Miranda Lambert Helps With Funds For ‘Ogar,’ Lindale Texas Police Dog
Miranda Lambert has had a bit of tough year. As if a divorce scandal via Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani wasn’t enough, she was slammed with a media blitz over two fur coats she received for Christmas. Tough times can make someone want to help others. Maybe that’s why Lambert is reaching out to Lindale, Texas, following the loss of their police dog, Ogar.
Lambert had posted a photo of herself wrapped up in the pelts on her Instagram account, and the media exploded with accusations.
https://www.instagram.com/p/_wvmcuDPnq/
The inevitable P.E.T.A. protests swooped in. The group’s Senior Vice President, Lisa Lange, said the following in a statement to E! News.
“We had higher hopes. Since Miranda rescues dogs, we always thought she could see that whether fur comes from a mink, a fox, or a dog or a cat in China, the source is always a gentle animal who did not want to die.”
Indeed, country music superstar Lambert does rescue dogs. She founded “MuttNation,” a humane organization with multiple goals. They set up a fund for a K-9 officer named Ogar, a Lindale, Texas, police dog who was killed in the line of duty on January 19, 2016.
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K-9 Ogar, a 2-and-a-half-year-old Belgian Malinois, was shot while attempting an apprehension of a subject who was in a stolen car.
Texas K9 Officer Ogar, Shot and Killed in Line of Duty https://t.co/qE3aAa6OJm #RipOgar #K9LODD #LODD pic.twitter.com/KAAUcST35a
— Blue Alert (@BlueAlertUs) January 20, 2016
The suspect ran into the woods. Officer Kevin Petty sent his dog, and shots were fired. In the heartbreaking aftermath, Officer Petty found his dog’s body. The suspect was arrested on drug and evasion charges. Despite his young age, the dog had been involved with at least 40 drug-related apprehensions.
The video shows K9 Ogar’s Last Call, wherein his department makes his official death announcement and his unit honors him.
Ogar was wearing a protective vest at the time of his shooting. Hundreds gathered to attend his memorial service. Police Constable Kenneth Bibby told CBS19 News what Ogar meant to the department.
“Ogar wasn’t just a tool of ours, he was a friend and a buddy as well as a protector.”
He added, “The public support is what drives law enforcement because we don’t do our jobs for ourselves, we do it for our community.”
Lambert’s group is raising funds to purchase another K9 officer to replace Ogar. As the Inquisitor explained in a recent story about Ajax, a Marietta Ohio police dog, a K9 officer is worth thousands of dollars, due to the months of training and special equipment involved.
Joint effort helps provide new K9 officer after Ogar’s death: https://t.co/GDguJ4lh72 #watchcbs19 pic.twitter.com/Iw8bvq73zi
— KYTX CBS19 (@kytxcbs19) February 7, 2016
An organization that does not solicit grant applications, MuttNation Foundation covers many bases.
- Spay and neuter campaigns
- Medical treatments
- Adoption events, pet transportation, and pet ownership education
- Mill rescues
- Legislative changes
- Service dog training and placement
- Food and supplies for animal shelters
This February, The MuttNation Foundation celebrates its third year since inception in Miranda’s hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma. The five-acre no-kill shelter there, dubbed Redemption Ranch, offers homeless animals sanctuary until they are adopted. To keep from being overrun, and to make sure each dog gets sufficient care and attention, Redemption Ranch limits their quota to 50 dogs at a time. However, the efforts of MuttNation extend far beyond that.
Lambert’s Mutts Across America: 50 States/50 Shelters initiative donated $175,000 to shelters in each of the fifty states in January, 2016. The minimum donation to each shelter was $3,000.
Miranda told Nash FM that she was happy about the project.
“I feel so passionately about helping all animals and I’m thrilled that we have once again been able to give to phenomenal shelters across the country. The people at these shelters do such amazing work day in and day out and are truly heroes for the animals.”
According to Country Music Rocks, the shelters receiving the cash windfall were very surprised.
The Save Your Ass Long Ear Rescue, a donkey and mule sanctuary in South Acworth, New Hampshire, was one of the lucky recipients.
“To say I was shocked to receive your amazingly generous and kind donation would be an understatement!”
The Bella Vista Animal Shelter said the following.
“As the recipient for the state of Arkansas we are deeply humbled and enormously grateful for your support! Our ‘cold noses and warm hearts’ give the MuttNation Foundation their sincere thanks.”
Animal Rescue Rhode Island thanked Lambert’s group.
“… Exemplary work in the fight to end animals’ suffering and accelerate shelter pet adoptions.”
Our #rescuerig transported 25 pets to safety from a kill shelter! We love #SecondChances and #NewBeginnings!! pic.twitter.com/ofayLKJyN1
— MuttNation (@Mutt_Nation) January 7, 2016
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MuttNation hosts Cause for the Paws, an annual event which has raised over $1.5 million. The August, 2015, event was held in Luckenbach, Texas, and featured acoustic performances by chart topping and award winning singer-songwriters as well food, drinks, a silent auction, and more.
MuttNation also Partners with North Shore Animal League and Red Star Emergency Relief, groups involved in rescue and emergency disaster relief.
.@MirandaLambert‘s @Mutt_Nation Foundation Celebrates 3rd Year of #MuttsAcrossAmerica! https://t.co/p6OpHrkqRg pic.twitter.com/ZLvlEA2ilN
— Country Music Rocks (@cm_rocks) February 12, 2016
According to Country Music Rocks, Miranda Lambert said the following.
“When an animal finds a forever home, it’s not just life-changing for the animal, but for the family that gets to receive the unconditional love that animals give. It means so much to me to be a part of that process.”
[Photo by Andrew Gentry/Shutterstock]
