Re: Botched Euthanization Incident Spurs Irate Caregivers To Resign, McKamey Officials To Fine-Tune Protocols To Prevent Recurrences

Being involved in all aspects of animal welfare my entire life and reading your article, while enlightening, it missed a very key point. Fine tuning “protocols” about how they euthanize animals is definitely troubling, but the real question is why was this dog euthanized?

You quoted a caretaker who said the dog was “happily playing outside in a yard next to her friends” when it was inhumanely drug off to be euthanized. The response by the director was “no protocols were violated because, on paper, the dog had a history of aggression.”

Apparently, the dog had adjusted to being with other people and dogs, having shown no signs of aggression and was called very sweet. So, exactly what are McKamey’s euthanasia protocols?

These days there are so many opportunities to move dogs, cats, puppies and kittens outside of Southeast Shelters & Rescues to reduce numbers and euthanizations.

I challenge Ms. Fricke and the McKamey Board of Directors to make public exactly for what reasons they choose to euthanize.

Jimmy Stewart

* * * 

I stand with the employees of McKamey who quit in their sadness, disgust and outrage at the abuse they witnessed. I have never had a lot of faith in that organization from its inception and this coupled with allegations from the past warrants a state investigation.

If that type of abuse had been perpetrated by a citizen in the city and witnessed by a Hamilton County Humane Society officer, I'm sure a felony animal cruelty charge would have resulted.

There was talk of joining the two agencies together in the past and in the strongest possible way I object to that. The Hamilton County Humane Society should be given the funds and resources to take over McKamey and the middle and upper management shown the door and if they don't go willingly drag them out with a catch pole by their necks.  For the uninitiated a catch pole is nothing more than a noose on a pole, and yes it chokes. 

Mr. Pinkston of the D.A.'s office, will you investigate?  Please do and close them down.

I support a no kill approach to animal service agencies county wide.  Euthanasia only when the animal is sick, in pain with no chance of recovery. Citizens, please support a catch, spay or neuter and release policy county wide. People, if you love your pets don't let them roam free. Seriously, if you can't treat an animal with compassion, dignity and respect, I pray that you don't have children.

I'm just glad that didn't happen in my presence.

Mathew Hopkins