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November 23, 2011

A golden-brown and white beagle had no name or identification when he was left in one of the drop boxes outside of a Florence, Alabama animal pound.

Due to overcrowding in the shelter, some dogs had to be put down to make room for others with a better chance of adoption. The happy-go-lucky beagle, who was on the bottom of the totem pole to be adopted was destined for the euthanasia chamber. It seemed his fate was decreed.

On October 3rd he was placed into a euthanasia chamber along with other abandoned dogs. The room would gradually be filled with carbon monoxide and the animals would fall into an eternal sleep. But when the door was opened, the little beagle walked out wagging his tail. From that point on, he has been called Daniel in reference to the Biblical character. Somehow, he survived impending and definite doom.

"Maybe God just had a better plan for this one," city spokesman Phil Stevenson told NY Daily News.

Many animal shelters across the US lack the resources to meet the needs of every animal brought to them. While quite unfortunate, the reality is that some animals are euthanized to allow room for others to be cared for and adopted.

Daniel’s story has astounded staff. He is one of three dogs to have survived euthanasia in the past twelve years and due to the shelter’s law, should an animal survive they are to be put up for adoption.

Daniel’s second chance at life has taken him to New Jersey where he’s being cared for by Jill Pavlik. She has nothing but praise for the lucky dog and believes his adoption will happen soon. Over one hundred applications have come in to adopt Daniel after word of his miraculous survival and now the shelter wants to ensure that he gets the best home.

While the ordeal was traumatic for Daniel, the beagle who lived, he has shown no signs of illness but is rather happy and content.

”It was a great ending to a kind of bizarre story,” said Vinny Grosso, the director of the Florence shelter.

These carbon monoxide gas chambers will be decommissioned on December 31, 2011. Many people fear it’s not the best practice for euthanizing animals that can’t find proper homes and the state is dedicated to getting rid of them.

If you have a cat or dog, be sure to spay or neuter your pet to keep all animals in loving homes.

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