Dog's death 'accidental'

SPANISH FORK — A probe of operations at the South Utah Valley Animal Shelter found that the euthanization of a dog in April was accidental and not done with malicious intent.

The investigation, conducted by the Orem City Police Department, cleared the shelter director and other staff members of wrongdoing in the mistaken death of an 8 1/2-year-old yellow Labrador. Findings were released Monday.

The investigation was launched when the shelter came under fire for euthanizing the dog on April 20 — one day before the legal five-day hold period for a microchipped animal expired.

John Borget, a member of the South Utah Valley Animal Services Special Service District, said shelter director Shirley Bybee and her staff will keep their positions at the shelter.

"Based on the findings of the report, there were some errors made and there were some mistakes made, but it wasn't anything done intentionally — nothing malicious," said Borget, Provo finance director and the city's representative on the district's board of directors. "We feel like we can improve, but we're trying to really focus on and work with our current staff. We're trying to be proactive and move forward."

That means more staff training, hiring a new part-time employee, purchasing better equipment — like a new microchip scanner — and coaching from longtime animal shelter director Mike Morgan, who worked for the shelter when it was operated by Utah County government.

The special-service district, funded by participating cities, took control of the shelter in January.

At issue was the case of Peykos, a yellow Labrador. The dog was hit by a car April 16 and was not wearing a license or collar when Provo police officers brought it to the shelter in serious condition.

Employees at the shelter scanned the dog for a microchip — but found none. When no one claimed Peykos three days later, the dog was again scanned for a microchip, which again yielded negative results, and then euthanized.

At the time, Bybee said she believed the euthanization was in the dog's best interest, given the extent of its injuries.

However, when a Provo veterinarian performed a postmortem exam, a microchip was found between the dog's shoulder blades.

Had the chip been found earlier, it would have extended the dog's life at the shelter to five days, rather than the three days allowed for untagged animals.