Dog Accidentally Put To Sleep...warning...sad

[elizabethann]

This is so sad. I think I'd go balistic and slap that woman and go to jail if they did that to Fenway!!!

http://www.thewmurchannel.com/family/4867591/detail.html

[lv4dogs]

that link isn't working.

[elizabethann]

MIAMI -- A South Florida family are outraged after learning their dog was put to sleep despite the fact that they were on their way to claim their pet from Animal Services.

Cowboy, a 10-year-old golden retriever, ran out of gates surrounding the Porras family home during an Aug. 5 storm, Miami teleivison station WTVJ reported.

Anays Rodriguez-Porras, who calls Cowboy her "first baby," said she called authorities to make a lost dog report every day the dog was missing. Late last Wednesday, Rodriguez-Porras said she learned that the dog was at a Miami-Dade County animal shelter.

Rodriguez-Porras' husband planned to pick Cowboy up, but officials told her that she must pick up the dog herself, she said.

Rodriguez-Porras went to pick Cowboy up on Saturday, but the dog was put to sleep the day before.

"The supervisor comes back, it was a lady by the name of Patricia, comes back and tells me, 'Your dog was put down.' (I said), 'What do you mean he was put down? What do you mean? No,'" Rodriguez-Porras said.

Although Rodriguez-Porras said she could not get answers from the county, the station obtained a memo from Sara Pizano, director of Animal Services, to the county manager.

"I have terminated the employee from employment at Animal Services," the memo said.

Rodriguez-Porras said the mistake is inexcusable, and that she cannot understand how it happened in the first place.

"He was fine, and he had seven years ahead of him. It's devastating to know that this happened and that, 'Sorry,' is basically it," Rodriguez-Porras said. "This dog was part of our family. This dog has given us unconditional love for over 10 years. This dog did not deserve to die that way."

Rodriguez-Porras said that if this can happen to her pet, she thinks it must have happened in the past and could happen in the future.

Rodriguez-Porras is going to meet with an attorney to see if anything can be done. She added that, at some point, she might be able to get another golden retriever.

[DogLover9501]

It says they found out where the dog was on Wednesday, why did they not go to get him until Saturday? I was thinking maybe the shelter didn't think they were coming to get him.

Very sad

[lv4dogs]

I was thinking the same thing. And also wondering how many days have passed, did she pick him up that Sat or the following? I believe there is a law, you have to hold an animal for a certain amount of days before you can find another home or euthanise.
Either way it is very sad. I'd be LIVID!

[ramanth]

I wondered the same thing too Robyn. If Kia was at Animal Control and I found out, I'd be right there and if they were closed, I'd be there bright and early the next day. I wouldn't wait at all.

Poor Cowboy.

[Muddy4paws]

I couldnt deal with that, God its terrible That poor dog.

[dukedogsmom]

At our animal control here, they only have about 4-5 days. I am the same as a couple of other people here. There is no way I would have waited that long to pick up Duke. I would hate him even having to spend one night in the place. That woman's "first baby" must not have meant that much to her if she waited that long. Also, how does she know how many years the dog had left? That's a strange quote. Poor Cowboy.

[PJ's Mom]

Originally posted by elizabethann
She added that, at some point, she might be able to get another golden retriever.

Goodie.

This seems to be the owner's fault, not the shelter's fault. How can you leave your pet in a shelter for 3 days?! Now she'll get to sue and the shelter, which needs to keep all the money it can, will have to pay her instead of helping animals. *sigh*

[lv4dogs]

Originally posted by dukedogsmom
Also, how does she know how many years the dog had left? That's a strange quote. Poor Cowboy.

I'm hoping it was a misprint & she said the dog had several years ahead of him.
Or maybe she just guessed, going by the average lifespan of such a breed?
It was strange though, hoping it was the first of the 2.

[NoahsMommy]

How sad...but I agree with the rest of you...they should have gone down there as soon as they knew the dog was there.

And...the shelter terminated the employee. At least they took responsibility.

[jesse_3]

My question is why did the dog not have a collar with a license?-or at least a collar on? Then, they would've known that he had a home and hold him until they found the owners. I wouldn't put any blaim on the shelter, and I definetely would not sue them if it is MY fault.

That is a horrible story, poor Cowboy, Rest In Peace and play hard at the RB

Steph and Jes

[lvpets2002]

That is a very sad story & am sorry for the pet & owner; but I am like everyone else how come she waited till Saturday to get the pet when she knew they had the pet Wednsday.. If it was one of my babies I would be there in a heart beat..

[Flatcoatluver]

omg this story made me want to cry that is so weird why they would wait till sat. weird. I almost think the shelter should have warned her, like a day before they put the dog down, i wonder what kind of excuse they would have wating that many day to pick the dog up, especially when the dog was very big part of there family. I mean geesh dogs are supposed to be likeyour kids, like immagion you kid in a sitionation like that and you waiting how many day to pick the kid up??? grrrrr.

[cali]

maybe she was unable to get there till saterday? it says her husband was going to be right down to pick the dog up but the shleter said SHE had to pick up the dog herself, shelter hours can be very weird, its possable that she was unable to get off work to pick up the dog during the times the shelter was open, I know the shleter her is only open from noon-5, likley she works hence why her husband was going to go down and pick the dog up right away.

I thinks its a very sad story.