Animal lovers are accusing a Bay Area animal shelter of euthanizing dogs that should be available for adoption.
Critics of Oakland Animal Services said a rescue group saved a pit bull puppy named Buttons on Sept. 29. The dog was labeled "food aggressive" and scheduled to be put down before the group stepped in.
Dog trainer Scott Stauffer, who posted a video of his food aggression test with the dog on Facebook page, said label was a mistake that almost ended the Button's life.
"My concern is if a dog like Buttons can slip through the cracks and be labeled aggressive, then how many other dogs are there that don’t have a chance," dog owner Maureen Murray said.
Oakland resident Maria Steelman is urging the city to make the shelter a no-kill facility. She said she's not surprised by the conflicting analysis of Buttons.
"Everyone knows animals are clearly being put down that can be saved," Steelman said.
Steelman has been attending meetings of the recently formed Oakland Animal Services community advisory committee.
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City staffer Karen Boyd said changes are coming to the long under-funded and under-staffed facility.
Oakland is working with other shelters to learn best practices and is looking to hire a new director and manager. There are also new rules in place that would give dogs like Buttons a second chance.
"Put in a policy last week there will no longer be a single person making euthanasia decisions," Boyd said. "It will be reviewed a second time by a second pair of eyes and we will do a second behavior test."
The shelter is also now holding strays for four days instead of three.
Boyd said the plan is to work with more rescue groups and volunteers to get more animals in foster care and adopted out.
