Unnecessary and Cruel Killing at Animal Control

The following is the contents of an email Auckland Animal Action received from a member of the public who found a dog and entrusted him with Animal Control; only to have Animal Control kill him. This is not the first time we have been contacted by someone who has had an animal killed Animal Control. Last year we were contacted by an East Auckland man whose cat had been picked up and put down by Animal Control within less than 24 hours.

This is a timely reminder that Animal Control agencies are responsible for the deaths of many innocent creatures every year. If you find a stray animal, for the safety of the animal, please consider taking him or her home and finding their parents yourself. Often you can call the local Council, if the animal has a registration tag, and the Council will contact the parents if they have the number. In our experience you do not need to surrender the animal for them to do this for you. If you can not locate their family then you could either look after the animal yourself or find them a new home. Auckland Animal Action can always help with homes or at least point you in the right direction. This can be very rewarding for both you and the animal.

A Personal Account of Animal Control

On Dec 24th, I was driving down New North Road to get some groceries when I saw a small dog running about on the road (in front of 947 New North Rd). This is a really busy road with 4 lanes so consequently there were cars narrowing avoiding this dog. So I parked, and ran out and grabbed the dog and brought him to the footpath. He appeared to be a young Staffy cross with a blue collar, but no name tag or license tags.

I wasn’t sure what to do with the dog, as I looked around and no one seemed to be looking for him. So I called Telecom Directories on my cellphone and asked if I could have the contact number for whoever deals with stray dogs. I realise now I would have been better off asking for the SPCA, but instead I was given the number for Animal Control. I spoke to someone there who said they would have someone come and collect the puppy. At the time I asked what would happen to the dog from there, and they said they could pick him up and wait for the owners to contact them. I enquired as to what would happen if the puppy was not claimed, and was told it would be euthanized. I said that I did not want that to happen, and in the event that the dog was not claimed, I would take him and find him a suitable home. I was told to give my details to the person that came and picked up the dog. I waited with the dog for about one and a half hours. In that time, the puppy showed himself to be very affectionate, obedient and really well natured. Eventually the puppy was collected, and I gave my details to the driver. I stressed that I did not want the dog to be put down, and that I would happily take it if it was not claimed.

During the next week I called them several times to see if the dog had been picked up, which he was not. Further calls to Animal Control confirmed that no one had collected the puppy. With this in mind, I thought it best if I started trying to find a new home for the puppy. I placed ads on Trade Me and Pets On The Net in the hopes of finding a new home for him, or that his owners might see the ads and get in touch.

I called Animal Control on the 4th of January to find out what the procedure was for adopting a pet, and to make sure he would not be euthanised in the meantime whilst I looked for a home for him. I was told he was due to put to sleep on the 7th of January! I asked if I could pick him up before then and either put him in a kennel or take him to the SPCA. I was also told that it would cost around $300 to pick him up as this was the cost for him being neutered and micro-chipped. I was slightly relieved as if I could not find a home at least I could stop him being killed in the meantime. However, on Saturday the 5th of January, I found someone that wanted to give a home to the puppy. So I called Animal Control back immediately. I gave the details of the proposed new owner and his address, as I was told their property would have to be inspected to ensure it was suitable for the dog. However, the dog could not be picked up that weekend as they are not actually open and only have operators handling emergencies. I stressed to the operator that I did NOT want the dog to be put down on Monday as they had planned. He assured me that the dog was taken off the list of animals to be euthanised.

I received a call from someone from Animal Control later that afternoon who told me that the person who wanted to give the dog a home did not have a suitable property (it was not completely fenced). Frustrated, I got off the phone and started ringing around again in the hopes I could find another home for the dog. Fortunately I did, and this person had a fully fenced property, perfect for a dog. On Sunday 6th of January I called Animal Control back and spoke to the same operator. I gave him the details of the new proposed owner, and once again asked for assurance the dog would not be killed the following day. He said that he wouldn’t be as he had been taken off the list. I told him I had the money and would like to pick up the dog as soon as possible. I was told I wouldn’t be able to collect the dog till Wednesday as it would not be able to be neutered until then. He did say to call back on Monday to arrange payment etc, so I said I could call first thing.

At 8:28am on Monday the 7th January, I called back once again, and explained what had happened on the weekend at that I would like to arrange making the payment for the dogs expenses and as to when I could pick him up to take him to his new home. I was told that on the weekend, their vet had inspected the dog and had deemed him not suitable for adoption. Stunned, I asked what she meant. She just repeated what she had said. So I demanded to know why and was told “they didn’t need to provide further detail”. Furious, I demanded to speak to a manager. It was then I was connected to Scott Whitlay. I asked why the dog was no longer suitable to be adopted out, and was told, again, that the vet had seen him and deemed him not suitable for adoption. I said flat out that it was not good enough, and I wanted an explanation. He said that with younger dogs, they cannot be sure that that the dog doesn’t have an underlying disease or illness than hadn’t shown itself yet; therefore he was not suitable to be adopted out. I was told that dogs under the age of 6 months (this puppy was 4 months) were not suitable for adoption and therefore killed (although every time I said killed, he said “No, we don’t kill animals, we euthanise them”). I said that it was ridiculous, and that that was a risk that all pet owners took when taking on the responsibility of a pet. I was told, sorry, but that is our policy and is in the best interest of the company (Animal Control) and after arguing the point for a while. I became very frustrated, said some colourful words and hung up.

After 10 minutes or so I called back and was transferred to Scott again. I suggested that I draw up a contract that would absolve Animal Control of responsibility for any illness the dog may have currently or in the future. He said no, that would not do. I then asked what would happen if I found the owners, and was promptly told that it wouldn’t do any good, as the dog has already been put to sleep. Shocked and heartbroken, I put the phone down.

There are a few things that don’t add up here.

1) When exactly was the dog put to sleep? I was told that Animal Control didn’t operate on the weekend and only had phone staff answering emergency calls. When Scott told me the dog had been killed, it could not have been after 9am. The dog was alive and well on Sunday (I presume), as the operator assured me he had been taken off the list of animals to be killed.

2) Why is it that I was only told of this ridiculous policy whereby they kill dogs that are under 6 months old around the same time the dog was killed? They had the puppy for a full 2 weeks by that time, and I had called and spoken to them around 10 times in that period. In this time I was not once relayed any information pertaining to policy regarding such rulings, and was assured the dog would be fine so long as I could find it a home. I also presume Animal Control deal with dogs every day; so how is it possible they only notice / confirm the dog’s age after 2 weeks in captivity?

3) How can they have a policy of killing dogs under the age of 6 months for fear of underlying illness or disease, when puppies under the age of 6 months are bought and sold every day, through the SPCA, pet stores, breeders and the like? It makes no sense.

As you can imagine, I was extremely upset and distraught that this lovely affectionate dog had been killed for no other reason than it falling 2 months short of Animal Control’s absurd policy cut-off - that it was 2 months too young. I broke the news to what would have been the puppies new owner, and also posted updated on the Trade Me and Pets On The Net websites (Since which I have had an outpouring of support and sympathy, and many people expressing their anger towards this unjustified and cruel situation). I also told my Mother what happened as she was very interested in helping the dog find a home and had even contributed money towards paying the costs for his micro-chipping and neutering.

On the morning of Tuesday the 8th of January, my mother called Scott and wanted an explanation as to why the dog was killed, when the dog had been taken off the list of animals to be euthanised. After a long discussion in which my mother was told many times it was merely policy, Scott said that he was the one who came on Monday morning, seen the dog had been taken off the list and as to why (that the dog had someone that was going to adopt it), but in spite of that decided to put the puppy back on the list.

This situation makes very little sense to me, and seems to be nothing more than a callous and cruel act. A perfectly healthy, affectionate puppy was killed for no reason, when he had people that were willing to pay any expenses he had, and provide a good home and life for him. It makes me sick, and there is no way I can let this go.

Who knows how many other animals are killed for no REAL reason. In fact, I had an email from someone via one of my ads who is currently trying to adopt a dog from Animal Control and said that they are making it extremely difficult for them and they are having to ‘jump through hoops’ to make it happen. This is wrong.

When there are willing homes and owners for these animals, there is no reason for them to be killed. It makes no sense, and I will do everything I can to see that it is investigated and doesn’t happen again.