This is a petition to continue the moratorium on euthanasia at the Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter until proper protocols are in place.
According to the records from the Town of Oyster Bay, in 2018:
10.9% of the dogs surrendered by their owners were killed for "behavior."
16.3% of the dogs found as strays and not redeemed by their owners were killed for "behavior."
These numbers are drastically higher than our neighboring municipal shelters.  

The dogs that were killed for behavior were given only one evaluation and killed within a month of coming into possession of the Town of Oyster Bay.
 
These statistics were brought to the Town's attention in March of 2019.  As a result, a moratorium on euthanasia was put in place.  In violation of the moratorium,  a dog was killed for "behavior" in October of 2019.  She had no bite history and did not bite on evaluation.  

Our concerns were again brought to the Town's attention in February of 2020.  At that time, we learned that, at some point, the moratorium had been lifted.

On February 15, 2020 we were notified by Deputy Town Supervisor, Gregory Carman, via email, that "[u]ntil the Town identifies and retains a new behaviorist through an RFP, it will not euthanize any animal for aggression."  The RFP is the Request for Proposal for a new trainer at the TOB Animal Shelter and all proposals are due by March 24, 2020.  The Town currently has a part-time trainer who has already evaluated many of the dogs at the shelter.  This trainer has suddenly deemed Ruby, one of the longest shelter residents, as "very nervous" and "highly agitated."  She has been pulled from the adoption wing and is not permitted to be seen by the public.  Another dog that has come into the shelter, Mia, was deemed "not safe for adoption."  She is a 1 and a half year old Chow-mix.  She came to the shelter on 1/24/20 and was deemed non-adoptable on 2/26/20.  She is not permitted to be seen by the public.  A third dog exists that has been in the wing that is "off-limits" to the public since, at least, December.  No evaluation forms have been provided by the Town.

We have asked the Town to: (1) re-evaluate management; (2) hire a trainer with municipal shelter experience; (3) provide a dog with 8-12 months of training and behavior modification before considering euthanasia; (4) maintain well-documented medical records; (5) permit ALL dogs who come into the shelter's possession to be seen and known by the public; and (6) establish an independent committee (of veterinarians, trainers and others independent parties) to evaluate all records before a decision on euthanizing a dog is made.

ALL of our requests have fallen on deaf ears.  ALL of these requests ask that the shelter run consistent with our neighboring municipal shelters.  ALL of these requests demand that the shelter practice transparency with the community.
While we continue to fight for these positive changes, we need the guarantee that no more dogs will be needlessly killed, either for "behavior" or "medical" reasons other than non-treatable terminal illness.  Our shelter has the resources, space and funding to keep these dogs alive and give them the good lives they deserve.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO CONTINUE THE HOLD ON EUTHANASIA. 

BE THE VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS.