Resue’s Claim It Finds Home for Military Works Dogs is a Lie
I’ve written several posts this year exposing the bizarre activities conducted by Shepherd’s Way Animal Rescue in Springdale, WA.
From claiming to be a “the official command center for firefighters” during the Eastern Washington wildfires last summer to refusing to say what happened to a dog from New Jersey they took money to rescue to having someone the FBI considers a possible domestic terrorist providing “security” for the rescue, Shepherd’s Way co-founders Allen and Carrie Aenk have a history of questionable activities that, in my opinion, call into question the validity of their rescue work.
Now it appears one of the key Aenk’s claims about Shepherd’s Watch isn’t true.
At every opportunity, the Aenks love to declare that they take former military working dogs and find homes for them. The rescue’s Adopt-a-Pet homepage says they rescue military working dogs scheduled for euthanization.
Carrie says they’ve saved 17 military working dogs.
Shepherd’s Way’s profile on Adopt-a-Pet claimed they adopt out Military Working Dogs. Image from Sanctuary’s Way Animal Rescue.
Giving 17 MWDS to One Group is “Unheard Of”
According to an official I contacted from the US War Dogs Association, “There is no way that a U.S. Military War Dog could ever have been “adopted out” by any organization or rescue.”
The USWDA is a volunteer 501c3 charity that provides “assistance and support service to US Military Working Dogs and their Handlers.”
Carrie Aenk claims that Shepherd’s Way has adopted out 17 Military Working Dogs.
Here are some other statements from my source:
“On their website they state that they rescue Military War Dogs which is a lie. That is something that I will take care of since it is a fallacy.”
“All retired U.S. MWDs” have to be retrained and deemed suitable for adoption before the Defense Department finds them a home. The Defense Department also “does a complete background on the person interested in the adoption.”
“There is NO fee when you adopt a MWD. I see that this group charges for dogs and horses so that is certainly a tip-off.”
“It is rare that an adoptee would ever have more than 2 MWDs but then adoptees are never an organization. I would find it hard to believe that someone with … an arrest history would slide by on a background and manage to adopt an MWD.”
“17 MWDs adopted out to one (1) subject is unheard of.”
All former MWDs are adopted out through the Department of Defense at the Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, TX.
Carrie Aenk Would Have Failed Background Check
Anyone who wants to adopt a former MWD must go through a rigorous background check. Given the Aenk’s numerous encounters with law enforcement and the court system, I doubt they would have passed.
For example, Carrie Aenk was convicted of bank fraud in 1998. And in February of 2014 Carrie Aenk was accused of stealing $8300 of hay she claimed belonged to Shepherd’s Way.
Title 10 US Code 2583 gives priority first to civilian Law Enforcement Agencies, then to prior handlers, and finally to the general public. Because most of the MWDs go to the first two groups, only “a relatively small number of available dogs” are available to the public.
Furthermore, civilians approved to adopt a MWD MUST go to Lackland Air Force Base to get it. The process usually takes 2 days.
Nothing on the Shepherd’s Way Adopt-a-Pet or Facebook page indicate they made multiple trips to Lackland Air Force Base, the only place in the country where they could get them.
They pulled many of these so called military working dogs from California shelters.
One of them was Riley, a German Shepherd adopted from Shepherd’s Way by a man who said the Aenks told him Riley was a former MWD.
The man, who was unable to keep the dog, now says Riley was not a MWD. Riley now lives with another man who the Aenks said was a MWD.
The man who originally adopted Riley now believes that he is not a military working dog.
The Aenks could easily prove me wrong by producing the adoption papers from the Department of Defense for the 17 dogs they claim are MWDs.
If they can’t, they should explain to the office of Washington Secretary of State Bob Ferguson why they’re misleading both people who donate money to or adopt dogs from SW by claiming to adopt out MWDs.
You go, Robert! Thanks for exposing all the fraudulent adopters that you’re made aware of. You’re doing great work.
I just can’t thankyou enough for all your hard work and sticking it out, these evil underhanded scamming dog slingers have gone on way to long,I have lost friends because they defend them, I have blasted people who are stupidity giving them dogs to foster,and called them all out,there only remarks are the truth will come out in court and we will finally be vindicated. …..blah blah blah! I found out the hard way,and never did get my money returned for a pledge I sent then found out they never even had the dog! These scumbags opened my eye’s to bad rescues and now I devote my time investigate and read and dig and ask questions, and call irs! I HATE THESE DEMON SPAWNS AND THEY ARE TRULY EVIL!
I’m sorry you lost your money. People sending them dogs aren’t doing very good research about the place.
Whoever is involved with attempting to discredit Heidi and what she does for German Shepherds in need of rescue needs to stop NOW!!! If you want a true representation of what she does contact her. I thought you were better than this article. I was wrong.
What in the post discredits her?
Hmmm, I guess they didn’t have an answer to your question. Go figure, rescue at its finest, My understanding is Heidi gave the dog to Carrie and Allen AENK . They then gave it to another patriot. Riley bit a child then ended up in another home.
Who’s Heidi? Is she someone who sent dogs to this rescue? Yikes! Hopefully she is contacting them for proof of life and also contacting the IRS. Also I would ask the it’s to investigate to ensure and monies sent to this rescue wasn’t used to support domestic terrorism. Form 13909 will help report them.
Almost 2 decades of fraud and deceit. Now associating with possible domestic terrorist and known patriots that often post their desire to overthrow the government. One time one of their buddies posted using liberals as human shields. The rescue world will be glad to see these guys gone.
Lots of info you have given us, these people have been up to no good for a long time. She even writes books that are being sold by Amazon and I am sure she will be writing one about this and making money off of it.
Thank you for bringing out the story about this rescue and all the fraud and deceit.
I am hearing the word Racketeering being tossed around. I don’t know what laws are being broken by the lies about rescuing war dogs out of the kill shelters.
NO mention of the horses they have out there, I didn’t see one horse in those photos, nor a dog. I read that they had 20.
These people have been preying on so many generous, concerned people and I hope you can put an end to it and I hope everyone who reads this does not laugh it off because this is not funny in any way.
I am hoping the end comes soon, all animals should be removed immediately in my opinion.
I look forward to your updates and stories! THANK YOU!
Advocate. I had been keeping up with the Military Working Dog Site. The real one. Some of the various soldiers even put pictures of themselves and platoon on site. The actual dogs are to have their forever number in their left ear. The puppy program was In Lakland Air Force Base. Usually handlers are given first chance taking the dog, when and if it is ready physicially and mentally for a home with the public, If the dog is very aggressive then it usually is not allowed. The dogs are not to be given away but to be rehomed if the original home can no longer keep them be death, illness etc. There were 2 that were found in shelters somehow they know what happened in the one. Was with luck that a worker at shelter saw dog with ear markings and told their husband that was a vet. The actual oranization came and took the dogs. The Person having a lot to do with this program was Debra Krandol. She took dogs to award shows and showings, even has gone out of country to pick one up and brought back home, usually taking to the place that they were going to live, usually with a handler One case the Military Dog was part pit and American Airlines refused to transport. Deb had to go many miles to pick this dog up and take it to its destination They did have pictures of many of them meeting at their forever home with the former handlers along with stories about the dogs and handlers.
Slingers at their finest, no regards to where the dogs end up. Doesn’t matter where the dog ends up they already have the pledge monies. Same people since 2012.
totally untruthful and uncalled for with absolutely no proof. I have personally helped inn the rescue of 3 dogs last month with Heidi, and all have went to loving homes.. and, have proof.
I don’t know what you’re talking about.The only thing I said about her was that she sent the dog to Shepherd’s Way, which is t
Heidi not only gave dogs to Carrie and Allen Aenk but one of them bit a child….She was putting down Downey shelter saying they were wrong about him being aggressive, well guess what, he bit a child…..Good rescue Heidi,
We need such caring people to watch out for these canine hero’ and keep scum like swr away from all if them! Coming from a army family and always having gsds my heart breaks to see such abuse from this group, please keep up the fight, these scavenging scum just keep coming back!
My heart brakes over and over again Being in rescue myself for more years than I care to count this is horrible, frustrating and frankly really gets under my and legit rescuers skin. How can people, scam rescues, get away with something like this and for so long? If it is proven stop them and hold them accountable to the fullest. We, true rescues who are in this for the dogs in need and who are trying to bring change for the better in many ways spend endless hours, years, a lifetime fighting for the voiceless victims depend on support. In true rescue there is no profit as in financial wealth All our riches have a heartbeat That saved heartbeat, the new beginning for each dog, the transformation you bare witness too and unconditional love you receive as a rescuer, the difference we make with help of many that is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow each and every time. Placing each dog into the right family, their family match. For the love of the dog not for money.
I want my dog back !!! I ddemand to know what happened to my pookibear.!!! God forgive you scum . karma is on its way!!! Beverly. Jennings