The answer is clear. Cruel stupidity killed the tiny six pound Chihuahua after 130 days in MCAS’s version of “protective custody.” To MCAS, killing was the right thing to do. Little Bud’s owner was severely impoverished, homeless, living in her van, with very few resources. Despite the many frustrations in her life and inadequate management skills, she loved her dog. After Little Bud was taken from her, she struggled to find the $125 needed to appeal the Director’s order. The administrative hearings officer suspended her ownership. Little Bud became the property of MCAS on 10.29.17. MCAS had won. Little Bud’s fate was in official hands. What happened while Little Bud remained in custody at MCAS is hard to fathom. Little Bud was held for 130 days, placed in solitary confinement and offered no enrichment, no visits, no foster, no rehabilitation. He had been held as evidence: nothing more. When staff occasionally stopped by his kennel, some noted he was wagging his tail. He was taken out for a temperament test on August 24 and did relatively well given the conditions of his prolonged confinement. - "8/24/17 BA done–Kennel Approach: soft body, eyes, ears. Wagging tail. Got the zoomies when I entered kennel and allowed loop leash. Handling: Stiff body and does not recover for 30-60 seconds after briefly touching. Walks away and avoids. Freezes, hard stare, tight closed mouth, high stiff Food: Stiff body, freezes, exposes teeth, bites hand [ the fake assess a hand no dog mistakes for a hand] multiple times, Leaves bowl to bite hand and shakes it in his mouth. Circling bowl with lunging towards handler if close. Toys: Soft body, eyes, ears,. If tried to interact would stiffen and avoid.” - All of the behaviors reported in this “assessment” are correctable with the patience and skills available at some local rescues. Despite that fact, he was labeled “Unhealthy/Untreatable” by Shaunna Ward, MCAS shelter manager, with the note: “Shelter Review met and recommends humane euthanasia due to severe behavior exhibited,” the cause for that decision: biting the rubber boots of the kennel cleaner in his cage on November 02, 2017. He was promptly killed on November 03, 2017. See attached records. On 11. 02. 17: “Morning cleaners were attempting to move the dog so they could clean the kennel. Dog growled and lung [sic] at cleaner making contact with their [sic] boot. Dog bit the boot and continued to biting [sic] the boot, Cleaner was wearing rubber boots so was unable to puncture and hurt the cleaner.” No one was hurt. There were so many ways to deal with the incident and prevent future problems without having a tantrum assessment. Killing this sturdy scared little dog was not necessary and was therefore both cruel and stupid. The community is not safer today because Little Bud was destroyed. All of us are more at risk. Little Bud's records from Multnomah County Animal Services: https://www.scribd.com/document/365150826/Little-Bud-Record?secret_password=u8MfjSqB9f1dTz8aHDOS