TAMPA, Fla. — Jackson, a professional dog groomer, and his husband Craig, who already have two rescue dogs, adopted Buddy from the Pet Resource Center in August.
But four days after bringing him home, Jackson said Buddy mauled a friend's dog.
That dog – named Gracie – escaped with a large gash that required a dozen stitches. But when Jackson returned Buddy to the county animal shelter, he discovered the dog had been returned by three previous owners in recent months.
Jackson insists he was never warned, saying “they said absolutely nothing about it.”
ABC Action News obtained Buddy's records from the county, which show he was adopted and returned three times for aggression towards wildlife and other dogs and in two cases, he knocked a person to the ground.
Lori Letzring who runs the county’s Pet Resource Center said her staffer said he read the notes on Buddy’s history to Jackson before the adoption, but Jackson denies that happened.
After we started asking questions the Pet Resource Center tweaked their adoption contract. Now adopters must initial to confirm they’ve been given information about the dog’s medical and behavior history.
Jackson says he’s glad to hear of the changes. The Pet Resource Center says only 4 percent of their adoptions end in a return. In Buddy’s case the agency said it had no choice, but to euthanize the dog over his behavior issues.
The Pet Resource Center says it is over capacity right now. For more information, click here.
