Vanessa Thomas, a resident ofPetersburg, Virginia, loved her pitbull of five years, Patty.Sadly, after going through a financially difficult period, she found herself facing the difficult decision that no dog lover wants to make, and chose to send her pet to a shelter, after she felt that she could no longer care for her.The young lady explained:
I thought I was doing something to help her, maybe someone would adopt her and give her a home
Source : ABC8
However, she quickly changed her mind,and returned to the shelter as soon as it opened, just one day later, to get Patty back. It was then that she received the devastating news that her dog had already been put down.The discharge certificate signed by Thomas did specify that once an animal is handed over to the shelter, they can be euthanized, but the decision to end the pitbull's life came extremely quickly, only one hour after her arrival.Deborah Broughton, the director of the shelter, remainsadamant that she made the right choice. She claims that the dog was aggressive towards her, and that this behavior made the canine unsuitable for adoption.
Source : ABC8
However, Vanessa Thomas maintains that Patty was never an aggressive dog, and explains that she has a document from her vet to prove it.Broughton nonetheless continues to justify her decision and abides by her version of events:
The owner no longer wants the dog, and I don’t know that I have any way whatsoever of obtaining a new owner for this dog. She has already tried to bite me, she’s not happy, she’s in a stressful environment and so the odds are just not good in favor of her. What I can tell you is when I make decisions, I try to make decisions so where I can put my head down at night, and feel like I made the right decision, and I feel like I still made the right decision.
Source : ABC8
Patty wasn't given the chance to find a new home, or to be collected by her owner, and her life was sadly cut short. However, despite this tragic turn of events, there are still many shelters which carry out amazing work and have tens of thousands of dogs waiting to find a new home.Consider adopting before you shop, and visit your local shelters before going to a breeder. Every dog and cat deserves a fair chance at a forever home. If you live in England, you can visit the RSPCA, and if you live in the United States, you can visit the ASPCA to get more information about pets available for adoption.Watch the video below to find out more about Vanessa Thomas's experience:
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