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Phoenix - The Arizona Humane Society has admitted it put down a nine-month-old cat because the owner could not immediately pay the estimated $400 to treat her.
Daniel Dockery, 49, of Phoenix, is trying to kick his heroin addiction. Nine months ago he took in a stray kitten and found looking after "Scruffy" helped him with his own problems.
Dockery had been feeding Scruffy by hand since she was four days old. The ex-con, who works as a caretaker, saved up his money to have his pet spayed. Scruffy was described as his "closest companion."
On Dec. 8, Scruffy cut herself on a barbed-wire fence and Dockery rushed her to the nearest veterinary clinic - a branch of the Arizona Humane Society. He was told it would cost $400 to treat the laceration the cat received and that Dockery had to pay that amount then and there. He didn't have it.
According to the Arizona Republic, Dockery asked for 24 hours so that his mother in Michigan could wire the money to him. The Humane Society refused. Dockery phoned his mother from the clinic and she offered to give them her credit card number over the telephone. The Humane Society again refused.
Dockery was told the only way Scruffy would be treated is if Dockery surrendered his pet to the Society and gave up all ownership to her. Knowing that Scruffy was in pain from her injury, he agreed. When asked how he could get her back, the Society refused to give him a straight answer. He never saw Scruffy again.
Last Saturday, the Arizona Republic ran a story about Dockery. According to the newspaper, they received at least 150 emails expressing anger at the Humane Society for what happened. There were also offers of money, kittens and even free veterinary care. Angry comments were made about the way Dockery and Scruffy were treated on the newspaper's website and on the Humane Society's Facebook page.
Yesterday, the Arizona Humane Society admitted that Scruffy was euthanized within hours of coming into their care. The reason cited was the lack of resources. After finding out what happened, Dockery said,
I failed her...There was no reason for her not to be treated.
.
Dockery's mother believes the Humane Society thought her son was homeless and unable to care for the cat and that was the reason for rejecting the alternate funding arrangements.
Many people are vowing to withdraw their support for the Arizona Humane Society. But even though angry, Dockery showed a lot of class. He said,
I don't want to turn people away from the Humane Society. They do do good work.
The Arizona Humane Society is reviewing its policy of not accepting credit card payments on the phone.
Read more: Cat put down because owner couldn't pay vet bill on the spot
Daniel Dockery, 49, of Phoenix, is trying to kick his heroin addiction. Nine months ago he took in a stray kitten and found looking after "Scruffy" helped him with his own problems.
Dockery had been feeding Scruffy by hand since she was four days old. The ex-con, who works as a caretaker, saved up his money to have his pet spayed. Scruffy was described as his "closest companion."
On Dec. 8, Scruffy cut herself on a barbed-wire fence and Dockery rushed her to the nearest veterinary clinic - a branch of the Arizona Humane Society. He was told it would cost $400 to treat the laceration the cat received and that Dockery had to pay that amount then and there. He didn't have it.
According to the Arizona Republic, Dockery asked for 24 hours so that his mother in Michigan could wire the money to him. The Humane Society refused. Dockery phoned his mother from the clinic and she offered to give them her credit card number over the telephone. The Humane Society again refused.
Dockery was told the only way Scruffy would be treated is if Dockery surrendered his pet to the Society and gave up all ownership to her. Knowing that Scruffy was in pain from her injury, he agreed. When asked how he could get her back, the Society refused to give him a straight answer. He never saw Scruffy again.
Last Saturday, the Arizona Republic ran a story about Dockery. According to the newspaper, they received at least 150 emails expressing anger at the Humane Society for what happened. There were also offers of money, kittens and even free veterinary care. Angry comments were made about the way Dockery and Scruffy were treated on the newspaper's website and on the Humane Society's Facebook page.
Yesterday, the Arizona Humane Society admitted that Scruffy was euthanized within hours of coming into their care. The reason cited was the lack of resources. After finding out what happened, Dockery said,
I failed her...There was no reason for her not to be treated.
.
Dockery's mother believes the Humane Society thought her son was homeless and unable to care for the cat and that was the reason for rejecting the alternate funding arrangements.
Many people are vowing to withdraw their support for the Arizona Humane Society. But even though angry, Dockery showed a lot of class. He said,
I don't want to turn people away from the Humane Society. They do do good work.
The Arizona Humane Society is reviewing its policy of not accepting credit card payments on the phone.
Read more: Cat put down because owner couldn't pay vet bill on the spot
