US: Dog condemned to death row because his owner thought he was gay
A dog in Tennessee will be put down today at an overcrowded kennel. He came to arrive there because his owner thought that he was gay.
The dog, whose name is unknown, is to be put to death today at an animal control centre in Jackson, Tennessee, after he was left there by his owner who thought he was gay.
According to the owner, the dog was seen “hunched over” another male dog, and so he thought he was showing signs of being gay.
Historically such behaviour was seen as a sign of dominance, and wouldn’t be indicative of a dog’s sexual orientation.
More recent research from MichaelBaugh.com shows research which suggests that such behaviour is “merely a nonspecific sign of arousal”, and that dogs will hump other dogs, or inanimate objects for “play” reasons, or because of nervousness or excitement, and that it is not necessarily a sign of sexual urge.
Those critical of the decision by the owner leading up to these events, have said that, even if the behaviour did indicate that the dog was gay, it wasn’t a reason to warrant turning him in to an overcrowded kennel.
A statement on the Facebook post giving details of the dog read that the shelter “open at 9 a.m. and he will die by 1 p.m. if not adopted as he was an owner surrender. Adoption fee is 38.00 and that only includes a voucher for a rabies shot. He looks to be a pit/american bulldog mix.”
The post, by a Facebook account named, Jackson TN Euthanasia, notes that the dog is located at Jackson Rabies Control, 146 Miller Ave, in Jackson, Tennessee.
