Ralow had been part of the Harlee family for nine years.“To us, it's the equivalent to losing a child,” he said.But Ralow and 3-year-old Duce got out of the family’s fenced-in yard last week.Animal Care and Control picked them up and then gave the family paperwork, stating that the fence must have certain repairs in order for the Harlees to get their dogs back. However, no timeline for the work was provided.“He said ‘No, your dogs are fine, you can get them as soon as your fence is repaired,’” Harlee said.Harlee said he had the necessary repairs made, spending about $350. Then, he said, an animal control supervisor came and inspected the fence, a week after the dogs escaped.
Later that day, Harlee and his two children went to pick up their dogs.“A supervisor pulled me to the side [when we got there] and said, ‘Your dogs have been euthanized,’” Harlee said. “And that was basically it."According to its Web site, Animal Care and Control will only hold found animals for three days.A spokeswoman confirmed the Harlee family dogs had been euthanized, but said an officer was sent to the Harlees’ home Feb. 26 to see if the fence repairs had been made, but they had not.In a statement, the organization said:“The Animal Care and Control division regrets that there did not exist better communications between the owners and the agency that could have established more definitive timelines for repairs to be completed….”
