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How many lives for a dog?

By ANDREW SKERRITT
Published December 17, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Ron Thompson] Believed by it former owner to be in need of euthanization, Daphne, a rat terrier, has captured, and perhaps broken, some hearts since then.

This dog dispute has tongues wagging. The story features three main characters: Daphne, a rat terrier on her way to a date with the executioner; Daphne's owner, Angelina Spratlin of Floral City, who thought she was doing the humane thing for her ailing best friend; and Xan Rawls, the pound director who decided to spare Daphne. Ten years ago, when Spratlin lived in Vero Beach, she noticed a skinny, scared puppy wandering along a street. She scooped it up, and when nobody came looking decided to keep her. They would become inseparable over the next decade and relocate to Citrus County. Recently, Daphne started limping and seemed to have trouble seeing. Spratlin, 68, thought the dog was suffering from arthritis, cataracts and old age, so last month she asked her son to take Daphne to the county pound. For $20, they would put Daphne to sleep - or so she thought.

Animal Services director Rawls had other ideas. Rawls, 52, had worked in animal rescue for more than 30 years, including the past four with Citrus, and had more than a dozen pets (including four dogs, four parrots and three snakes) at home in Ocala. When she first saw Daphne, the dog was jumping like a kangaroo. She didn't have trouble seeing, Rawls said, and didn't seem all that old.

Rawls and her staff immediately took to little Daphne. They thought she deserved a second chance.

"She was like a little fat sausage," said Rawls, when I called her at home this week.

This story could have ended nicely here. Daphne would have found a new home. Spratlin would take comfort believing that her old friend was no longer suffering.

But after animal services put the dog up for adoption, one of the prospective new owners managed to contact Spratlin to ask for Daphne's history.

Spratlin was shocked. She felt lied to. Somebody anonymously called the Citrus County Chronicle, which published a story.

The last thing Spratlin expected to hear was that Daphne "would be walking out with somebody else," she said. "It's a shame the way they did it."

She wanted Daphne back, but county employees said no. Rules are rules. Once you drop off your pet and sign the papers, the pet is no longer yours. Employees don't have to put your animal to sleep, and they don't have to notify you. Other counties have similar policies.

Of course you might wonder what happened to common sense. It seems only logical and decent to at least debate the animal's condition. Certainly the owner had a right to know if officials were not going to honor her request.

Spratlin did get her money back.

And Rawls quit her job recently for "personal reasons," she said; nothing to do with Daphne.

For the record, Daphne is being sheltered by Room For One More, a pet rescue organization in Inverness. Spratlin can't adopt her (again, by policy). Daphne's next owner will have to undergo a home inspection, trial adoption and counseling.

If you want Daphne, call Lisa Jacobson at (352) 341-2222.

Andrew Skerritt can be reached at (813) 909-4602 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 4602. His e-mail address is askerritt@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 16, 2006, 20:32:47]