In Spencer County, Kentucky, the animal control director who shot and killed an injured dog has been suspended. The Chihuahua named Abigail had been struck by a car on Sunday night.
According to the Courier Journal, and the Spencer County Watchdog, animal control officer James Houchin found the Chihuahua injured after a Good Samaritan called in to report the dog and called animal control supervisor David Wood. The supervisor told Houchin to bring the dog to his home where Wood would shoot and kill the dog; the dog was allegedly too injured, and the medical cost to care for the dog at Blue Pearl would have been too costly.
The dog was unable to use her back legs or tail and appeared to have a broken back. Based on photos taken by the person who originally found the tiny dog lying in the road, she was alive, lifted her head and had been looking around – as if waiting for someone to help her. Instead Wood shot the dog and threw it in a dumpster.
There is no indication the nine-year-old dog was ever scanned for a microchip nor was her body saved in a freezer pending the identification of her owner. The owners, Tommy Lewis and his wife had been waiting for Abigail to come home after she had been missing for the weekend.
“Wood said she was too far gone, so he blew her head off with a 12-gauge shot gun. But I believe in my heart that if they had taken her to Blue Pearl she would be at home with us today,” stated Lewis.
Mike Moody, the Spencer County Magistrate said the county’s fiscal court voted to suspend Wood. Kentucky law prohibits anyone shooting a dog to death unless the animal is suffering. Wood’s attorney said his client was within his rights according to law.
Rest in peace Abigail.
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Beyond disgusting……. Since when does an animal control officer shoot an injured animal AND dispose of the body in a dumpster? Seems like animal cruelty & a coverup to me….. and without ANY attempt to locate and notify the owner…….
Lock up this POS forever AND lose the keys!!! He should only leave prison in a pine box (& that is TOO GOOD for him)!!! He will spend eternity burning in the hottest part of Hell for his cruelty.
Why not take the dog to the vet and have the vet evaluate her, scan for a microchip, find the owner ASAP so they can make decisions, HUMANELY euthanize (if necessary), freeze or cremate the body as the owner requests…..
Precious little treasure Abigail who was murdered by this POS, I know you are absolutely in Heaven. Please look for MacKitty and join his wonderful snuggle buddies group and RIP amongst loving friends……
That is the most barbaric way to handle the situation. Why humans why?
What a heartless director of that shelter! He needs to be eliminated and never touch an animal again. Please use Wood’s “blow her head off” technique as you boot him out the door! My sincere condolences to the family of this dog. And while I’m at it, shame on James Houchin who allowed this moron to kill the dog! Rest in peace little Abigail you certainly didn’t deserve this!
SHOULD HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO HELL!