Statement from Jane Young, Chair at Freshfields Animal Rescue
“We are aware of the comments circulating on social media regarding the very difficult decision to put Chester, one of the dogs in our care, to sleep.
“Freshfields Animal Rescue has been dedicated to helping animals of all shapes and sizes for nearly 50 years. In that time, we have supported almost 100,000 animals through loving care, second chances in homes or in the wild, lifelong sanctuary, and giving them the best possible chance of a safe and happy future. We view euthanising an animal as the very last resort and have only taken a decision such as this once before, a decade ago.
“The decision about Chester was heartbreaking and not taken lightly. Over his eight years with us, a limited number of staff worked tirelessly to support him. We consulted highly experienced professionals, including animal behaviourists, and explored every option to help him live a safe, fulfilled life. With gentle, reward based encouragement, Chester showed small signs of progress. The kennels team have made unprecedented progress in rehoming long term dogs with behavioural issues in the last 12 months and we hoped he might also one day be rehomed with the right support.
“In June, following a play session, he inflicted serious bites to two of our experienced handlers with whom he had a good bond. Both required hospital treatment.
“We have a moral duty to protect our staff, volunteers, visitors, and the other animals who rely on us. It was clear that Chester was no longer suitable for rehoming so we agreed to produce a safety plan for his permanent residence at the centre.
“After looking further into his behaviour history, we became better aware of his sensitivity and unpredictability. We could only conclude that a repeated attack was almost guaranteed, could easily cause severe injury, and it was not possible to manage or relocate him safely. His declining physical health was also a concern and was likely to increase his unpredictability.
“With the guidance of experts, we sadly realised that putting him to sleep, whilst devastating, was the only responsible course of action.
“We understand how deeply people care about animals and we share that passion. Everyone in our team dedicates their lives to providing love, care, and second chances to vulnerable animals. It has been painful to see our integrity questioned but we remain committed to acting in the best interests of every animal entrusted to us.
“The management team are so grateful for the many messages of support we’ve received from staff and volunteers, previous adopters, and supporters during this challenging time.
“We need support more than ever. At the moment, we have over 400 animals with us, all hoping for a safe and loving home or return to their natural wild habitat.
“Freshfields has built its reputation over nearly half a century through compassion, professionalism, and transparency and we openly invite people to see our work for themselves, meet our animals, and continue supporting us in our mission to give all animals the lives they deserve.”
Ends
