from the ordeal was Johnny's nose. It would remain crooked.

Dr. Arceneaux, the internal medicine specialist with LVRC, graciously donated his time with Johnny, also neutering him during surgery. LVRC also discovered that Johnny had heartworms. With donations slightly exceeding what was actually needed for the surgery, the center later started him on heartworm treatment.

And Johnny? Well, you might say he bought the T-shirt that says, "All you need is love." With a huge Get Well card taped over his cage and three small homemade blankets sent from Chevy's Hope Foundation, Johnny's tail began wagging shortly after surgery and it hasn't stopped.

Now the big question was, where would he go after discharge? Both the Sibleys and Kelly Watts tried separately to care for him following discharge, but their life circumstances ultimately prevented them from keeping him permanently.

Now what to do? We had all come too far to let this dog return to the nebulous status of community dog. Spearheaded by Trish Monie, LVRC simply refused to let that happen.
Trish remembered a name: Kevin Allen. He was one of the donors who had indicated an interest in Johnny.

She decided to give Kevin a call. She was delighted that Kevin was still interested in adopting Johnny. The next step was to visit Kevin's home to ensure a good fit. Susan Aronson, longtime animal advocate and donor to Johnny's recovery, volunteered to see Kevin and his family. What she saw warmed her heart.

Kevin had three children, 12 and 3 years and 6 months old. Kevin was a generous, loving man with a home that reflected that love. He had four happy, healthy dogs. The yard was securely fenced and each dog had his own igloo. It was obvious this would be a wonderful forever home for Johnny. It was a go.

The night that Kevin picked up his newest companion, there was a torrential downpour. But that didn't stop him. He and his twelve year old arrived at Kelly Watts' door. There on the sofa lay Johnny with a young girl who was giving him the belly rub of a lifetime.

"They really took good care of him," Kevin said. As a testament to Johnny's loving nature, Kevin added, "You would never guess this dog had been traumatized." On the ride home, Johnny dozed off, snoring because of his crooked nose. Within 24 hours of arriving at the Allen household, it was business as usual. Kevin's other dogs did the New Dog Strut, sniffing Johnny to get to know him. And that was not a problem for Johnny.

Everybody determined that it was "all good" and the new guy could stay. "He is the kindest dog with the best temperament I've ever been around. And I've been around a lot of dogs," Kevin told us. Even Kevin's three-year old was taken with Johnny. She called him "Gonny."

Johnny made a seamless transition into a household with three kids and four other dogs. Independent by nature, he was not a shy dog. He was intelligent and easy to care for. You could say Johnny was practically the perfect family dog.

We all know that Johnny was incredibly lucky. Not many abuse stories are threaded with so much love towards a dog's recovery. The Mosby Foundation would like to thank everyone involved, with a special thank you going out to Louisiana Veterinary Referral Center. Their generosity and intense interest in Johnny's recovery was truly remarkable. They deserve a tremendous amount of credit for securing a new life for him.

Still, the haunting question underlying this entire chain of events is why?

These abusers were young children and that haunts us as much as Johnny's brutal beating. We can't help but wonder what the daily lives of these children are like? What have they repeatedly witnessed to harden their young hearts to stone? Who will they abuse next?

The lives of animals and people depend on answers to these questions. We cannot helplessly shrug off criminal behavior, no matter how young the perpetrators might be. As a people, we have to ask the question, why?

It's our actions and our beliefs that mold us, and those we love. The troubled children who nearly killed Johnny never asked why. They asked, why not?

Big difference. But beyond the why, we must be moved to action as Kevlin, Jason, D.J. Rotter, The Mosby Foundation and the hundreds of donors world wide who responded to Johnny's suffering.

The world moved to action because of the why. Johnny can't ask why. In Johnny's world, love is all you need and he must wonder...."why not?"

Big difference.