At the SPCA in New Orleans, the family of a lost and then found dog are grieving after their beloved pet was accidentally euthanized. Less than two weeks ago, Herman and Rolanda Spencer’s Labrador retriever/Great Dane pooch, named King Zuma, wiggled his way out of the family’s backyard through an opening from a broken gate slat.
According to 4wwlCBS, the family searched for Zuma for two weeks, and finally as a last resort, checked the shelter – and there he was. Their dog looked healthy and ready to go home, however the dog’s records indicated he was not up-to-date on his vaccinations and would have to wait until Monday to be released. At that time, the veterinarian would be able to administer the shot so Zuma could return home.
Sadly, a series of events precluded the anticipated reunion of lost dog and family. When Zuma was found, he had been in someone’s backyard and identified initially as a stray. Shelter staff were able to find a microchip on the dog, but he had not been registered, and there was no way to contact his family.
In addition, Zuma had failed his behavioral test.
A behavior assessment was performed and did not yield a passing result. When attempting to handle, the dog immediately starting biting the team member’s hand. When a second team member was placing the dog back into his holding space the dog started biting their hand’s as well. Animal was listed as “high arousal,” meaning he was unable to be handled safely.
Facebook SPCA New Orleans
And as reported by the SPCA the time schedule had a tragic end:
November 19
• 1:27 p.m. – A list of animals to be euthanized that evening was distributed to team members to double check lost reports and any internal animal notes associated with the animals. King Zuma became a candidate for euthanasia due to his failed behavior assessment.
• 2:41 p.m. – The list was double checked and confirmed by an additional team member and ensures all animals on the list have no holds or possible reasons to be taken off of it.
• 3:04 p.m. – Owner of the dog came into our New Orleans Campus Shelter to look for their lost dog. We went through our lost reports that were filed in person and on the website and could not find one matching the animal’s description, so we walked the owner through our holding areas to look at animals in our care matching their pet’s description.
• 3:18 p.m. – The animal was identified as King Zuma by his owner, and medical and adoption records were presented. A current Rabies vaccination was not found in the medical records, and as a legally required vaccine King Zuma was not able to be returned to it’s owner until it was administered. With no veterinarian on duty to administer the vaccine, the owner was instructed to come back on Monday, November 21.
• 3:34 p.m. – As per internal protocols, colored paws are placed in animal’s kennel signs to indicate that they are to be euthanized.
• 5:11 p.m. – King Zuma was euthanized via injection.
Facebook SPCA New Orleans
The SPCA has apologized and are now actively reviewing all of their euthanasia protocols and processes to make sure this heartbreaking situation never happens again.
The family’s young son still cries for King Zuma, and the family also wants to make sure this terrible mistake never happens again to another family.
Rest in peace King Zuma. You will be missed.
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I am soooo sorry that happened. But…. maybe could have been avoided if the family had registered the microchip and had proof of rabies vaccine.
That’s wrong everyone seems to think I’m sorry fixes everything he was family not some stray
I agree Jeffery that was like their child …sorry is so not going to heal anything. I started crying with them. I just lost my fur baby in August…she would have been 13 in human years Dec.17. I raised her since she was 2 month’s old.
If I were that family, I would hire an attorney who focuses solely on animal issues. Yes, definitely better to keep microchips updated but wrongful euthanasia still happens even with updated microchips due to carelessness and neglectful shelter employees……
There was no reason for this wrongful euthanasia. Someone should be held accountable for their actions…….
What exactly is their criteria for being euthanized? The dog was handled in a foreign environment with strangers his behaviour was normal. Also as soon as the dog was identified by the owner the color paw protocol should have been immediately removed. Someone has completely messed up here. If the owner had turned up 30min earlier everything would have changed but it is the staff that has to be accountable. Sorry is not enough, they put a family dog in death row out of negligence
SPCA handlers should know better than to assume behavioral deficiencies after so brief a time with a lost dog. This is a tragedy that could have been avoided.