Ichabod, ID# 370606
The direction, record and intention was clear at the outset.
- Escalating euthanasias: ‘What does that mean?’: Animal advocates decry Multnomah County’s euthanasia policy (KOIN 6)
- The increasing excuses: Multnomah county animal shelter drops language stating animals won’t be euthanized for space (The Oregonian)
In February 2024, after being questioned about changes in the euthanasia disposition process that now permitted and expanded a wide range of excusable reasons for euthanasia including “lack of resources” Department of Community Services Director Margi Bradway approved and defended the new policy. The policy changes have led to more deaths of shelter animals, all labeled “unhealthy and untreatable” without evidence supporting the label. Instead of raising the bar they lowered it on helpless animals.
That effect can be seen in the September 2025 KOIN report about euthanasia concerns at MCAS. MCAS management refused to respond on camera. Instead they sent a baseless, glowing written report about their euthanasia disposition process. When asked a direct question their response is always to deflect with vapid propaganda, behaving more like a politician than a public service administrator.
Ichabod is one more fatality of MCAS’ failed mission.
Impounded on October 2, 2025, Ichabod’s Good Samaritan finder did not know it would end in the death of the dog he thought he had saved. Ichabod was killed by MCAS one week later mislabeled as “Unhealthy and Untreatable.” Ichabod was nothing of the sort. He was just afraid and avoidant in a frightening and unfriendly toxic environment.
The finder had kept him with his family for over 24 hours but less than 7 days and described Ichabod as ‘shy with strangers, and playful with children under 10 and with dogs.’ There were no negative descriptions, at all.
After a week at MCAS, Andrew Mathias, Operations Manager, and the Rounds Review ordered Ichabod killed on October 9, 2025. Nothing in the records supports their statement recommending euthanasia.
October 9, 2025
“Rounds discussed and will move towards humane euthanasia due to aggressive behaviors and inability to handle in shelter environment. Chill protocol today for chip scan.”
There were no aggressive behaviors, just fearful and avoidant behaviors founded in defensiveness. Staff are on their own in animal care. They are not trained how to manage animal stress, and instead often repeatedly advance upon fearful dogs in ways that escalate an animal’s fear. The MCAS management certainly does not help them. Except for Mr. Mathias, but his certification only assesses knowledge through a multiple choice exam, not practical application.
“Inability to handle in shelter environment” is a gross indictment of management incompetence and indifference. Competent honest managers when they don’t know what to do consult behavior experts who do. MCAS has excluded animal and behavior training experts.
“Safety concerns” is an alarmist phrase under which management hides. There are many behavior treatments and plans that effectively address safety concerns by reducing a dog’s fear. None were implemented except on October 4, for trazodone 150 mg with a 14-day FAS [Fear, anxiety and stress] re-check. It was not noted if this was once or twice daily.
October 4, 2025, Medical update
“ACR Notes: High FAS -safety concern
Assessment: Walked by kennel and dog was outside on the other side of the guillotine door. Immediately began growling, hackles up, tense body and growling. Maintained tense posture and barking as long as within line of sight.”
Growling and barking are positive signs because a dog is communicating his fear openly and conservatively. Once noticing fear, the plan should be how to help this dog become more comfortable, not inhumane “data collection,” repeating the same actions over and over again and observing a dog’s reaction, hoping for change.
October 3, 2025,
“Kenneling
‘ …I approached Intake Gate and observed a client holding a medium shepherd looking dog on a flexi-leash. The client began pulling the dog back before it noticed me, I opened the gate and allowed them to follow me in. I began offering cheese which the dog did not take. The dog then began lunging barking and lip lifting at the end of the leash. The client was visible [sic] struggling to hold dog away from me so I did not attempt to approach or handle. Had the client kennel the dog. I returned to kennel with toys, dog was sitting in back of kennel watching without moving.‘”
Holding a dog back on leash tightly conveys to a dog that the person holding the leash is anxious and needs protection. A dog responds accordingly. ( “Leash rage,” Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Your Dog, June 2019).
After 3 admissions attempts on consecutive days, October 3, 4, and 5 with no plan but treats and sweet talk while attempting to enter his kennel, and 2 data collections on October 7, and October 8, MCAS management ordered Ichabod killed. Their efforts were over.
Data Collections
On October 7, it was clear the MCAS environment terrified Ichabod and also that his response and actions were avoidant, not aggressive pursuit.
“…I went to the outside run , crouched down , and tossed a trail of treats, but he remained inside. I then went back inside, but he had gone to the outside run, so I closed the dividing door and went back outside. When I came to the kennel he was sitting pressed up against the dividing door. I tossed some hot dogs, which he would eat if they landed close enough to him. The dogs around him were barking quite loudly and I could tell it was causing him stress, looking around and cowering low to the ground when several dogs were barking at once…”
MCAS did nothing to reduce the impact of toxic levels of noise that escalated Ichabod’s fear including adjusting his psychotropic medication.
After the data collection on October 8 2025, MCAS killed him for failing to cooperate.
October 8 2025,
“Data Collection
‘Dog was closed inside for poop scoop, standing near door on my approach. I slowly approached kennel, offering a treat. He shrank backward an inch, low growling, then gave a rapid four barks showing teeth. He then retreated with tail tucked, ears back. I tossed treats, and he hesitantly moved towards me to eat. Some lip quivering as he neared door. Would take treats from hand, then give small lip lifts and retreat . After treating for a minute I poked my leash thorough kennel front. He sniffed it for several seconds, and continued to take treats next to it. He retreated to back of kennel when I opened the door. Would move forward a foot or two for treats, but kept distance with door open, no vocalizing. Perked ears and tilted head when I used squeaker. Approached to sniff the squeaker through closed door . I tossed a toy in to him and he readily sniffed it with perked ears. I moved to outside of kennel, he would just past threshold for treats, but would not approach outside door.'”
In 2015, with only one manager and one lead worker, MCAS started a pilot program led by a Karen Pryor Academy trainer who created individual training programs for dogs with special needs. The programs were implemented by staff. The programs were promising. It wasn’t ‘don’t cooperate quickly with a time stamp or the dog will be killed.’
Now under the blind oversight of the Department of Community Services, homeless animals who are fearful or have any challenges at all and do not “adjust” quickly are mislabeled “Unhealthy and Untreatable ” in order to kill them. It avoids responsibility for their deaths.
Gail O’Connell-Babcock
Ichabod’s MCAS records, redacted
Leash Rage from Tufts University, June 2019 Issue.
Beyond Food and Water by Kelly Gorman, CPDT. Whole Dog Journal, July 2004.
Help for Noise-Sensitive Dogs by Dr. Jamela J. Perry, DVM. Cornell University Collage of Veterinary Medicine, Dog Watch Newsletter, May 2024
Treat and Retreat for Uncomfortable Dogs by Doug Duncan, MA CTC CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA. Doggy Business Dog Training.
