It’s shocking to think in this day and age that unwanted animals are being put down with a bullet to the head, but that’s exactly what has reportedly occurring at an animal shelter in Oklahoma.
Residents in the town of Bristow were shocked when animal advocates claimed that the shelter was euthanizing dogs by dragging them to a pit and shooting them. The practice was later confirmed by the town’s mayor.
Bristow resident Beth Roberts is outraged at the news. “It’s not humane, period,” she told The Daily Beast. “We need to eliminate the practice of shooting these dogs in the head. It’s barbaric. It’s not up to the times. People are outraged.”
In Oklahoma, the law states shelter animals are to be put down in a “humane way”, but what constitutes “humane” is open to interpretation. For cities under 10,000 people (which Bristow is) the law allows for “any humane method” to euthanize shelter animals.
Animal advocates began petitioning the mayor to stop the controversial practice and the online petition has gotten over 13,000 signatures so far. Animal welfare advocates also claim that there are more issues at play with the shelter, which is not open to the public, than just their euthanasia method.
In response, the town’s major Leonard Bristow has promised to investigate the matter. He told reporters that the practice is legal but that they would change the method going forward.
“We are not going to shoot dogs anymore and we will try to work with local vets to help us,” Washington said. “Shooting dogs is not a common practice, and this was a rare situation.”
Oklahoma is one of the few states left in the country that still gas animals at shelters.
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