Officials in Los Angeles are seeking explanations for the death of a 3-month-old dog named Bowie who was unintentionally put to death at a California animal shelter. According to KCBS, Bowie was euthanized at the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center earlier this month. County supervisors requested a probe on Tuesday, December 20, citing public indignation.
According to the station, Supervisor Hilda Solis stated, “It’s incredibly distressing to hear that this had occurred, and we uncovered more and more examples where this has happened previously.” Manager of the centre Maria Rosales informed managers that “all of the circumstances” surrounding Bowie’s passing are being carefully looked into, according to KTLA. She stated that the puppy’s death was “very regrettable” by shelter staff. Rosales declared that the department “takes its life-saving mission very seriously.” It is not treated casually at all.
What Happened to the Puppy
Bowie was a terrier puppy with a scruffy appearance and hazel eyes who ended up at the Baldwin Park animal shelter waiting for weeks to be saved. Bowie’s eyes were a shade of brown. But when the puppy, who was only four months old, was put to sleep on December 4, it sparked a public outrage that led to a call for an investigation into the process by which pets are adopted out and animals are put to death at the seven animal shelters in the county.
This Monday, the Board of Supervisors for Los Angeles County issued an order directing the agency to examine the death of the puppy. A move to minimise the number of animals that are put to death while in the custody of the county was also adopted by the members.
More In News- Bomb Cyclone Creating Havoc in US
Puppy Died Within 30 Days
According to KCBS, managers requested explanations about Bowie’s death within 30 days. Additionally, they mandated the creation of a 5-year plan within 90 days to lower the number of animals put to death in county shelters. The six shelters in Los Angeles County have been “under fire for months,” according to the Los Angeles Times, with volunteers and rescue organisations alleging that the animals are being mistreated.
Investigation in Process
According to Frank Corvino, deputy director of the department’s South County Operations, an investigation was already under way prior to the board’s motion and was initiated “as soon as the euthanasia of Bowie was discovered.” This investigation is being led by the agency’s human resources division and is currently ongoing.
“While that inquiry is not yet complete, we will be examining every step of Bowie’s stay, and any errors that are uncovered will be swiftly and fully remedied,” stated Corvino. “We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.” “The division takes the euthanasia of animals very seriously and has made the investigation and response to this occurrence a top priority. This includes taking any appropriate remedial measures with regard to the personnel.”
More To Read- Holtsville Car Accident: 3 Teen Dead
The Bowie’s File
An employee whose name was redacted recommended that the dog be euthanized at approximately 8:40 a.m. on December 4, according to Bowie’s file, a copy of which was also shared by Underdog with the Times. The message said that a “[registered veterinary technician] is requested to advise immediately if there is any reason noted not to proceed as recommended.” There is a notation that indicates the vet tech verifying the information that is contained in Bowie’s records. The county made sure that the copy of the file was authentic. According to the document, Bowie was put to sleep around 10:40 in the morning.
No Enough Staff
Officials with the shelter have stated that there is not enough staff. According to the Los Angeles Times, Commissioner Jose Sandoval stated at a meeting of the Board of Animal Services Commissioners on December 13 that “we continue to get emails from the public notifying us about animals who are being rejected.” Residents informed the panel that they were told to abandon stray animals because there was no place in shelters.
Officials to Report Back Within 90 Days
On Tuesday, the board of supervisors gave its unanimous approval to a measure that seeks to limit the number of animals that are put down while they are under the care of Animal Care and Control. The episode was described as “heartbreaking” by Supervisor Hilda Solis, who was also a co-author of the motion, while the meeting was in session. She stated that “we’ve uncovered more and more situations” where something similar has occurred in the past. “A significant number of individuals from the neighbourhood have communicated their desire for change to my office,” she said.
The motion requests a “full explanation” of the events that led to the death of Bowie as well as a plan to prevent instances like these in the future. Within the next three months, officials will provide the Board of Supervisors with a five-year plan to reduce the number of animals that are put to death as well as the percentage of animals that are put to death.
4000 Animals Out of 12000 Put To Sleep
According to the Los Angeles Times, county shelters housed double-digit more dogs and cats in October than they did during the same time previous year. Officials underlined the fact that between July and November of this year, about 4,000 out of around 12,000 animals that were in the care of the county were put to sleep. In comparison, the local shelters in the city of Los Angeles have a saving rate of approximately 87% of animals.
