PETITION CLOSED

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Demand Justice for Copper, the Dog Released into the Wild as a "Coyote"
  1. Signatures
    1,372 out of 1,500
    Petitioning
    1. The Governor of KY (+ 8 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The Governor of KY
      • Mayor, Frankfort (H. Gippy Graham)
      • Mayor Pro-Tem, Frankfort (Kathy Carter)
      • Commissioner, Frankfort (Sellus Wilder)
      • Commissioner, Frankfort (William May)
      • Commissioner, Frankfort (Rodney Williams)
      • City Manager, Frankfort (Anthony Massey)
      • President, Franklin County Humane Society (John Forbes)
      • Board Member, Franklin County Humane Society (Joe Johnson)
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

In Frankfort, Kentucky, a police officer picked up a stray dog and brought her to the humane society. The shelter manager decided the dog was a coyote and told the police that the shelter couldn't take her in. Acting the advice of experts, the police released the "coyote" back into the wild.

The dog was not a coyote, but an 11-year-old purebred Shiba Inu. Copper, a domestic dog, was left to fend for herself. Police and volunteers have started up search parties, but she's still missing.

Shiba Inus don't look anything like coyotes. Even if it had been a breed that more closely resembled its wild cousins, when a dog who acts like a domestic dog arrives at the humane society, she should be given shelter. However, with a euthanasia rate around 80 percent, this isn't the first time that the Franklin County Humane Society has failed its community's animals.

The search continues for Copper, but the reality is that she may never be found. But the people responsible for the carelessness that led to her tragic fate need to be held accountable.

Tell Franklin County that this mistake was inexcusable and they need to adopt policies that give animals a chance.

Photo credit: Living in Monrovia

Recent Signatures

Protect Franklin County Animals and Give Justice to Copper

Greetings,

I recently read on Change.org about Copper, the 11-year-old Shiba Inu who was declared a coyote and released into the wild to fend for herself. This mistake is completely unacceptable and probably cost the dog her life. I can't imagine how a dog that is not only a breed that looks nothing like a coyote, but was acting like a domestic dog could be misidentified as a wild dog by an animal welfare professional.

As an animal shelter, Franklin County Humane Society should provide shelter to the animals that come through the door. Not only was Copper turned away, but I understand that Franklin County has an 80 percent euthanasia rate. I urge you take immediate action for the animals in your community by doing the following to give Justice to Copper:

- Regina McDaniel, the shelter manager who misidentified the Shiba Inu as a coyote, should be immediately relieved of her position as manager. She is clearly unqualified to be making life and death decisions about animals who enter the facility.

- Any board members who defended this egregious decision as just a "mistake" should step down or be removed from their position. It is a board's job to monitor their organization, not make excuses for it.

- The Franklin County Humane Society must make a meaningful commitment to reduce its euthanasia rate immediately. Shelters across the country have turned their euthanasia rates around by working with rescue groups, creating foster care programs, and better publicizing their adoptable animals through community education and free online resources.

While none of these steps can bring Copper home, they can change the future for your community and the animals in it. This "coyote" debacle doesn't have to be the legacy of Franklin County Humane Society and how the city of Frankfort treats its animals.

Thank you.

[Your name]

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