Animal advocates upset after Clayton County Animal Shelter euthanized 64 dogs

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Animal advocates are upset after officials with Clayton County Animal Control confirmed they euthanized dozens of dogs this week.
 
They say a contagious illness forced them to make the dramatic move.
 
Local rescue groups tell Channel 2's Carl Willis they are shocked Animal Control put down so many dogs.
 
"You just feel at a loss. You feel defeated," said Lisa Fleming with Courtney's Canine Care.
 
Fleming and the animal rescue community learned that in one sweeping move, 64 dogs were euthanized at Clayton County Animal Shelter this week.
 
"That's like taking my kennel and killing every dog in my kennel," Fleming said.
 
Fleming and others told Willis they feel blindsided after so many animals were put down at once.
 
But Clayton County Animal Control Commander Andre Jackson defended the decision. A Facebook post by the shelter blames a contagious disease.
 
"Some animals (were) exhibiting signs of influenza symptoms," Jackson told Willis.
 
"What were those symptoms?" Willis asked.
 
"Sneezing, runny nose and coughing," Jackson answered.
 
Not everyone accepts the explanation and some are petitioning a change at the shelter.
 
"If you have a strange illness, why are people coming in and reclaiming their dogs? Why are they allowing local adoptions?" Fleming said.
 
Jackson says medical personnel recommended euthanasia for the infected animals.
 
But Fleming, who has rescued more than 1,300 dogs from the facility, feels that something is not right.
 
She says the average head count is 80-90 dogs.
 
"Could this have been avoided?" Willis asked Jackson.
 
"I don't see how we could have avoided it," Jackson answered.
 
Still, rescue workers and volunteers believe they could have helped get dogs out of harm's way if they knew there was a problem.
 
"Why wasn't Channel 2 called then? To come out and say, 'Hey! We need help,'" Fleming said.
 
Fleming says a dog that just gave birth to six pups was put down. She says the pups now have to be bottle fed.