Euthanized Pet Dog Starts Controversy
Daily Mountain Eagle (Jasper, AL)
December 24, 2009
James Phillips Assistant Managing Editor
Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a 10-part series on the Daily Mountain Eagle’s top stories of 2009. The euthanization of a Jasper dog in May by employees at the Walker County Humane Society led the dog’s owner to file a civil suit against the Humane Society and sparked an outcry from animal advocates across Walker County.
The dog, a 1-year-old boxer named Boost, was reportedly brought to the Humane Society by an elderly couple from Jasper in late May. By the day’s end, the dog was allegedly put to sleep.
The dog’s owner, Marcus Campbell, hired Jasper attorney Brett Wadsworth and filed suit on May 26 against the Walker County Humane Society and its executive director Lane Reno. Also on May 26, a statement of claim was presented to the Walker County Commission due to the county’s failure to fund a suitable pound. Wadsworth said Wednesday afternoon two Humane Society employees were added to the lawsuit in October and he intends to add the Walker County Commission to the lawsuit in early January.
“We added the two employees who euthanized the dog in October,” Wadsworth said. “We also will add the Walker County Commission just after the first of the year. They are being added, because they haven’t provided a proper pound.”
Wadsworth said the legal process has been slow, but he expects the lawsuit to move forward in early 2010.
“We are still in the discovery process,” he said. “I think things will start moving forward soon. I expect things to start moving during the first few months of the year.”
Much of the controversy surrounding the incident has been over the short time period between when the dog arrived at the Human Society and when he was put down. Reno said in May that 33 animals were brought in the day Campbell’s dog arrived, and 16 of those were euthanized.
“I hate doing it, but we just don’t have the space or the resources to house all those animals. It’s just not possible,” Reno told the Daily Mountain Eagle in May.
Reno also said in May that a better facility for the Humane Society would allow them to house more dogs.
“We need a new facility and the city of Jasper needs an animal shelter,” she said.
Copyright 2009 Daily Mountain Eagle, All Rights Reserved.
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