The Arizona Humane Society, which some of you may remember as the place that killed a beloved kitten named Scruffy then lied to the owner to try to cover it up, charges $60 to surrender an animal, with a “discount” available to low income individuals who meet the facility’s requirements.
A local resident who lived on property owned by his mother had 13 adult pitbull mixes and 4 puppies living outdoors and authorities received a tip the dogs were being neglected. Police responded and the man said he was unable to afford the surrender fees to take the dogs to the pound. He claims that he was not the owner of the dogs but that he would toss food over the fence for them since they lived on his property. He surrendered the dogs voluntarily to the Arizona Humane Society:
On Thursday, the Arizona Humane Society sent a report to Chandler police on the condition of the dogs. The dogs were described as fearful and difficult to handle and some suffered from sarcoptic mange, a serious condition that is contagious to humans and other dogs. All of the dogs had hair loss as a result of conditions including skin mites, malnutrition and filthy living conditions, according to the report.
Gee, malnourished dogs living in isolation who had food thrown over the fence to them were fearful and difficult to handle after being seized by pet killers? Anyone see that coming? Some had sarcoptic mange, a common skin condition which can be treated very cheaply. Sounds like these dogs needed some TLC and protection. What they got was the Arizona Humane Society. The Arizona Humane Society killed every last one of the adults, treating only the puppies. The man who was living on the property with the dogs has been charged with 13 counts of animal cruelty. Yay?
It is absolutely tragic that these dogs were better off with the person who would do no more than throw food at them periodically than they were with the Arizona Humane Society. At least then they were alive. Where there’s life, there’s hope. They could have possibly been rescued a truly humane society – small h, small s. One that sees dogs as individuals, even if they have suffered emotional abuse and neglect, whose lives have value. Instead, they fell into the hands of monsters and now all hope is lost.
(Thanks Arlene for sending me this story.)