His name is Pursuit, and this likeable four-year-old American bulldog has been the longest resident at the Humane Society in Harrisburg. This week, however the shelter announced Pursuit will be euthanized on Monday, February 13; volunteers at the shelter are stunned at the shelter’s decision and contend the dog has adapted well to shelter life and has not been given a fair chance.
According to PennLive, Pursuit is well loved by shelter volunteers and is described as fun, goofy and great on walks. When volunteers approach Pursuit for his walk, the dog approaches the front of his kennel and patiently sits while he is leashed. Also, his caretakers have not seen any signs of stress; Pursuit seems to take life at the shelter in stride; and perhaps he is just thankful for the love and attention he receives from the kindhearted volunteers.
And that is why volunteers were stunned when the officials at the shelter announced that Pursuit would be euthanized, citing his “unpredictability and multiple incidents.” The shelter further explained that, in the opinion of the team, that all safe options had been exhausted.
Pursuit entered the shelter in October 2021 after he had been abandoned in an alley; his food and his toys left beside him. City police officers had to chase him in order to capture him – hence he was named Pursuit.
Volunteers who want Pursuit to either be fostered and help the dog find a safe home, say the dog is not a threat or liability. In fact, Pursuit still remains on the adoption floor while his death sentence reasons state he has been “deemed dangerous.”
Three volunteers told PennLive they have seen other dogs who have bitten people get second chances and not get put down. And they also have seen this particular shelter allow dogs on death row to avoid euthanasia in the past by placing them with a staff member or volunteer.
They can’t figure out what is different with Pursuit.
Penn Live interview
In addition, volunteers want Pursuit to have the opportunity to work with a trainer – one trainer comes twice a week to the shelter to work with other dogs, however Pursuit has never been given that chance. The decision to euthanize the dog came on Wednesday after an assessment on Tuesday, but no one has been allowed to read the report.
And yes, Pursuit has some issues, but many dogs can be unpredictable, choosy about who they like and quite discriminating when or who they don’t want to be around. Is that a reason to euthanize them? A few weeks prior, Pursuit had been reported to have lunged at a man during a get acquainted session, however he did not bite anyone.
Officials at the shelter have so far denied sending Pursuit to a rescue organization willing to accept him or allow any volunteers to sign a waiver and help find him a safe home.
On Saturday morning, the Humane Society in Harrisburg responded to swift backlash they have received about Pursuit and his planned euthanasia:
We want to address the article written by PennLive today. Unfortunately, behavioral euthanasias are decisions that all shelters must make. It’s emotional for staff and volunteers alike. These decisions are made with great care and out of consideration for quality of life for the animal and the safety of the community. These calls are not made by one or two people. A team gathers and a decision is had to determine if all safe options have been exhausted. When they have, then the hardest decision is made. If we believed Pursuit could have a good quality of life and live safely in the community, this decision would not be made.
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One of the volunteers has contacted a lawyer.
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PLEASE PLEASE–HE DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE! WE CAN DONATE ABD/OR SPONSOR!
As if this world isn’t bad enough, now this depressing front headline is placed front and center.
if the shelter employees, who know the dog the best are not even listened to, then what is the point of the shelter?
This has probably upset half the world now and I am one who hopes you, the external team receives all the backlash you so richly deserve
Disgusting, horrific article and the reasoning given AFTERWARDS is also despicable..
This decision is sickening. This poor dog was abandoned and now not even given a fair chance. If all of the volunteers agree that Pursuit is not dangerous then why this decision? Why not let the shelter that has offered to take him take him? Why not let the volunteer who offered to take him home have him? What is going on here? There ARE other options available. These people should NOT be on the board and making these decisions. They obviously are not qualified. I agree with the previous commenter, Candace. Who knows this dog better than the people who work with him every day? They have NO REASON to lie. I actually have been looking to adopt a dog. I live in the Pittsburgh area and just heard about Pursuit on Saturday the 11th. If I had known about him sooner, I would have adopted him. I was actually going to drive to Harrisburg on Saturday but when I looked on the shelter website, sadly, he was not even available anymore.
What a sickening disgusting situation. The management (Amy Kaunas, Executive Director) deserves all of the backlash, anger, and bad publicity they’re getting. Maybe Amy needs to move on to another company – one without the word “humane” in the name. If she has Pursuit euthanized, she becomes a representative antithetical to the “supposed” mission of the Humane Society. Her PRIDE will order the death of this dog in spite of the offers to foster him or to relocate him.
Amy – please leave the Humane Society. You are not a good fit for its supposed purposes.
Any pupdate?
Pursuit was not listed on the shelter’s website……….