Reader believes euthanised dog could have been saved

BABERTON –
Ronel Reinecke writes:

I was and still am extremely upset about a beautiful male husky that was euthanised on January 23.
A friend informed me that it was going to be put to sleep at the Barberton Vet Clinic that day; it was one of the dogs from the SPCA that had been earmarked for euthanasia. My friend wanted to know if I didn’t know of anyone who would adopt the animal as he was in such a good condition and had such a good temperament. I immediately contacted one of my friends who has her own husky and she contacted another friend and we got the ball rolling to find this stunning boy a home.
An hour later I received the message that the SPCA had ordered that the dog be put to sleep, irrespective of the fact that people were willing to adopt him. Half an hour later I received the message that it was all over. To say that I was shocked is an understatement.

This broke my heart, as he had a second chance and the SPCA took it away. He could have gone to his new home, and instead was burried in a ditch at the dump site.
I have been so impressed lately with our SPCA, especially the way in which the training inspector educates people, but now I wonder.

My question to the SPCA committee is simple: why did you allow an animal to be put down when we had found him a home? What a great story this could have been. I went to look at your adoption registers for the past four months and I did not see his photo anywhere, no one knew of him.

I know the SPCA is not an adoption agency and its mandate is to prevent animal cruelty, but is it not also true that you are in desperate need of funding, and is adoption not the best way to get the money you need?
Rest in peace sweet boy, though we never knew your name, we know that you are at peace now.

Reply from the SPCA

As you stated we are not an adoption agency and our core function is the prevention of cruelty to animals, which does not mean that we do not try our utmost best to find loving homes for all animals in our care. This is, however, impossible with the large number of animals that are donated or strays that arrive at the kennels daily. Euthanasia is unfortunately our only option for animals that, after a prescribed time in the kennels, are not homed.

We simply cannot hoard animals due to a number of factors such as space, costs, kennel stress and the well-being of the animal. It is not SPCA policy.

Some breeds such as huskies seem to evoke more emotion than others. The husky in question had been at the kennels for five months, way over the prescribed period, and during this time had been adopted twice and returned both times as being a problem dog. Given the dog’s history and unsociable temperament, it made him unhomeable and the decision to have him put down humanely was taken by the chairman and acting kennel manager. I assure you that making the decision about which animals are to be euthanised is highly traumatic as we all joined the SPCA because of our compassion for animals. Someone, however, has to do this, and the husky is only one of the many unwanted dogs and cats sent over the rainbow bridge.

Neither the kennel manager, chairman nor the trainee inspector were aware that you were busy locating a potential owner, and I cannot establish whether anyone in our society, staff or committee members, was actually informed of this before the animal were “put to death irrespective of people willing and wanting to adopt him”. Yes, we are a poor society with few resources and do need all the support we can get to continue with our work, but adoptions put no money into our coffers. The fee payable for the adoption of an animal covers deworming, immunisation and sterilisation done professionally by the vet, but the animal itself is free.

Obviously when an animal cannot find a home and is to be humanely euthanased, it is removed from our Facebook page.
We are only a handful of individuals carrying the SPCA so please consider joining our organisation, seeing that you care for the welfare of animals, or arrange a fund-raiser to help us, we would love to do more for those creatures in need.

The emotion the husky evoked in you is a part of what we face each day, regardless whether the dog in question is pedigreed or mongrel: they are equally precious and deserving.

Our husky was homed twice, given five months of care and shelter, but proved to be a problem dog – it would have been unfair to continue this pattern. There was also a communication gap regarding the finding of a new owner.
I trust you understand.