Virginia Beach AC is run by the police department. In a media release posted on the police department’s website yesterday, it was reported that on February 18, “a volunteer with the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center found a deceased, male Pit Bull dog in an outdoor dog run area.” It goes on to say that the dog had been left outside from Sunday afternoon until he was found Monday at 11 a.m. On February 18 at 6:56 a.m., the temperature in Virginia Beach was 21 degrees F.
The police will investigate themselves, as usual. The investigation will include “all aspects of the matter including the shelter’s policies and procedures and whether they were followed by employees.” Well gee, I guess if it doesn’t specifically say DO NOT FREEZE PETS TO DEATH in the handbook, we won’t fault anyone for failing to follow protocols.
A necropsy will be performed on the dog to determine the cause of death.
Right. Because he could have been smoking crack or huffing paint or hey, maybe he just died of old age because it was his time to frolic in the daisies at the Rainbow Bridge. It probably wasn’t anything to do with an elderly shorthaired dog being left overnight in 21 degree weather by the people who are supposed to be protecting him.
Wayne Gilbert with AC told the local TV news the department is reviewing the case “to see if there was perhaps something we could do different in the future to ensure that everybody is back inside.” Ya think? I wonder what sort of change in procedure could be implemented to this effect. Perhaps the employee manual needs a section on Proper Use of Eyeballs.
And then there’s this tidbit from the news report:
According to a woman who says she used to be a volunteer at the shelter, this is not the first time something like this has happened. “This has been going on for a long time. This is not the first time this has ever happened. This is the first time the news has gotten a hold of it,” she said.
Welp, I’m sure the police will do a bang-up job investigating themselves and I can’t wait to hear the cause of death. Then the police can hunt for The Real Murderer.