Jun 5, 2009 8:54 pm US/Pacific
Lodi Man Denied Dog Adoption, Dog Euthanized
LODI, Calif. (CBS13) ―
An animal shelter showdown is happening in Lodi. A 73-year-old wanted to adopt a dog from the pound, but he was turned away.
Al Hicks has a new little lady in his life. But instead of rescuing a dog, Al ended up purchasing a companion. His roommate moved out a couple of months ago, and after missing the two dogs they took with them, he attempted to adopt.
The Lodi Animal Shelter has more pit bulls than any other breed, and Al picked out a 3-year-old female.
"She seemed like a really friendly dog," says Al.
The senior was shocked at the shelters response.
"The officers looked at me and said you can't have a dog, and I said 'what?" explains Al.
The reason her was given was that there was a prior problem with animals at his home.
Several months ago his roommate's dogs escaped and chased a mail carrier, and as the homeowner he ended up getting the citations.
"They wrote me a ticket when this happened, two citations, but I don't own a dog," Al tells CBS13.
A shelter representative told CBS13 that this is all a misunderstanding, and that the dog he wanted, Cindy, wasn't ready for adoption. When she was tested she was too aggressive and had to be destroyed for safety reasons.
Al believes what this all boils down to us a bias against the breed.
"They don't want pit bulls in this town," he says.
The shelter supervisors told CBS13 that they will adopt out pit bulls if they don't pose any danger. They also said they would personally meet with Al to help him pick out a companion.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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