LAS Responds to Citizen Concern Over Animal Treatment

On Sunday evening, a Lubbock Animal Services employee picked up, what was reported as, a critically injured dog. The LAS officer returned to his home, leaving the dog in the LAS vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot. During the night, neighbors said they awoke to sounds of the dog coming from the truck. They said the LAS employee attended to the animal, and it was quiet thereafter. The next morning, neighbors reported seeing blood pooled where the truck was parked. Assuming it was the dog’s blood, they contacted LAS to report the incident.

Lubbock Animal Services is conducting the investigation, but says it knows, at this point, the officer did not follow protocol.

“The number one priority is proper and humane treatment of the animals we handle, no matter what perceived state they might be in. That was not done in this case,” said LAS Director Steven Greene. “The proper process is to bring the animal to LAS, into the clinic for a medical assessment, and, if needed, to euthanize it humanely.”

Though the City of Lubbock does not comment on personnel issues, it is standard operating procedure that during an active investigation, the involved employee will be placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete.