Hayden animal shelter sees rise in euthanasia requests

The black lab seemed healthy and happy as he bounded into the room at Companions Animal Center.  

He was big, maybe 75 pounds, and older, perhaps 9 or 10, with a graying muzzle. He went to a window and stared out. Seeing nothing of interest, he turned back to the people seated at a table, excited to be there. 

That same dog had been dropped off earlier in the week by its longtime owner with a request: Euthanize him.  

The owner said he was moving and couldn’t take the dog, which he said had health issues, too.

After checking the dog’s physical and behavioral condition, and finding overall he was fine, the request was denied. CAC will try to find him a new owner.

“He’s a great dog,” said Vicky Nelson, CAC development director. “He deserves to be in a good home.” 

The request to euthanize the pet was one of 189 made of CAC so far this year. Of those, the no-kill shelter determined that 13 of them, 7%, should not be put down and took them in.

Last year, through the same timeframe, CAC had 168 euthanasia requests. 

More people are asking CAC to end the lives of pets not necessarily for physical or behavioral reasons, but rather, for financial purposes and convenience. Depending on the case, they are turning them down.

“The save rate is much higher this year,” Nelson said.  

Debbie Jeffries, CAC executive director, says rising rents and damage deposits, as well as stricter regulations on larger dogs are forcing pet owners to make tough decisions.  

“It’s all over the country,” she said. 

CAC has been operating at capacity for months and not accepting surrenders for adoptions. It is building a new wing expected to open in January that will have kennel space for about 25 dogs, but that is expected to fill quickly. 

Most euthanasia requests are legitimate, with a pet facing poor health due to age or medical problems, or it has become aggressive. 

Some have figured out a way around the no-surrender rule by surrendering their pets with a euthanasia request rather than adoption. 

“People know they can’t surrender because of space issues at the shelter. It’s full,” Jeffries said. “They know if they surrender it to be euthanized, they’re going to get rid of the animal.” 

CAC’s fees for euthanasia are also less than a private practice veterinarian. CAC charges a flat $65, while the general charge in the private practice world is about $100 and up, depending on the size of the animal and more when disposal is figured in. 

In their newsletter, CAC veterinarian Dr. Nichole Leonard wrote, “We are seeing more and more unnecessary euthanasia requests than ever before. It’s less expensive than providing medical care for the animal.” 

At that point, the animals become the property of CAC. It has had success finding them homes. 

One dog, “Mr. Blue Eyes,” had been locked up without food or water with other dogs. When they escaped, they got into trouble, so their owner surrendered two of them to be euthanized 

Jeffries said it was clear the dogs were malnourished and neglected. Rather than put them down, CAC provided four months of observation, a healthy diet and lots of attention. Both have been adopted. 

A Yorkie mix was brought in with the owner claiming the dog was aggressive, anxious and had bladder issues. But the owner couldn’t provide the medical records they claimed to have from a vet.  

Upon examination, CAC found the dog had a thyroid problem and needed a dental cleaning. It’s since been adopted. 

Recently, a guinea pig was brought in with a surrender form stating it was old, sick and not well.  

“Imagine our surprise when we examined its teeth,” CAC wrote in its newsletter. “They were a half-inch long! A quick trim was all it needed. Problem solved, and life saved.”