Oct09
Reenactment Performed to See if Heat Kills Dogs? Are You Kidding?!
Posted at 02:15 PM | Permalink
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Comments (23)
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In early September, we learned about the death of Diamond, a Rottweiler who died while in the custody of a Clay County, Florida, animal control officer. The poor dog likely died from heat shock, allegedly because the animal control officer left her in the back of the seething-hot van with no air conditioning, water, or fresh air on an 85° day—after riding around with her for an hour or so and while he attended a meeting.
A necropsy came up inconclusive but suggested that the death was related to heat stress. This was not good enough for Clay County officials, evidently, and they actually decided a reenactment was necessary so they could prove that the officer wasn't at fault. Ready for it … WHAT?!!???!!
Yeah, you can't make this stuff up. They placed a homeless shelter dog who was "of similar size and weight" as Diamond into the exact same box, in which the heat reached more than 86 degrees, and waited—presumably to see if the dog would die. This lasted for more than one hour. I think we need one more resounding WHAT!???!!??? I mean, seriously, people, this is just completely insane—not to mention horrifically cruel. The fate of that poor dog has not been made public.
While it's bad enough that a dog died in the county's custody in the first place, this whole aftermath reenactment just makes me physically ill. Naturally, PETA Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch immediately sent off a letter to Clay County blasting them for their senseless decision to subject a second dog to obviously potentially fatal conditions.
If you are as outraged by Clay County's actions as we are, please take action!
Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky
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Comments
completely disgusting!!!!
Posted by: Brittany | October 9, 2008 02:09 PM
How do you spell...STUPID!
Posted by: CHERYL | October 9, 2008 02:33 PM
...wtf??
Posted by: Canaduck | October 9, 2008 02:46 PM
definitely just called that company and freaked out.
Posted by: Jessica | October 9, 2008 04:01 PM
You could not make it up ! Could you ?
Posted by: keith | October 9, 2008 05:00 PM
I couldn't take action on this fast enough but I have to say that I edited the pre-written statement was far too weak and did not ask for enough.
The (almost) exact scenario with Diamond happened in DeKalb County, Georgia July 2006. An animal control officer left 3 dogs in the back of an un aircondiditoned transport vehicle while he attended a meeting and then forgot them. Two died and one survived. Thanks to the determined efforts of the surviving dog, and one of the deceased dogs also, the officer responsible was charged with animal cruelty. The entire community was outraged and although it took over a year for the officer to come to trial, and though he received only a slap on the wrist - he was found GUILTY of animal cruelty.
The animal rights community kept the pressure on the county to institue steps to prevent this from happening again and while the efforts were not 100% successful, most of the transort vans used by DeKalb Animal Control now have air conditioning.
RAISE HELL CLAY COUNTY RESIDENTS - don't let them get away with this, RAISE HELL AND DON'T STOP! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Posted by: Phyllis | October 9, 2008 08:29 PM
that is ridiculously disguisting some people are just so stupid
Posted by: Hannah | October 9, 2008 09:31 PM
Please find out what happen to that dog! How dare they do this,even if the dog lived, they comminted a crime by doing this to that dog. Someone needs to call for an investagation on this. Please keep us updated on this one!
Posted by: SASHA | October 9, 2008 10:05 PM
OMG IDOITS!!!!!! keep up the good work peta!
Posted by: luvallanimals | October 9, 2008 10:39 PM
Disgusting!
Posted by: lynda downie | October 10, 2008 12:00 AM
Sick!!!
These are supposed to be people who take in and care for homeless dogs. Disgusting.
Posted by: Leigh | October 10, 2008 06:44 AM
I live in Clay County, Florida and, sadly, this is NOT the worst thing that has happened at Clay County Animal Control. The animals there are not cared for at all, the cages are filthy, the staff is untrained and they don't care. No charges against them ever stick because the "good old boys" in the county government cover for each other. My greatest fear for my animals is that they somehow get out and these people get to them before I do. Animals die in their care regularly. They need to be shut down until they are properly supervised and regulated. PERIOD.
Posted by: Angel | October 10, 2008 08:59 AM
A stupid test done by stupid people! I see no reason for such a cruel test when animal control picked the dog up it was alive it died within their care. Instead trying it again they should have fired the person in charge! That is just gross negligence's. Great work peta!
Posted by: Crystal | October 10, 2008 12:14 PM
Clay County A.C. has a bad history of taking care of the animals in their care to begin with. If any one else left their pet in a car during the heat of the day, they would be arrested.
Posted by: Cindi Van Vleck | October 10, 2008 12:43 PM
I live in Jacksonville Fl, and this is one of our counties and I can’t tell you how many issues there has been with this animal shelter. When I saw this news article come out last week, I immediately contacted PETA to let them know… and to add MORE salt to it, they do a “test” on another dog….
I really wish PETA would investigate this place; it truly is hell on earth for animals!
~Sharon~
Posted by: Sharon G | October 10, 2008 12:44 PM
I reckon '' Sharon G,'' is right. Peta are not being verbal enough on this issue and a lot of others. I will say again people in these times of financial problems will start pulling the plug on donations, unless Peta ups the ante..on many welfare issues.
Posted by: keith | October 10, 2008 01:30 PM
This is sick. Absolutely disgusting, but one thing I do ask is at the end when you say Clay County's actions...well I live in Clay County Minnesota. Make sure you put Florida down so people do not get things confused and start blaming some people that did not do anything wrong. As for the issue, I think maybe we should do the same test again...except with the people who did this in the first place. See how they enjoy it! do it to the idiots who do animal testing as well...if you started to do the same thing to the humans perpetrating the animal cruelty, they may never do it again!
Posted by: Tamara | October 11, 2008 12:01 PM
OMG! The irony is God has nothing to do with it. Its the inhumane human beings..i just wish PETA could do more. I am sure this is just the tip of the iceberg
Posted by: Callie | October 11, 2008 12:26 PM
I'm sorry...but how stupid can you be? It's blatantly obvious the animal control officer was at fault for negligence in the first place and shouldn't be given responsibility of any animals!
Posted by: mel | October 12, 2008 08:08 AM
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein
He really was a brilliant man.
Posted by: Heidi | October 12, 2008 02:58 PM
I'm sad to report the clay co sheriff has found the Complaint which I filed UNFOUNDED and The States Attorney refuses to prosecute.There are so many problems at CLAY CO ANIMAL CONTROL it is unbelievable and the Animals are suffering.
PETA we need your help
Posted by: don | October 12, 2008 09:46 PM
It sounds like this place should be closed down NOW before any more innocent animals suffer at the hands of these ignorant people.Please get involved Peta they need your help
Posted by: Anita Cound | October 13, 2008 02:39 AM
Hmmmm....How about sitting one of the staff in a car in 85f for an hour and see what happens ??
Posted by: ray phillips | October 15, 2008 07:20 AM