Adoptable pit bull mistakenly euthanized in Martinez
MARTINEZ, Calif. (KTVU) - Contra Costa Animal Services is launching an investigation into the circumstances that led to an adoptable dog being mistakenly euthanized.
The shelter is saying that they're heartbroken over what happened, and they will get to the bottom of this and the public will know about it.
According to the Bay Area News Group, it was a communications mishap that led to a four year old pitbull named "Barbie" to be mistakenly euthanized two weeks ago.
The agency has launched an investigation into this death, along with the case of another dog that was put down at about the same time.
Animal services promises to make the investigation findings public. In a statement, Beth Ward, who is the CCAS Director wrote that they will review departmental procedures and they will improve efforts to save as many lives as possible.
Contra Costa Animal Services director Beth Ward told the Bay Area News Group that this is especially heartbreaking because the shelter was working with a rescue organization to help save "Barbie."
In a statement to the Bay Area News Group it reads in part, "While we cannot undo this terrible mistake, we will learn from it and improve our efforts to save as many lives as possible."
Some animal activists, including the group No Kill Contra Costa have expressed concern over this case.
The group is advocates for a no kill policy for the Contra Costa Animal Services Shelter. The shelter told the Bay Area News Group that this year about around 80 percent of animals that were brought to the county shelter made it out alive, up from around 45 percent in 2011.
We have reached out to shelter officials this morning, but we have yet to hear back. We'll be updating this story as we learn more details about this incident.