In a very sad incident, the Prince George's County Animal Shelter recently euthanized a pregnant dog. What makes the story even more heartbreaking is that the animal was only hours away from being picked up by a rescue organization volunteer.

In a very sad incident, the Prince George's County Animal Shelter recently euthanized a pregnant dog. What makes the story even more heartbreaking is that the animal was only hours away from being picked up by a rescue organization volunteer.

The boxer mix had been dropped off at the shelter by her owner. Just one day later, she was put down.

The volunteer who was planning on picking the pregnant dog up was absolutely devastated to learn what happened. Lisa Marie Czop learned about the canine’s story and had been able to find a foster home.

In Czop’s own words, the ordeal was ‘hard to stomach’ because not only was the mother killed, but the lives of the unborn pups were lost as well.

The Prince George's County animal shelter has one of the highest kill rates in comparison to other facilities in the DC area. County spokeswoman Linda Lowe blamed the dog’s euthanization on a paperwork error.

Lowe claimed the rescue coordinator didn’t put a note on the pregnant canine’s file that a rescue group was attempting to place her in a foster home. Because of the lack of a notation, the dog was put down.

Lowe claimed the shelter’s procedures would be reviewed to ensure nothing like this happens again.