There was a time MCAS had compassion for senior and discarded dogs like Mr. Perfect Potato Esq and Angel Baby, who had been left abandoned at a park when a driver dropped them off in a carrier on February 6, 2026. Not now. Under Director Erin Grahek, Operations Managers Marian Cannell, and Andrew Mathias, medical and foster hospices were disbanded. Instead of a warm place to spend their final days Mr. Perfect Potato Esquire and Angel Baby were impounded and left at MCAS where those abandoned are supposed to get care. Instead dogs like Mr Perfect Potato Esquire and Angel Baby found no safety here.
Both were killed shortly after intake. Their lives were judged by their medical handicaps, that were not progressive and were manageable, instead of their needs for comfort and care in their final days.
Angel Baby was killed on February 8, two days after impound.
Angel Baby – February 7, 2026, Rounds Review
“Rounds met and elects humane euthanasia due to declining medical and QOL. If the dog’s condition continues to decline, we have approval to move forward with euthanasia at that time. Follow up 2/09.”
The last veterinary technician note entered before Angel Baby’s euthanasia on February 8, 2 days after intake, makes clear that the animal care veterinary staff technician was frustrated by Angel Baby because:
“…Dog continues to not attempt to eat and is fighting against all handling for medications. Proceeding with humane euthanasia due to QOL and current suffering.”
There are no behavioral record notes about Angel Baby’s suffering. It seems that when MCAS staff become frustrated with the care of an animal, instead of seeking advice from an expert, they kill the object of their frustrations and describe it as “quality of life.” Whose quality of life is open to question? Caring for distressed medically compromised animals can be frustrating. The goal is to learn how.
Angel Baby’s medical diagnoses were manageable.
February 6, 2026, Vet Exam
“Assessment
-Emaciated
-Mammary masses
-Oral mass/lesion
-Deviated mandible
-Heart murmur
-Severe peridontal disease
-AU [left ear] debris
Plan:
-Start buprenorphine 0.3 mg/ml, 0.15 ml SC BID for pain while on stray hold
-Recommend humane euthanasia at end of hold, sooner if declining or if pt is not eating despite pain management.”
The veterinary technician health exam notes entered the same day, February 6, an hour after the veterinary notes already indicated her frustration at attempting to give Angel Baby an injectable vaccine for pain:
“Health Exam-
Admission Behavior Observations:
Fear-Anxiety-Stress (FAS) Observed Intake: Low
Other Behavior Observations: Allowed all handling for exam and treatments, had difficulty with injectable vaccine.”
Venting frustrations over medical management of a distressed senior dog by killing the dog is inhumane and wrong. Euthanasia was not the only option at the end of the hold time. Even before the end of hold time, Angel Baby could have gone to medical or hospice foster and been monitored in a hospitable environment but MCAS instead opts for a killing efficiency.
Mr Perfect Potato Esq was killed February 12, 2026, 6 days later after the hold period ended, and 4 days after his companion.
February 11, 2026, Rounds Review
“Rounds met and will move forward with DVM recommendation of euthanasia due to multiple medical concerns.”
All of the medical concerns were manageable and treatable
February 10, 2026, Recheck Veterinary Exam
“Assessment:
-Severe peridontal disease
-Diarrhea
-Lethargy
-Hyporexia
-Stertorous breathing
-Geriatric
Overall quality of life seems poor.
Plan: Rounds Review. Recommend humane euthanasia. Continue current treatments until then. “
Earlier veterinary notes on February 7, observed
“…Cause of inappetance and possible abdominal pain not identified on radiographs.”
The lab work results reported on February 9, were open, none with any certain diagnostic cause, and none requiring intensive intervention (e.g. low thyroid levels). “Multiple medical concerns,” in particular inappetance, can be managed.
The day Mr Perfect Potato was killed, he started eating.
February 11, 2026, Medical update
“Assessment: Dog ate some of wet food after dose of entyce and did defecate.”
MCAS’ impatient culture regards the lives of senior disabled dogs as not worthwhile. They are killed as “Unhealthy and Untreatable,” when they are not but their lives are not considered worthwhile. These were dogs once fostered by the community. Their support care cost little and their lives were valued. The cure was and still is compassion.
Gail O’Connell-Babcock
Angel Baby’s records, private information redacted
Mr Perfect Potato Head Esq’s records, private information redacted
Old age: It’s not a disease but a stage by Arden Moore, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, October 2011
Old age brings a host of behavior changes by Amy D Shojai, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, May 2008