Nobody Wants to Kill Animals: Josephine Co Edition

Screengrab from KTVL showing a portion of a protest sign held by a Riley supporter.



A dog reportedly wandered into a family*s*yard in Grant*s P$#@!, Oregon last month. *The family*kept the dog for 3 weeks, calling her Riley, while area animal advocates networked her to find her possible owner. *Riley was reportedly a friendly dog who got along well with humans of all ages, canines and chickens.

On January 10, Riley got lost and was picked up by the Josephine Co pound. *Those who had been working to help the dog attempted to get her out but were refused. *First the county said Riley had to be held for a minimum of 3 days for possible owner redemption. *Then the county said they had to keep her for a veterinary evaluation, which took another week. *Riley reportedly tested positive for heartworm and passed a temperament test while at the pound. *Her advocates raised money from the community for heartworm treatment, found an adopter and continued to seek her release from the pound.

Making no headway, a protest was organized*for Monday, January 26. *Protesters showed up at the county courthouse with signs saying “Save Riley”. *But the pound had already killed Riley on Friday, January 23. *County commissioner Cherryl Walker issued a statement that day in response to the public outcry. *She states Riley was killed upon recommendation of a vet because the dog:

• had fleas and ticks


• was over 8 years old


• had tested positive for heartworm


• had “demonstrated aggressive behavior”

Obviously failing to sell even herself on her lame excuses, Ms. Walker goes on to imply that heartworm is as frightening a public health issue*as malaria and that Riley may have died undergoing treatment anyway. *So to protect the community from malaria heartworm and since you know, dog could have fallen over dead anytime, anywhere, anyway, the county decided to kill her. *She makes no mention of the rescuers trying to adopt the dog,*that it wouldn*t have cost the county any resources to save Riley or that Riley had a right to live, even if she wasn*t young and even though she had parasites.

Diane Hoover, director of the county health department which oversees the pound, is totally fine with Riley*s killing:

“I don*t feel like overriding a vet*s recommendation, when he*s a licensed professional,” Hoover said.

Yeah sometimes I don*t feel like putting forth effort at my job either. *But then I worry maybe my boss won*t feel like paying me if I don*t do a decent job. *I guess Ms. Hoover doesn*t have that concern. *No need to seek a second opinion from another vet or let the dog go to the adopter who wanted her or anything at all actually.

[The Josephine Co pound] typically has to euthanize more than 500 dogs a year. More than 700 dogs are adopted out to good homes in an average year.

Has to? *Because Riley*s case makes it seem more like WANTS TO.

(Thanks Clarice for the links.)







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Nobody Wants to Kill Animals: Josephine Co Edition