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Dog taken by Ontario SPCA, euthanized without owner's knowledge *PIC*

Dog taken, euthanized without owner's knowledge
Etobicoke woman blasts OSPCA, claims husky was put down needlessly

CBC News Posted: Jun 12, 2011 3:25 PM ET Last Updated: Jun 12, 2011 3:25 PM ET Read 121 comments121

An Etobicoke dog owner has accused the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of euthanizing her beloved husky unnecessarily and without her knowledge.

Gianna Tramontin said her 16-year-old brown and white husky, Rocky, was healthy and received regular checkups with a local veterinarian. But she was stunned when she returned home two weeks ago to find her pet was gone.

A notice from the OSPCA was posted to her door informing her officials had taken Rocky away and were charging her for failing to provide proper shelter and veterinary care. A neighbour had earlier alerted the organization after noticing that Rocky had collapsed in the sun.

When Tramontin followed up with the OSPCA, she claims the agency only told her that her pet was being treated. In fact, the animal was euthanized the same day.

Dog was suffering: OSPCA
When she couldn't reach the OSPCA for further updates, her son phoned and received the news the pet had been put down. Tramontin's son arrived at her home two days later to take her out to lunch and deliver the news in person.

"When I got in the car, I just knew right away because the tears were coming down and he told me Rocky had died," she said.

Outraged and heartbroken, Tramontin wants to know why she was never given any notice her pet was to be put down.

Connie Mallory, the OSPCA's chief inspector, insists the dog was suffering and had to be euthanized.

Charges dropped
"This dog was dehydrated, had severe dental disease, had neurological symptoms," Mallory said. "[The dog was] in really rough shape that obviously had not been checked by the veterinarian."

But Tramontin disagreed, and has been backed up by Heather Hannah, the veterinarian who saw Rocky for the last 14 years. Both feel that the OSPCA acted hastily.

"I think they made a mistake in this case," Hannah said. "I mean, it had veterinary care every few months."

The OSPCA says it did not lay any charges against Tramontin.

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Corrections and Clarifications
An earlier version of this story said that the OSPCA charged Rocky's owner, but withdrew the charge after the owner produced veterinary records. The OSCPCA says that no charges were laid or revoked.
June 13, 2011 | 9 p.m. ET
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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/06/12/toronto-husky-ospca-euthanized534.html

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EXTERNAL LINK:
http://ontariospca.ca/press_releases/2011/11_june13.html
Letter to the Editor
Sunday June 12, 2011
RE: Dog taken, euthanized without owner's knowledge by Johnny Keogh

Dear Editor,

The Ontario SPCA is taken aback that the reporter chose to ignore the information provided to him on the condition of the animal profiled in his article.

The Ontario SPCA is mandated under the Ontario SPCA Act to respond to reports of animal cruelty. The Ontario SPCA and the local police responded to a call concerning a husky named "Rocky". Rocky was found, vocolizing in agony, severely dehydrated, emaciated, unable to control his own bodily functions and as a result his skin had been scalded by his own urine. He was unable to walk when the investigators found him.

Efforts were made by both the Police and the Ontario SPCA to contact the family. Our investigation revealed that the owners had not been seen in days, and in our line of work we sadly see this type of neglect frequently.

Rocky was examined by two veterinarians, who each reported that on top of the health concerns found by the Ontario SPCA , he was showing neurological problems and severe dental disease.

As a 16 year old dog with obvious signs of sever pain and declining health. Rocky was euthanized humanly by a veterinarian to end his suffering.

No charges were laid nor later revoked, as incorrectly reported by the original article. Our primary concern with this investigation was with Rocky's well-being.

It was incorrectly reported that I claimed that the dog had not been examined by a vet. I informed the reporter that the dog showed no signs of receiving palliative care, and as a senior dog with Rocky's condition he should have be receiving that type of care.

Palliative care, as with humans, dictates that someone is with them at all times so they do not have to endure this type of trauma. Where was the family during this time? Why was Rocky left in the extreme heat in his condition without water?

In addition to the two veterinarians who examined Rocky. We have allowed a third veterinarian to review Rocky's medical records.

"At the request of the Ontario SPCA I reviewed the documentation regarding the decision to euthanize "Rocky", a 16-year-old Husky. After reading the attending veterinarians' comments regarding Rocky's condition I would agree with the decision to perform euthanasia.

Allowing animals to attain the full measure of their natural lifespan requires aggressive management of medical conditions and an effective palliative care plan. The condition Rocky was found in indicates the absence of an effective palliative care plan. In my opinion euthanasia is the logical final component to palliative care plan. Veterinarians have a duty to minimize pain and prevent suffering. Euthanasia is a crutial element in meeting our obligations to animals in our care." J. Bruce Robertson, DVM.

We are saddened that the concern for Rocky's well- being were not recognized by his owners.

Chief Inspector Connie Mallory
Ontario SPCA

SOME COMMENTS - MORE AT
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/06/12/toronto-husky-ospca-euthanized534.html
LynnGPstandard
2011/06/14
at 2:31 PM ETI wonder if the vets who decided Rocky should be euthanized are the same vets who determined 102 animals needed to be killed last year for ringworm which proved to be a lie. They were killed needlessly. ! That is their answer to everything and then they try to cover up by saying an animal was in terrible distress and they did the "humane" thing. They do it not to be humane but because they can. .

LynnGPstandard
2011/06/14
at 2:29 PM ETWhy is it there is a link to OSPCA so they can continue their usual "spin" on stories when they get caught yet you do not have a followup by Rocky's vet who detailed, in other articles, exactly what the situation with Rocky was. Shame on CBC!.

torontopetdailystandard Char's comment: I have posted this article separate.Statement from Rocky's vet next post
2011/06/14
at 2:13 PM ETI have just received a statement from Rocky's veterinarian, which has been published at http://www.torontopetdaily.com. Hopefully it will answer some unanswered questions..

Tabatha55standard
2011/06/13
at 10:30 PM ETI once had a friend who took possesion of an eldery dog who had lived its life chained to a doghouse and the owners agreed to let him have the dog. The dog was thin and looked very rough. Within two days of his having rescued the dog his neighbours called the SPCA. They came quickly and after getting the facts thanked my friend and the dog live a totally happy and pampered life till he died . What my friend always wondered was how was it the dog lived for 10 or more years chained to a dog house and he only had the dog two days and the SPCA was called. We finally figured it all depended on your neighbours. Apparently the neighbours of the dogs original home didn't care how the dog was treated. We also figured neighbours never come to ask what the truth is they only leave it to others to find out if something is wrong.
I find it interesting that the dog was taken without any communication with the owner.
Also just because the dog was under vet care does not mean it was not suffering. Some vets will now amputate a dogs lower jaw to save its life. Personally I do not feel death is the worst thing that can happen to an animal. Keeping a dog alive as long as medically possible is not always kind or loving in my opinion.
Perhaps this is like the situation with my friend that there is more to the story than either side is admitting. .

David Pringlestandard
2011/06/13
at 7:17 PM ETAfter a fast scan of the responses to this article, I really am surprised that I saw no link to (human) euthanasia! I do understand emotional (and other) bonds amongst humans and animals. So where are the comments linking this article with euthanasia?.

Gianna Tramontin's pet husky, Rocky, was euthanized by the OSPCA without the owner being notified. The organization claimed the animal was suffering and needed to be put down, but Tramontin said Rocky was healthy. (Photo submitted by Sonia Tramontin)

Messages In This Thread

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