SPCA: Animal control officer was at fault in death of dog

An investigation has found that the animal control officer who responded to a complaint about a tied-up dog at a house in southeast Fresno on Wednesday contributed to the dog’s death, the Central California Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said.

The dog, a mixed German shepherd, was tied up with a tether that was long enough to allow it to jump over a fence, where it eventually died of strangulation. The animal control officer didn’t follow proper procedures, the SPCA said.

The SPCA said that “appropriate disciplinary actions” have been taken with the animal control officer responsible, and that “proper procedural training will be reinforced with all animal control staff to help prevent such a tragedy from happening again.”

This story was originally published July 10, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "SPCA: Animal control officer was at fault in death of dog."