Our Care for Animals: The Facts

Understanding Two by Two Rescue: Dispelling Misconceptions

We hope this clarifies some of the misunderstandings about Two by Two Rescue’s care for animals and overall operations. If you have further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. 

CARE OF ANIMALS 

Mama Angel 

Misconception: Mama Angel's care environment was poor, and dogs were left in the cold.  

Reality: Mama Angel was not housed in poor conditions, and temperatures at the time were mild (lows of 46, 50, and 61 degrees).  

Misconception:   2x2 did not provide veterinary care to Mama Angel for three days. 

Reality: The individual making the claim is the individual who was responsible for reporting to the Executive Director regarding the health of the dogs.  As soon as our Executive Director learned of her severe health condition, she immediately sought veterinary care. 

Misconception:  Mama Angel’s IV was staged and she never received an IV. 

Reality:  It is true that Mama Angel’s IV was staged, but the staging was initiated by the individual claiming the staging was done.  The staging by this individual, who no longer works for 2x2, was done without instruction or approval from the Executive Director.   

Contrary to further claims by this individual, Mama Angel did receive an IV at the veterinarian a short time after the photo was staged, and her documented medical bills totaled approximately $700.  We apologize for a poor decision by a Two by Two Rescue staff member to stage a photo representing Mama Angel's treatment. 

Misconception: 2x2 continued to raise funds on social media after Mama Angel passed away.  

Reality: Despite valiant efforts by the veterinary team, Mama Angel passed away. We publicly announced her passing within hours of notification from the veterinarian, and we stated that all donations exceeding her medical expenses would be used for her puppies' care. These funds were spent appropriately.  

Electra 

Misconception: Unspecified poor care and euthanasia as a convenience. 

Reality: Electra was in our founder's home as a hospice foster when she was humanely euthanized due to cancer. She received extensive, compassionate, and costly care for multiple illnesses over an extended period. 

Barney 

Misconception: Unjustified euthanasia.  

Reality: Barney had multiple aggressive behavioral issues and failed behavior training.  We kept working with him for seven months until he targeted and attacked another dog; and we made the very difficult and rare decision to humanely euthanize him.  An attempt to find Barney an adoption home, by the same person making the claim of unjustified euthanasia, failed because the potential adopter could not accommodate Barney in her home. 

Fight Dogs 

Misconception: Fight dogs were mistreated and mass euthanized.  

Reality: The 30 fight dogs rescued at the request of and in coordination with police were not mistreated or mass euthanized.  22 of the dogs have been adopted and 7 remain in foster care.  Two dogs died from liver disease, including one after adoption. The other death was confirmed by necropsy to be the result of drugs administered when they were used as fight dogs. A third dog was diagnosed by Babesia Gibsoni several months after rescue and passed away.    

All dogs were quarantined for 30 days, examined, and treated by veterinarians. We also brought in a trainer to help fosters with their care.  Based on multiple attending veterinarian's judgment, the dogs were not tested for Babesia Gibsoni. In the future, for similar situations, we will be more diligent to ensure this test is performed. However, we are proud of our efforts in support of the police and our success in finding homes for the vast majority of these dogs.   

Misconception: Dogs were allowed to fight while in 2x2’s care.

Reality: While there were strong efforts to prevent fighting, we acknowledge that Two by Two Rescue could have been more diligent about fighting among the dogs. We now have new policies to reduce and document such incidents.  

Jebidiah/Israeli Dogs 

Misconception: Inadequate care provided.  

Reality:  Two by Two Rescue was fully prepared to care for these animals and did so at the pleading request of the rescue operating in Israel, who has confirmed in writing that these dogs would likely have died if not rescued.  We took appropriate steps, including quarantine and necessary medical treatment, and they were always under the supervision of their assigned fosters.  We accepted a total of 19 dogs from Israel and 10 of those dogs have been adopted, 4 are in fosters and 2 are in boarding.  We regret that three of the dogs escaped from their fosters, one when startled by fireworks despite being appropriately leashed, one by digging under a fence, and one by jumping a fence.  Two of the escaped dogs had tracking devices and we had them located when they tragically died in traffic.  One of the escaped dogs is still on the loose and we are trying to locate her.  

VETERINARIAN CARE 

Misconception:  2x2 operated an "illegal" veterinary clinic.  

Reality: Two by Two Rescue has never operated an "illegal" veterinary clinic.  When we were offering veterinary services, we always had all necessary licenses and permits to provide medical care to animals.  

OPERATIONS 

Helena House Facility; Columbiana Operations 

Misconception: Poor facility conditions.  

Reality: The Helena House and Columbiana property were never in poor condition; both were appropriately equipped and operated. The safety and welfare of the animals was paramount at all times, even when housed in outdoor kennels, regardless of the location. 

Misconception: 2x2 illegally operated a rescue in the city of Helena. 

Reality: The Executive Director opened her home to dozens of rescued dogs when the Bessemer property was closed.  When it was discovered there were zoning issues, 2x2 attempted to find a compromise with the city of Helena. When no agreement could be reached, the Executive Director shut down the operation and sold the property. 

Misconception:  2x2 misinformed people inquiring about kenneling of dogs in Columbiana. 

Reality: Under specific circumstances 2x2 did instruct staff to tell certain people that 2x2 was not related to the kenneling of dogs on a Columbiana property.  This was a mistake and we apologize for our error in judgement. 

Misconception: 2x2 Solicited donations for animals not yet in possession. 

Reality: We acknowledge that Two by Two Rescue began soliciting donations while attempting to rescue a dog and her puppies, which ended up being rescued and under another individual's care. We offered to help with this animal's veterinary bill and the entire $970 raised for these puppies was paid directly to the veterinarian.  While our only intent was to help this dog, we have revised our policy to ensure fundraising occurs only for animals in Two by Two’s possession. 

Misonception: 2x2 purchased puppies for resale. 

Reality:  We acknowledge we purchased puppies or dogs when we felt it was in the best interest of the animals.   We acknowledge this was not best practice, and we have modified our policy to limit purchasing puppies or dogs as a last resort in order to prevent abuse or severe neglect. 

Misconception: There were multiple accusations of personal gain by the Executive Director. 

Reality:  The Executive Director has dedicated her life to saving animals and for decades received little or no compensation.  In 2022, the Board of Directors attempted to rectify that by increasing her salary to comparable industry levels. Her salary has never exceeded $75,000 a year and has averaged $27,198/year over nineteen years. 

Misconception: Unlawful entry onto city property.  

Reality: Due to concerns of poor conditions, Two by Two personnel did consider entering onto what some believed to be city property to observe dogs being kept there. Personnel maintain that all observations were made from publicly accessible property. Two by Two neither promotes nor condones accessing property without permission.

Misconception:  Our Executive Director lived in a residence purchased by 2x2, shown as a property on Lakeshore Drive with pictures of a property in Chelsea. 

Reality:  Our Executive Director has never lived in a property purchased by 2x2.  The husband of the Executive Director purchased the property on Lakeshore.   

The property in Chelsea was for sale and, at one time, 2x2 did consider the viability of purchasing it as the Promised Land for base operations of 2x2.  However, the property was purchased as a residential home by an individual unrelated to 2x2.