Two Dogs Accidentally Euthanized In Florida, Vet Releases Demeaning Response

Opposing Views ^ | 08/23/2013 | By Jonathan Wolfe

[Responsibility2nd]

Florida resident Shawntae Rosetta and her family owned two dogs – sisters Hershey and Roxy.

When the Rosetta family decided they were going to move, they realized they wouldn’t be able to bring the dogs with them. The Rosetta’s tried to give the dogs away to friends, but when no one offered to take them in, the Rosetta’s did what hundreds of people do every day – they donated them to the local animal shelter to be adopted.

Their plan seemed like it was going to work. After a few days in the shelter, Hershey was scheduled to be adopted by a new family. But one day Shawntae’s mother called and said she saw Hershey featured in a news story.

“My mom called and she said, 'Hershey was on the news.' I was like, 'Oh did someone adopt him?' and she was like, dead (silent) for a moment," Rosetta said.

Rosetta then learned that Hershey had been euthanized at the Orange County Animal Services (OCAS) shelter.

She rushed to the shelter to pick up Roxy to prevent her from being euthanized as well, but she was too late. Roxy had been put down as well.

The shelter called the euthanasias a procedural error.

As if the killing of the dogs wasn’t bad enough, veterinarian Dr. Ridgeway from OCAS responded to questions about the killings in an email that was less than apologetic, to say the least.

"It was not until I got your email that I realized why I came back to OCAS. Besides being stupid, I wanted to get dumb emails from people like you that make my day," Ridgway wrote. "Emails like yours are so stimulating it makes hard working people want to butter up to you to make you happy -- believe me they will.

“I suggest that you attempt to go to veterinary college and when you graduate, if you can, you come take my job.”

Click here to see the full email from Dr. Ridgeway.

Dil Luther, a division manager from OCAS, released a more empathetic statement on the euthanasias.

“We are terribly sorry for this mistake and our hearts go out to the adopting family," Luther said. “An occurrence such as this is extremely rare. However, it happened and it's an error we do not take lightly. We have already reinforced our procedures to ensure this does not happen again."

Sources: WFTV, WESH

[Responsibility2nd]

So. Irresponsible pet owner gives dogs away. Then gets upset when dogs are put down. Then gets snarked at by the vet who euthanized them.

That about it?

ps. Is it Joe Pro Bono who has the doggie ping list?

[Sherman Logan]

"It was not until I got your email that I realized why I came back to OCAS. Besides being stupid, I wanted to get dumb emails from people like you that make my day,"

Since the email in question wasn't included, we can't judge whether this was an appropriate response.

[Vendome]

Wow Dr. Ridgeway.

With a response like that How could I ever trust you with my babies?

Stone cold hearted.

Just go on being yourself.

[Responsibility2nd]

The email is here.

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/email-vets-harsh-response-after-dog-accidentally-e/nZYFh/

But actually - I’m not sure who is being snarked at.

????

[Darksheare]

Euthanize the vet.
Saves some time in the long run.

[Mamzelle]

i'm with you.

As fond as i am of my pets, some of these uber pet-lovers, particularly women who don't have children in the house, is to be a little creeped out.

Dogs are not human. Maybe that's a good thing, but they are not people. They are not children. They will not be a substitute for people, although go ahead and try.

Ticks me off when I am regularly scolded for getting a pure bred dog from a reliable breeder rather than a shelter dog from dubious origins. My choice, friend. Go adopt the whole shelter and prove how politically correct you are! A friend of mine adopted a greyhound type and the dog seems to be untrainable and crazy--

I've adopted my share of strays and shelter pets. Mostly it worked out.

Now someone wants to dump a dog in the shelter, "can't make out"--and wants to demonize the doc who works the shelter? Loser. You could have worked with a lot of organizations, you could have done the work yourself like I have when a dog did not work out for my family.

[spacejunkie2001]

The other thing is, only homeless pets end up at OCAS, not pre-owned with a history. I have no clue why she would have taken them there. They should have gone to the humane society.

[Mamzelle]

I mean, you’re going to get all kinds of “kill the vet” from the righteously pet-obsessed, who want to create a parade of their luv for dogs...

[skinkinthegrass]

That about it?ummmm...didn't she "donate them" ?...
well...all bets were off..she give-up
responsibility & the right to BITCH

[svcw]

There are dozens of reasons an animal may be put down, the owner dropped the dogs of, their responsibility ended with that action.
The vet should have just ignored the email.

[pabianice]

When I was in college I worked one summer at the Animal Rescue League veterinary clinic in a city I will not name. There were four vets there. One was normal. The second was crazy and spent lunch in the x-ray room melting fishing weights down into musket balls. He also wore a WW I soldier’s cap and marched up and down the halls playing a bugle and yelling, “You’re cannon fodder!” (this was in 1965) The third was a mean alcoholic who spent lunch getting drunk and then sucked hard candies the rest of the day to hide his booze breath from animal owners. During one operation, when a dog struggled in terror, he punched the dog in the mouth and snarled, “Stop that, you bitch!” The fourth never spoke and was the ugliest woman I had seen (at age 19) and wore glasses so thick they looked like the bottoms of Coke bottles. I decided it was bad odds on seeking to become a veterinarian.

[svcw]

That simply is not true, unless this facility is completely different from all others.

[Vendome]

Geeze....

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

Okay, that was a nasty email from the vet. I’m sure he’s a real treat to work with and madly beloved by everyone he knows.

But what did the erstwhile owners expect? If you release control over your pets, you get what you get. They should have done a better job finding homes for the dogs.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Joe 6-Pack is doggies, Joe Pro Bono is graphics meister.

[Responsibility2nd]

As far as I know - there is no such thing as a no-kill shelter. Like in this case - these dogs were moved to a shelter to be put down.

And - for any reason - once you give your pets away to a shelter, you no longer have any right to question what becomes of them.

[Responsibility2nd]

Thanks. I knew it was Joe who ran the doggie ping list. Just had a senior moment as to which one.

[Tijeras_Slim]

That’s OK... on the internet everybody looks the same.

[Future Snake Eater]

I agree. It was a dick response, but I’m willing to bet the one he got wasn’t any better.

[Responsibility2nd]

That’s OK... on the internet everybody looks the same.

 

 

That’s OK... on the internet everybody looks the same.