During rush hour Tuesday afternoon, a German Shepherd mix wandered in and out of traffic on a busy freeway in Tempe, Ariz. Some drivers stopped and attempted to lure the stray dog to them, to no avail.
As they watched this dangerous situation unfold in a live stream on the azfamily 3TV CBS 5 Facebook page, Kim and Andrew Vander Stoep decided to do something about it. They grabbed a leash, water and dog treats, then got in their truck and drove to the freeway.
Kim, who works at an animal hospital, walked across the Elliot Road off-ramp and was able to get the leash on the dog as he was distracted by other good Samaritans who’d stopped to help. While waiting for Andrew to arrive in the truck, she gave the dog water and treats.
The Vander Stoeps took the dog to the animal hospital where Kim works to see if he had a microchip. He did, but the contact person said the dog wasn’t his.
This lucky dog, who’s been named Elliot after the off-ramp where Kim saved him, has a new forever home — with his rescuers.
“We’ve got four dogs at home. We’re dog people,” Andrew told azfamily.com. “Our house is set up for dogs.” The couple had been planning to adopt a Pit Bull with three legs due to cancer, but will put that on hold until Elliot settles in to his new digs.
“He’s safe now and that’s all that matters,” Kim told azfamily.com.
When a photo of her went viral in March, people around the world were outraged that Butterbean, a 6-year-old German Shepherd mix believed to have been dumped at a Louisiana gas station, was actually intentionally left there by her owners. They enjoyed it when she chased after them in their pickup truck.
“They’ve done this multiple times and apparently think it’s no big deal, and they don’t seem to care about the welfare of the dog,” Jeff Dorson, director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, told ABC News March 17.
When the Humane Society of Louisiana first contacted Butterbean’s owners about giving their dog up for adoption so she could live in a safer, more compassionate home, the owners refused.
“They stated their intention is to now keep her tethered in their backyard, which of course is not an acceptable way to maintain a family dog in our view, apart from the history of extremely irresponsible pet ‘ownership,’” the Humane Society wrote on its Facebook page in March.
Butterbean’s case was escalated to St. Tammany Animal Services, which had the authority to directly intervene. When they told Lisa Pearson, one of Butterbean’s owners, she had to either take the dog to a shelter or vet, Pearson said she would give them the dog — for $400. The cash was donated from the Humane Society.
“We certainly don’t like to reward this kind of behavior, but sometimes it simply takes too long for cases to move through the legal system,” Dorson said in a news release. “Our first concern was Butterbean’s safety. We were convinced she could be let loose again to run in traffic at any time, and we might miss our opportunity to intervene.”
Pearson was later cited for violating several state laws, and she signed an agreement not to chain or tether any animal, and not to allow any animal to roam at large.
After being treated for heartworm, Butterbean was available for adoption. Dorson told ABC News today the humane society received dozens of adoption applications.
One in particular stood out.
According to Dorson, “no one expressed more enthusiasm to be Butterbean’s new caretaker” than Guy Lawrence-Edenheimer, a retired musician from Antioch, Ill., who now calls himself her “proud papa.”
Ready for some chills? Lawrence-Edenheimer’s previous dog, Rocky, died on March 17, 2014. Exactly one year later, Lawrence-Edenheimer saw the story about Butterbean on ABC News. He was amazed by how much Butterbean looked like Rocky.
“The timing was just too perfect,” he told ABC News today. “It was like it was meant to be.”
Lawrence-Edenheimer said he and Butterbean instantly bonded, and now the two are almost inseparable.
“She’s an absolute sweetheart,” he said. “After the first night I got her, she jumped onto the bed, licked my face and bounced my elbows up with her nose.”
Butterbean comes along with her loving new dog dad on car trips…and stays in the car.
“Butterbean no longer feels compelled to chase after her new owner, since she shares rides together with him,” Dorson told ABC News.
‘Butterbean Buddies’ Campaign Helps Other Abandoned Dogs
To help other dogs in the state who are abandoned, chained or tethered, the Humane Society of Louisiana launched the campaign “Butterbean Buddies” in March.
“We’d love to save 500 dogs or more through our Butterbean Buddies during the next year,” Dorson said on the Humane Society of Louisiana website.
It costs the humane society about $500 to rescue, provide veterinary care for, and spay or neuter a homeless dog. Housing, food and transporting the dog for adoption can cost an additional $500.
“If only a handful of people concerned about Butterbean pitched in to help, we could save thousands of dogs here in Louisiana,” Dorson said.
To make a donation to Butterbean Buddies, click here or send a check to Humane Society of Louisiana, PO Box 740321, New Orleans, LA 70174.
In a photo that went viral last week, the German Shepherd mix was seen chasing her owners’ pickup truck on a busy Louisiana highway after being left behind at the Highway 11 Shell station in Slidell.
As it turned out, this wasn’t the first time her owners had pulled this horrible stunt.
“It’s not uncommon at all for this family to abandon the dog at the station and let it chase their truck,” Jeff Dorson, director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, told ABC News last week. “They’ve done this multiple times and apparently think it’s no big deal, and they don’t seem to care about the welfare of the dog.”
Butterbean appeared to be happy and uninjured, Dorson said. However, the 6-year-old dog had been dumped in the area as a puppy, so it seems that being abandoned again and again (not to mention having to run through traffic to keep up with her owners) would be especially stressful for her.
“We are truly amazed that Butterbean has survived this many years,” Dorson told the Times-Picayune.
When the Humane Society of Louisiana first contacted Butterbean’s owners about giving their dog up for adoption so she could live in a safer, more compassionate home, the owners refused.
“They stated their intention is to now keep her tethered in their backyard, which of course is not an acceptable way to maintain a family dog in our view, apart from the history of extremely irresponsible pet ‘ownership,'” the Humane Society wrote on its Facebook page Friday.
Dorson told ABC News the Humane Society was “pursuing all avenues to gain legal custody of Butterbean to ensure she has the safe and happy life she deserves.” Her case was escalated to St. Tammany Animal Services, which has the authority to directly intervene.
Yesterday, one of Butterbean’s owners, Lisa Pearson, received a warning from St. Tammany Animal Services. Instead of taking Butterbean to a shelter or vet, Pearson said she would give up the dog — for $400. The cash was donated from the Humane Society.
“We certainly don’t like to reward this kind of behavior, but sometimes it simply takes too long for cases to move through the legal system,” Dorson said in a news release today. “Our first concern was Butterbean’s safety. We were convinced she could be let loose again to run in traffic at any time, and we might miss our opportunity to intervene.”
Butterbean is being treated for a heartworm infection and will be available for adoption soon. Dorson said anyone interested in giving her a forever home must go through an application and interview process. (Want to bet that one of the questions is, “Would you enjoy dumping Butterbean at a gas station for fun?”)
Dorson said the Humane Society is delighted that Butterbean’s story will have a happy ending. It won’t be such a happy ending for Butterbean’s previous owners, who are facing citations for violating several state laws. Pearson signed an agreement not to allow any animal to roam at large in the future, and not to chain or tether any animal, either.
The new campaign “Butterbean Buddies” has just been launched to help other dogs who are abandoned, chained or tethered.
“We’d love to save 500 dogs or more through our Butterbean Buddies during the next year,” Dorson said. It costs the Humane Society of Louisiana about $500 to rescue, provide veterinary care for, and spay or neuter a homeless dog. Housing, food and transporting the dog for adoption can cost an additional $500.
“If only a handful of people concerned about Butterbean pitched in to help, we could save thousands of dogs here in Louisiana,” Dorson said.
If you’re interested in adopting Butterbean, contact the Furry Friends Animal Hospital at 504-366-6060.
To donate to Butterbean Buddies, click here or send a check to Humane Society of Louisiana, PO Box 740321, New Orleans, LA 70174.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish.Got it!RejectPrivacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
