Comment UpAnimal Care & Control needs to take out the words care and control from their name. Let's call it what it is in the case of pit bulls and those with pit bull mix.--a kill facility.
Dear Ms. Anderson:
Commissioner Vana asked me to forward the information below that we received from Dianne Sauve, Director of Animal Care and Control and to let you know we are very sorry about Buddy. If we can be of further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for letting us know about this unfortunate incident.
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Aide to Commissioner Shelley Vana
301 North Olive Ave
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561-355-2203
Hi Danna,
I was off-site Friday and got your message this morning. I am somewhat familiar with the case, after the fact. I did attempt to reach Ms. Anderson on Thursday but she has yet to return my calls.
(NOTE--Ms. Sauve left a message on my cell phone that she would be out and not returning until Wednesday, May 23)The dog was a pit mix (the man who turned him in said it was a lab, but it looked more pit). Pre-exam he was tentatively chosen for the adoption program. All animals are basically slated for adoption or rescue unless extenuating circumstances are found. If severe behavior problems exist such as aggression, dogs do not go for either.
In the case of medical problems we send as many animals as people will take to rescue. We work with approximately 70 rescue organizations with new ones added regularly. Few groups will take pits or pit mixes. Lab rescue will only take purebred labs. Some will take on cases that require surgery but those are usually small breed dogs that the rescues deem imminently adoptable. Or, high profile cruelty cases… everyone wants those.
This dog was found to have a leg/joint problem that would require surgery. Conservative estimates for this type of orthopedic surgery would be about $2,000.00 to $3,000.00. As a result of the medical finding, and the fact that our rescue groups have not been able to take on the expense of these cases, the dog was euthanized. I do stand behind the veterinarian who made the determination and 2 vets reviewed the case beforehand.
(NOTE: None of us saw anything whatsoever wrong with any of his legs, ankles...in fact he was walking perfectly)It should also be noted that the person who brought the dog in did not indicate that he or anyone else would be willing to take the dog.
(NOTE: The man who brought in the dog told the gal at the front desk that he wanted to adopt but needed to check first with his wife) Staff are required to place memos in the database if anyone is willing to be a last resort.
(NOTE: Staff did not do this nor did they ask me for my phone number the very next day) No memos existed. We do periodically have people visit dogs in the shelter but unless they indicate that they want to be a last resort, such visits are not noted.
(It is our fault for not asking the right questions?)Euthanasia decisions must be made and those decisions are not made lightly. Each day we have upwards of 100 animals that we are trying to move into rescue. We understand the financial limitations of our rescue partners and what animals they are willing to take. With numerous healthy, friendly pit and pit lab mixes currently being rejected by rescue organizations, we have to make those decisions for the ones that have medical issues.
(NOTE: They kill pits all of the time)Many people think that becoming a no-kill facility would eliminate euthanasia. Nothing is farther from the truth. We will still have the pits and the cats, and the ones needing exorbitant surgery, that no one comes for...
Dianne Sauve
