Dog Gone It

Posted Saturday, August 8, 2009, at 7:33 PM

I am a big fan of dogs, no doubt about it.

"There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face" - Ben Williams

My dogs are part of the family, I know I am not alone in this. Tuko, has been with me 14 years, had her since she was 6 wks old. Pedro has traveled over 600 thousand miles with me, and made friends all over the country. AND, we have a new Boxer puppy, five months old, beautiful and ugly at the same time, we call her Sweetyface. We are weird, what can I say?

Thank you Amy for the great information regarding City pet ordinances. I have friends on both sides of this issue, both equally passionate.

We really do have too many abandoned dogs in our town. I have no problem with the City asking folks to get their pets fixed, if you don't want to get your dog fixed, then pony up the extra coinage for the license. What's the big deal?

Let's encourage adoption of pets, by making the license for an adopted pet something like $5. The City should take step to get all dogs licensed. If you don't have the bucks to get your dogs licensed and vaccinated, then face facts, you should not be getting a dog.

The City has a responsibility to identify dogs that could be dangerous. That just makes sense.

Maybe the City could go lightly on the three dog limit. As long as the dog owner properly licenses and vaccinates the dogs, and can properly control and care for them, why should the City care if someone wants to have five Poodles?

I know you could take that to the extreme, what if somebody wanted to have seventeen dogs? AND what if these seventeen dogs lived next door to you, and barked day and night?

Require a special permit for folks who want more than three dogs, let the person show that they're responsible pet owners to the satisfaction of the Animal Control Officer.

I do not want the Police or Animal Control Officer shooting my dog, if he gets out of the yard, and the authorities are unable to nab him.

No No No, don't be shootin' my dog. Now of course, if some dog is running loose, and attacked a child, and is dangerous, that's a different story.

Let me hop up on my soapbox. I think we all should treat dogs in general a whole lot better. I really get fired up when I see some precious black lab puppy, chained to a tire in the middle of someones yard, with no shelter. It is not that hard to put up a fence. If you cannot afford a fence, then can you really afford a dog?

Don't make the dogs suffer for your shortsightedness. Is it not true that you can tell much about an individual by the way they treat their dog?

It has been said that Dogs are the only creatures to have ever seen God. They may be the only creatures that deserve to see God.

I have to let you Cat people talk about Cats. Personally, I think cats make super targets. IM JUST KIDDING. (maybe, lol)

Comments
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Sam,

Totally appreciate all your reasoned and moderate thoughts on pet ownership -- particularly DAWGS --

and that this writing shows the best of one particular gearjammer.

Beautifully thought out and beautifully written.

Thanks.

-- Posted by HerndonHank on Mon, Aug 10, 2009, at 6:00 PM

The dog at large issue should have been resolved at the last meeting. This is a quote fromt The Gazette about the last meeting:

"Another section the council amended was section 118, which originally read that the police or another officer designated by the city manager will have the authority to kill any animals showing vicious tendencies, characteristics of rabies, or which are impossible to capture. Several in the audience felt that this language would give officers the right to kill their dogs if the animals were found outside their property and were unable to be captured. The revised language adds that the animals must show an imminent threat to officers and present a threat to the public."

-- Posted by McCook1 on Mon, Aug 10, 2009, at 12:16 PM

Good views..for once I enjoyed one of your write ups. I hate irresponsible pet owners, I feel if someone has their dog chained to a cylinder block or treats them like shit, that they need to be fined harshly. It takes a vicious person to raise a vicious dog, just like a vicious parent raises a vicious child(not always, but a lot of the time). I report people that do this, because I find it a shame and horrible for that poor dog. All they are trying to do for you, the human is be a loyal friend...who else is that happy EVER to see you get home?!?!?! Great Ideas Man!

-- Posted by marlin on Mon, Aug 10, 2009, at 12:13 PM

Thanks for the nice blog. I like some of your ideas. Especially the one about adopted pets being a lesser fee. I'll be sure to suggest that when the animal control committee meets next.

We'll also be working on clarifying the "shoot the dog at large" problem. I'd think if the dog wasn't causing a nuisance or attacking somebody, then the officer would have time to try asking neighbors if the dog is familiar so he/she could contact the owner.

I too have friends on both sides of this issue. It's hard to please everybody.

-- Posted by amystrauch on Sun, Aug 9, 2009, at 7:44 PM

I live in the country and don't have to worry about the dog police. I HAVE had to worry about people picking up my dogs and taking them to town - thinking that somebody must have abandoned them out here. (my dogs are ugly...and I make no apologies for that).

Perhaps there could be some improvement if everyone would be accountable for themselves, their children and their pets.

ps - if anybody has a Jack Russell terrier pup - let me know!

-- Posted by Mickel on Sun, Aug 9, 2009, at 1:51 PM

Right of Center

Sam Eldridge

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