Sign: Inhumane Heart-Stick Used To Kill Sweet Dog Surrendered To Animal Control

Published: July 30, 2024 at 08:47 PM Author: PENNY EIMS

Columbus, GA – On June 18 a heart wrenching situation took place at the Columbus Animal Care & Control Center (CACC) and it was captured on the facility’s surveillance video. A surrendered dog named Chai was “euthanized” at the facility via heartstick, a cruel method that has sparked outrage among animal lovers nationwide.

Chai had been surrendered to the facility by her owner who said that they had “no room” for her at home. Given the information on the young dog’s intake form, and her demeanor at the animal control facility, Chai was a highly adoptable dog – one described as “sweet” by those who met her.

But Chai never got the chance to be loved by a new family. She did not even get the compassion of a painless death when the shelter decided that her time had come to an end at the facility.

On the evening of June 18, Chai was killed on the floor of the kennel area inside the shelter facility. A poison-filled syringe was plunged into her chest, but she did not die immediately; it took 40 agonizing minutes for the young dog to finally stop breathing. Afterwards, her body was loaded into a cart with other dead dogs, and she was discarded like garbage.

WARNING: Video of Chai dying is disturbing:

Last week, the city council meeting was packed with people demanding justice for Chai. After watching video of what Chai went through, the city Council of Columbus, Georgia is moving forward with an external investigation by the Columbus, Georgia Police Department.

We want to ensure that this investigation is completed and that changes are made! Please add your name to the petition if you want Justice for Chai, and every other dog who has suffered a similar fate at this facility.

Paul Mueller supports this petition.

TARGETS:

Canita Johnson – Shelter Director – Johnson.Canita@columbusga.org
Skip Henderson – Mayor skiphenderson@columbusga.org
Isaih Hugley – City Manager ihugley@columbusga.org
Drale Short, Director of Public Works dshort@columbusga.org
Kristi Ludy – Department of Health kristi.ludy@dphga.gov

City Council Members:

Toyia Tucker- tucker.toyia@columbusga.org

Charmaine Crabb – crabb.charmaine@columbusga.org

Walker Garrett – wgarrett@columbusga.org

Travis Chambers – chambers.travis@columbusga.org

Judy Thomas – judythomas@columbusga.org

Jo Ann Cogle – cogle.joann@columbusga.org

Gary Allen – gallen@columbusga.org

Bruce Huff – bhuff@columbusga.org

Glenn Davis – glenndavis@columbusga.org

Byron Hickey – hickey.byron@columbusga.org

WHY THIS PETITION MATTERS:

We the undersigned demand a thorough, external investigation of the Columbus Animal Care & Control Center. Chai, and possibly other animals, suffered a cruel, prolonged death via heartstick and this can NEVER happen again. We further demand that everyone involved in Chai’s death be placed on administrative leave, and if the results of the investigation warrant, terminated from their positions. 

Note: The next Council meeting is on Tues. 8/13/24 at 9:00 a.m. Supporters are encouraged to attend!

Individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. Animal Victory relies upon the authorities and the court system to determine guilt or innocence.

News:

Chai death summary

WRBL News

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Update 9/25/2024: Several updates – please click the links below for more information.

Manager Canita Johnson & ACO Alexander Pimintel have been placed on administrative leave

A former CPD officer gave testimony of a 2013 incident where CACC placed poisoned meatballs in a neighborhood to kill a dog and puppies

As of 9/20/24, still no agreement in place for the provision of veterinary services/vaccinating

Update 8/27/2024: Columbus Police and the DEA are on scene at CACC (Columbus Georgia Animal Care and Control) and they executed a search warrant this morning. Watch Journalist Paul Mueller’s update below. 

Update 8/20/2024: Animal Victory sent petition to the targets listed above. City Council member Judy Thomas confirmed to Animal Victory a police investigation is underway and will report the findings when finished.

Inhumane Heart-Stick Used To Kill Sweet Dog Surrendered To Animal Control

18,960 signatures = 95% of goal
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Latest Signatures
18,960 Jeremy W. 0 Apr 14, 2025
18,959 Hhhg H. 0 Apr 13, 2025
18,958 Lesley D. 0 Apr 13, 2025
18,957 Yvonne L. This is horrifying and shocking to the conscious. This so-called shelter intentionally, maliciously, viciously, subjected these animals to prolonged emotional/mental/physical torture and ultimately murdered them in vicious and horrendous ways. Not to mention the brutal, horrendous, and prolonged murder of Chai (and other animals) via heartsick, but other animals would hear, smell and possibly even see the torture and murder of their cell mates (this is more like a torture prison, and not an animals shelter). Everyone involved in this despicable center is a danger to society and every animal (human or otherwise) in it. They must be sentenced without plea deal and go to prison for an extended and maximum period of time, be banned for life from owning, living with, working with, caring for, and/or being anywhere near animals (all of which must be published on an easy to access, online, public registry to allow others to protect their animals and try to prevent this person from being near them) and fined for ALL medical/investigatory/legal costs. 0 Apr 12, 2025
18,956 Linda J. Unbelievable and unacceptable. The people in charge and employee responsible need to be fired and face criminal charges 0 Apr 12, 2025
18,955Anonymous 0 Apr 11, 2025
18,954 Lou A. This was inhumane 0 Apr 10, 2025
18,953 Kim A. My God this was Heartless. How could anyone do this. I’m crying right now after watching this video. This pup did not deserve to die. My heart is broken 0 Apr 10, 2025
18,952 tina s. 0 Apr 10, 2025
18,951 John B. 0 Apr 10, 2025
18,950 Heather R. 0 Apr 07, 2025
18,949 Sofía V. 0 Apr 06, 2025
18,948 Sara S. 0 Apr 05, 2025
18,947 Barbara D. This has to Stop. Bastards. Jail time. 0 Apr 04, 2025
18,946 dianne lynn e. Barbaric!!! 0 Apr 04, 2025
18,945 LISA N. This is a crime. It should not be allowed anywhere. If a dog HAS to be euthanized as a last resort, it should be safe and painless. 0 Apr 02, 2025
18,944 Sandra M. 0 Apr 01, 2025
18,943 Stacy S. Please punish responsible parties/individuals to the fullest extent of the law. This is despicable and so lacking in any compassion or decency - and on another note, don't give up your dogs for basically no reason - be kind, be responsible and quit being so damn selfish. 0 Mar 29, 2025
18,942 Linda S. 0 Mar 27, 2025
18,941 Sandy G. 0 Mar 26, 2025
18,940 Cristiane P. 0 Mar 25, 2025
18,939 Jeanette C. This is absolutely disgusting! I hope that the employees that killed this dog will suffer the same tragic and horrific death. 0 Mar 25, 2025
18,938 Robyn Bangert B. 0 Mar 25, 2025
18,937 Lourdes C. 0 Mar 21, 2025
18,936 Dia R. 0 Mar 18, 2025
18,935 Danielle A. OUTRAGEOUS!!! SCUM FILTH LOWLIFES MUST BE PUNISHED AND FORBIDDEN NEAR ANIMALS FOR LIFE!! 0 Mar 16, 2025
18,934 Peter C. Simply justice for these wonderful creatures. 0 Mar 16, 2025
18,933 nina l. 0 Mar 15, 2025
18,932 julian B. 0 Mar 12, 2025
18,931 Genevieve D. 0 Mar 06, 2025
18,930 Victoria D. 0 Mar 05, 2025
18,929 John N. 0 Feb 24, 2025
18,928 Sharon M. 0 Feb 23, 2025
18,927 Andrea S. 0 Feb 22, 2025
18,926 STEPHANIE G. 0 Feb 21, 2025
18,925Anonymous 0 Feb 20, 2025
18,924 Michael D. 0 Feb 16, 2025
18,923 Donna H. Sweet innocent dog deserves JUSTICE and animal control deserves PUNISHMENT AND TO LOSE THEIR JOB!!! 0 Feb 15, 2025
18,922 Y. O. These folks should be held doubly accountable and receive even worse punishment for the crime. 0 Feb 06, 2025
18,921 B S. 0 Feb 06, 2025
18,920 Diane M. 0 Feb 04, 2025
18,919Anonymous 0 Feb 01, 2025
18,918 Cherie C. 0 Jan 31, 2025
18,917 J. G. 0 Jan 31, 2025
18,916 Cheri D. 0 Jan 30, 2025
18,915 Lauren C. 0 Jan 30, 2025
18,914 Mary g. 0 Jan 30, 2025
18,913 Christy J. 0 Jan 25, 2025
18,912 Robin V. Karma will get all of you 0 Jan 25, 2025
18,911 Benjamin N. 0 Jan 25, 2025