Puppy Euthanized At Anson Co. Animal Shelter Tests Negative For Rabies

UPDATE: Officials say the rabies test on Shayla came back negative Wednesday.

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ANSON CO., N.C. – Outrage from animal lovers across the Charlotte area and beyond. They are furious, after the Anson County Animal Shelter euthanized a four-month old puppy Tuesday.

Shayla was surrendered by her owner last week. At the shelter, Shayla then reportedly bit a shelter worker. (There is an allegation that Shayla was misidentified and was not the puppy that bit the worker.) The shelter worker then allowed a local rescue volunteer to take the dog. But county leaders wanted the dog back for a quarantine, and re-claimed the animal.

They euthanized Shayla Tuesday morning and sent her remains to Raleigh for rabies testing.

Anson County Attorney Scott Forbes said this when WCCB asked what type of documentation the shelter has for this incident: “I don’t know of any documentation. I know there was not any given to the rescue worker who took Shayla from the place in the beginning. That was not within our policy, and that has been addressed with the employee, it was a one time event and it won’t happen again,” says Forbes.

WCCB has formally requested copies of all shelter documentation that may exist for this incident, including a bite report, the shelter’s policy for handling possibly diseased or dangerous dogs, seizure paperwork and chain of custody paperwork. Rabies results are expected on Thursday. We will keep you posted.