MIAMI -- On. Aug. 5, a dog escaped from his back yard and was picked up by county dogcatchers. His owner called to claim him and went twice to the shelter to pick the dog up, only to find out a week later that the dog had been euthanized.

PICTURES: Dog, Owners, Animal Services Director

Anays Rodriguez-Porras says her 10-year-old golden retriever "Cowboy" was part of her family.

Rodriguez-Porras and her husband searched frantically for Cowboy, and they called Miami-Dade County Animal Services to report the dog missing.

Five days later, animal services called to say they had Cowboy, and had identified him by an implanted microchip.

Rodriguez-Porras says her reaction was, "Thank God! They got the dog!"

But her happiness was short-lived. Because of necessary paperwork and processing, she and her husband were kept from picking Cowboy up for three more days. When they were finally able to pick the dog up, they were informed that Cowboy had been euthanized.

Paperwork showed that he was put down three days before he should have been if the owner hadn't been located. Since he had a microchip and the owner had been located, he should have been held in a kennel for pick up.

Animal Services Director Dr. Sara Pizano said Wednesday, "This was human error. I have no excuse. There's no reason for such a thing to happen."

On Wednesday, Pizano, who has run animal services for just five weeks, fired supervisor Barry Adkins, who had signed off on the paperwork that allowed Cowboy to be euthanized. Pizano was formerly director of veterinary-services for the Humane Society of Broward County. She was brought in to shape up animal services.

Christian Dunham, an attorney for Adkins, said his client was ''very sorry and sad for the family,'' and was willing to write a letter of apology or offer compensation for the dog.

Dunham called the firing ''unwarranted,'' and said Adkins was promised time to respond to the allegations in writing.

He added that Adkins has had an unblemished career and plans to appeal the firing.

Pizano said she will make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

The Rodriguez-Porras family says that's small consolation for the loss of their beloved pet.

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