Tic Tac, ID# 325340

Before 2016, caring for the special medical needs of animals in the community was an actively implemented part of MCAS’ mission. On paper, their Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 budget, it still is.

“Historically, the primary role of MCAS has been animal control enforcement and stray animal sheltering. In harmony with County equity goals and the MCAS North Star of providing quality care for animals and equitable services for the community, MCAS is shifting resources toward supporting pet owners to care for and retain their animals. The aim is to prevent animals from needing shelter due to surrender or abandonment, and to intervene prior to the need for enforcement activity.”– Community Services FY 2024-2025 Adopted Budget, page 11.

Current MCAS management ended its quality care commitment to shelter animals, passing off its responsibility to independent rescues. Rescues that, despite lacking the resources of a well funded government agency, are successful in providing quality care to their animals. MCAS has rejected its mission without any public notice and under the cover of silence.

Dolly’s Fund is a public fund restricted to the care of shelter animals with special medical needs now stands at well over a million dollars, with donations increasing daily. It has been intentionally diverted to unrelated expenditures, taken away from animals in need and is now directed in part to fund the agency’s spay and neuter voucher system and, on occasion, emergency visits to Dove Lewis where most commonly MCAS does not approve funding for additional life saving care.

MCAS managers’ refusal to allocate Dolly’s Fund dollars towards the care of its shelter animals with special needs was accompanied by ending the medical and respite foster program. Unless the agency hands off its responsibility towards its special needs animals to a rescue, they are killed as “unhealthy and untreatable.” They do this despite these animals being fully treatable and rehabilitatable.

Physically handicapped animals are denied necessary care unless a rescue or humane organization responds before the Rounds Review, often within days of an animal’s intake, decides to kill the animal. Jackson 322762, a very personable physically handicapped dog, was thriving despite his handicap, was denied care and recently killed despite humane options. If Dolly’s Fund were allocated to his care, his story would have fully captured the letter and spirit behind the donation driven fund.

MCAS should have at minimum provided medical foster and rehabilitation consultation itself, or looked for further options. Instead of the initiative and commitment they purport in their mission, their approach uses short deadlines in which animals are killed unless a rescue intervenes.

Tic Tac, a disabled puppy’s rescue in progress

Tic Tac, a three month old, is a social Chihuahua mix full of vim and vigor. He was taken to MCAS on September 13, 2024 and diagnosed with a bilateral carpal deformity. Meaning that his gait was abnormal; he had difficulty walking because his limbs were fixed in a flexed position and could not be extended.

On September 14, 2024, the county animal care veterinary department medically assessed Tic Tac. The plan was to seek transfer to a rescue for consultation with a neurologist and/or orthopedic surgeon, pending a followup radiograph of the spine and limbs on September 15, 2024. That radiograph showed no overt fractures or dislocation, or evidence of trauma.

September 14, 2024, Vet Consultations Notes:

“– Recommend seek transfer to a rescue that can provide further care for severe gait abnormalities; this would involve scheduling a consult with a neurologist and/or orthopedic specialist to discuss surgical treatment options and/or physical therapy/rehab options to see if abnormalities can be corrected/managed; if unable to improve gait with surgery and PT/rehab, the only alternative option would be fitting pt for a cart.

– If no transfer options available, recommend humane euthanasia as abnormalities forelimbs are particularly severe and will affect quality of life if not able to be addressed; not an adoption candidate. …

… Medically cleared? (Yes/No): clear for transfer; not clear for foster or adoption.”

Why wouldn’t MCAS pay for a consultation with a veterinary rehabilitation clinic, when Dolly’s Fund is more flush with money than ever been? Why would MCAS assume that nobody in a progressive city and county would adopt or foster a special needs dog after a treatment and care plan was in place?

Tic Tac showed everyone that handicaps are not the end of life. His feisty personality is so clear in notes on September 15, 2024.

“… Approaches kennel readily. Whimpers, grumbles and howls to solicit attention. Prefers to be at front of kennel to watch hospital staff members. Cuddly, did great in medical swing carrier while entering data at desk. Allows treatment and handling readily including unsedated rads. Dog selective- suddenly stood up and began barking and growling loudly while treating large lab in hospital next to kennel. Redirected and quieted after several minutes with positive verbal reinforcement…”

Tic Toc’s record illuminates another enormous vacuum at MCAS: Waivers dismissing responsibility replace training and behavior that address challenges thoughtfully with a plan. Waivers, including “dog selective” waivers, are intended only as cautionary warnings that don’t inform or teach. Their primary intention is to protect the agency management by ensuring that the adopting parties ‘have been advised.’ A positive reinforcement plan is about seeking change and would include rewarding a dog for responding positively not fearfully as the distance to stressors is incrementally reduced.

MCAS has the resources to care for Tic Tac and other dogs like him and once did care for them. Whether a rescue has stepped forward for Tic Tac is not known yet. MCAS has the resources, they just don’t want to put out the effort. There are no consequences for killing as a convenience.

Gail O’Connell-Babcock