Linus

 

 

 

Linus was Tylertown’s mascot, the “favorite son”.  All who knew him loved him. He had a magnetic personality and a fun-loving disposition. Linus adored people and loved his pink squeaky toy. If Linus wasn’t hanging out in front of his kennel, waiting for attention from the volunteers, then he could be found on top of his doghouse, pink squeaky toy in his mouth, squeaking away. No matter where people were in the camp, they could hear Linus squeaking with passion in the distance. Because Linus spent so much time during those hot, hot, sunny days waiting by his kennel door for some human love, he was constantly battling sunburn on his muzzle. To help ease the burning pain, volunteers had to put sunscreen on his sore, always pink nose. Sometimes the white lotion stayed on, but sometimes Linus licked it off. Did he do that on purpose so loving people would keep coming back with more sunscreen??? 

Although Linus was not fond of other dogs, he did have a favorite canine girl… Jane. At the time, volunteers thought it only fitting for Linus and Jane to go on the same transport. No one knew how bad the outcome of that Kentucky transport would be for both Linus and Jane. Linus died in Kentucky, on the end of a chain, a few months after that doomed transport. Jane would not be long in joining him over the rainbow bridge a few months later. We hope they are sitting together now on the top of a big and beautiful doghouse, along with a pink squeaky toy to share.

 What happened to Linus after he was taken from Tylertown for Kentucky?

 Instead of trying to find his original owners, or finding a loving family for Linus if his owners were never found, Sandi Coy instead used Linus for personal entertainment and kept him housed outside on a chain. Ms Coy admits to using Linus in weight-pulling competitions and never having him neutered or taken to a vet to undergo treatment for his heartworms, a time when heartworm treatments for Katrina rescues was being reimbursed in full. Sources affiliated with Ms Coy stated that Linus was also used in “fun shows”. Ms Coy claimed that Linus died on her property from heartworms. Although his remains were found buried on the Coy property, Ms Coy’s “explanation” of his death cannot be validated and she has offered no proof for her claim. Given Linus’ health status at Tylertown, testing heartworm positive but exhibiting no signs of advanced stages of the disease and being no where near the stage of heartworms which posed a serious threat to his life, her story of just one day going outside and finding him dead from heartworms, just a few months after leaving Tylertown, does not sound credible.

 Where is Linus’ family?

 Linus was never given the chance for his owners to find him after Hurricane Katrina. If you or some family you know believes that Linus may have been their lost Katrina dog, please contact Johnna Harris at johnna.harris@gmail.com

 Linus’ Rescue Intake Information:

       Adult, male, brindle with white, staffordshire/pit bull mix, two years old

       Winn Dixie Intake Date: 9/28/05 (6:30 pm)

       Found wandering on Viola Street

       Picked up from Winn Dixie and brought to HSLA site

       HSLA Intake Date: 9/29/05 (ID # 127)

       Microchip: Avid # 090892543 (implanted 10/05)

       Current whereabouts: Deceased 

 

You will never be forgotten, Linus.