'Justice for Sam': Appomattox County officials not being honest about Sam's death
APPOMATTOX, Va. (WSET) -- Animal advocates are demanding justice for Sam.
Wednesday night, county officials admitted they made a mistake in euthanizing Sam, but that wasn't enough for many residents who want more answers.
Many say it's just not a good enough answer. They want to know the reason the animal warden is giving for putting him down.
"May you find comfort in knowing that you are not alone, even though you are not here you will be loved forever and always remembered. Love you Sam, Julie," said Beth Reynolds reading from a card.
Reynolds runs the Facebook group Justice for Sam.
She and other members of the group set up a tiny memorial for him in front of the shelter. The card she was reading from was left there for Sam.
Reynolds and many others are far from satisfied with the answers they're getting. According to information from county officials, Sam was taken to Diamond Hill animal hospital in Lynchburg sometime Friday.
Apparently, animal warden Micki Caifano, is the one who took him there to be put down.
Reynolds believes there is much more to the story that the county isn't telling. "It was a loss of life that I still believe should not have happened. We still really never got an answer as to why and I don't think we ever will," she said.
A volunteer found Sam's body in the shelter freezer on Saturday, and that's when word of his death began to spread.
Now, members of Justice for Sam are asking the county to turn Sam's body over to them so they can cremate him and have a memorial. But, they are disturbed because they say shelter cameras were turned off at the time and they want proof from the county as to how Sam spent his last hours.
Diamond Hill officials say the veterinarian who put Sam down is Dr. Christine Dixon. She was not in the office on Thursday, but another veterinarian said it is is legal for licensed vets to euthanize animals at a ward's request, but that he always asks specifically why.
Now, the biggest question advocates want answered is why Sam was euthanized.
