NEWS: Shelter kills dog before owners can pick it up

[Mellie]

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

Shelter Kills Dog Before Owners Can Pick It Up
Pet Was Identified By Microchip, Euthanized Anyway

POSTED: 5:35 pm EDT August 17, 2005
UPDATED: 1:10 pm EDT August 18, 2005

MIAMI -- On. Aug. 5, a dog escaped from his back yard and was picked up by county dogcatchers. His owner called to claim him and went twice to the shelter to pick the dog up, only to find out a week later that the dog had been euthanized.

PICTURES: Dog, Owners, Animal Services Director

Anays Rodriguez-Porras says her 10-year-old golden retriever "Cowboy" was part of her family.

Rodriguez-Porras and her husband searched frantically for Cowboy, and they called Miami-Dade County Animal Services to report the dog missing.

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.

Animal Services Director Dr. Sara Pizano said Wednesday, "This was human error. I have no excuse. There's no reason for such a thing to happen."

On Wednesday, Pizano, who has run animal services for just five weeks, fired supervisor Barry Adkins, who had signed off on the paperwork that allowed Cowboy to be euthanized. Pizano was formerly director of veterinary-services for the Humane Society of Broward County. She was brought in to shape up animal services.

Christian Dunham, an attorney for Adkins, said his client was ''very sorry and sad for the family,'' and was willing to write a letter of apology or offer compensation for the dog.

Dunham called the firing ''unwarranted,'' and said Adkins was promised time to respond to the allegations in writing.

He added that Adkins has had an unblemished career and plans to appeal the firing.

Pizano said she will make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

The Rodriguez-Porras family says that's small consolation for the loss of their beloved pet.

[APBTs2005]

that is very sad, at least it wasnt on purpose.....may God bless them with a new dog and there old dog a happy place in the stars

[Cassiepeia]

That's so sad.

Cass.

[SalemWitchChild]

His firing wasn't warrented! hah! Were not talking about something that can be undone with an appology and a free adoption. These people took their beloved pet away because of a major oversight! Firing should be his minimal punishment!

[Pugdawg1]

Well that's enough to make me wanna cry... poor people, poor dog. Sigh.

[gretajack]

OMG! I agree with Salem here. This dog was properly identified and owners had been contacted. This is a major error on behalf of the supervisor. He has the title of supervisor, therefore it is his job and duty to make sure that everything is done according to procedure and paperwork and apparently this is not what happened. I feel no pity for him losing his job, yet I do pity him for the unbelievable shame and heartache he must be feeling for his mistake. But I do think that job loss is the least he should be worrying about right now. I am not saying that anything was done out of spite or vengence. I agree that a mistake was made, but one that should have NEVER been made.

I cannot even fathom what I would think if I were in this owner's shoes. My thoughts are with them.

[FurSuccess]

Oh god, this is my worst nightmare right here...I work at a shelter and I'm forever checking the animals file and lost reports in hopes of reuniting them with their owner...I'm also always trying to "socialize" them so at worst perhaps the pet will go up for adoption instead of going to heaven.

This really reinforces my "carefullness" and what my co-workers call my being "anal" lol...I call it just loving these critters.

[calgal]

That's the same shelter that was euthanizing almost every dog that came to the shelter. They were reported and a new director sent in to investigate. Then Sara was sent in to straighten things out and to keep a close eye on Barry. Barry was the kind of guy who LOVED killing. He also loved inflicting pain on the animals, that's why the volunteers reported him. He needs some stiff punishment and a serious army of psychiatrist's. Such a sick freak!!

[SalemWitchChild]

Originally Posted by calgal

That's the same shelter that was euthanizing almost every dog that came to the shelter. They were reported and a new director sent in to investigate. Then Sara was sent in to straighten things out and to keep a close eye on Barry. Barry was the kind of guy who LOVED killing. He also loved inflicting pain on the animals, that's why the volunteers reported him. He needs some stiff punishment and a serious army of psychiatrist's. Such a sick freak!!

If that is true then he is the one who should be in court for animal cruelty.

I was wondering why they would euthanize him anyway. Most dogs that come in our shelter as strays get enough reasonable time to be adopted. Matter of fact many stay longer than the alotted time if they have room.

[Mutts4me]

This is 'mutts4me's mom and I agree that if it is indeed found out true that the shelter's employee and any other volunteer are found guilty than criminal charges should be next step. If it is found out to be an 'honest mistake' or even an administrative error, still there should be a reasonable monetary compensation to the owners AND documentated follow up that needed changes be done in this shelter. There is of course no amount of monetary compensation that can replace the loss however there should be a good faith effort towards accomplishing this and that it doesn't happen again. The public does need to become aware of places and situations such as this so it can no longer be a threat. I am an RN and can confirm that sadly there are people who have serious mental/social/physical issues 'working' in places that are not being properly supervised. It is EVERY individual's respondisbility to stand up and speak but keeping in mind not to also go overboard ourselves. Be respondsible, considerate, and informed. People like "Barry" are not only a threat to others but also to himself.

[handsomedoberman]

That So Sad Well If He Was Living Here In Wis, That Dum Man Will Go To Prison For 10 To 15 Years For Killing An Animal Thats Are Law Here Yahoo I See So Many Meen People Here I Turn Them In If I See Some One Hitting There Dog Or House Pet's. I Love Animals..

[sparks19]

I read about this earlier today. I can NOT believe something like this happened. I mean what was that guy thinking. Even if the owners hadn't been found the dog still wasn't to be put down for at least three more days. So he missed TWO BIG things there. His firing wasn't warranted what a load of hooey. I hope he feels horrible and finds it hard to sleep at night at least that means he has a soul.

[621mum]

What a sad situation!

[FurSuccess]

Arrrggh...I was thinking about this thread all day at work (a shelter)... I work with a certain cretin who has it in for many dogs because of the stupidest things...their breed, the "tone" of their bark, etc ... she will complain that a dog should get "pulled" (put to sleep) because it growled at her--WELL NO WONDER!!! YOU WALKED UP TO IT THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU HATE IT!!--is all I think to myself. She gets very upset if I don't do what she says (which is extremely often!) and when I temperment test (and HONESTLY pass) a dog that she says needs to get pulled. My supervisor gets me to temperment test a lot because my husband and I train dogs and operate a drug detector dog company--so she is most comfortable with going on my professional opinion rather than some other person's feeling...but this person has been there longer than me, and is on a super duper power trip--although she doesn't have any official authority and the supervisors have already said that they will NEVER leave her in charge because she can't be trusted. Everybody (co-workers, supervisors, ***'t supervisors, adminstrators, etc) knows about how cruel and hot headed she is, but nothing is ever done despite our persistant complaints.
I am trying to deal with her myself by going to management/directors, but it is a slllooowww battle. ..in the meantime, I drive myself crazy trying to ensure that dogs aren't being put down because she doesn't like them....
Sorry about the rant, guys, but this news story is hitting a little too close to home for me....I'm going back to my supervisor (on my day off) because I have to bring this issue to her again, or else who knows what poor dog might get pulled because of her.