Shelter Gives Away Dog Marked For Euthanization

PLACERVILLE, Calif. (CBS13) – A Placer County resident who asked for her dog to be put to sleep because of health problems was surprised to hear the dog was instead put up for adoption.

The El Dorado Animal Shelter made no apologies for seeking a new owner for Sophie, a cocker spaniel, after seeing how playful and healthy the animal seemed.

"We feel like we did the appropriate thing, we saved an animal's life," said Animal Services Chief Henry Brzezinski.

The owner told shelter employees the dog needed to be put to sleep because she was suffering from incontinence.

"I had a dog that was incontinent years ago and it's not a death sentence," Brzezinski said. "We always evaluate an animal that's brought into our facilities to see if there's any chance of adopting an animal out."

Sophie's owner claimed she learned her dog was alive when she opened the paper and saw a picture of the cocker spaniel, with the note she was available to a new home. An 81-year-old man responded to the ad and adopted Sophie.

He hasn't seen any signs of health problems.

"A shelter should really be a last resort for an animal," Brzezinski said.

The surrender form filled out by Sophie's owner makes no mention that the shelter tries to save animals given up for euthanization, and Brzezinski acknowledged there are "differing opinions" about whether employees told the owner they would evaluate the dog.

The shelter has never received a similar complaint before and the director says they are reviewing their policies, which may end up adding more information to their surrender forms.

It costs $55 to put a dog to sleep and $40 to give the dog up for adoption; the shelter is refunding the $15 difference to Sophie's original owner.

The dog's original owner did not respond to requests for comment.