Kent shelter made right decision in euthanizing dog, report says

The King County Animal Shelter in Kent acted appropriately when it euthanized a stray dog known as Buddy, a county review of the case has concluded.

Carolyn Ableman, who oversees animal shelters as director designee of records and licensing services, said the black Lab mix was so aggressive toward other animals he couldn't safely be put up for adoption.

Buddy's death June 17 outraged the Auburn couple that found him wandering in traffic in Federal Way 13 days earlier. Jim Giuntoli, who rescued Buddy with his wife, Kim, said the dog was friendly and "would have made an adorable pet."

The county shelters in Kent and Bellevue have been under close scrutiny since independent reports over the past year said they are overcrowded and animals are held in inhumane, unhealthy conditions. King County Executive Ron Sims' office asked for a review of how Buddy's case was handled.

The review by Public Health — Seattle & King County said Buddy snapped at the animal-control officer who first put him into a truck, was aggressively dominant over other dogs and snarled at an officer who intervened when Buddy attacked a kennel mate over food.

One officer wrote that Buddy "makes me very uncomfortable," and another said he "should never go out" for adoption.

A decision was made to euthanize the dog after a formal assessment showed him to be aggressive toward dogs and even more hostile toward cats.

Veterinarian Sharon Hopkins, who conducted the first phase of the Public Health review, found that Buddy "represented a potential threat to public safety and therefore was not a suitable candidate" for adoption.

Ableman concluded Monday that shelter staff followed county policy and took appropriate action. "Animals who present aggressive behaviors towards other animals or to people, including animals that attack other animals, are a serious threat to public safety," she wrote.

Jim Giuntoli said the county report shows Buddy was not aggressive toward people and did not need to be killed. "They didn't give Buddy a fair chance to even make it out of the shelter alive," he said.

After Buddy's death, the Giuntolis removed from the Kent shelter two other dogs they had rescued and took them to the Humane Society in Bellevue. One was quickly adopted out.

The other dog, Ben, a golden-retriever mix who was on track to be euthanized at the county shelter, was found by both shelters to aggressively guard his food.

Ben is now at the Seattle-based Animals First Foundation, where founder Carina Borja said he shows no signs of aggressiveness and would be eligible for adoption after a possible problem with his rear legs is diagnosed.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com