Spanish judge rules no crime in killing Ebola dog
By Associated Press
Nov 26, 2014 11:24 AM CST

MADRID (AP) — A Spanish judge has ruled health authorities didn't commit a crime when they euthanized Excalibur, a dog that belonged to a nursing assistant who contracted Ebola last month.

An animal rights group had filed a complaint against a Madrid health official, citing a violation of an animal protection law. A judge issued a seven-page ruling Wednesday.

Excalibur belonged to Teresa Romero, the first known person to contract Ebola outside West Africa in the latest outbreak. She had treated two Spanish missionaries who died from Ebola after they were flown back from West Africa. Romero later recovered.

Spanish health authorities ordered the killing of the dog Oct. 8, fearing a risk of transmission. In the U.S., officials opted to quarantine a King Charles Spaniel belonging to an infected Dallas nurse.