Officials investigating after dog put down, leaving owner devastated

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - The owner of a dog in Champaign County is devastated after animal control put down her dog on Christmas Eve. 

The owner, Monica Lopez, said her dog Dada got loose on Friday, Dec. 18, before someone turned the pet in to animal control. Lopez said she had tried to reach animal control after searching everywhere and was told they did not have a dog matching Dada's description. 

Lopez said a woman called her on Dec. 22 and told her she had turned Dada in to animal control on Dec. 18. The owner then called animal control again and, upon reviewing a picture of the dog sent by cell phone, officials confirmed to Lopez that Dada was with animal control.

The owner said she was not able to get Dada after confirming where the dog was because she was on the way back to work, it was close to animal control closing in the late afternoon on Dec. 22 and Christmas was just days away, so her next opportunity to get Dada would be on Dec. 28. Lopez said animal control had told her Dada was "safe and warm" and could be picked up Monday. 

Champaign County executive Darlene Kloeppel, who oversees animal control, confirmed Dada was put down on Dec. 24. WAND News first reported the euthanization happened on Christmas Day after speaking to the owner, but a county statement clarified to say it was on Dec. 24. 

In the Wednesday statement, Kloeppel further explained what happened. She said the county determined it could hold the dog for an additional four days after determining the impound facility did have Dada, allowing the owner  to pick up the dog Monday. 

That last-minute change was missed by the person who euthanized the dog, Kloeppel said. 

Her statement went on to say the following: 

"Fortunately, errors of this type are rare. While the holidays and staff vacations made this circumstance unique, additional steps in animal control procedures have been put in place to prevent any similar gaps in communication in the future.

The Animal Control staff have been receiving hate email and calls from as far away as Canada since this incident was posted on Facebook. I would ask members of the public who are doing so to stop. The Animal Control staff are very distressed that this error occurred and have offered their sincere condolences to this family for the loss of their pet. Our veterinarian has arranged for the dog to be cremated and the ashes returned to the owner."

Kloeppel has said the dog was at animal control longer than the five days officials are required to keep it and became property of the county. 

Lopez told WAND News she plans to take "every step possible" to fight what happened using evidence. 

"I am pregnant so I'm taking everything slowly, so I'm not stressing myself out in the process," Lopez said. "Dada will get justice and I know nothing will ever bring him back, but this cannot happen to any more pit bulls."