Animal Control staff should have provided answers about puppy

Editor:

//

In response to the recent articles concerning Columbia County Animal Care and Control, I, as a citizen not related to any rescue groups, have seen firsthand the lack of professionalism at the facility.

On July 1, I brought in to them a basenji mix puppy that I found on the road. This puppy was well-disciplined and healthy by all appearances: clean ears, firm stool, no runny eyes, healthy nose, alert, etc. I called back a day later to inform them that I wanted to adopt the puppy if an owner did not claim it.

When I called back five days later, they said they had to give it preventative shots, such as parvo and distemper.

After an additional three-day waiting period, I called back, and they said it was euthanized because of signs of sickness. When I asked to speak to someone who would know what it had, they said the vet that put it down was not in the building.

I called back two days later in disbelief, wanting answers. They said it wasn't a vet, but a euthanasia specialist who made the decision to put the dog down. They wouldn't tell me what signs of sickness the dog had.

As a taxpayer, that information should be given to us. Is it possible the dog might have eaten some grass and thrown up? Maybe that's enough to say the dog should be euthanized so they can make more room in their facility.

I am appalled that they knew I wanted the dog and couldn't inform us in any way that it showed signs of sickness. I would then have made a decision whether I would adopt the dog and invest in its health care.

Dawn M. Sindelar

Martinez