Fatal Mistakes Continue at Miami Dade Animal Services

Meet Juancho. Juancho was a handsome, sweet boy whose unpleasant past was about to become a happy and hopeful future. After having the tough luck to end up at Miami Dade Animal Services recently, rescuers began working to save him, and a new home was found for this special boy! A warm bed and a new mom awaited him.

But instead, MDAS killed him on Memorial Day (when they were closed, of course – holiday adoption hours? Not a chance!), even after multiple emails from rescuers pleading to keep him alive, saying they were coming to get him on Tuesday when the shelter reopened.

And what was their reasoning for killing this poor boy? “Illness” … his illness consisted of a bump from a recent injection (which MDAS itself said would likely self-resolve), and his teeth looking worn from age. ?!?!?!?!?!?!

So was it really because MDAS didn’t bother checking emails on a Sunday? Or because they no longer honor Do Not Euth requests (even though it means saving lives)? Or because they consider a sore injection site an incurable illness? Whichever excuse they choose – they’re all completely ludicrous, and none of them will ever make up for the loss of Juancho’s life.

This is nothing short of tragic. One more dog who didn’t have to die … and did. If Florida were to pass the Companion Animal Protection Act, or a modified version of it, what happened to Juancho would be illegal. The shelter would not be able to ignore the pleas of rescuers. They would not be able to kill him for having worn down teeth and a little bump on his shoulder. They would not be able to kill when there are empty cages … and so on. CAPA would offer protection for animals like Juancho. It would save thousands of lives. Versions of CAPA have passed in California and Delaware, and have been introduced in New York (as CAARA) and Minnesota. CAPA is our first step towards becoming a No Kill Nation, and its importance cannot be overstated.

Below are transcripts of several emails sent to alert staff not to kill Juancho, as well as an eventual response from MDAS.

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—–Original Message—–
From: XXX
To: pets <pets@miamidade.gov>
Sent: Sun, May 29, 2011 12:40 pm
Subject: id number’s A1349005 and a1350595 DO NOT EUTH PLEASE.

DO NOT EUTHANIZE ID #’S A1349005 [Juancho] AND ID# A1350595 WE HAVE MOMES, WORKING ON GETTING THEM PULLED AND TRANSPORTED.
tUESDAY BEFORE CLOSE. THANK YOU.

—–Original Message—–
From: XXX
To: pets <pets@miamidade.gov>
Sent: Sun, May 29, 2011 6:45 pm
Subject: Fwd: id number’s A1349005 and a1350595 DO NOT EUTH PLEASE.

—–Original Message—–
From: Pets (ASD) <Pets@miamidade.gov>
To: XXX
Sent: Tue, May 31, 2011 5:34 pm
Subject: RE: id number’s A1349005 and a1350595 DO NOT EUTH PLEASE.

Hello

A1349005 [Juancho]– pts sick on 05/30/2011

A1350595- adopted

Thanks

Pets

—–Original Message—–

From: XXX
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 5:42 PM
To: Pets (ASD)
Subject: Re: id number’s A1349005 and a1350595 DO NOT EUTH PLEASE.

SICK?  WHAT WAS HIS CONDITION PLEASE?

—–Original Message—–
From: Pets (ASD) <Pets@miamidade.gov>
To: XXX
Sent: Tue, May 31, 2011 6:11 pm
Subject: RE: id number’s A1349005 and a1350595 DO NOT EUTH PLEASE.

Hello

A1349005-Mass on the left side of the shoulder blades.

teeth-periodontal disease, needs dental work.

Put on dr’s list.

Small mass on L shoulder blade.  Mildly painful. Seams to be an injection site. Likely it will self resolve.

Teeth: severely worn down. Lots of incisors missing.  Periodontal dz.

Aged.

Thanks

Pets

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Any way you slice it, there’s no excuse for Juancho’s death. We need to put an end to this. The track record for Miami Dade Animal Services is dismal. With over 20,000 animals killed in 2010, documented cases of abuse, and leadership that continually makes excuses for needless killing and disease outbreaks – the status quo needs a major overhaul. Please join the fight to implement No Kill at MDAS, and all the other high-kill shelters out there, killing animals like Juancho every day. RIP boy, we won’t forget you.

For everyone interested in learning more about CAPA, and who wants to stop the needless deaths of thousands of animals like Juancho – please visit www.rescue50.org, where you’ll find all the tools you need to take up the No Kill cause in your community. We can make a difference, and we can save thousands – and eventually millions, of lives.