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'Communication breakdown': Pet dog put down after shelter fails to reach owners

An Adelaide family is mourning the loss of their pet Staffordshire Terrier sent to death row after not being claimed from an animal shelter within a week.

The Uffelmanns say they were away and always planned to bring 10-year-old Mac home, but the shelter did not know he had an owner.

Jess and Graeme Uffelmann now only have memories of their dog, put down by the Animal Welfare League last Tuesday.

"I'm devastated my best mate for ten years he sleeps on my pillow next to my head every night," said a heartbroken Graeme.

The Uffelmanns returned home to lean their dog had been put down. Source: 7 News
The Uffelmanns returned home to lean their dog had been put down. Source: 7 News

Mac escaped from his Salisbury home on February 6, but Graeme and Jess were both away.

"He often gets out but every single time we pick him up," Jess said.

Mac escaped and was not micro-chipped. Source: 7 News
Mac escaped and was not micro-chipped. Source: 7 News

The woman looking after their pet staffy made contact with Playford Council .

But because it was 72 hours after he'd run away the dog had been handed over to the Animal Welfare League and she was told to contact them.

Graeme Uffelmann said he lost his best friend of 10 years. Source: 7 News
Graeme Uffelmann said he lost his best friend of 10 years. Source: 7 News

Spokeswoman for the AWL said Mac "had no identification so we had no way of contacting his owner to make sure there was a successful reunion".

"You make sure as a responsible owner that you have appropriate identification – a collar and tag or a microchip.

"In this case the owner did none of these things."

Jess Uffelmann said it was heartbreaking to think Mac died alone. Source: 7 News
Jess Uffelmann said it was heartbreaking to think Mac died alone. Source: 7 News

His owners insist a lack of communication is what ultimately cost Mac his life.

"He should have been left at the pound because we had made contact," Graeme said.

"He would have felt scared and alone," Jess added. "I wasn't there to say goodbye to him."