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Animal Services reviews euthanasia policy

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By Eddie Daniels | Tribune Staff
Published: January 26, 2013

LAND O' LAKES - A policy review is under way at Pasco County Animal Services after a dog that was set to go to a rescue group was mistakenly euthanized last week.

"We're reviewing the policy because an adoption partner group did send a request, and the system we have set up, several people look at the list and one (dog) was missed," Animal Services Director John Malley said Tuesday.

The dog, a female pit bull mix, had been at the shelter since Jan. 4 and was featured on the shelter's Facebook page, Malley said.

The animal group sent the request by email, and the dog was one of many that were to be rescued, according to Malley.

He said the pit bull was listed last on the subject line of the email. The stray was never taken off the euthanasia list and was put down on the morning of Jan. 18.

That afternoon, members of the rescue group, which Malley did not name, showed up to take the dog.

Currently, agency staff review a checklist before an animal is euthanized. The evening before and the morning of a scheduled euthanasia, the staff check to see if a request has come in to rescue an animal. The adoption coordinator checks the list against any requests for adoption, and that is then verified by another shelter staff member.

If a request is received, that animal is removed from the list.

"We spoke directly with them and acknowledged there are times when there is a human error that really cannot be corrected by a system," Malley said. "We're making every effort possible to review the policy and procedure — look at our standing operating procedure when it comes to that particular portion of our operation — and we're making every effort to correct it."

The shelter is transitioning to a 90 percent live-release rate, a movement started in Berkeley, Calif., in 2001.

The concept has gained ground across the nation and was first implemented locally by Manatee County in 2011.

Shortly after the policy was accepted by the Pasco County Commission in early November, the agency placed a moratorium on euthanizing animals brought into the shelter.

During a late November meeting, Malley told commissioners that after three days, the shelter population went to 178. The following week, that number climbed to 215. And days later, the shelter, which was meant to house between 150 and 180 animals but turns away none when surrendered, had 320 animals.

The overcrowding is because of feral cats, Malley said. The moratorium was lifted in an attempt to lower the population.

Animal Services was heavily criticized last summer because of low live-release rates. In June, the rate had gone from 19 percent to 55 percent in a year's time. It now stands at close to 60 percent.

"It's a matter we take very seriously," Malley said. "It's part of an effort that we're making to save as many as we can."