Suburban Animal Shelter Euthanizes Bubbles the Dog Despite Online Campaign to Try and Save Her

Photo credit: Change.org

Bubbles, a “pitbull-type dog” at Anderson Animal Shelter, was euthanized Tuesday night despite online campaigns set up to try and save the dog.

The decision to euthanize Bubbles came after Anderson Animal Shelter had a nationally recognized animal behaviorist evaluate Bubbles on Tuesday following several examples of aggression by the dog. Bubbles bit a staff member on Oct. 9, causing a level four bite, which meant it was deeper than half the length of the dog’s tooth.

It wasn’t the first time Bubbles bit someone, according to information posted on the Anderson’s website. There were three other instances of staff members being bitten. And on Oct. 13, Bubbles picked up a two-month-old puppy by its shoulders and shook her. The puppy was injured but is expected to recover.

The behaviorist on Tuesday determined Bubbles exhibited predatory behavior toward both people and other animals and represented a “strong risk” to both. For that reason, Anderson officials said the dog was put down.

“It is the position of Anderson Animal Shelter, that if an animal has proven itself to be a significant bite risk, we will not risk the safety of our community by placing that animal in an adoptive or foster home,” according to a post on the Anderson Animal Shelter website. “It is our further position, that some behaviors can neither be modified nor successfully managed in a home environment, regardless of training.”

Bubbles has received a lot of online attention after a Facebook group was started by a former volunteer at the shelter. The “Save Bubbles!” closed Facebook page currently has 900 members. An online petition on Change.org gathered over 2,300 signatures from those wishing to see Bubbles’ life spared. That petition advocated that Bubbles be sent to Ceasars Heaven Rescue in Harvard.

Bubbles has been at Anderson Animal Shelter for three years.

During that time, she received multiple daily walks from staff and volunteers and positive reinforcement training, according to Anderson staff. She has also been the focus of a dedicated, specially trained group of high level volunteers, who engaged her in training sessions on and off the shelter property multiple times a day, according to a message on the Anderson website. In addition, she was enrolled in a weekly agility class.

“Staff and volunteers are bonded to Bubbles and recognize that she has many positive qualities,” according to the Anderson website update. “We further recognize that, though the aggression she has demonstrated has been infrequent, it is severe enough that we must take it extremely seriously.”