PHOENIX — The Arizona Humane Society is in hot water after euthanizing an area man’s 9-month-old kitten. According to ABC15.com, Daniel Dockery’s cat was not fatally wounded and would have lived, but the Arizona Humane Society euthanized it after Dockery relinquished his ownership in an attempt to save the kitten. Below are more details about this sad story of euthanizing.
What was Dockery’s relationship with Scruffy like?
Dockery found Scruffy as a stray kitten and decided to adopt him, says AZCentra.com. He hand fed the tiny animal and nursed it back to help. Dockery, 49, is a recovering heroin addict with a lengthy prison record who found a friend in Scruffy. He even raised money to get Scruffy spayed. Two weeks ago, Scruffy got caught in a barbed wire fence and so Dockery took the kitten to the nearest veterinarian: the Arizona Human Society. The bill was $400 and, because Dockery was unable to pay up front, he asked the AHS to wait for 24 hours until his mother wired the money to him from Michigan. The AHS told Dockery that once he surrendered the kitten, it would be treated. Dockery signed the kitten over to the AHS in an effort to relieve Scruffy’s pain.
Why did the Arizona Humane Society decide to euthanize the kitten?
According to ABC15.com, the humane society spokeswoman said that the agency took Scruffy with intentions to treat and put it in foster care for later adoption. However, Scruffy was taken to a second-chance clinic along with three other animals. The spokeswoman explained that the doctors were only willing and/or able to treat two of the three. Scruffy was the third.
How as the public responded?
Both Arizonan’s and others are outraged with the decision to euthanize Scruffy. The Arizona Humane Society’s Facebook page blew up with angry feedback.
” I say give AHS’ funding the blue juice, and euthanize their ability to mislead the public. Just voluntarily dissolve your company, voluntarily revoke your own non-profit status, and donate your properties, equipment, and personnel contracts to a true Humane Society,” says one angry commenter.
Another says, “I am sad to say I’ve ever donated to the Arizona Humane Society at this point – so disgusting that you would have the nerve to murder an innocent cat that could have been easily treated and lie to a pet owner who was only trying to do right by his beloved friend.”
How has the AHS responded to the outrage?
They realize they’re in hot water and have hired a publicist to help get things under control, reports the Washington Post. Additionally, they’ve censored angry comments on their Facebook page and have recruited 5 volunteers to respond to the incessant calls and emails received since the Arizona Republic released the story over the Christmas weekend.
Has the Human Society officially spoken out about the euthanizing?
Yes, it released a press statement that’s since been published by the Associated Press:
“Scruffy was brought to AHS after getting tangled in razor or barbed wire. Her injuries were significant. She was suffering, her muscles were exposed. Her owner could not pay for treatment himself, and allowing a day to pass without treatment was inhumane. AHS is not allowed by law to hold an animal until payment is made. Scruffy was in urgent need; therefore Mr. Dockery made the heart-wrenching decision to surrender his pet on Dec 8th.”
You can read the rest of the statement at ABC15.com.
Can I express my concern about this matter, too?
Yes, you can contact the Arizona Humane Society at webmaster@azhumane.org to voice any concerns or complaints.
Wendy Rose Gould is a freelance journalist who resides in Phoenix. Her work has appeared both online and in print for Hearst, Conde Nast, AOL, USA Today and other publications. Gould is an avid traveler who has lived abroad and traveled the world extensively. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and another in philosophy.
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