Recently I was visiting friends in Monroe. I am outraged at what happened, so I felt it necessary to express my disappointment. We were walking through the neighbor's front lawn, a Chihuahua chained outside bit my 2-year-old daughter. My daughter was partly at fault for getting too close to this dog. This letter is to raise awareness of the lack of professionalism and compassion displayed by the Director of the Green County Humane Society.
Originally, we thought the bite was just a scratch, as we did not initially see the puncture in between our daughter's fingers. It did become infected, and two days later we were in the ER (the ER staff were wonderful. Thank you.) The law states that the police be informed. An investigation of the history of this dog showed that it had been adopted from the Green County Humane Society in December, 8 months earlier, and never received its rabies shot. That afternoon we were facing the possibility that our baby would have to endure the ordeal of the rabies shot series. The Director gave no explanation for this gross oversight. I spoke with her on the phone, and after I had asked her how it was possible that a dog that was not vaccinated could be adopted out to a home, she hung up on me. We repeatedly tried to call her back, then left two messages and still never received a reply. Ever.
I was stunned there was no apology for the oversight or expression of concern for our daughter's life. How does a woman who should be an example of professionalism act so callous? Wisconsin law states it is a requirement of animal control to properly vaccinate all animals before releasing them to the public; found in the Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 173.23: an unclaimed animal may be released if it is licensed - and has all vaccinations required by statutes. Rabies is a required vaccination. The Humane Society is the responsible party, and their lack of policies or procedures was disheartening to say the least.
Thankfully the dog was cleared of rabies on Aug. 9, 2010.
Additionally, the adopters keep that Chihuahua outside on a chain. Wisconsin statutes 173.41(f) state: that a dog that is kept outdoors is must be a breed that is typically kept outdoors. When did Chihuahuas become an outdoor breed? Does any of this seem like proper protocol?
Originally, we thought the bite was just a scratch, as we did not initially see the puncture in between our daughter's fingers. It did become infected, and two days later we were in the ER (the ER staff were wonderful. Thank you.) The law states that the police be informed. An investigation of the history of this dog showed that it had been adopted from the Green County Humane Society in December, 8 months earlier, and never received its rabies shot. That afternoon we were facing the possibility that our baby would have to endure the ordeal of the rabies shot series. The Director gave no explanation for this gross oversight. I spoke with her on the phone, and after I had asked her how it was possible that a dog that was not vaccinated could be adopted out to a home, she hung up on me. We repeatedly tried to call her back, then left two messages and still never received a reply. Ever.
I was stunned there was no apology for the oversight or expression of concern for our daughter's life. How does a woman who should be an example of professionalism act so callous? Wisconsin law states it is a requirement of animal control to properly vaccinate all animals before releasing them to the public; found in the Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 173.23: an unclaimed animal may be released if it is licensed - and has all vaccinations required by statutes. Rabies is a required vaccination. The Humane Society is the responsible party, and their lack of policies or procedures was disheartening to say the least.
Thankfully the dog was cleared of rabies on Aug. 9, 2010.
Additionally, the adopters keep that Chihuahua outside on a chain. Wisconsin statutes 173.41(f) state: that a dog that is kept outdoors is must be a breed that is typically kept outdoors. When did Chihuahuas become an outdoor breed? Does any of this seem like proper protocol?
