Another euthanasia without notice

Today we received this email from staff. This is the second time that they have decided to euthanize a dog without giving us a week's notice, after the Arlo incident. To be fair, finding a solution for a dog who has shown this behavior and has heartworms is difficult (although, again, I question if the current staff making a diagnosis of dog "aggression" is appropriate).

As one volunteer pointed out after we received this email, perhaps we should spend less time discussing how these decisions are made and more time preventing them in the future, through de-stressing activities, training, a foster program, and increasing our adoptions.

Unfortunately, we had another event yesterday in which one of our dogs jumped a playpen fence (the "hilly" pen, not the lowest-fenced pens) and attacked another dog. The description from Chameleon is below:

"03/24/08 A volunteer had Gus (A499574) out in a playpen (the one on the side of the barnyard hill w/ the 4' fence) today. LMC had "Delilah," A501463, out on leash, walking up the hill to the long run. Gus jumped the fence & went straight for Delilah-- hackles raised, growling, & lunged straight for Delilah's face. Delilah cowered & ran behind LMC to hide, LMC grabbed Gus by his scruff & flung him back. Gus then proceeded to circle LMC & Delilah, growling, stalking, until the volunteer was able to leash Gus & pull him away. Putting to Adopt Attn for ALR to evaluate. NOTE: dog did NOT have a fence-jumper sign on his kennel. LEW"

Dorinda and I have made the decision to remove Gus from the adoption program and to euthanize him. After his behavior assessment on 2/08, I had decided that he was not a very good adoption candidate (also hw+), but, at the urging of a volunteer, and because we had some space, I decided to keep him and give him a try. He's now been in the Adoption Program 45 days and has not had any interest, and his behavior has become unsafe. Our Rescue Coordinators do not feel he is a good candidate for partner placement with his behavioral record.Sorry for the sad news, and thanks for all you do,Amber RowlandAdoption Program Manager

P.S. Dorinda and I will be meeting with Dog Volunteers Thursday evening, April 3 from 6:30 - 8:30, and a major portion of the agenda will be dedicated to issues surrounding cases like this and recent events with Arlo, Derby, and Sampson. We encourage you to attend the meeting and participate in the discussion if you are at all interested or concerned about the shelters' decision-making with adoption dogs.