EDITOR:
      I need to make sure I remain anonymous. I am very familiar with the Animal Charity kennel in Canfield where I believe some dogs are unnecessarily put to death by euthanization.
      The way the kennel is being managed is really a joke. The manager got her job after working as a caretaker for a few short months. She had little to no experience with dogs, especially ones that needed any kind of behavior modification. She was not educated on the general care of the animals such as feeding amounts, health issues and training. She was hardly ever there, she usually showed-up to complain to the employees that they weren’t doing their job right. She was constantly on her cell phone or outside smoking in front of the building when it was open to public.
      While I was working there, several dogs had signs on their kennels that said “behavior modification plan.” Two were considered ‘food aggressive’ and another was considered dog aggressive.
      I never had issues with any of these dogs. Not once! However, nothing was done to fix the behavior within the time I was there. They were given the least amount of attention by employees and not once was anyone brought there to work with them. One person performed behavior tests and then labeled the dogs. Keep in mind, the tests were done in a laundry room, connected to an area where there were roughly 25 dogs barking and going crazy as employees took them in and out.
      So the dogs being tested were stressed and distracted and the results were inaccurate because of this. These tests should always be done in a quiet, stress-free environment. Also, the tests are to be recorded so if for any reason a dog is put to sleep, there is proof to justify the euthanization. To my knowledge, nothing was ever recorded.
      One of the dogs subjected to these inaccurate tests was about 2-years-old and a very smart dog. He knew his basic commands and loved people. After several tests were done on him, his behavior actually became worse. He developed food aggression slowly over time. I also know some people were afraid of walking him because he was a strong dog. So he didn’t always get proper exercise like he should have, as he was stuck in a kennel all day long. He never once bit anyone or even came close. He just acted possessive over food.
      I worked to find this dog a home, because I truly believed he just needed out of that place. I was told management decided the pooch was too aggressive and needed to be put to sleep. A friend of mine agreed to take the dog and I begged my boss to let him be saved. A meeting took place with the board members, most who had never seen the dog, and they made the decision that because of legal issues, they could not allow the dog to be adopted and put him to sleep anyway. They did not look for rescue, they did not seek foster homes, they just kenneled (him) until it was no longer convenient and then killed him.
      I have another situation that’s presented itself in regards to Animal Charity.
      There is a dog named Tyger. He’s roughly 4-6 months-old. There is a girl who is employed there and on a post from her on Facebook showing a video of her and Tyger hanging out in his kennel and he was playing with a stuffed animal while being content just being next to her. She spent countless hours with this dog, helping him overcome his fear of people. She posted a video with a plea to save his life. She was told that after two evaluations, the decision was made that the dog was not adoptable because of his fear of people and he is scheduled to be euthanized.
      The girl wanted to adopt Tyger. She agreed to do whatever she could to help him and would take the liability of his fear reactivity and she was denied. Animal Charity used could a risk the liability if Tyger caused anyone any harm.
      But the funny thing is, you cannot make that call when a dog hasn’t experienced a normal life, not once, and at such a young age. Animal Charity never reached out for a foster home, or rescue for this dog. They told everyone who came to look at dogs at Canfield kennel that he was not up for adoption and on hold. They never even gave him the chance. I went there with her and a few people from a rescue and they still denied us after we did everything we could to convince them to let us help.
      All of the employees there love the pup, and I have heard several may be quitting because of this.
      I understand that sometimes there is no other option and some dogs are put to sleep. But when the dog has a chance and they deny it that because of their image and liability, it’s unfair. They do not ask for help from other rescues, or fosters. Several dogs including one named Chauncey are heart worm positive. They don’t treat them while they are housed there. They will only treat if the dog is fostered. Yet they don’t reach out to find fosters. Rather the dog suffers until they decide to end it.
      My point is that Animal Charity does not do everything they can and everything they should to provide these dog with a fair chance.
      They don’t work with the dogs that really need that time out of their kennel. Those dogs are stuck in the kennels farthest from the entrance and are hardly looked at by the public. Employees walk those dogs last and by that time, everyone is rushing to finish the shift in time so they never get enough time out.
      Dogs are walked for five to ten minutes maximum, twice a day, unless there’s a volunteer to spend extra time with a few of them. Yet the ones with supposed behavior issues aren’t allowed to be walked by volunteers.
      Maybe I’m wrong but I believe the ones that need to be shared with public are the ones that Animal Charity places on the back burner---dogs that could have thrived but are miserable with little attention from people supposed to help them.
      Sincerely,
      Gretta Knows!
      Gretta, a Golden Retriever, spent 15 years at The Boardman News.
      She greeted all who entered with a wag of her tail! She died in Nov.,2012. Gretta showed those around her how to love life,
      love unconditionally and always to keep that tail awaggin’!
      Now she watches over her dog family from heaven.
     
      PICTURED: TYGER, A PUPPY, HAS NEVER HAD a normal life. Animal Charity, headquartered at 4140 Market St. in Boardman, determined the dog should be put to death, never having a chance to be with a family, after being found locked in a crate on the side of a garage when he was just 60-days-old. Less than 24 hours before he was set to die, a lobbying effort put the euthanization on hold, at least for now. When someone wanted to adopt the dog, Animal Charity rejected the offer. As the writer of the letter-to-the-editor observed “the funny thing is, you cannot make that call when a dog hasn’t experienced a normal life, not once, and at such a young age.” Anyone interested in adopting the dog can contact Animal Charity at 330-788-1064 for more information. All of agency’s adoptable dogs are now located at its Canfield location, 525 West Main Street, Canfield Oh., or try contacting the director, Lisa Hill, at Lisahill.aco@gmail.com.