This is the full unedited video of my conversation with Dave Allen, a man from Oklahoma who loves animals and fell in love with one at Harris County Animal Services in Harris County, Texas.
Allen says he did his best to network Baxter, a 7-year-old German Wirehaired Pointer, on social media.
He knew he was up against the clock since Harris County allows animals 15 days at the shelter before they are euthanized.
He says he was told Baxter had been in the medical area the entire time after being surrendered by his owner who adopted him from since he was brought in because of a broken leg.
When a rescue group tagged Baxter for him, he says Harris County Animal Services agreed to do the surgery for his leg before he came to pick him up.
Trouble is, during his 8-hour drive from Oklahoma to Harris Counry, he found out Baxter had survived the surgery but afterwards, the vet said, he was panting and he was in a state that the vet says they were forced to euthanize him.
Allen doesn’t believe that and is working with a North Texas animal advocate to get all public information about Baxter and the details of the case.
In the meantime, I have reached out to the director of Harris County Animal Services and immediately heard back both from the director and the communications staff.
There is no question that there is some type of disconnect between Harris County Animal Services and the animals and the people they servce.
That’s why I’ve invited the director to have a conversation, open up a dialogue and all in the hopes of saving more lives.
