Afghan war hero accidentally euthanized.

[jinkazama]

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/15...anized/?hpt=T2

A dog rescued from Afghanistan after she alerted soldiers to a suicide bomber was accidentally euthanized at an Arizona shelter on Monday.

A Pinal County Animal Care and Control employee has been placed on administrative leave for failing to follow procedures and euthanizing the wrong dog.

The dog, Target,  was recently brought over from Afghanistan by a soldier who had returned from his tour of duty.  Target was featured by CNN for heroism after saving dozens of soldiers from a suicide bomber on February 11.

“She got her name because the Afghans we lived with were constantly trying to off her.  She’s been shot in the leg. … The Afghans actually ran over her,” Sgt. Christopher Duke said, who helped care for Target in Afghanistan and has adopted her packmate Rufus.  “There’s no killing this dog for sure.  She’s pretty much been through it all, ” he said upon their reunion in July in Georgia.

Target’s new owner, Army Sgt. Terry Young whose life was saved by the stray, helped bring the 2-ish-year-old from Afghanistan to her new home in Arizona.  She disappeared from Young’s home on Friday.  Facebook postings requested help in finding her.


Target saved U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan
Animal Care and Control received a call about a stray female shepherd-mix dog in the San Tan Valley area on Friday.  An animal control officer picked up the dog and brought her to the shelter where the dog stayed over the weekend.  The dog was not microchipped or licensed with the county,  shelter officials said.

On Monday morning, the employee mistakenly took the dog out of its pen and euthanized it.  The dog was not scheduled for euthanasia.

“I am heartsick over this.  I had to personally deliver the news to the dog’s owner, and he and his family are understandably distraught,” said Animal Care and Control Director Ruth Stalter.  “We work hard get to strays reunited with their owners.  When it comes to euthanizing an animal, there are some clear-cut procedures to follow.  Based on my preliminary investigation, our employee did not follow those procedures.”

In an e-mail, Young told  CNN affiliate KPHO, “I’m an absolute wreck today, and it’s everything in my power to hold it together for me and my family. My 4-year-old son just can’t understand what is going on with Target and keeps asking me to get the poison out of her and bring her home. They don’t want her to go be with God yet.”

“An investigation is under way, and we will cooperate fully.  We will also thoroughly review procedures to ensure that something like this does not happen again,” Stalter said.  “This is unacceptable, and no family should be deprived of their companion because procedures were not followed.”

Target was pregnant when she helped thwart the suicide bomber by attacking him.  She had her litter of puppies in Afghanistan.  Target’s puppies have since been brought to the United States.

[Chun Liroy]

[tyven]

that is terribad. i blame the jews blacks gays and gypsies

[Alleya]

You forgot arabs, chinks, and mexicans.

[Guyverarmor]

And white people, damn white people.

[GentaiShinigami]

“There’s no killing this dog for sure...”

And there was his fatal mistake. He shoulda known better! >_<

[Bregor]

Don't be too sad, Frank. All dogs...

*sunglasses*

...go to Heaven...

[Callisto]

Clearly the shelter employee is an Afghan plant.

[Franzer]

I bet that employee will be getting some hate mail soon.

[Kurp]

I wonder how much it costs to ship a litter of puppies from Afghanistan to the US in military money.

[Siniroth]

I really thought this was about a person and was wondering how you accidentally euthanise someone

[Pirian]

“There’s no killing this dog for sure. She’s pretty much been through it all, ” he said upon their reunion in July in Georgia.

LOL

[Yuri-G]

I lol'd at that line too, as sad as it is.

I really thought this was about a person and was wondering how you accidentally euthanise someone

also, this.

and there are not enough in the world for this news article, that just fucking sucks.

[Cleverness]

Whoever did this needs to be thrown across the border into Mexico and never allowed back.

[Nevex]

I really thought this was about a person and was wondering how you accidentally euthanise someone

I thought that too at first from the title, then looked at the replies and as soon as I saw the first sad face I realized that it couldn't have been a person.

[Surealistic]

inb4 obama's death panels killed dog

[Ksandra]

;_;

[Effluo]

Euthanize the employee!

[Pirian]

Euthanize the employee!

It's easier than paying them benefits!

[Cyn]

Makes you wonder how many other dogs they've "accidentally" killed.