In Denver, the family of a 10-year-old English Setter named Watson, who fought to save the life of their dog after surrendering him to the Denver Animal Shelter learned on Monday their dog will not be euthanized.
Watson’s owners, Nicole and Lars Ellingson had made the difficult choice to surrender their dog after Watson bit their two-year-old son who had jumped on the dog while he was sleeping.
The Texas based Southwest English Setter Rescue had been notified by Watson’s owners and told the director, Susan Dunlap, they were trying their best to get their dog back from the Denver Animal Shelter asking if the rescue would take Watson. Unfortunately, at the time, the shelter stated the dog would be humanely euthanized after the mandatory ten-day quarantine time, and that the family had been clearly notified that the dog could face death.
On Monday, the news came out that Watson was indeed alive and well:
Just after 2PM today, we learned that Watson has been transferred out of Denver Animal Shelter. We appreciate the action they have chosen. This happened because of the efforts of people like you, Watson is safe. But we’re already being asked, “What now?” Because the truth is, Watson’s life depended on the impact of an individualized publicity
No Kill Colorado
Dunlap saw rehoming Watson in a home with no children a positive alternative rather than euthanizing a dog for an obviously defensive response.
It had been the MaxFund Animal Adoption Center in Denver along with No Kill Colorado who asked animal advocates to contact local officials to spare the life of Watson. And it was on Monday, that the Denver Animal Shelter released the dog to a volunteer from Southwest English Setter Rescue, where Watson has since been reported to be doing well and settling in with his new foster parents.
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I am very happy for Watson and I hope that he will have a toddler free future life.
It’s absolutely tragic that so many companions are euthanized because of parenting failures. ANY animal will snap or scratch if they have been jumped on whilst sleeping by an uncontrolled toddler. Yet there are many (imho ignorant) parents who will insist that the animal be euthanized. It’s absolutely ridiculous that the animal “pays the price” for parenting fails…….
WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO ALL WHO CAME TOGETHER AND FOUGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT—TO SAVE WATSON!
PLEASE LET’S CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP ON HOW WATSON IS DOING.
WE NEED TO STAND BY TO SEE IF HE NEEDS ADDITIONAL HELP AND CARE!
THANK YOU AGAIN—WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT THE HEROES AND ANGELS THAT WALK AMONG US EVERY DAY!
Who would ever even think of putting this dog to sleep,Why didn’t the parents teach this child to not jump on the dog .Dogs always pay the price for when it’s the kids fault,
PLEASE PLEASE REMEMBER—THIS DOG HAS BEEN TRAUMATIZED—MORE THAN ONCE!
PLEASE KEEP HIM AWAY FROM MEAN CHILDREN, THE UNPREDICTABLE MENTALLY ILL, AND PARENTS WHO CANNOT CONTROL THEIR CHILDREN!
NEXT TIME, THIS PRECIOUS SWEETHEART WON’T BE SO FORTUNATE IF HE HAS TO PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR HUMANS WHO KEEP FAILING HIM OVER AND OVER!
PLEASE—IT IS TIME FOR WATSON TO FEEL ONLY THE DEEPEST LOVE!