BY JENNIFER GREEN
While on my way to work recently, I noticed a beautiful dog dodging traffic on Everett Mall Way. She had no identification and no collar.
Not knowing what to do, I drove to my aunt and uncle’s house nearby. My uncle explained to me that the Everett Animal Shelter only holds animals for 72 hours.
That didn’t set well with me, so I decided to take the dog to PAWS in Lynnwood. I had worked there last summer as a volunteer.
When we arrived, I explained I had found her on Everett Mall Way. The lady said that by law the dog had to be taken to the Everett Animal Shelter.
On the way back to Everett, I enjoyed the dog very much. I felt a connection with her like I had never felt with another dog.
While they were very kind to us at PAWS, the mood was totally different at the Everett Animal Shelter. The animal control officer asked me if I had found her by Everett Mall Way. When I told him yes, he explained that he had chased her the previous day. Another gentleman took the dog from me and whisked her away.
The animal control officer took my information. He told me that she would be held for 72 hours for her owners to claim her.
I asked him what would happen if her owners didn’t pick her up. He explained that she would be put up for adoption.
I immediately told the officer that I wanted to adopt her. He said she’d be available at 11 a.m. March 25.
I thought about the dog all day and telephoned the shelter that night to see if she was still there.
As soon as my clock hit 9 a.m. Monday, I got on the telephone to see if she had been claimed; she had not. I found out the cost of adopting her and said I would be there at 11 a.m.
I arrived there at 10:55 a.m. and explained which dog I was there to adopt. Three times I looked through the kennels and could not find her. I noticed that at least 20 kennels were open.
I headed back up front and told the lady that I could not find her. She said, "Yes, unfortunately, she was euthanized this morning."
I said: "What do you mean, she was euthanized. I just called on her this morning, and you told me she was still here."
I was told that she didn’t know that they had euthanized her when I called.
I began crying profusely.
The manager couldn’t give me an explanation of what happened, except to say, "She had been here for four days and we were full up."
I said, "What do you mean full up, there are at least 20 kennels open."
He replied, "There are now, but there weren’t this morning."
The manager said it didn’t state on her paperwork that I wanted to adopt the dog. It also didn’t mention that I had called more than once to check on her status.
He told me that the officer who was on duty when I brought her in was the same officer who euthanized her that morning. When the officer arrived, he went into the "you didn’t tell me" routine.
I said regardless of that, you said she would be made available for adoption today at 11 a.m. The officer replied that in the time she was there he decided she might have the potential to bite.
They never once apologized for misleading me about the dog. This sweet dog was never given a chance for a happy home.
I plead to everyone, please do not bring pets into your homes unless you are 100 percent sure that you are ready for the responsibility. There are too many unwanted animals in this world that end up like the wonderful dog I rescued, fell in love with and lost.
Jennifer Green, 28, lives in Everett. She is a 1992 graduate of Mariner High School. She has a cat, and she’s always wanted a dog.
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