LAKE COUNTY >> Between six and eight million cats and dogs entered animal shelters last year, nationwide. But only three or four million of those were adopted into loving homes, leaving millions of animals to live out their lives in shelters, or possibly not live at all. The Humane Society estimates that 2.7 million adoptable cats and dogs were euthanized in shelters around the country in the 2012-13 year. This might leave some wondering about the euthanization practices in Lake County. Are healthy, adoptable animals being rescued by local shelters, only to be put to sleep months later?
About two months ago, Lura Rockhold met Reya, a skinny dog with a resemblance to Pete from The Little Rascals. Rockhold was at the Clearlake Pet Center when the emaciated dog walked up to her.
“She was so skinny, but she was really, really cute,” said Rockhold.
It was lucky that a volunteer from the SPCA of Clear Lake was present, who told Rockhold that she would take the dog to the shelter. There she would hopefully get healthy, happy and adopted.
Fearing for the dog, who the shelter christened Reya, and the unfortunate reality of euthanasia, Rockhold checked on the pup on her way home to find out if she would be put down. Rockhold said the shelter explained that they would feed her and check to see if she was healthy, but there was an influx of animals at the SPCA of Clear Lake. They would do what they could for Reya.
“We”ve been receiving an inordinate amount of dogs in the last month,” said Mary Jane Montana, executive director of the SPCA of Clear Lake. “We get five or six dogs a day and we just got a whole litter of puppies.” But Montana said that if they have room, they”ll take in any animal that comes their way, fearing abandonment or injury if the animal is left on the street. “We”re what”s called an open shelter. We take in all animals that are brought to us depending on whether or not we have room. To a certain point we can double up friendly and small animals … The only time we refuse is when we”re completely full and no dogs are going out.”
To ensure that nothing happened to the animal, Rockhold left her information, asking to be notified if Reya was going to be put down. If that were the case she would adopt the dog. “I have a full house and it would have been an imposition for me to take her, but I was going to take her no matter what,” said Rockhold.
But according to Montana, these types of concerns are unnecessary. Even in the face of an increasingly full shelter, the SPCA of Clear Lake would never kill a healthy dog due to any space restrictions or financial difficulties. If they feel they lack the room or resources to keep an adoptable dog, they have options available to them.
“We would contact other shelters or rescue organizations. We have a significant list of donors that help us,” said Montana. “We would never put down an animal because of the time clock or economic reasons.”
Over the next couple of months, Rockhold continually checked in on Reya, calling once and visiting the pup twice. During the phone call, a volunteer reportedly told Rockhold that Reya was in excellent health. “I said, ”Do you think she”ll be adopted?” and she said, ”Yes, she”s adorable.”” Upon visiting the shelter, Reya”s situation looked even more promising. “She was cute and she was being housed with another dog and she was social. She was jumping and happy” said Rockhold. She never dreamed Reya would be put down.
Then suddenly, on November 8, Rockhold got a phone call from the shelter. The volunteer on the other end of the line told her that she”d seen Rockhold”s note in Reya”s file, and that the dog had been euthanized two days previously. Many things seemed amiss. “The girl called me after the dog had been put to sleep. Did they even open the file, I”m wondering,” questioned Rockhold. “I do understand they”re under a strict budget, but I wonder if something else was going on.”
The answer is yes, the SPCA had seen the file and knew that someone would adopt Reya. But something else was indeed going on; It was the shelter”s opinion that the dog had become too dangerous to be adopted. “That particular dog got in a fight through the fence with other shelter dogs and they were all injured,” Montana revealed. “Based on their temperament, we weren”t able to keep them … They became a danger to other dogs.”
“All animals here are up for adoption,” said Montana. “We keep them until they”re adopted unless they”re so ill that they can”t be cared for, or they become a danger to themselves or other animals.” Reya had become too aggressive and her fight had left her injured, and ultimately unhealthy. The shelter felt that no one could care for her, not even Rockhold.
While Rockhold”s anger over the euthanization of adoptable animals is understandable, Reya reportedly went from an adoptable pooch to “pretty dangerous” and “an unsuitable candidate for adoption” when she attacked the other dogs. The SPCA of Clear Lake is committed to finding homes for every adoptable animal at their shelter, and they didn”t contribute to those 2.7 adoptable animals who were euthanized last year.
“We”re very concerned about putting dogs down as well and it”s a heart wrenching decision for myself and the staff,” said Montana. “We don”t take it lightly.”
Lost or abandoned animals can be taken to the SPCA of Clear Lake. Animals will never be put down unless they become ill or dangerous. And for those thinking of adopting, Montana asks that they visit the shelter.
“If anyone is interested, please come in,” urged Montana. “We”ll work out payment plans for the adoption fees. We”ll do anything we can do to get dogs in homes.”
