US

Arizona Worker Fired for Euthanizing War Hero Dog

Arizona Worker Fired for Euthanizing War Hero DogFLORENCE, Ariz. (AP) — A county employee in Arizona has been fired after mistakenly euthanizing a dog that saved soldiers in Afghanistan and lived through explosions in the war-torn country, officials announced Friday.

The unidentified Pinal County animal control employee euthanized the female shepherd mix on Monday and was immediately placed on administrative leave.

The dog named Target had been brought to the Phoenix area in August by Sgt. Terry Young after his tour of duty.

Target frightened a suicide bomber inside a military base and potentially saved dozens of soldiers’ lives, Young said. He said the dog was treated like royalty from then on at the base at Dand Patan, near the Pakistan border.

The dog escaped from the family’s back yard last Friday. Target didn’t have a tag or microchip and eventually wound up at the county pound.

Last Friday night, Young found Target’s picture on a Web site used by county dog catchers to help owners track lost pets. Young figured the shelter in Casa Grande was closed for the night and weekend.

He showed up at the facility to claim his dog on Monday, only to find out she was dead.

County officials say the employee mistakenly took the dog out of its pen Monday morning and euthanized it.

“I just can’t believe that something like this would happen to such a good dog,” Young told The Arizona Republic, which said the soldier and his family will get Target’s cremated remains.

County officials are declining to name the employee because of threats made to that person and angry telephone calls to the facility.

“We are continuing to look into management practices and procedures to ensure that something like this cannot happen again,” said Lisa Garcia, assistant county manager for Health and Human Services.

Comments (158)

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  • ALL4114ALL
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:27am

    Don’t know what the facility rules are, but Friday to Monday is quick to kill. Minimum should be 7 days to allow owners extra time to search, especially animals found over the weekend.
    Of course no-kill would be even better.

    Lessons learned all the way around, albeit at a costly price. Humans are naturally imperfect.

    Report Post »  
    • smokie
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 11:20am

      That’s what I was thinking. The dog was not dangerous, so why was there a rush?

      Report Post »  
    • lortka
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 12:39pm

      I was thinking the same thing. One weekend is much too quick to euthanize, what was the hurry? I‘d be interested in what the facility’s policy is. Many policies in this country lack common sense.

      Report Post »  
  • toddtrout@mac.com
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:25am

    I’m sorry for their loss and it broke my heart to read this story but I mean live in town and have no collar/tags or chip on the dog?

    Report Post »  
  • ThePaganTemple
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:22am

    Sounds like typical bureaucratic incompetence to me. I haven’t read the story yet, I still get misty-eyed thinking of Old Yeller.

    Report Post »  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:19am

    This is horrible but really highlights the absolute necessity of animals having a tag and/or microchip. Animals cannot speak for themselves and it is vital that shelters can i.d. them quickly to help prevent tragic mistakes like this. My heart goes out to Target’s family – this should never have happened.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • Dandylyon
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:18am

    This was a major failure by all concerned but a good example of human nature and what we have become.

    The “best” always suffer from the action or inaction of the worst.

    Report Post »  
  • chickenlittle
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:09am

    This is a very, very sad story, but when she was off the battlefields, what was the responsibility of the owners in making sure the DOG was protected? “Target didn’t have a tag or microchip” doesn’t sit well with me either. The whole thing might have been prevented.

    Report Post » chickenlittle  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 8:44pm

      Sounds like two people were at fault here……….

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • Red Neckerson
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 1:11am

      Target was not wearing his Mark of the Beast chip so Obamacare opted for the least expensive treatment option.

      Report Post »  
  • Lloyd Drako
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:08am

    Sorry for Sgt. Young, for his family,. and for the dog: RIP Target.

    But could Sgt. Young not have read the website more carefully, or even called the shelter first thing Monday morning? It would have saved time and possibly Target’s life as well. Also, why did the dog have no ID?

    For this someone loses his job?

    Had it been your pooch or mine, this sad mistake would not be in the news, and someone would still be gainfully employed.

    Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
  • heavyduty
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:08am

    While this is a sad story, I want to know why the dog was in the pound!!!! Where was the person taking care of the dog.

    Report Post »  
  • BigMike
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:07am

    Questions we will never know the answers, 1 did the shelter worker who did this see the dog on Oprah show? 2 What hind of name did the dog killer have?… , Just asking questions, could be nothing

    Report Post »  
  • free2bme1961
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:06am

    How could an employee make such a terrible mistake like that? That has to be one of the worst jobs in the world! Target looked like such a calm, sweet dog, and it is such a sad thing that she lost her precious life, due to negligence…. :-(

    Report Post » free2bme1961  
    • 1TrueOne55
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 1:13pm

      Humane Society and animal shelters are over run with lost and abandoned animals that they generally are more over crowded than our ER’s with Illegal aliens. And usually it is illegal aliens not fixing their dogs/cats that causes the problem, when their pets have puppies they end up taking them to secluded areas and just dump them off and then the population goes nuts. And this happens because of overcrowding at the shelters.

      My Prayers go out to the Sgt. and his family for the loss of their Guardian Angel on earth but he will be waiting at the door of their Home in Heaven…

      Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
  • Reasonabiliy
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:54am

    This is a sad story indeed.

    Report Post » John 3:16  
  • lobster
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:51am

    A progressive is the only type of person to do such a stupid thing. Obviously educated in our GLORIOUS school system.

    Report Post »  
  • UlyssesP
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:49am

    Obamacare for Dogs.

    Report Post » UlyssesP  
  • AmerNDN10
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:43am

    Well…..that person CERTAINLY gets “nit wit of the year”. :o/

    Report Post » AmerNDN10  
  • Rawby
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:42am

    Sgt. Young is as much to blame for the death of Target as the former employee and shelter are. Sgt. Young failed to not only microchip Target but also failed to simply tag the dog. Target had been home for 3 months now. That is inexcusable.

    Sgt. Young failed to keep HIS dog in HIS yard. Sgt. Young incorrectly assumed that the shelter was closed until Monday when that was not the case as the shelter was open on Saturday. The hours are clearly stated on both the website that he visited as well as the voice mail recording.

    The accountability goes both ways. This could have been avoided by all parties.

    As for Target, she deserves a spot in Arlington as far as I am concerned.

    Report Post »  
  • bookofwisdom
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:35am

    How heart breaking. It’s like loosing another soldier and family member all in one. I’m so sorry for your loss. May God Bless.

    Report Post » bookofwisdom  
  • princetonprohet
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:33am

    This is why I always encourage all of my fellow pet-loving friends, to not only use a collar, but microchip the animal. It’s cheap, quick, painless and can save the animal’s life. Sad sad story.

    Report Post » MonteCristo  
    • neverending
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:52am

      This is a sad story and it has broken everybody’s heart. Will be a long time getting over it.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:29am

    Not that there’s anything wrong with that…

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • I3THGENERATIONAMERICAN
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:10am

    sharia law in America!!!!!!!!

    I3THGENERATIONAMERICAN  
  • Star Spangled
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:10am

    That’s sad , a wae hero put to death , by an idiot !

    Report Post » Star Spangled  
  • Sweet Sister
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:09am

    Wow. This just breaks my heart.

    Report Post » Sweet Sister  
  • hempstead1944
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:09am

    Should have done the worker and kept the dog….

     
    • Rita
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 6:10pm

      What kind of person kills a vibrant dog who’s only been in the pound for such a short period of time? That person does not need to be working in a animal shelter.

      Report Post » Rita  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 12:31am

      What kind of person wants to kill the shelter worker?

      Report Post » Rational Man  
  • grandmaof5
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:04am

    That is one of the saddest things I have ever heard. So sorry for Target and Sgt Young. God bless.

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:03am

    What’s Michael Vick doing in Arizona?

    Gonzo  
  • Marcobob69
    Posted on November 20, 2010 at 8:55am

    Apparently, Target was safer ON THE BATTLEFIELD than he was at home. Unbelievable.

    Report Post »  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:07am

      Sad mistake.

      Report Post »  
    • MAULEMALL
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:13am

      Hey Sen Effin Mcain… The Dog is a Veteran and due all the rights..
      Why didn’t he have all the papers ?? Why didn’t he have the chip??

      Report Post » MAULEMALL  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:44am

      That’s a bad deal.
      How come nothing is said about the owners negligence? If it was such a great dog why did it run off and get busted? How come the only person getting a beat down is the guy who made a mistake at the dog pound?
      I love dogs too but lets face it, IT’S JUST A DOG…..GET OVER IT!!!!

      Children suffer and die every day. Where is the outrage?
      The people harrassing the person that killed the dog are less than the dog in my mind!!

      Rational Man  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 10:53am

      I know the uproar this is causing in AZ, and it should have never happened. Mistakes, even ones on a level of gross criminal negligence like this occur. Yet I have to wonder if the worker recognized the dog as a service dog and euthenised it in a protest over the wars.

      Look at the story of the young marine just a few days ago who was run over at his home coming party as well.

      Please America, I ask of each of you who believe in prayer, join with one other person today and ask the grace and guidance of God to sustain and keep safe all of our soldiers, and the service dogs safe weather overseas, or here at home. Pray for each other, and their families, along with our nation.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Chicago Ray
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 11:35am

      This is the very same thing being done to Americans in the name of PC and kow towing to Muslim terror, we‘re all being slowly euthanized while our government being run by a Kenyan born Muslim runs ramshod over our liberties and freedoms in the name of ’security’.

      Don’t comply you get figuratively euthanized as well. Next it‘ll be the disabled and elderly through Obamacare Death Panels which have now been proven to exist and a little Alaskan women was the only person in American politics telling the truth who got ’euthanized’ by the media for doing so.

      Wake up it’s 1984 again.

      One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 11:52am

      Why would a hero dog NOT be MICROCHIPPED …. there is no excuse for that .. many local shelters even do it as a “service” for the community at a reduced cost. A collar can come off tags can be lost. Please if you have a pet microchipping is inexpensive and easy … and they would have known who Target’s family was.

      Report Post »  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 12:05pm

      Another pitiful abuse by governent. Government doesn’t work very well and we need to remember that (for our very survival). Government has NEVER worked very well. The bigger government gets the scarier it gets. Also government is immune from lawsuits.

      Report Post »  
    • Major Infidel
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 12:22pm

      Eye for an eye?

      Report Post » Major Infidel  
    • Minority Retort
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 12:32pm

      Yes, Marco…Target, like many of our ‘human’ warriors was probably safer on the battlefield than here at home in our “current” America…namely Marcus Ulribe in Surfside, CA and Ryan Lakosky in New Orleans, LA {R.I.P.}…Semper Fi Target

      Report Post » Minority Retort  
    • nephewofdboone
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 1:00pm

      I’m thinking the same thing as Snowleopard3200. I want to know who this person is. I believe this could be an act of terrorism, especially if you apply the rules laid out by Cass Sunstein. This could be a protest killing of a military hero.

      Report Post » nephewofdboone  
    • pattyto
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 1:47pm

      !. No reason not to have the dog tagged or chipped.
      2. How long do they keep the dogs before put to death? At our shelter the dogs are kept for 7-10 days and then the good ones are put up for adoption. Seems this dog would fall in the adoption catagory.
      3. Maybe their rules need redoing.

      Report Post »  
    • whamhost.info WORKS FROM HOME
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 2:37pm

      Are we checking the employee connections to al qaeda?

      Report Post » whamhost.info WORKS FROM HOME  
    • shustring
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 5:17pm

      just like the Marine in the other story. Damn what is wrong with these stupid people in this country.

      Report Post »  
    • jptroxell
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 9:25pm

      My heart goes out to the family, the dog, and the employee that euthanized him. However, if the dog did not have a tag to identify the owner or a microchip, it is reasonable to assume the shelter worker did not know who this dog was. I am sure the shelter worker feels terrible about it. I know I would. I am a veterinarian at a local humane society and our shelter at times can get very full. I don’t know what the law in Arizona is, but in PA an unlicensed dog only has to be held for 48 hours by the shelter. We typically do not euthanize that quickly if the dog is healthy and does not have behavior problems. It is hard to judge the decision to euthanize without knowing the situation at the shelter.

      Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on November 20, 2010 at 11:24pm

      Wait until it is Obamacare and it is your kids life. Some dumba$$ SEIU thug goes oops.

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • daj1001
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 2:04am

      Hey Rational Man and Major Infidel – I wish it would have been either of you that was euthanized – especially you Major Infidel – wish it could have been you or your kid.

      Report Post »  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on November 21, 2010 at 5:37am

      @DAJ1001

      I love you too! oxoxox

      Report Post » Rational Man  
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