Don't Euthanize Cats Like Dryden Whose Owners Are Searching For Them

The Issue

On Sunday, Aug. 3, my wonderful cat Dryden, who loves licking fingers and knocking over cups of water, didn't come home at night. The next day I posted "Missing Cat" signs around the neighborhood, and on Tuesday I checked in with the Boston MSPCA shelter two blocks down the street to see if anyone had brought him in, perhaps mistakenly thinking he was a stray. Someone had brought him in, and the MSPCA had already euthanized him.

Dryden struggled with hyperthyroidism, like many older cats, and the shelter determined he was too skinny and sick to place in the adoption center. Dryden's vet, who had been caring for him for almost a decade, works in the same MSPCA building where he was euthanized as an unidentified stray.

The MSPCA states that its mission is "to protect animals, relieve their suffering, advance their health and welfare, prevent cruelty, and work for a just and compassionate society." Ending Dryden's life two days after one of my neighbors mistakenly took him as a stray, is cruel. Dryden was living a happy life, sick but not in pain, fully active and surrounded by everyone who loves him.

In Massachusetts shelters are required by law to hold dogs for at least seven days before killing them or putting them up for adoption, but there are no regulations for the treatment of cats in shelters. The MSPCA also has no internal policy for protecting cats that are grabbed by complete strangers and turned in as “strays.” This is unconscionable.

Tell the MSPCA to stay true to its mission of preventing animal cruelty by implementing a “stray hold” wait time policy before euthanizing cats or putting them up for adoption, and requiring anyone delivering cats that are not their own to show that they have attempted to identify an owner first.

The only way I can think of to honor Dryden’s life is to make sure this never happens to another cat. Thank you for your help, and please share this petition with friends and family.

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Benjamin DayPetition Starter
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This petition had 5,810 supporters

The Issue

On Sunday, Aug. 3, my wonderful cat Dryden, who loves licking fingers and knocking over cups of water, didn't come home at night. The next day I posted "Missing Cat" signs around the neighborhood, and on Tuesday I checked in with the Boston MSPCA shelter two blocks down the street to see if anyone had brought him in, perhaps mistakenly thinking he was a stray. Someone had brought him in, and the MSPCA had already euthanized him.

Dryden struggled with hyperthyroidism, like many older cats, and the shelter determined he was too skinny and sick to place in the adoption center. Dryden's vet, who had been caring for him for almost a decade, works in the same MSPCA building where he was euthanized as an unidentified stray.

The MSPCA states that its mission is "to protect animals, relieve their suffering, advance their health and welfare, prevent cruelty, and work for a just and compassionate society." Ending Dryden's life two days after one of my neighbors mistakenly took him as a stray, is cruel. Dryden was living a happy life, sick but not in pain, fully active and surrounded by everyone who loves him.

In Massachusetts shelters are required by law to hold dogs for at least seven days before killing them or putting them up for adoption, but there are no regulations for the treatment of cats in shelters. The MSPCA also has no internal policy for protecting cats that are grabbed by complete strangers and turned in as “strays.” This is unconscionable.

Tell the MSPCA to stay true to its mission of preventing animal cruelty by implementing a “stray hold” wait time policy before euthanizing cats or putting them up for adoption, and requiring anyone delivering cats that are not their own to show that they have attempted to identify an owner first.

The only way I can think of to honor Dryden’s life is to make sure this never happens to another cat. Thank you for your help, and please share this petition with friends and family.

avatar of the starter
Benjamin DayPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

MSPCA-Angell
MSPCA-Angell
MSPCA
Responded
“Unfortunately, the information given about Dryden by his owner is incomplete. Dryden was brought to the MSPCA-Angell by a good Samaritan who believed the cat was homeless. He was in extremely poor condition upon his arrival. Upon exam by a veterinarian Dryden was found to be emaciated and dehydrated. We conducted laboratory tests and found that he was suffering from advanced kidney failure, in addition to hyperthyroidism that was not being controlled. Moreover, Dryden was also urinating substantial amounts of blood. He had no identification tags or collar, nor was he microchipped—making it impossible for us to know if he had a home. We held him for 48 hours and provided supportive care during that time to keep him comfortable, but his health continued to decline and our veterinarians felt that it was inhumane to continue to hold him because of his incredibly poor condition. Cats being treated for hyperthyroidism need medication every 12 hours to control this condition. We held Dryden for 48 hours in the hope that if someone was providing him with the care he needed that they would notice his absence within 12 hours and report him missing or come looking for him. During this time we reviewed all of our lost animal files and found no reports of missing cats matching Dryden’s description. Dryden’s overall condition, combined with the results of laboratory tests performed by veterinarians, led us to conclude that euthanasia was the most humane option. The decision to euthanize an animal is always difficult, never made lightly and only ever made after all other options have been exhausted. We encourage all pet owners to have identification (tags, collar and microchip) on their pets at all times and to call their local animal shelter immediately to report a lost pet. ”

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Petition created on August 11, 2014