Gwinnett Shelter Manager Fined After Wrongfully Euthanizing Dog

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — The manager of Gwinnett County's animal shelter has been fined $500 for putting down a dog that was under court protection.

A judge ordered Curtis Harrell to pay the fine to the family that was trying to adopt Ricki, a Labrador retriever mix that had been taken to the shelter in December, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

On Thursday, the county announced that the Animal Welfare and Enforcement Unit will no longer be run by the police department as of April 1.

The county's animal shelter and related services, which have been under the guidance of the police department since 1993, will be moved to the Gwinnett County Department of Human Services.

In the case of Ricki, the dog's owner had become homeless and surrendered her to the shelter last year. The owner reclaimed Ricki in January, but returned her a day later, claiming the dog had bitten her daughter.

An attorney for Lisa Musser, who had been trying to adopt Ricki, told the AJC that Ricki was labeled aggressive, meaning she would not be allowed to be adopted by someone else. Musser was willing to give the dog a home regardless of the label.

According to the attorney, Musser had seen videos of the dog playing gently with small children and wanted her, but Harrell would not allow her adoption.

Musser filed a lawsuit in February to help her adopt the dog. A court order barred the shelter from euthanizing Ricki through the beginning of March. In late February, though, the court ruled that Musser had no legal right to the dog.

She was euthanized, even though the court order had not expired.

Gwinnett County Police Chief Butch Ayers stands behind Harrell.

"Under Curt’s leadership, animal saves are at record highs and euthanasia rates are at record lows," Ayers said. "I stand by Curt’s decision about the need to euthanize the animal in question, which had become dangerous."

County officials said Thursday's announcement about a change of leadership at the shelter was not tied to Ricki's case and had been in the works for months.

"The Gwinnett County Police Department has done a remarkable job of improving the shelter over the past several years," said County Administrator Glenn Stephens in a news release. "Animal saves are up and euthanasia rates are at historic lows. I’m confident that our Department of Community Services will continue to build on that success."

Customers are not likely to see any immediate changes due to the new organizational structure, Stephens said. The shelter’s management team and staff will not change.

Image via Gwinnett County Animal Shelter