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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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."

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

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."



