PITT COUNTY, N.C. — A North Carolina animal shelter has changed its protocols after it mistakenly euthanized a woman’s dog.
Destiny Daniels said her 2-year-old dog, Kaos, was taken into custody by Pitt County Animal Services on Jan. 22 and placed on a 10-day bite quarantine, WITN-TV reported. Instead, the dog was euthanized, and Daniels wants some answers.
“I’m not bringing home an alive dog,” Daniels told the television station. “I’m bringing home a cold body of a dead dog today.”
“Through human error, the owner’s desire for the dog to be returned was incorrectly entered into the computer system,” the animal shelter said in a statement. “Animal Services deeply regrets this incident and offers our sincere apologies.”
Daniels said she called 911 on Jan. 22 after her 3-year-old niece was bitten while attempting to feed the dog, WITN reported. According to protocol, Greenville Animal Protective Services said that Kaos would have to remain in quarantine for 10 days. He was taken to the Pitt County Animal Shelter with the understanding that the dog would be returned to Daniels.
Shelter director Chad Singleton said that although Animal Protective Services checked the box that stated that Daniels wanted her dog back, an employee did not input that notation into the shelter’s computer network, WITN reported.
In its Facebook post, Pitt County Animal Services said that new rules will require that regardless of the intentions listed on quarantine paperwork, shelter employees must contact the animal owner to verify their intent for picking up their pet.
“We regret our mistake and through improved procedures, aim to provide the best care for all animals in our custody.”
Daniels, who has hired an attorney, said she wants some accountability.
“If my dog would’ve just passed away by natural causes, that would’ve been OK with me,” Daniels told WITN. “But I already know he was in there for 10 days, scared, not knowing anyone, and just for y’all to put him down ...”
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