New Guidelines in Place for Animal Shelter Euthanasia

MCKINLEYVILLE, Ca (KIEM)-The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is setting new guidelines when it comes to euthanizing unadoptable animals.

According to the sheriff’s office, their policy is to make every effort to reduce the euthanasia of animals at the Mckinleyville shelter.

After a recent inspection, dogs were being held up to four months after deemed unadoptable. According to their policy, unadoptable animals must be held five days prior to being considered for euthanasia. The Sheriff’s Office said keeping the dogs for several months in kennels was causing more harm to the animals, but the new policy is for two weeks which is longer than the outlined policy.

The sheriff’s office wants the public to be aware that the waiting period can be extended on a case by case basis.