DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — Update, Feb. 13, 6:33 p.m.: The Humane Society of Harrisburg Area (HSHA) released an updated statement early Monday evening regarding the situation with Pursuit:
“The Humane Society works tirelessly to find loving homes for all animals placed into our care. We do this because we want them to become pets and live out their years in happiness. For this reason, we never euthanize based on space at the facility or how long an animal has been in our care. Last year, we found homes for 843 pets. This morning, Pursuit was removed from our shelter by a volunteer. Its unfortunate Pursuit was taken from us. We had decided to delay any decision for 72 hours to identify next steps. HSHA thanks everyone for their concern and love for animals. We love them, too.”
Here's a background on Pursuit’s time with HSHA:
- He arrived in October 2021. For over a year, there was little interest in adopting him. HSHA offered him to outside rescues, but none were interested.
- In May 2022, during a meet-and-greet with a family interested in adoption, Pursuit lunged at a teenager, attempting to bite him.
- In June 2022, Pursuit bit an employee and broke skin when they were conducting an evening feeding.
- In August 2022, the shelter started a foster-to-adopt program for longtime residents, including Pursuit. Unfortunately, he didn’t receive any interest.
- Last month, Pursuit had a couple interested in adopting him. He was given time to settle down prior to the meeting, but then lunged at the man's upper body and attempted to bite him. After this incident, experienced senior members of the staff evaluated Pursuit. To ensure we conducted a thorough evaluation, HSHA brought in a third-party trainer to conduct mock meet-and-greets. The team and third-party trainer concluded Pursuit was not safe to adopt.
Previously: Let Pursuit live.
That was the message of protestors who stood outside the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area Monday morning.
The gathering was organized in response to the planned euthanasia of a four-year-old American bulldog mix named Pursuit.
In an email sent to volunteers at the shelter, the Humane Society wrote that Pursuit was going to be euthanized because of his unpredictable behavior and for several incidents Pursuit was allegedly involved in.
No details about specific incidents were provided.
“I’ve heard behavioral assessments were done but no proof has been shared of results or whether they actually occurred," said Jennifer Doyle, a former volunteer at the Humane Society who joined the protest Monday morning.
While Doyle and other protestors were outside the shelter Monday morning, a volunteer went into the Humane Society, got Pursuit, and drove him away in a car, after talking to police who were on scene.
Swatara Township Police confirmed to FOX43 the person who took Pursuit was a volunteer of the shelter.
“From what I saw, I don’t know anything more than he was placed in a car, cops were interviewing the person in the car and he drove off alive," said Tina DePalma.
But at this point, it’s not known where Pursuit was taken or if that volunteer was actually given permission to take the dog.
Swatara Township police confirmed the Humane Society filed a theft report, although no formal charges were filed in the Dauphin County court system as of Monday afternoon.
The Humane Society of Harrisburg Area was closed to the public Monday and people who came to adopt other dogs were turned away.
“They said I was violating private property and that I needed to leave and it was a police issue at this point," said Teresa Palm of York, who had stopped by the shelter to look at two other dogs.
On Sunday, the Humane Society posted a statement about Pursuit’s planned euthanasia on Facebook, saying in part,
“A team gathers and a discussion is had to determine if all safe options have been exhausted. When they have, then the hardest decision is made. If we believed Pursuit could have a good quality of life and live safely in the community, this decision would not be made.”
FOX43 tried talking to someone at the Humane Society on Monday but no one answered the door.
Our calls and emails to the Humane Society also went unanswered.
Over the weekend, the Humane Society said it had received threatening calls and emails over the situation.
Former volunteers describe the culture and leadership at the shelter as toxic and being oriented on control.
“Volunteers don’t really matter, the staffing doesn’t matter, everyone just has to abide by the rules and no one can have an opinion," said Lisa Willing.
“This shelter is a foundation of the community and I think it’s time transparency is demanded," added Doyle.
They also say dogs suffer from poor kennel conditions.
A June 2022 inspection report from the Department of Agriculture shows the Harrisburg Humane Society was in compliance with all regulations at that time.
As for the alleged theft of Pursuit, Swatara Township police say it is an active investigation.
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