A shelter in Riverside County, California, was accused of the unthinkable: euthanizing a family’s lost dog the same day it was allegedly brought in. Reddit user Parapura explained how his dog had gone missing but was found by a stranger a few hours later. She posted pictures of the family pet on Facebook and provided details on the shelter she’d taken him to. Parapura said he went to pick up his pet but was shocked to be told he was already dead, euthanized by the shelter.
Parapura says the lady at the front desk told him his dog had hypothermia and appeared sick. Though she revealed that while he didn’t eat the shelter’s kibble, he did eat an egg and drank water. Apparently, the lost pet was walking around acting fine before staff put him down. “I’m just in so much shock, I trust this lady more than the shelter, which is probably just denial, but I’m so heartbroken,” OP said mournfully.
Hundreds of Redditors couldn’t help but wonder the burning question OP then asked: “Can they really just euthanize him on the same day?” One person pointed out that, under California law, public shelters have to hold stray dogs for a minimum of six business days if they are healthy. But this hold period is subject to change if, like in Parapura’s pet’s alleged case, the dog is in critical condition.
Some people added how it’s awfully bizarre the lost dog would have been diagnosed with hypothermia during the summertime, in California, no less. One person said it could have been a mistake, and the dog might have had hyperthermia, to which OP responded, “Yeah maybe a mix-up but it was around 70⁰ when it all happened.”
One Commenter Doubts Whether the Shelter Is Telling the Truth
Among the comments offering suggestions and ideas for Parapura, one accusatory Redditor believed the shelter deliberately fabricated its account of the pet’s health. “Trust me when I tell you as somebody who has worked with multiple shelters in Orange County and LA they find any excuse to euthanize and they lie too,” they wrote. “My family and I think that might be possible!!” OP exclaimed in response. “They didn’t provide any death time, pictures, temperatures, etc!”
Parapura also added how his dog has not been microchipped or neutered, saying that those two things might have had a factor in the decision to euthanize his lost pet. That said, while he has yet to update his posts on how his family will move forward with everything, one commenter sadly expressed what many other Redditors are probably thinking: “All the legal stuff aside. I am so terribly sorry you lost your furrbaby this way.”
Truly, this was a tragic turn of events that neither OP nor his family could have expected when less than 24 hours earlier, their dog was allegedly just fine.
