We are fortunate at the Justin Animal Shelter. We have the luxury of being able to hold animals for longer than many other shelters. However, sometimes we have to make hard decisions. Sometimes we have to make "the list" - those animals who will be euthanized. Sometimes we have to euthanize due to space limitations. Sometimes we have to euthanize an aggressive animal. And sometimes we have to make the decision to euthanize when an animal begins to deteriorate emotionally and or behaviorally. We were not full, she was not aggressive, but she was definitely deteriorating. She had been in the shelter for almost 7 months. Even though we provided walks, kongs for unstuffing, rawhides for chewing, and other dogs to play with it wasn't enough - she needed a home. The shelter is not a home, at best it is a stopping off place on the way home. She had become unresponsive to the shelter workers, she spent her days either staring off into space like a despondent person, or digging at the concrete floor and biting at the wire fence in an obsessive attempt to escape the confines or her 10 x 10 run. Today we said good-bye to Suzie. I will miss you pretty girl. Wish we could have done better for you!
