July 24, 2008

A South Carolina animal shelter’s e-mail “kill list” is saving lives of homeless pets. (Pet Pulse Photo by Jordan Orberg, Design by Tim Mattson)

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- A South Carolina animal shelter is going to new lengths to avoid putting animals down, by sending out mass “death row” notices via e-mail.

Rosie, a 5-year-old Beagle, was featured on one of these e-mails. She was at the Greenville County Animal Shelter, and was unadoptable because of severe health problems.

The e-mail, referring to Rosie and another dog on death row, said, “They will both be euthanized tomorrow at 8 a.m. unless someone speaks for them.”

Luckily, however, Rosie was spotted by animal lover Cecelia Hardee just in the nick of time.

“I received an e-mail one evening at around 7,” Hardee said. “It was forwarded to me by my groomer, who originally received it from the animal shelter.

“It was just heart wrenching, that this animal was a 5-year-old beagle needing a home that would be euthanized by 8 the next morning if not adopted.

“Just cut and dry, that was it. No frills, just the facts.”

Hardee managed to reach a shelter worker that night and Rosie's life was spared. Still, she remained very sick with heartworm, intestinal parasites and neurological damage from distemper.

Rosie had also been abused and was riddled with scars from being shot with a BB gun. Despite all those problems, though, Hardee gave her a home. Less than a month later, Hardee faced another challenge when she discovered Rosie was pregnant.

Rosie's puppy, “Ellie,” is now 4-months-old and keeps mom -- and Cecelia on their toes.

“Rosie had three puppies, and we kept one for companionship for Rosie,” Hardee said. “And it’s been a miracle, it’s really been healing for her as well. It has really taught her how to be a dog in a normal environment.”

Greenville County Animal Care Services started sending the warning e-mails last October, after the county bought a facility owned by the Humane Society.

Now the two have teamed up, with the shelter receiving strays and turn-ins. After about five days the Humane Society picks the most adoptable animals for their adoption floor.

Greenville County rescue coordinator, Taryn Arnold, is one of two staff members that send out e-mails to rescue groups and individuals all over the county. She helped initiate the process, which includes taking pictures of the animals, writing their description, and providing the date of their expected euthanasia.

Then all they can do is hope someone will respond in time.

“There is a limited amount of space that they have up there to put animals on the floor, and so the rest of the animals are left here and they’re either rescued out to rescue groups or they’re euthanized,” Arnold said.

“A lot of times it’s healthy animals, and it is dogs and cats,” she said. “We have a separate list for cats, and a separate list for pit bulls, and then a separate list for just dogs.”

So far this drastic measure has been very effective, with the number of rescues growing from 35 in the first month to more than 400. Some pets have been given homes as far away as Massachusetts.

Fly, an injured Chihuahua, and Flame, a dog with severe burns, have both found a place with rescue groups and will live to see another day. There are, however, many more animals needing help, some that will never survive.

To illustrate the urgency of the situation, during our visit three young pit bulls were running out of time – with less than two hours to live.

“I'm trying my best to stop euthanizing everything,” Arnold said. “Everybody here hates to have to do it. We all take turns in the euthanasia room, but we hate it just as much as the next person.

“But it's always going to happen as long as people don't spay and neuter their pets.”

Rosie was one of the lucky ones, thanks to this unique e-mail system that gave her a second chance.

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