Dog Euthanized After Misunderstanding At Florida Animal Shelter

Denise Wilkinson
Denise Wilkinson's dog, Sunny.

I decided to post this because I thought it had important information that needed to get out there. My advice is to NEVER board your dog at a kill shelter. Don’t even think about it. This was a very foolish thing to do, but I feel bad for the owner.

— Kenn

It’s a misunderstanding that can never be fixed.

When Denise Wilkinson dropped off Sunny, her 118-pound Rottweiler-Mastiff mix at Florida’s Pinellas County Animal Services Shelter, she did it with the intent of having a temporary place for Sunny to stay until she could find him a new home.

When Wilkinson went to pick up Sunny the very next day however, she was told Sunny had been euthanized.

“I instantly cried,” Wilkinson said. “I was so upset.”

The problem it seems was Wilkinson’s misunderstanding of the shelter’s confusing language about surrendering animals, which stated: “Surrendered or lost animals will be held for seven days for an animal with an ID, four days without ID, to give owners a chance to claim their animal. After the holding period of seven days, the animal will be evaluated for temperament and adoptability.”

Senior Animal Control Officer John Hohenstern said Sunny was put down because he was deemed aggressive and caused concerns about the safety of shelter workers and was therefore, considered unadoptable.

Hohenstern also said Wilkinson had initialed a paper, which superseded the website, and stated that she understood that the surrender is unconditional and that “Pinellas County Animal Services makes no promise, actual or implied, regarding holding time, treatment, adoption or disposition of this animal.“

The same language was posted on the wall at Animal Services.

Now however, because of this tragedy, the language on the website has been changed to read: “There is no guaranteed holding period for an animal that is surrendered by its owner, or surrendered by the owner’s designated agent. Animal Services Veterinary staff will thoroughly examine the animal(s) as soon as deemed possible for health and temperament”. The site also reads that if the animal is deemed to be aggressive or severely ill, it will be humanely euthanized.

This tragedy brings to the forefront important lessons about leaving a pet at a shelter, including the need to closely read the shelter’s agreement and the dangers of using a shelter for boarding services, no matter how short.

Wilkinson said if the revised language had been on the website when she looked at it, she wouldn’t have taken Sunny there. She also hopes the change to the website’s language “saves another dog’s life.”

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cbdoglvr
cbdoglvr
13 years ago

Find a Rottie Rescue – she did this regardless. Poor Sunny didnt have a chance. How awful.. and this girl is an idiot.

writing jobs
13 years ago

Thanks for post.

Nonya Bizz
13 years ago

Yet another animal suffers because people are stupid. Poor dog.

Pattybear
Pattybear
13 years ago

that is an irresponsible owner. She just sentanced the dog to die! I feel sorry for Sunny. His humans let him down BIGTIME

Bjfpja
Bjfpja
13 years ago

This is your lost and it’s all YOUR fault. When did the Humane Society become a Drop off place to board a dog until someone can find a home for him???? Stupid!!!!! Stupid!!!!!!! Poor dog, but I surely don’t feel sorry for it’s owner, she’s 100% STUPID!!!!!!!

Wendy
Wendy
13 years ago
Reply to  Bjfpja

Ok just to make a point. she didn’t drop it off at the Humane Society, she dropped it off at Animal Services! BIG DIFFERENCE, i used to volunteer at the local Animal Services and trust me i know that Animal Services are over run with dogs, sometimes with 3 dogs in a one dog kennel!! If any animal there is deemed as being aggressive, even if it’s sometimes by fear and confusion, they can and most probably will be euthanized. Just because there’s no room and they would rather keep those dogs that are nice and sweet to give them extra time for adoption.. Fair? Not always! But that’s how it goes..

Mecca i fully agree with your post, but the one thing i do question is if this owner verbally said to the ACO that she was planning on picking her dog up, and making sure that the information was written on the information sheet that was accompanying the dog into the kennel. And even if this information was on the sheet, the fact that she was “surrendering” her dog to them, even if just temporarily, wouldn’t have looked good on the owner, as there are other places that she could have taken her dog. Even boarding the dog at the local vets.

I guess the only people that know what really happened will be the Owner and the Animal Services officer. Either way, the dog got punished with the ultimate penalty, that’s all that matters.

mecca
mecca
13 years ago

ok really people…. how insensitive can you be? this owner clearly did not purposefully sentence her dog to death. If there wasnt any confusion with the language on the shelters website then why did it have to be changed?? How ignorant of all you to think this owner didnt care and just sentenced her dog to death. I believe the responsibility is on the shelter… they sentenced this dog to death after one day?? Your telling me they did a full evaluation of this dog in less then 24 hours? BS. Also if this owner didnt care then she wouldnt have been concerned with finding him a good home, she made a mistake, and mis understood the language on the site. Both the shelter and the owner need to take responsibility… one needed to do more research and the other needed to be more upfront with their policies. How many of you walk with your dog off the leash? i do not biut i bet a lot of you do, well if your dog ran and got hit by a car it would be your fault, even though you didnt want the dog to die, then if you saw comments like what you people are saying about this lady, you would feel awful… you would sit there thinking to yourself ” but i really loved that dog” mean while everyone else would be saying you are stupid and YOU are and irresponsible owner. Have some compassion for both the animal and owner… GROW UP

Kenn Bell
13 years ago
Reply to  mecca

I agree with your comment. This woman made a big mistake and she’s paying a very sad price for it now. Our hearts and thoughts go out to her. The reason I posted the story is so no one else would make the same mistake, not so people would castigate her.

trendy_one
trendy_one
13 years ago

Mecca…loved your post!! and I need say nothing else because you said it all. Thank you!

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

Sorry for your loss…but Animal Control is not a pet hotel. You can’t drop off an animal to “come back and pick up later”. It is a shame that they couldn’t call Rottie Rescue, or another group to take this big boy in, but the owner has to bear full and unquestioned responsibility here. Surrender is just that-surrender. No “oops! changed my mind.” Take responsibility for your dog and don’t try and pawn it off on someone else.

mecca
mecca
13 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

If you even read the article it says they hold animals for 7 days…not less then 24 hours before doing anything. Also the owner was under the impression the shelter WOULD help hold her dog while she found him a more suitable home. She did not “change” her mind in wanting to keep him, she loved him and wanted a better home for him, she TRIED to do the right thing, and you know what when someone is mis informed it makes doing the right thing a heck of a lot more difficult. I am a huge animal lover, i volunteer in a vet clinic, I feel very sad for sunny…. but some of you people are very insensitive. This was not an act of cruelty on the owners part. and like i said, if the shelters website wasnt misleading, then it would not have had to be changed. Also why are you not questioning that this dog was killed with less then 24 hours? think about it.

Leezoo
Leezoo
13 years ago
Reply to  mecca

No, I agree it wasn’t cruelty, complete stupidity no matter how you look at it…
I feel bad for the dog, it was dumped off there from the only thing it new as home, feeling abandoned and I can guarantee you it was forcibly walked or dragged to the kill spot. You know that could smell death and had no way to get away. I also guarantee you the asshole that did it was not kind. So, if your going to feel sorry for something it should be the dog, not the dumb ass who dropped it off there !

Pattybear65
Pattybear65
13 years ago
Reply to  mecca

Mecca..Not that we are not sad for Sunny. But in almost every shelter the owner turn in’s can be euthanized in less than 24 hours. The owner was extremely irresponsible. She is the only one responsible for this mess.

Leezoo
Leezoo
13 years ago

How frickin stupid is that? Was she friendless or without family? Obviously without BRAIN !

Dkrupted1
Dkrupted1
13 years ago
Reply to  Leezoo

She may have lost her home due to economy. She MAY NOT have ppl. in her life. DO YOU LIVE ON HER WALL??? Ppl. need to wake up, not everything is as black and white as you all think.

mmy2dgs
mmy2dgs
13 years ago

I can’t believe how everybody is spewing hate at the owner who made a mistake….people read and re-read the article first before you can people names…I think you are missing the point…

Leezoo
Leezoo
13 years ago
Reply to  mmy2dgs

Maybe your missing the point, because this person was sooo ignorant, the dog is dead because of what she did ! The dog didn’t have anything to do with it. So why are you feeling bad for her? How do you know she made a mistake? Maybe you should read and reread the article, I don’t have to reread it to know you can’t fix stupid, here’s proof…

Leezoo
Leezoo
13 years ago
Reply to  mmy2dgs

Maybe your missing the point, because this person was sooo ignorant, the dog is dead because of what she did ! The dog didn’t have anything to do with it. So why are you feeling bad for her? How do you know she made a mistake? Maybe you should read and reread the article, I don’t have to reread it to know you can’t fix stupid, here’s proof…

mecca
mecca
13 years ago
Reply to  Leezoo

this is my last post…just to say you are an idiot. I do not believe in throwing guilt in someones face. I would eat my words if this lady didnt give a crap, but i bet she feels very bad and very guilty. Like i said before, if your dog gets out, or runs off the leash and gets hit by a car… i hope people blame you on being an irresponsible owner….How dumb are you in saying how do you know she made a mistake…well how do you know she didnt??? geez harsh much… no one will ever know. i think everyone should be me concerned with the man that just got caught dog fighting…not this lady who prob feels bad enough..

im out… this subject is not even open for debate. You dont know the lady, or the situation well enough

Leezoo
Leezoo
13 years ago
Reply to  mmy2dgs

Maybe your missing the point, because this person was sooo ignorant, the dog is dead because of what she did ! The dog didn’t have anything to do with it. So why are you feeling bad for her? How do you know she made a mistake? Maybe you should read and reread the article, I don’t have to reread it to know you can’t fix stupid, here’s proof…

Torturedsoul61
Torturedsoul61
13 years ago

That was pretty fah-reakin’ stupid of her…I don’t think anyone in their right mind would do this!! As mentioned there are rescues, plus the Humane Society would probably have helped her!! Shoot, I know vets offices that would have helped…there was no mis-understanding here, only her attempted mis-use of a ‘shelter’ so many ppl are fighting to have abolished!! I don’t feel sorry for her at all!! IDIOT!!

Dkrupted1
Dkrupted1
13 years ago

They had 4-7 days b4 they were to do anything with this poor dog. It is their fault not the owner. They did not follow their own procedure as it was stated. After 4-7 days then they were to make a decision. ANY animal on their 1st day in an unknown place is scared, and could show aggression. The owner thought she was doing the right thing by placing her pet in the care of ppl. she thought would care for him. And by the way she would have to pay for the keep of the pet if she picked up or not.

Dkrupted1
Dkrupted1
13 years ago

They had 4-7 days b4 they were to do anything with this poor dog. It is their fault not the owner. They did not follow their own procedure as it was stated. After 4-7 days then they were to make a decision. ANY animal on their 1st day in an unknown place is scared, and could show aggression. The owner thought she was doing the right thing by placing her pet in the care of ppl. she thought would care for him. And by the way she would have to pay for the keep of the pet if she picked up or not.

Dkrupted1
Dkrupted1
13 years ago

They had 4-7 days b4 they were to do anything with this poor dog. It is their fault not the owner. They did not follow their own procedure as it was stated. After 4-7 days then they were to make a decision. ANY animal on their 1st day in an unknown place is scared, and could show aggression. The owner thought she was doing the right thing by placing her pet in the care of ppl. she thought would care for him. And by the way she would have to pay for the keep of the pet if she picked up or not.

Pam1934120
Pam1934120
13 years ago

The whole situation is a “no win situation” I’m betting there is more to this story from both owner and shelter

Powtricia
Powtricia
13 years ago

DUMBASS.

Michael Haslam
13 years ago

Avoid Kill shelters at all costs, a local shelter made a mistake between two dogs and killed accidently a dog that had been lost and the owners were coming to claim the dog.

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