An animal shelter has found itself at the center of a controversial dispute after a woman reported that her dog, believed to have been euthanized, was actually alive and later put up for adoption by the same shelter.
Kristie Pereira, who adopted her dog Beau in 2022 from the Maryland-based Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation (LDCRF), was shocked to discover her supposedly deceased pet listed for adoption on the shelter’s website.
Adding to the confusion, the shelter has now refused to return the dog to her.
Pereira, 32, shared with the Associated Press that issues with Beau became apparent shortly after adoption. Upon consultation, a vet diagnosed a potential liver problem and prescribed liver enzymes. When Beau’s condition deteriorated, involving severe neurological symptoms, three different vets concurred on the grim prognosis.
Faced with the daunting $12,000 cost for necessary tests and a bleak outlook, euthanasia was suggested. Pereira recounted how she felt supported by the LDCRF staff in this decision, though she was reportedly unable to be present during Beau’s final moments at Montgomery County Animal Services.
However, a year later, Pereira stumbled upon Beau, now renamed Amos Hart, on the LDCRF’s website, very much alive. The shelter has since issued a detailed timeline on its website to clarify the events.
According to the shelter, they were informed of the dog’s failing health on March 16, 2023. They advised Pereira on the importance of being present during euthanasia or offered to take the dog back if she could not be there.
It wasn’t until April 12 that the shelter received an unexpected email from Montgomery County Animal Services indicating that Amos Hart had been surrendered for euthanasia.
“LDCRF was not knowledgeable nor informed about the former adopter’s independent decision to euthanize Amos Hart nor her selection of a county shelter to do so after surrendering him,” the shelter explained in a statement.
The shelter retrieved Amos on April 18. Despite the dog’s hepatic issues and a liver shunt confirmed through an ultrasound and CT scan, his medical condition was managed, leading to surgery funded by a GoFundMe campaign. By April 2023, Amos was thriving and was put up for adoption on April 5, 2024.
The shelter stressed its position on not rehoming pets to owners who previously surrendered them for euthanasia. They expressed that such decisions typically indicate all other options were exhausted.
“Lastly, we reject the false claim that our rescue has ever faulted the former owner for not pursuing extensive testing. We do not judge others so cavalierly,” the shelter concluded, emphasizing empathy for the emotional and financial strain pet medical decisions can involve.