Another euthanized dog has come back from the dead.
A cage of puppies was found sitting outside the Sulphur Animal Shelter last Friday evening. Animal Control Officer Scott Prall reports that the puppies appeared to be sick, and thus they were all euthanized. "Each one was pronounced dead with a stethoscope and everything," reports Prall to KWTV. The dogs were sent to a dumpster for disposal.
The following morning, Prall looked inside of the dumpster, and was shocked to find one puppy very much alive and healthy. The puppy has been named "Wall-E" to signify that he is the only one left alive. The name is debatably sweet or disturbing.
People around the country are volunteering to adopt Wall-E, and the clinic plans to find him a home by next week. Last year, another dog was put to sleep, only to be declared alive the following day.
While Wall-E's story may have a happy ending, his experience highlights two broader systematic problems.
First, the vet clinic and Animal Control both report that Wall-E and other dogs could have been given the chance to live, had there been a better animal shelter in Murray County. The nearby clinics are considered inadequate, and a local group is currently trying to raise money to build a better shelter.
Second, while Wall-E has received many offers from loving families, up to 4 million animals will be euthanized this year in animal shelters. While disturbing personal stories about Wall-E and a puppy in the mail receive strong outpourings of support, millions of other animals are ignored. Local vet Amanda Kloski says there is an entire shelter of dogs with Wall-E who are waiting to be adopted. These shelter dogs and others are featured on PetFinder.com.
WATCH the living euthanized puppy: