KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WBAY) – A Kaukauna neighborhood is looking for an explanation after finding a stray dog and learning it was euthanized by the Fox Valley Humane Association. Neighbors say the dog was gentle, full of energy and got along well with those who found him.
The Fox Valley Humane Association is a no-kill shelter, which refers to organizations that find homes for 90 percent of the animals they take in. The shelter says they only euthanize when they feel an adoption would be detrimental to the animal and potential adoptive families.
News of the stray dog being euthanized in Kaukauna has gone viral on social media. Those who surrendered the dog to the shelter say they’re shocked this happened and now want more answers.
On October 16, a stray dog named Duke was found. Many people in the Kaukauna neighborhood, including Chera Greene, took care of him, saying he was full of energy and gentle.
“He took toys, he didn’t have any food aggression,” Greene recalls. “He had good manners. He knew how to sit, and he took treats.”
Two days after he was found, Duke was brought to the Fox Valley Humane Association in hopes of finding a family. Greene received an email from the shelter saying that Duke was doing well. Greene later noticed that his listing on the shelter’s adoption page had been removed. Assuming he had been adopted, Greene later found out that wasn’t the case.
“When we called to check on his status, we were told he had been euthanized due to behavioral issues,” Greene said. “We were heartbroken. We just, we felt like we handed this dog over to these people who euthanized him, and it was just devastating. It was horrible.”
After further evaluation of Duke’s health and behavior, staff determined he had both medical and behavioral issues that would require a specialized foster home. They decided that euthanasia was the best course of action.
Greene said she doesn’t think two weeks is long enough to offer behavior modifications and hopes for change.
“I just hope that you know that changes can be made and that the Humane Society can be transparent about what happened in this situation,” Greene said. “Then you’ll know if there’s an apology that’s needed, and to show the community what we’re going to do moving forward to give these dogs and cats every chance.”
In response to the story, the Fox Valley Humane Association posted on Facebook about the need for qualified foster homes to care for the more challenging pets.
