Regarding euthanasia decisions: Single resolvable incidents are labeled “unhealthy and untreatable.” The focus is speedy euthanasia in some cases within 24 hours to clear space.
Avalanche, MCAS 377828, a year and a half male shelter dog mix described as loving, energetic and smart killed February 7, 2026 as “unhealthy and untreatable.”
Cause of death: MCAS Rounds Review
Avalanche was killed on February 7, 2026 for a single reported incident in foster care where he had been been thriving since his foster placement on December 23, 2026. On February 5, 2026 an incident occurred in foster care, reported on February 6, 2026 that, by description, appeared to most likely be resource guarding and resulted in no harm.
Instead of evaluation and thought, Andrew Mathias, the Operations manager advised the foster family to immediately return Avalanche to MCAS for euthanasia the following morning on February 7, 2026. The foster parent was also instructed to prepare him for euthanasia with massive doses of psychotropic medications before bringing him in. It was a hasty decision made rapidly without any thoughtful process or procedure.
The incident
February 6, 2026, Behavior Foster Notes
“Foster parents mom to visit. Avalanche barked and lunged at mom. They put the dog in the bed room for the night. This morning the dog was out with a Kong when the visitor/mom came into the room he growled The foster walked towards the mother in law and then Avalanche lunged and bit at the mother in law on the leg not breaking the skin but tearing the pant leg. Foster parent was able to grab Avalanche by the collar and put him in the room. MIL left for the day. Advising foster to bring the dog back for safety.”
Despite the single, frightening incident causing no harm and ignoring Avalanche’s otherwise exemplary history, there was no review or effort to understand the circumstances before Avalanche was ordered immediately killed 24 hours later. It was a knee-jerk ‘kill and run’ reaction, not a thoughtful professional process.
February 6, 2026, Rounds Review
“Rounds met and elected humane euthanasia for multiple instances of high intensity human directed aggression reactions when surprised and when meeting strangers.”
February 6, 2026, Transfer/Foster
“Foster was given the instructions from animal health: If they could please administer Trazodone 300 mg PO and Gabapentin 1200 mg PO 2 hours before arriving to the shelter. Foster agreed and will do so.
Arranged with animal health to take the dog back for ER while I take care of the paperwork and attend to the foster parent.”
No thought was given to Avalanche’s promising life or the fact that there are effective solutions short of killing for resource guarding and fear of strangers challenges.
An additional change made by current leadership that contrasts to past management practices is that fosters for MCAS receive no training and are never provided training assistance. The most they are offered are psychotropics to quell anxiety, not plans to address behavior. If fosters want that support, they have to purchase it themselves.
Reviewing the evidence alleged to require euthanasia as a “public safety risk”
February 6, 2026, Rounds Review
“Rounds met and elected humane euthanasia for multiple instances of high intensity human directed aggression reactions when surprised and when meeting strangers.”
“High intensity human directed aggression reactions when surprised” and “when meeting strangers.”
There is no supporting evidence on record for that dramatic statement. There are two incidents involving strangers, the one that cost Avalanche his life was likely driven by resource guarding not because the mother in law was a relative “stranger;” the second being surprised by suddenly meeting a stranger in black in close quarters. Both are correctable. Neither present as an insurmountable “safety risk.”
The second incident notes:
January 6, 2026, 12.01 PM Behavior Foster Notes
“On our potty walk this morning we were passing between cars and we did not see our neighbor wearing all black. Avalanche was spooked and lunged. He managed to bite her arm. Everything happened so quickly. He did not break skin. It bruised so quickly.
We have been working on barking at strangers and I feel we have been making strides. I think it was that both parties stepped into a very tight space wearing all black in the dark and he was shocked.”
All of the foster behavior notes from December 23, 2025 until Avalanche was returned to MCAS on February 7, 2026 then killed the same day, were uniformly positive.
January 6, 2026, 1:17 PM Behavior Foster Notes
“Avalanche is a very sweet dog to those he knows. He is polite, snuggly, he follows commands and knows sit, down, stay, and can shake with both paws. He knows “leave it.” He loves squeaker toys and wrestling with our Labrador. Avalanche loves sleeping on the pillow above my head. He is very fearful of strangers. He barks out the car windows at most pedestrians. He enjoys the Starbucks drive thru and is gentle about receiving treats with and pup cups.
We have been working on crate training. He is a decent leash walker. He crouches down to bark at strangers from a distance. If they are too close or catch him by surprise he will jump up and bark. We have been working on re-directing him. We went on a two hour walk downtown this weekend and successfully interacted with several people. He was fearful when my mother came to visit but warmed up to her after a few minutes and a few treats.”
January 21, 2026, Behavior Foster Notes
“Notes from foster,: Avalanche is a sweetheart and a big ball of fun. He has a lot of puppy energy. He can be a little chatty. We’ve been working on his leash skills and not barking at strangers. He is very snuggly once he’s open to someone. He loves to wrestle our resident labrador and would dio well in a situation with other dogs”
A correctable incident without injury should not be a death sentence defining a dog’s life.
When challenges occur, the MCAS Rounds Review kills for convenience. Having lowered the bar for euthanasia decisions they claim a lack of resources when it is a presence of laziness, why not? and lack of initiative.
Decisions to kill an animal based upon lack of will, initiative, and ignorance, are wrong. Especially when possibly done in order to appease a foster’s upset. They result from indifferent bureaucratic management, where no one is held accountable, which has led to an increase in senseless killing. MCAS is a place where homeless animals’ lives do not matter.
Gail O’Connell-Babcock
Avalanche’s public records, private identifying info redacted
Is Your Dog Getting Fearful or Anxious, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Your Dog December 2012
Living in Fear by Mardi Richmond, MA CPDT, Whole Dog Journal, April 2006
The Trials of the Timid by Pat Miller, CPDT, Whole Dog Journal, August 2008
When it Comes to Behavior, Avoid Labels by Dr Hetts,CAAB, Cornell University Collage of Veterinary Medicine, Dog Watch Newsletter, March 2006
A collection of Resource Guarding articles