Micro-chipped, identified and owner-claimed dog EUTHANIZED ANYWAY

[Modem Butterfly]

The only good part of this story is that the man responsible has been fired.

http://www.local10.com/news/4864779/detail.html

Five days later, animal services called to say they had Cowboy, and had identified him by an implanted microchip.

Rodriguez-Porras says her reaction was, "Thank God! They got the dog!"

But her happiness was short-lived. Because of necessary paperwork and processing, she and her husband were kept from picking Cowboy up for three more days. When they were finally able to pick the dog up, they were informed that Cowboy had been euthanized.

Paperwork showed that he was put down three days before he should have been if the owner hadn't been located. Since he had a microchip and the owner had been located, he should have been held in a kennel for pick up.

[bryant69]

1. That's terrible

That sort of thing drives me nuts.

Bryant
Cehck it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Modem Butterfly]

2. All of our dogs have been rescues

Our latest adoption was two years ago this October from the Dekalb County Animal Shelter. That shelter, which had been run by the Atlanta Humane Society, had a 97% kill rate. It wouldn't even let people in to adopt animals! If you couldn't describe your animal accurately, and within three days, your animal was a goner. It got to be a sizable scandal in the Atlanta metro area. We adopted our dog after South Hope Animal Rescue took over the shelter. They now have a kill rate of 50%, which is still too high, IMHO, but is in line with other shelters in the metro area.

[bryant69]

5. My first dogs were inherited from my parents

But my last dog was a rescue dog - humane society. Apparently she had been left behind after some sort of breeding farm packed up and moved off? Left in a backyard for a couple of weeks, and then found. She's remarkably well adjusted, for all that. Daushaund Terrier Mix.


I don't know what the rate is here -- I ought to look into it.

[IrateCitizen]

10. My wife and I have 2 rescues -- a lab mix and a pit bull...

... and they are the sweetest dogs I've ever been around. Both to us, and to each other. And for all the bad press about pit bulls -- including what many have said on these boards -- our little guy is nothing but a bottomless well of love and energy! The only danger he poses is leaving welts on your legs from whipping his tail back and forth so fast.

I've come to conclude that anytime you get a rescue dog as a pet, they are usually more affectionate than most other dogs. It's almost as if they remember where they came from, and they're that much more thankful to be where they are.

[Suziq]

3. Reading Things Like This . . .

just breaks my heart :cry:

I feel for the poor dog and his owners.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

6. How horribly sad.

I want to go home and hug my "fur children." now.
:cry:

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. :^(

[wicket]

7. Horrible

Absolutely horrible :(

[truebrit71]

8. Well with the funds they could get from a lawsuit they should be able to..

..give homes to plenty more pooches...

...and the ex-employee would have had to deal with more than just trying to find a new job if that were my dog....they'd be looking for some new teeth and a sturdy pair of crutches for starters.....:grr:

[Journeyman]

9. I wouldn't say the fired employee was a "good part" of this sordid story..

The supervisor who signed off on the euthanasia had an "unblemished record" and when first confronted about this incident was promised the opportunity to respond to the allegation in writing. From what the article says, it sounds like his response time was cut short and he was fired by a newly-hired director who was possibly acting to deflect criticism from her own incompetence. Can't say for certain; the article's too vague.

On the face of it, however, it sounds like a bureaucratic tragedy that cost a family their pet and an employee his job. The family's loss is irreplaceable and cannot be undone. However, the employee deserves an opportunity to state his case. All anger and sorrow over the loss of the animal must be set aside in consideration of compassion and fair treatment for the humans involved.

[progressivebydesign]

11. What a horrible mistake!!!

I am so sorry for the family of Cowboy. I would be inconsolable. I assume it was simply a terrible mistake, no one really would knowingly euthanize a claimed dog. I have no doubt the staff and volunteers there are heartbroken, as well.

I don't want to paint everyone there as non-feeling.. .most people work in those places because they love animals. It's a hard place to work... and unfortunately too many governments are rolling animal services into a LAW ENFORCEMENT capacity, and it's more like a pet prison than a place you'd like to find a pet to adopt.

[Rainscents]

12. This is sad...

I can't believe shit like this is happenning! What sence having chip in the animal to locate animals owner when one is lost and found. when they're going to put the animal to death? This is not right.

:mad: :cry: