In Wichita, Kansas, rescuers are outraged after at least a dozen dogs have been reported euthanized by the shelter by mistake. The Wichita Animal Shelter has called the error a breakdown of communication, and state they have since taken action to make sure this accident doesn’t happen again.
According to Channel12News, one of the rescuers recounted her recent experience with one of the shelter dogs that had been found wandering the streets and surrendered by the Good Samaritan because the woman couldn’t afford the veterinary fees. The dog was not microchipped, but the woman had been very interested in adopting the dog, so every few days she would go to the shelter to check on the pup until the mandatory hold time was over.
Unfortunately, the kind hearted woman, who correctly applied to adopt the dog, was heartbroken on Wednesday when she found out that 17 dogs – including the dog she had applied to adopt, had been euthanized. There was a mistake, and it turned out that only five of the dogs on that list had immediate concerns which would have warranted humane euthanasia.
Of the dogs that were of concern were three dogs deemed to have been dangerous and two dogs that had broken out with kennel cough, and the shelter could no longer isolate them. How about the other 12 dogs?
As of now, Lt. Derek Purcell, speaking for the shelter, stated immediate action has since been taken, and no dogs will be euthanized without his approval.
These dogs’ lives mattered. Read about them here from a very devoted rescuer and volunteer. This was not the first time lives were lost by mistake. Here are some of the innocent victims who never had a “tomorrow” because of mistakes:
“Karin was a tiny 9 lb little lady with a hurt paw. A rescue had tagged her and I had a back up tag meaning if for some reason they didn’t show or backed out, she’d still be safe and come here. Instead i got the phone call that she had been sedated for euth, then they realized she had a tag so was left in her kennel. No note or anything was placed so another worker saw her sedated and thought she was naturally dying. They had a vet exam and the vet thought she way dying so euthanized her. (The vet is not the only one euthanizing so they had no idea she had been sedated until after the fact.)…
I was livid … Coco was another little dog ‘accidentally’ euthanized. The tag was somehow missed or some excuse. Then today our Ferdinand. Guessed at only 4 months old and just a baby. One of several puppies euthanized today in addition to many others.
They had rescues, they had fosters, they had people ready to love them but “human error” continues to happen and it cost them their lives.”
Written by Kayla Astelle
This little guy was just a puppy. Now he is gone.
https://www.facebook.com/505946294/videos/pcb.10159839391226295/582845487196671
Rest in peace sweet dogs. We are so sorry that humans failed you.
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Beyond cruel and disgusting. An apology does NOT make things ok…… these dogs were failed by humans who acted with negligence and complete callous disregard for the lives of these precious treasures. Whoever made these decisions to euthanize and willfully disregard the rescue or adoption tags should be terminated immediately and never again work with animals. No apology will ever make things “right” because these animals are dead. There is no such thing as a “do over” in a euthanasia situation.