Jul 8, 2009 5:36 pm US/Central
Fight In Ferris Over Animal Euthanasia Rules
FERRIS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Animal advocates have set their sights on the town of Ferris in Ellis County. That's where the city's animal control officer believes she's being pressured to euthanize dogs and cats.
Misty Clark, with Ferris Animal Control, has two dogs left and the clock is ticking on their fate. The approaching deadline is one Clark is trying to fight. "From my understanding, from what I read, that they want me to euthanize everything that was in the shelter," she said.
Just 24 hours earlier the town's animal shelter was full, but city administrators say that should never be the case.
Administrators claim Clark has turned the animal shelter into an unauthorized animal rescue center. They ordered her to spend less time on sheltering and more time finding stray animals in their community. The orders also make clear that cats and dogs sitting in the shelter, longer than three days, should be euthanized.
"I don't think it's fair at all. It doesn't even give the animals a chance to find a home. I don't understand," Clark said.
Critics claim the Ferris policy regarding the shelter was only changed for one reason – to expedite the killing of dogs and cats.
Ferris Mayor Pro Tem Bill Pardue says the city simply wants Clark to fulfill her duties and find strays. "They should be picked up, taken to the animal shelter. If they can be adopted out, adopt them out. And if they can't be, or if they're sick or lame, they are put down," Pardue said flatly.
For now, Clark is being defiant and says she won't euthanize pets that have been in the shelter for less than a week. That could mean she's violating the rules of the job that the City of Ferris gave her.
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