Dog euthanized 45 minutes after being dropped off

[Hum]

Brooksville, Florida - Laurie Boynton loves animals and she volunteers at Hernando County Animal Services.

"I came here so I could get the dogs publicity, so I could get them adopted and rescued," said Boynton.

Last Friday she snapped a photo of "Zeus", a dog brought in to Hernando County Animal Services, given up for adoption just before closing time for the weekend.

"When I got home I knew he was a highly adoptable dog. I posted his picture on the internet and on our Facebook page.

Within 24 hours there was already someone willing to adopt. Boynton says that woman arrived first thing Monday morning to pick Zeus up.

"When our volunteer looked for the dog she couldn't find him. She had his picture but couldn't find him and everyone said they didn't know anything about the dog."

That's because Zeus was dead, put down within 45 minutes of arriving according to Boynton.

"In my judgment there was no justification for putting that dog down. He was in my opinion the most adoptable dog that they have here."

Animal control officials say Zeus had to be euthanized because they ran out of space, there weren't enough pens to last through the weekend.

Volunteers say that's not true and they have evidence that prove otherwise.

more & video

[shakey]

That is messed up. If true that they had enough space, charge them with murder. We need to make an example out of these pet shelters that just kill animals for no reason. Maybe don't accept animals you don't have the room for. Would be better for a dog to stay anywhere than be dead.

[123456789A]

Animal control is a joke. They don't even take care of the animals they have, and when you phone in a report on a vicious dog, they don't even bother with it.

Our county animal shelter has a horrible record too. 70% of the animals that go in never make it out, and the way they euthanize the animals there is barbaric.

[Hum]

If there was truly 'no room at the inn', one of the shelter workers should have had the compassion & fortitude to take the dog home with them for the weekend, at least.

It's the human thing to do.

Aren't humans supposed to be more intelligent than animals ...

[shakey]

If there was truly 'no room at the inn', one of the shelter workers should have had the compassion & fortitude to take the dog home with them for the weekend, at least.

It's the human thing to do.

Aren't humans supposed to be more intelligent than animals ...

Sadly, no :( Some people seem to still have the same mentality that our ancestors had.

[.Neo]

Animal control officials say Zeus had to be euthanized because they ran out of space

I heard the Chinese contacted animal control how to best apply this new practice.

[RiverCampher]

If there was truly 'no room at the inn', one of the shelter workers should have had the compassion & fortitude to take the dog home with them for the weekend, at least.

It's the human thing to do.

Aren't humans supposed to be more intelligent than animals ...

Why is it all up to them? Can't you, yourself offer to take animals up temporarily? I'm sure they do what they can so belittling their efforts and expecting more sounds unreasonable.

I'm sure most of them have pets at home or kids and don't want the invited distraction and possibly the danger of looking after another animal over the weekend. Plus, if so many are being put down so quickly, they would have to do this every weekend.

Amazes me how little some people think before making such a statement.... There are realities involved.

[Hum]

^ I would have found someone to take care of the dog, long before I'd put it to death.

[shakey]

Why is it all up to them? Can't you, yourself offer to take animals up temporarily? I'm sure they do what they can so belittling their efforts and expecting more sounds unreasonable.

I'm sure most of them have pets at home or kids and don't want the invited distraction and possibly the danger of looking after another animal over the weekend. Plus, if so many are being put down so quickly, they would have to do this every weekend.

Amazes me how little some people think before making such a statement.... There are realities involved.

Or you know, tell people, " We are at max capacity. If you leave this dog with us, and we do not have room, it will be killed within the hour." Give people the knowledge, so that they can at least make a better choice.

[Growled Member]

Never, ever take your animals to Animal Services if you want them to live.

[Vice]

That's really sad. Having two dogs myself makes me sad to think about the little doggies being put down. :(

[x-scratch]

the idiot who put this dog down needs to be thrown in jail excuses are like a--holes & everybody has one

[Reacon]

Where I live we have a nonprofit spay and neuter clinic. They take in feral cats and take good care of them until they're adopted. The US really needs more of them it sounds like. Animal control is almost as bad as puppy mills.