Protestors gather following recent Animal Control euthanasia – The … – The Edwardsville Intelligencer

Steve Horrell shorrell@edwpub.net

Dozens of people on Wednesday protested the killing of two pit bulls and three other dogs that were being held by Madison County Animal Control.

The protesters held signs outside the Administration Building but moved indoors to listen to three speakers address County Board members at the monthly meeting.

Anne Schmidt, the executive director of the Metro East Humane Society, said the dogs that were killed were highly adoptable and she characterized their deaths as unnecessary and an affront to the countys No Kill policy.

Multiple policies were broken, Schmidt said. I, no, we demand that those responsible be held accountable for the policies that have been broken. If you truly believe in Making Madison County a No Kill county, Im sure you will be highly supportive of this demand.

The controversy began after a Madison County family turned the two pit bulls over to Animal Control on July 3. They were euthanized four days later.

Last fall Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler campaigned on a promise to extend the mandatory wait time from three to five business days to 10 business days.

Three months ago the countys Public Safety Committee endorsed a No Kill with a goal to save healthy and adoptable dogs and cats in the possession of Madison County Animal Control.

Schmidt said that before the dogs were euthanized, Animal Control employees were informed that animal welfare organizations were interested in obtaining the dogs so they could find a family to love them and care for them as they deserved.

But when representatives from the organizations arrived, they were told the dogs had been put down.

Ledy Van Kavage, an attorney and a long-time animal rights activist, urged County Board members to make changes in order to stop the culture of killing that has permeated Animal Control.

Dawn Boner, a Madison County resident, acknowledged that there are times when animals need to be euthanized, especially if they become feral or aggressive. No Kill, in practical terms, means not euthanizing adoptable pets that have an opportunity to be rescued.

It is always a sad time and a last resort when an animal has to be euthanized, she said. The same can be said for Madison County Animal Control. It is never something that anyone takes lightly or encourages.

After the meeting, Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler said the two pit bulls had been fighting each other a lot. The county has had no written policy about how long the county should hold an animal before it is euthanized. This week a policy is being drafted and will be sent to Animal Control advising employees that no animal will be put down without the written approval of Animal Control Director Ryan Jacob.

Members of the Public Safety Committee will sign the document, he said. Basically, its going to be that we all understand this, and its in writing now.

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Protestors gather following recent Animal Control euthanasia - The ... - The Edwardsville Intelligencer