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pnwmom

(108,974 posts)
Wed Nov 18, 2015, 01:29 AM Nov 2015

Dog loving man adopts Rottweiler. Gets killed by the dog a few hours later.

What is infuriating about this story is that the dog was a stray and under Tennessee law the shelter had no obligation, after they fed and housed the dog for three days, to test it or even to give it a rabies vaccination. So they have no idea whether this "adoptable" dog was healthy, vaccinated, or had the personality to be a good adoption candidate.

The shelter people say their prayers go out to the family. They owe the family a lot more than that.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/11/17/animal-loving-man-killed-newly-adopted-dog/75910376/

During the three days, the animals are fed and watered, but not examined or tested, Tedford said. If unclaimed, they are then put online for adoption. Vaccinations and spaying or neutering are arranged by the owner after adoption.

Adrienne Riggs said policies should be changed for Rabies Control, including evaluating the animals over a period of time.

“They don’t assess the dogs, they don’t vet them, they don’t evaluate them, they just adopt them out,” she said. “You just can’t put a dog that may be dangerous out with an unsuspecting family. That’s just wrong.”

SNIP

“We’ve never had this happen before through our Rabies Control office,” she said. “We certainly hope it’s something that never happens again. Our prayers and thoughts certainly go out to the family.”

According to his ex-wife, Anthony Riggs was a good man who loved animals and was loved by them.

“He never hesitated to be with dogs,” Adrienne Riggs said. “Sometimes I thought he related to dogs better than to people.”

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Rex

(65,616 posts)
2. I am surprised it did not attack any of the people working at animal control.
Wed Nov 18, 2015, 01:36 AM
Nov 2015

I wonder if he tried to play with it and the dog thought it was being attacked? Feral anythings are a risk.

pnwmom

(108,974 posts)
3. Who knows? But the shelter should never have adopted out a stray dog
Wed Nov 18, 2015, 01:44 AM
Nov 2015

after only having it for three days and not checking either its health or testing for its emotional stability. Or even giving it standard vaccinations!

Every dog that leaves Seattle shelters is neutered, vaccinated, and thoroughly screened. I had assumed this was done everywhere.

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
10. I agree that was a horrible choice on their part.
Wed Nov 18, 2015, 02:31 AM
Nov 2015

5 year old feral large breed. Not a good idea to adopt it out imo.

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
12. sometimes food aggression is catalyst. Dog could have put its head in the trash & he pushed it away.
Wed Nov 18, 2015, 12:54 PM
Nov 2015

or he could have fed it and got to close to the food bowl.

Anyway, an older full adult unneutered male of the 'guard type breeds' should only go to an experienced breed rescue group. Not general adoption.

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
6. It bit the two woman when they came home & discovered the man dead.
Wed Nov 18, 2015, 02:02 AM
Nov 2015
“He wasn’t growling or showing teeth he just bit us like he did it all the time or something,”

LisaL

(44,973 posts)
7. Rabies Control shelter has no idea if the dog has been vaccinated or not?
Wed Nov 18, 2015, 02:17 AM
Nov 2015

The irony here is rich. They are supposed to control rabies, yet they adopt out un-vaccinated animals. How is that going to control rabies?

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