“All the fowl, which included chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks had to be euthanized based on the Texas Animal Health Commission laws in case they had Avian flu. The domestic cats were also euthanized due to an upper respiratory infection that spreads from cat to cat.” That appears to be the judgment of Dr. Carol Hedges who, as veterinarian in this matter, appears to have swiftly played judge, jury, and executioner to a large number of animals and probably within mere hours of the seizure. BTW, her conclusion is complete and utter CRAP, CRAP, and BULLSHIT. These animals were killed for pure and simple convenience and with no regard whatsoever to their lives or their owner’s rights. Rescue my ASS. This is an excuse for mass killing of animals for no other purpose than the killing itself and to raise donations while not having to actually care for the animals. It's an all too common obscenity in these animal seizure and incredibly rare if it is reported (so some kudos for doing that to the reporter).
“All the fowl, which included chickens, turkeys, geese and ducks had to be euthanized based on the Texas Animal Health Commission laws in case they had Avian flu.” BULLSHIT!!! Killing the birds was NOT necessary. Suspect flocks are monitored and tested. Those birds actually EXPOSED are quarantined and tested. Birds that test positive are killed. So says the TAHC. I found no place on their website that encouraged pre-emptive killing of birds!
“The domestic cats were also euthanized due to an upper respiratory infection that spreads from cat to cat.” More HORSE SHIT!!! Ditto for the cats as with the birds; isolate, test… Euthanasia should be an absolute LAST resort when you don’t own the animals and they are in your temporary care.
NO government has any business snatching up animals unless it’s prepared to give them a reasonable level of care while the seizure proceedings are pending. PERIOD and NO excuses. These animals were all ALIVE in Barbara Hoffman’s care so it was a DAMNED site better care than they got from Marion County. If she’s to be convicted of cruelty, then each and every one of the officials involved in this seizure should be convicted for torturing these animals through the grossly inappropriate circus-like seizure, move, examination and killing. By the time they got to the killing, these animals HAD to be in utter terror. I am beyond outraged at this conduct by Marion County’s officials AND Caroline Wedding of the Humane Society of Marion County, as we already know her fingers were stuck in this and must now be sticky with the blood of these animals.
Veterinarian: Dr. Carol Hedges, Carol L. Hedges, Carol Lynn Hedges, C. Hedges, C. L. Hedges. GD baby vet, licensed just 5 years! Probably a member of that frigging HSVMA to boot. I wouldn’t entrust a toad to the care of Jefferson Animal Clinic. In my little old personal opinion, you, Dr. Hedges, are one lazy incompetent HO.
My animals go on vacations with me and places like Marion County need to know we animal lovers, we owners, will not be spending our vacations in places where the risk they will be killed is HIGH. The Chamber of Commerce should show its compassion for animals by revoking memberships of the Humane Society of Marion County, Dr. Hedges, her clinic, and any other members who participated in this scandalous animal seizure.
And THIS is the case that needs to go up on appeal in Texas and establish the value of pets goes way beyond replacement value and that the emotional distress inflicted can be extraordinary and Marion County should be in debt paying off the judgment for the next 100 years.
Oh, yes, I know why animals are almost always killed right off the bat. It’s to terrorize the owner into caving to whatever demands are made of them and most do just in hopes of saving their other animals, in hopes that those animals will be spared by their self-sacrifice. Are you all familiar with the rule of unintended consequences? One of the consequences of this instant killing may well be a greeting by animal owners who shoot first under the castle law so don’t be surprised when your violence results in much more violence. I would most certainly rather risk being shot than see my animals die in this fashion, at the hands of the likes of Dr. Hedges. If I get shot, at least I’ll be on the other side to greet them when they arrive to ease their transition. And that would also put me in the right place to testify on the responsible person’s real and FINAL judgment day. You may get away with these mass killings of animals for now and for no decent reason but you will be held accountable – eventually.
Whether an animal is euthanized or allowed to die through a normal course is a decision that simply must be made by an owner and no one else. The killing of animals who have homes simply MUST stop!!! If the owner feels life is better than death then it is not the state’s place to tell them otherwise. This isn’t something that involves just people or even more so children but also as it relates to the animals. There is simply no one in a better position to make the decision than the owner whether the animal is pet, inventory, or livestock.