LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. -- Is she a danger to other pets and humans or just a playful pup?
There was a movement online to "Save Linda." Linda, a black lab mix, was adopted out last year by the Denver-based rescue group Found Nation Animal Rescue and euthanized on Thursday.
"We do everything in our power to protect these animals for the rest of their lives,” said Blair Brown, board member and lead volunteer with Found Nation. “Even if we can't be there alongside them."
Found Nation adopted out Linda to a family in Fort Collins about a year ago. But last weekend, that family reported problems with Linda being aggressive and biting their new puppy.
"So, we anticipated reaching out Monday and being able to take Linda back," Brown said.
Unfortunately for Found Nation, that family surrendered Linda to the Larimer Humane Society before Brown and her team could get to the dog.
"We have been told that they are going to euthanize her,” Brown said. “And this is after we've made it clear we will put any resources possible into this dog. We have trainers. We have a community of resources."
Just look at Facebook for evidence of that community. There’s a groundswell of supportive comments.
"This poor baby was failed by her humans!" read one post.
"This makes me so sad. Why are they refusing to let her live?" reads another.
"We want the dog back," Brown said.
But, the Larimer Humane Society tells Denver7 that Linda — or JoJo — as her adoptive family called her, is a danger.
The Humane Society said the adoptive family reported four separate unprovoked attacks on other dogs.
And, a behavioral assessment by the Larimer Humane Society showed Linda to be anxious, unsocial, aggressive and unsuitable for placement in a future home or transfer to another agency like Found Nation. That’s according to Kara Pappas, director of development and community relations for the Larimer Humane Society.
Pappas also said its assessment was thorough and comprehensive.
"We put a lot of time and love and resources into her,” Brown said. “And we promised her better. All of our adopters sign an agreement that states they will return the animals to us if they are ever unable to care for it. That’s because we make a life-long commitment to our animals and we don’t want them to end up back in a shelter.”
Kappas said her team’s behavioral assessment was accurate and fair.
“We recognize these rescues,” Kappas said. “If we feel an animal is a healthy transfer candidate, we do work with rescues. In this case, the dog was not a healthy candidate. This is never a decision our team takes lightly, and we understand the passion behind all those involved.”
Brown argues Linda was never aggressive toward humans, and said she believes more could have been done.
"I think it's tragic for Linda," Brown said.
She said Linda was euthanized on Thursday afternoon.
