Video Of Dead Dog At Zion Animal Shelter Prompts Calls For Change

ZION, IL — Animal advocates are demanding answers from leaders in Zion after video images of what appears to be a German shepherd found dead inside a garbage receptacle outside the Zion Animal Control facility surfaced on social media Monday, The Chicago Tribune said, along with allegations that dogs were euthanized by being shot. Another video posted to Facebook appeared to show poor conditions inside the shelter.

Now, animal advocates are offering help to improve conditions at the Damascus Avenue facility, as city leaders said they've had people offering to provide funding, donate and volunteer at the location.

A video on Facebook reportedly showed what appeared to be a large dog being taken out of a garbage bag. During a city council meeting Tuesday, Zion City Commissioner Mike McDowell initially told a crowd of animal advocates that police there do not shoot dogs to euthanize them, but later said he was told dogs are in fact sometimes shot to put them out of their misery, the Tribune reported.

Another Facebook video posted by an animal advocate did not show the dead dog, but did show animal kennels are surrounded by walls with chipped paint and rusty gates. An animal advocate said she took this clip when she went to the shelter to pick up the dead German shepherd.

City officials said they're working on a fundraising event slated for August to help with building maintenance.

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