The dead owner of a German Shepherd in Indiana wants the dog euthanized and buried with her, and people are fighting for the dog’s life with a hashtag.
Connie Ley died in November, and her will stipulates that her 9-year-old dog Bela either be handed over to a friend, or cremated and buried with Ley. Bela is reportedly aggressive and mean to strangers, and the friend has refused to take responsibility for him, leaving death as the likely option.
News of Ley’s will has spread, and dog lovers are condemning the owner and frantically trying to save his life using the hashtag #SaveBela.
The #SaveBela story is really disturbing. Destroying a healthy animal when other avenues are available is shocking, will or no will.
— Christina Uticone (@snowcones) December 19, 2014
How can anyone ask to have a beloved pet killed so you can share an urn with it? How stupid of his owner. #SaveBela — Rebecca Whalon (@WhalonLibrarian) December 19, 2014
Even a dead lady can be a selfish moron. #SaveBela — Phaulyn Graisse (@Phaulyn) December 19, 2014
If Ley’s friend accepts care for Bela, the will stipulates she can choose to send him to a Utah no-kill animal shelter, but doesn’t have to if that option proves too expensive, reported the Indy Star.
Ley’s attorney, Doug Denmure, defended his client, saying the dog is “potentially dangerous” and that a veterinarian has recommended he be euthanized, reported WCPO Cincinnatti.
“When [Ley] died, she died at her home and the dog was in there,” he said. “No one could enter the house because they were concerned the dog would attack.”
“The dog was owned by my client and now it’s part of her estate,” he added. “And those are her wishes, as far as the future of the dog is concerned. Outsiders don’t have the grounds to rewrite the provisions of my client’s will and impose what they want.”
Bela is at a local animal shelter until the attorney and Bela’s friend make a decision.
The Utah shelter said on its Facebook page Thursday that Bela is welcome, but the decision is out of its hands. “We want to save Bela’s life and bring him to our sanctuary, but the decision to send him to us or have him put down and cremated is out of our hands,” the statement said.
The shelter also asked for support via Twitter.
Your support is needed to #SaveBela. Learn how you can help: http://t.co/VcKfre1P4o. #SaveThemAll ^MM pic.twitter.com/lyOB3Ubv7m
— Best Friends (@bestfriends) December 18, 2014
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