‘Lazarus’ dog in LaGrange Animal Control finds home – Valley Times-News

All’s well that ends well. What must have been a traumatic experience for one pup ended up being a literal lifesaving one.

Some time ago, the LaGrange Daily News received information that euthanized animals had been taken from the animal shelter to be disposed of at the landfill, and a dog was spotted getting up and walking away.

LaGrange Police Lt. Clayton Bryant confirmed the incident and said the pup has recovered and has found a new home. The dog, like an unfortunate number of other animals at shelters around the U.S., was set to be euthanized due to overcrowding. Fortunately for the pup, the euthanasia medication didn’t work, and they survived.

“There are documented cases of this happening. Unfortunately, there are a number of things that contribute to it. It’s rare,” Bryant said, saying it’s the only time he knows it has happened with an animal from the LaGrange Animal Shelter.

“It’s the only time that it’s ever happened to us. The only thing I could really equate it to would be a lightning strike or hitting the lottery,” he said.

Bryant said when dogs are put down, they are given a sedative by the veterinarian before the euthanasia medication, which is dosed based on weight. The veterinarian has said that the euthanasia medication isn’t as potent as it once was, according to Bryant.

Normally, the vet monitors the animals after the medication is administered, but the animal appeared to be deceased, but somehow, the dog amazingly just got up.

“All protocols were followed,” Bryant said. “I was kind of shocked by the initial phone call. Once I got to do a little bit of digging, I don’t know if you want to call it fortunate or unfortunate because the dog now has a home.”

Bryant said after they were informed of the situation, animal services picked up the dog and took it to the vet. It was monitored for the next 24 hours.

Once it was clear that it was going to make a recovery, the shelter let the man who reported the issue keep the dog.

“We took care of all the bills,” Bryant said, “The gentleman that was alarmed by the dog showing some signs of life ended up adopting it.”

Bryant did not want to share the name of the individual who adopted the dog, but it’s reportedly doing well.

While it may initially sound shocking that euthanized animals are taken to the landfill, Bryant said it’s a common practice.

“It’s a common practice for vets locally here in LaGrange as a whole,” Byrant said, “You gotta realize that a lot of times for these companion animals, the owners will pay a little bit to have them cremated. Those are options for people’s pets. I’m an animal lover myself, so every pet that I’ve got, that I’ve had since I’ve been an adult, I’ve paid the couple hundred bucks to have it cremated.”

“That’s an expense that some people, and especially the shelter, which unfortunately has to do to make space, cannot afford,” Bryant said.

“So we get almost weekly to biweekly calls to go pick up the euthanized animals from vets here in town and take them to the landfill,” he said.