ANDERSON — Animal control officers entered an abandoned rental property Tuesday night and found something they’ve seen more and more each day.
Barely 10 weeks old, the pit bull-mix puppy, sick and malnourished, had been left to die by renters evicted from the property.
Anderson Animal Control Officer Kris Weaver had the task of dealing with the situation on Wednesday.
If animal control officers had found the puppy sooner, shelter workers might have been able to save the animal, he said.
Instead, Weaver was forced to euthanize the puppy Wednesday afternoon.
“He was too far gone,” said the animal control officer of six years.
As an animal control officer also certified to euthanize animals, Weaver serves double duty for the city of Anderson.
On the ends of chains he finds emaciated dogs long forgotten by their owners. He catches unwanted cats roaming neighborhoods for food and spends his days bringing animals to the shelter, only to meet them again in the medical room if they are deemed unadoptable.
“Every day is a day I don’t want to do it, but it’s something that has to be done.”
Weaver, who said he is an animal lover, admits his job is not an easy one.
Despite the challenges of making the final contact with an unwanted pet, Weaver said he was encouraged by changes at the city shelter.
In the six years he has worked for the shelter, he had seen that the emphasis of previous administrations had not been on limiting euthanasia.
Animals at the shelter have a better chance today, he said.
“The euthanasia rate is way down, more than half of what it used to be,” Weaver said.
The Herald Bulletin tried to obtain euthanasia records, but the shelter has been unable to find any that pre-date September 2008.
Since the beginning of the year, the shelter has euthanized 154 dogs and 240 cats.
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Contact Brandi Watters 640-4847, brandi.watters @heraldbulletin.com.
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July 25, 2009
Shelter Fallout: Euthanasia down, but not over
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Photo gallery: AU vs Mount Saint Joseph Baseball
Photos from the baseball double header and senior night for Anderson University and Mount Saint Joseph on 5/7/10.
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Comedian Harland Williams coming to Paramount
LOS ANGELES — Canadian Harland Williams was enjoying winter in Southern California. “It’s beautiful out,” said Williams, 47, familiar from roles in films like “Dumb & Dumber” and “There’s Something About Mary.” “A bit cold, but is 65 cold? I’ll take this cold any day, thank you.” Williams, whose Indiana performances have been exclusive to Crackers in Broad Ripple, will take the stage at the Paramount on Friday, April 2.
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Nancy Wood back in Anderson, with ASO
ANDERSON — Nancy Wood stared into the glass vase, full of clear water, with the bare roots of a plant dangling down into it.
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Auction deal for buyers, not for owners
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Ann Duran on the air in Madison County
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Weights, measures officials protect consumers
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AHS rocking to 'Schoolhouse Rock Live!'
ANDERSON, Ind. — With the end of the school year quickly approaching, Anderson High School Performing Arts students are springing into a favorite pastime. With the help of their director of six years, Tiffany Jackson, the group of 12 is putting on a musical, “Schoolhouse Rock Live!”
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Anderson native to lead county ghost tour
ANDERSON — Growing up in Madison County, Nicole Kobrowski liked to visit some of the area’s creepier places, such as Moss Island Road just west of the city.
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Sidewalk Prophets looking for a Dove
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At Home: Project a bonding experience
PENDLETON — When a four-year project goes on for seven years, the result is often a strained marriage.
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