Vader Suffered.

One of the main reasons I created this page is because of a dog named Vader.

Vader came from a Martinsburg seizure on May 28, 2025, where 28 adult dogs, 11 puppies, and one cat were removed from a property. Because Berkeley County Animal Control didn't have enough kennel space, many of the dogs, including Vader, were housed at another kennel facility.

I first met Vader on January 12, 2026 at that kennel facility to assess some of the dogs and try to help get them out of there. Keep in mind — these dogs were seized 8 months prior and no efforts had been made to find them homes. But that's for a later post.

At some point between January 13th and January 27th, Vader injured his leg and was not putting weight on it at all.

From that point forward, I repeatedly contacted the person overseeing Animal Control and advocated for Vader. I have the text messages and call logs to prove it. I asked about treatment plans, encouraged them to seek rescue placement, offered solutions, and even offered to pull Vader into A Tail's Wag Dog Rescue myself and take him immediately.

Instead, Vader sat in a kennel.

I was told surgery estimates were being gathered. I was told they were looking for fosters. I was told they wanted second opinions. Weeks went by while Vader's condition visibly worsened. At one point, he had become so debilitated he was lying in his own waste for hours because he couldn't get up and the staff that morning didn't clean kennels. His leg and his testicles became increasingly swollen, and I raised concerns over and over again that he was suffering and needed immediate intervention.

Perhaps the most disturbing part is this:

Vader was initially believed to have a torn ACL — that is what Chief Kevin Jones (he is no longer Chief but is still employed at Animal Control) had said. An earlier veterinary visit on January 28th reported a suspected ACL rupture and recommended follow-up diagnostics, including X-rays and an orthopedic evaluation to confirm. According to Vader's record from that vet, Kevin told them that he doubted the county would pay for it and he would let them know.

He never followed up. Vader was never taken back to confirm the diagnosis.

When Vader was finally evaluated by Dr. Selby, two months later, the truth came out.

He didn't have an ACL tear at all.

He had bone cancer.

Bone cancer that had progressed while he sat waiting in immense pain with no pain medication. Bone cancer that ultimately led to the heartbreaking conclusion that euthanasia was the most humane option.

The months spent assuming it was an ACL injury — without obtaining the recommended diagnostics to confirm the diagnosis — meant Vader continued to suffer for no reason.

Could the cancer itself have been prevented? No.

But the prolonged suffering could have been avoided if timely diagnostics and appropriate medical care had been pursued from the beginning. Instead of receiving prompt answers, Vader endured weeks of pain while decisions were delayed and follow-up recommendations were ignored.

I don't share this because I'm looking for drama.

I'm sharing his story because this should never happen again.

No dog should sit in pain for months while people debate what to do. No dog should wait for basic diagnostics when their condition is deteriorating. And no one who advocates for an animal in obvious distress should have to repeatedly beg for action, offer to take the dog themselves, and plead for humane care.

Vader deserved better.
He deserved timely vet care.
He deserved definitive treatment.
He deserved compassion.

His story is why I refuse to stay quiet, and why I will continue fighting for accountability and better care for the animals that cannot speak for themselves. Nothing was done about this — just swept under the rug like so many other animals.

Something has to change.