I volunteer an animal shelter, and we've had some sad news today
3 animals have had to be put down over the last few days! This isn't a no-kill shelter, and they don't claim to be, but it's small enough that they only put animals down when it's in their best interest.
Miss Kitty was 10 years old, but an old 10 years. She was declawed, very skinny, looked very frail, and hated other animals, to the point that if she was in the play area and saw another cat in the next play area she would go nuts and go nuts at any person who would try to put her back in her cage. She'd been at the shelter for 5 months, was pretty unadoptable, really didn't like coming out of her cage, and while she had put on some weight, just recently she'd lost a pound, and her T4 levels had gone up (I think), which was pointing to hyperthyroidism. She was also on the verge of a few other major problems like renal failure, so the vets decided the best thing for her to was to put her to sleep.
Another old kitty, Velcro, has been pulling out her fur, and also been unhappy for a while. She got taken away from the adoption area while they tried to treat her skin condition, then she was back up for adoption for a while, but kept pulling out her fur and having a few problems. The vet consulted with a veterinary dermatologist, and concluded it was also in her best interest to put her down.
Then Brodie, a sweet pit bull who'd been at the shelter for a while was starting to turn. He was less than a year old, and didn't like being kept at the shelter, despite getting lots of play time and walks each day. He was beginning to get aggressive with the dog volunteers, and no rescue groups could/would take him, so unfortunately for everyone's safety, he was also put to sleep.
It's very uncommon at the shelter to have animals put down, so to have 3 who've all been there a while put to sleep is very sad for everyone, even though I do know it's probably in all of their best interests
Miss Kitty was 10 years old, but an old 10 years. She was declawed, very skinny, looked very frail, and hated other animals, to the point that if she was in the play area and saw another cat in the next play area she would go nuts and go nuts at any person who would try to put her back in her cage. She'd been at the shelter for 5 months, was pretty unadoptable, really didn't like coming out of her cage, and while she had put on some weight, just recently she'd lost a pound, and her T4 levels had gone up (I think), which was pointing to hyperthyroidism. She was also on the verge of a few other major problems like renal failure, so the vets decided the best thing for her to was to put her to sleep.
Another old kitty, Velcro, has been pulling out her fur, and also been unhappy for a while. She got taken away from the adoption area while they tried to treat her skin condition, then she was back up for adoption for a while, but kept pulling out her fur and having a few problems. The vet consulted with a veterinary dermatologist, and concluded it was also in her best interest to put her down.
Then Brodie, a sweet pit bull who'd been at the shelter for a while was starting to turn. He was less than a year old, and didn't like being kept at the shelter, despite getting lots of play time and walks each day. He was beginning to get aggressive with the dog volunteers, and no rescue groups could/would take him, so unfortunately for everyone's safety, he was also put to sleep.
It's very uncommon at the shelter to have animals put down, so to have 3 who've all been there a while put to sleep is very sad for everyone, even though I do know it's probably in all of their best interests