Animal Advocates Watchdog

Re: To the Yukon Humane Society: Hunter (Smiley) did not get the chance he deserved...

Letter was heartfelt, but gave us few facts (Star, August 2/10)
This letter is in response to that of Mike Grieco, published Friday July 30.

The Mae Bachur Animal Shelter implements a “no-kill” policy.

A “no-kill” animal shelter is, by definition, one where animals are only euthanized if they are too sick to be treated or too aggressive to be suitable for adoption.

Euthanasia is not to be used as a method of population control at such animal shelters.

Though Mr. Grieco’s letter tugged on our heartstrings, it provided few facts surrounding Hunter’s death.

Hunter was both gravely ill and had proven to be an aggressive animal.

I realize that this was a difficult situation not only for Mr. Grieco, but all members of the humane society board and staff.

Thank you, Mae Bachur, for standing by your commitment to being Yukon’s “no-kill” animal shelter.

Abigail Steinberg
Whitehorse

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This dog had attacked, and was in pain (Star, August 2/100
I am replying to the letter in the Whitehorse Star on Friday, July 30 from Mike Grieco to myself.
By Whitehorse Star on August 2, 2010 at 4:35 pm

Hunter
I am replying to the letter in the Whitehorse Star on Friday, July 30 from Mike Grieco to myself.

The questions Mike asked in his letter were answered to him previously.

Hunter was a neutered male pit bull-cross, who was originally dropped off at the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter on March 10 as a stray.

While at the shelter, Hunter came across as a very mellow dog who got along with everybody and other dogs, so Hunter was adopted out.

The adopters called the shelter wanting to surrender this dog back when he had bitten two people without any provocation nor any warning whatsoever.

Hunter was assessed by two trainers, who both found Hunter to be aggressive, and that euthanasia should be considered if a professional trainer wasn’t found to adopt the dog.

Hunter had been bleeding from his nose and mouth when he chewed toys or rawhides.

We thought there might be a medical reason that was causing his aggressive behaviour. Veterinary examination found the bleeding to be caused by a tumour under his tongue, and possibly in his nasal cavity, which was likely cancerous. If removed, it would likely reccur.

Even with pain medication, during the healing process, the pain caused by the tumour removal would make Hunter at greater risk to attack.

The vet also said Hunter was extremely aggressive, and showed the signs of aggression without being provoked.

Hunter attacked one of the shelter kennel attendants without provocation. She had spent a lot of time with him, yet, without any warning, he bit her all over her body – on her left side rib cage, left and right leg and right arm.

Now, this is the dog that Mike wanted us to release into a foster home. I told Mike of this attack, and he said, “The dog didn’t know how to play nice.” What happens to another person if Hunter didn’t “play nice” with them?

When I told Mike it was inhumane to put the dog through the surgery to remove the tumour, knowing how painful it would be for the dog, he said, “Animals suffer – we all know this.”

Mike said he would not have the surgery done, but would wait until the dog would let us know it was hurting.

Animals, and breeds such as pit bulls in particular, can tolerate a great deal of pain before they let you know how much it hurts.

Mike wanted to let Hunter live until the pain was extreme enough that the dog would show how much pain he felt. Is this what Mike considers humane treatment?

The decision to euthanize Hunter was made by the humane society board, not by myself alone.

It normally would be made by the administrator and the president, but because our administrator is a new employee, I took the matter to the board.

When we have been given advice by vets and trainers that Hunter is at great risk to cause someone serious harm by biting without warning or provocation, it would be extremely irresponsible of the board not to take that advice. As a humane society, we also need to consider what is humane treatment of the animal.

The humane society is a “no-kill shelter for adoptable animals”, and with both the medical and safety factors presented by Hunter, he was not considered “adoptable”.

It is never easy to make the decision to euthanize an animal. We agonize over this, and never take it lightly.

If we released Hunter into a home, and if he bit or attacked another person, living with that decision would be even harder.

If that person decided to sue the shelter because we were aware that Hunter bit without any warning or provocation, we would have to close our doors, and would not be able to help any other animals.

We do everything in our power to help all the animals we get, including raising money for special needs, but unfortunately, we cannot save them all.

Gerry Steers
President
Humane Society Yukon
Whitehorse

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Hunter was not given the chance he deserved (Star, August 6/10)
Re: “Letter was heartfelt, but gave us few facts” (Star, Aug. 2).
Abigail Steinberg, thanks for writing.

You said my letter (Star, July 30) “provided few facts surrounding Hunter’s death.” Then you went on to say that, “Hunter was gravely ill and had proven to be an aggressive animal.” I would like to know where you got this information with respect to Hunter.

Did you know that fear biting is usually labelled as “aggressive”, and Hunter was afraid of the vet? Did you meet Hunter? If you did, you must have noticed that he was gentle, and he wasn’t apparently suffering. He was not gravely ill. Have you asked those who voted to have him killed, how much time they spent with Hunter?

Re: This dog had attacked, and was in pain” (Star, Aug. 2).

Gerry Steers, as the current president of the Humane Socety Yukon, you said that I “wanted to let Hunter live until the pain was extreme enough that the dog would show how much pain he felt. Is this what Mike considers humane?” I explained to you that Hunter’s moods indicated that he was a happy dog that did not show any pain; he displayed contentment and other healthy signs.

He was enjoying life! Anyone who did not see this, simply did not want to see this. Now, Mrs. Steers: If you had spent any quality time at all with Smiley, you may have noticed these positive signs as well.

Many people have or had ill dogs, and they don’t all deside to kill them as soon as possible unless it is to relieve them of irremediable suffering. Now that’s “humane”, and it’s what the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter should do.

Some people consider it “humane” to kill healthy dogs, too. Are you one of these people, Mrs. Steers? Perhaps you could tell the public what you see as humane. Do you support the breeding of dogs? Did you know that breeders kill many healthy animals? Why do you support breeders instead of getting dogs from the shelter for your own home?

Also, does your letter reflect the views of the other members who agreed to have Hunter killed? I suspect it doesn’t. Of course, you would not misrepresent the information you obtained with respect to Hunter’s life? Glad to hear it.

I look forward to reading more of your letters in the future on behalf of the animals that need a voice because so far (other than this Aug. 2 one), I have never seen any letters from you on this topic.

Also, are you not aware that many dogs taken to the shelter come with issues? Do you assume that all the dogs display “proper behaviour” without training?

You claim that Hunter “attacks” people. Did you bother looking into what may have caused him to bite? Is he the first dog in the shelter that has bitten someone? What has happened to the other dogs (and cats, rabbits, etc.) that have bitten someone?

Hunter was not comfortable around some men, and he did not like going to the vet. Therefore, at the vet, he would react out of fear. I’m sure vets will tell you that a dog may snap or bite out of fear.

Many, many thanks to the Copper Road Veterinary Clinic Ltd. for realizing these facts. They accommodated Hunter’s comforts by sending a female vet and tech (who Hunter knew and befriended) to euthanize Hunter outside. This made a big difference for him.

I do have a lot of respect for vets and the trainers in this town. I would be surprised that:

• the vets would have found Hunter to be in constant pain when I (and others) did not; and

• the trainers would find that he could not be trained.

Therefore, I don’t believe what you said in your letter.

Hunter (Smiley) still had the capacity to feel much joy, as he displayed this every time I was with him. He was well aware of the world around him. He befriended and trusted me. I believe he was not given the chance he deserved. He was a sentient being.

Please visit Smiley here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EKwdCXqffw

Once again, many thanks to the Star for permitting space in your paper for the animals that need a voice.

Mike Grieco
Whitehorse

Messages In This Thread

To the Yukon Humane Society: Hunter (Smiley) did not get the chance he deserved...
This is OUTRAGEOUS!!
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Re: To the Yukon Humane Society: Hunter (Smiley) did not get the chance he deserved...

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