All photos (c) WeWillFinish/Danny Comeaux

Not long ago, Danny Comeaux found himself on a slippery slope, about to hit bottom. His wake-up call came with the unanticipated death of his father which motivated him to make changes in his own life. He began the slow climb up and along the way he adopted a pit bull puppy. He named the puppy Moose, which had been his father’s nickname. It was through his dog Moose that Comeaux discovered his purpose and took back his life.
​
When searching for a place to live they faced discrimination time and again, but instead of conceding Comeaux decided to turn a negative into a positive. “I looked at [Moose] and said ‘let's show the world we're not bad...we have love and we can show it.’” Together they became advocates against Breed Specific Legislation in the state of Indiana and then took to the road, hiking the entire Appalachian Trail in 2013 to raise awareness and demonstrate that pit bulls are just as loving, intelligent and loyal as any other dogs.

​My first encounter with this amazing team came while I was collecting stories for my first book. In my attempt to shed a positive light on a group of dogs who are mislabeled, maligned and misunderstood and do my small part to help unwanted pit bulls find homes, I unexpectedly found a family – a group of compassionate, like-minded individuals who in some small way hoped to change the world for pit bulls and the people who love them. Danny Comeaux was one of those people. What he and Moose were able to achieve was no small feat.  Their influence was far-reaching; it was truly inspirational.

​Comeaux and Moose hiked nearly 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine over a five month period. Moose even carried his own backpack and supplies. Their adventures were chronicled on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

They met with many obstacles along the way but they never gave up, triumphantly reaching the peak of Mt. Katahdin on September 5, 2013.

​Their motto was WeWillFinish and they did.

Since then, Comeaux has found a new career as an actor in television and films under the name Dc Martin. His roles include a part in the 2015 Robert Redford/Nick Nolte film “A Walk in the Woods.” He anticipates a bright future and gives credit to Moose for his success.

​Plans were underway for Comeaux and Moose to continue their mission by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. Sadly, it was not to be. Moose passed away on April 8, 2016. While Comeaux has not yet decided what he will do next, WeWillFinish will always be the legacy he shared with his best friend. They will forever share a bond that will never be broken.

Moose may not have lived a long life, but he lived a full and meaningful one, jam-packed with adventures. He made many friends, changed perceptions and opened countless minds and hearts. He made the most of his time here and lived life to the fullest.

​Moose accomplished things most of us never will and he made more of an impact in a few short years than many of us will in a lifetime. He will always be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Fly high, Moose. You have earned your wings.

#WeWillFinish #MooseTheAmericanStaffordshireTerrier #MooseRIP

Photo credits Justice for Desmond Facebook page

Desmond was surrendered to the New Haven CT animal shelter at four years of age and quickly became a volunteer favorite. He greeted everyone with a wagging tail and lots of kisses. He loved to play and show off the tricks he had learned. He was called “Sweet Baby Desmond” by the volunteers who came to know him.
​
Eventually he began to show signs of stress and was transferred to a smaller facility. Soon after he was adopted. The shelter had no way of knowing that his adopter had previously been in a relationship with the prior owner. Nor did they know the adopter had a long history of violent behavior and had purposely set out to adopt Desmond as a way to punish his former girlfriend.

A year later Desmond’s lifeless body was discovered in a plastic bag at the end of a dead end street. A necropsy showed he had been kicked, beaten and starved. His owner confessed and also admitted to keeping him locked in a bathroom and finally hanging him in a fit of “uncontrollable rage” for urinating in the house.
​
The owner, twenty-two year old Alex Wullaert, was charged with felony animal cruelty in January, 2012. He pleaded not guilty and was granted Accelerated Rehabilitation. All charges were expunged from his record in April, 2015.

State residents and animal lovers around the country have expressed their outrage on social media including a Facebook page, Justice for Desmond. Connecticut is seeking justice for Desmond with HB 6187, also known as Desmond’s Law. If passed, Desmond’s Law would allow animal advocates in the courtroom during animal cruelty cases to be a representative voice for the victims. In addition, through a partnership with the University of Connecticut Law School, the advocates would be law students, meaning there would be no cost to the state.

The bill, drafted by State Representative Diana Urban, has passed the Judiciary Committee and is currently before the legislature. Urban felt compelled to act when she learned that the conviction rate in Connecticut for animal cruelty cases was only eighteen percent.

People are finally taking notice of the correlation between those who abuse animals and those who abuse humans. Even the FBI has begun tracking animal cruelty cases across the country. While progress is being made, there is still much work to do.

For starters, it is imperative for all Connecticut residents to call or write their legislators and let them know they support Desmond’s Law. The bill will come before the Legislature on May 4th. It is up to us to make sure it is acted on.
​
Not only would Desmond’s Law be a benefit to animals in Connecticut, but it could serve as a blueprint for other states to enact similar laws. Connecticut can be a leader in the fight against animal cruelty. We must speak out and be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Find your local legislators here and make some noise. Our animals are depending on us.