Dog rights groups, animal supporters protest euthanasia of 49 dogs

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Protestors lined Airport Boulevard on Saturday to let their voices to be heard over the mass euthanasia of dogs at the Mobile County Animal Shelter.

The demonstrators are hoping to bring about change at the shelter after 49 dogs were put down due to what officials called a distemper outbreak.

Passing motorists honked indicating support for the protestors along Airport and Schillinger roads the morning of Feb. 2.

Members of different organizations joined with animal lovers who are outraged over the euthanasia of 49 animals at the Mobile County Shelter on Monday, January 28.

"It's just irresponsible, inexcusable," Emily Thompson said.

Thompson is president of the animal rescue group SouthBark, which was banned from working with the shelter last year.   The county said it's employees were being bullied but Thompson said they just want to see change.

"We've been fighting the shelter for reform for about two and a half years. We first started writing letters to the county commissioners asking for simple changes to be put in place like vaccinating on intake," Thompson said.

The protestors believe the animals could have been spared if they had been vaccinated when they were brought to the shelter.

MCAS officials told FOX10 they do vaccinate the animals and keep them separate from others for observation for 7 days when they first arrive at the shelter.

Lindsey Carter with the Animal Rescue Foundation said some other shelters do vaccinate animals upon intake.

"If there was a case of distemper I don't think all of them had to be euthanized. The key to that is to vaccinate upon intake.  And if you vaccinate on intake then you prevent a lot of medical issues that could happen, and we do vaccinate upon intake at our facility," Carter said.

Thompson hopes something positive comes out of the incident.

"I think all of these horrible things that have happened this  month at least is shedding light at least on what we've been dealing with for two and half years.   This should not be an issue the fact that dogs are getting distemper there, because they're not  vaccinated on intake," Thompson said.

Since the mass kill, two Mobile County Commissioners have launched an investigation to determine if the killings were in fact necessary.