MONROE - The Green County Humane Society discussed using euthanasia but only after all other avenues have been explored.
There have been discussions about what to do with dogs that are aggressive toward other dogs at the shelter and toward people who either work at the shelter or visit the shelter. The humane society is a no-kill shelter except in instances of medical emergencies.
The idea isn't yet a formal GCHS policy and wouldn't be until after a protocol for aggressive dogs is discussed by the public and voted on by the entire board.
For the past few months an aggressive dog committee has looked to create a policy for aggressive dogs. No policy currently exists for aggressive dogs.
No policy is expected in the immediate future, either.
Mick McClain, who chairs the committee, told a small group of people at a listening session Wednesday at the Monroe Public Library that a policy needs to be created.
"We know we have to do something," he said. "Hoping the issue will go away is not an option."
McClain said that the committee has started its work but wanted input from the public.
"We're in the research phase," he said. "We're looking at a course of action but nothing has been finalized yet. We're not even close to that point."
He said the committee, which is made up of board members Yvonne Schutte and Heidi Treuthardt, shelter manager Tonya Kelly, Jarrett Kelly and local veterinarians Amy Hagen and Lisa Holcomb, started to look at what can be done with aggressive dogs.
Schutte, Treuthardt, McClain and board vice president Mary Jane Grenzow were the only board members at the listening session.
Not every dog that appears aggressive is a danger to other animals or to people, McClain said.
Some dogs that appear aggressive at the shelter are actually afraid or are reacting to an unfamiliar environment. Those dogs could be trained and their behavior could change once adopted, she said.
However, the Humane Society needs to know that, McClain said. The staff needs to be able to identify what dogs can be rehabilitated and which ones can't, he said.
McClain said the shelter will also need a definition for the term "aggressive."
The shelter might have to hire someone to assess a dog's behavior, and that person would work closely with the shelter manager to come up with a plan of action to make the dog less aggressive.
One option for a dog that can't be rehabilitated is to go to an animal sanctuary, but there is usually a waiting list because there aren't many sanctuaries for aggressive dogs.
The question remains, what to do with an aggressive dog.
"This isn't a one strike you're out, or even three strikes," Grenzow said.
Only after a dog couldn't be rehabilitated and only if shelter staff and volunteers are at risk would the board consider euthanasia.
"We're trying to make sure the dog isn't putting people at risk," Grenzow said. "We don't want to adopt out a dog and then learn that it attacked a 2-year-old child."
She was quick to add that the Humane Society isn't looking to become a kill shelter.
"I know there are animals that can change. If we have a dog that's aggressive we need to know what our policy is," Grenzow said. "This like an insurance policy. You have it in case you need it."
Grenzow said there has been misinformation put out to suggest the shelter wants to kill animals, but that's not the truth.
Gunhild Marcher, who served on the board for several years, suggested the Humane Society board wants to euthanize animals.
"I'm worried you're trying to kill animals to make yourselves look good," Marcher told the board members. "You shouldn't put animals down in any circumstances, ever."
She then amended her statement that animals should only be euthanized in cases of medial emergencies.
Grenzow challenged Marcher's statement that the board wanted to kill animals.
"How would that make us look good," she asked.
There have been discussions about what to do with dogs that are aggressive toward other dogs at the shelter and toward people who either work at the shelter or visit the shelter. The humane society is a no-kill shelter except in instances of medical emergencies.
The idea isn't yet a formal GCHS policy and wouldn't be until after a protocol for aggressive dogs is discussed by the public and voted on by the entire board.
For the past few months an aggressive dog committee has looked to create a policy for aggressive dogs. No policy currently exists for aggressive dogs.
No policy is expected in the immediate future, either.
Mick McClain, who chairs the committee, told a small group of people at a listening session Wednesday at the Monroe Public Library that a policy needs to be created.
"We know we have to do something," he said. "Hoping the issue will go away is not an option."
McClain said that the committee has started its work but wanted input from the public.
"We're in the research phase," he said. "We're looking at a course of action but nothing has been finalized yet. We're not even close to that point."
He said the committee, which is made up of board members Yvonne Schutte and Heidi Treuthardt, shelter manager Tonya Kelly, Jarrett Kelly and local veterinarians Amy Hagen and Lisa Holcomb, started to look at what can be done with aggressive dogs.
Schutte, Treuthardt, McClain and board vice president Mary Jane Grenzow were the only board members at the listening session.
Not every dog that appears aggressive is a danger to other animals or to people, McClain said.
Some dogs that appear aggressive at the shelter are actually afraid or are reacting to an unfamiliar environment. Those dogs could be trained and their behavior could change once adopted, she said.
However, the Humane Society needs to know that, McClain said. The staff needs to be able to identify what dogs can be rehabilitated and which ones can't, he said.
McClain said the shelter will also need a definition for the term "aggressive."
The shelter might have to hire someone to assess a dog's behavior, and that person would work closely with the shelter manager to come up with a plan of action to make the dog less aggressive.
One option for a dog that can't be rehabilitated is to go to an animal sanctuary, but there is usually a waiting list because there aren't many sanctuaries for aggressive dogs.
The question remains, what to do with an aggressive dog.
"This isn't a one strike you're out, or even three strikes," Grenzow said.
Only after a dog couldn't be rehabilitated and only if shelter staff and volunteers are at risk would the board consider euthanasia.
"We're trying to make sure the dog isn't putting people at risk," Grenzow said. "We don't want to adopt out a dog and then learn that it attacked a 2-year-old child."
She was quick to add that the Humane Society isn't looking to become a kill shelter.
"I know there are animals that can change. If we have a dog that's aggressive we need to know what our policy is," Grenzow said. "This like an insurance policy. You have it in case you need it."
Grenzow said there has been misinformation put out to suggest the shelter wants to kill animals, but that's not the truth.
Gunhild Marcher, who served on the board for several years, suggested the Humane Society board wants to euthanize animals.
"I'm worried you're trying to kill animals to make yourselves look good," Marcher told the board members. "You shouldn't put animals down in any circumstances, ever."
She then amended her statement that animals should only be euthanized in cases of medial emergencies.
Grenzow challenged Marcher's statement that the board wanted to kill animals.
"How would that make us look good," she asked.