Janie, how did YOU do last night?
- Thread starter LauraMax
- Start date
janiejoey
Cathlete
Laura and Luvmylabs,
It didn't go well.
I went to the meeting, stepped up to the podium, gave the petition to the Commissioners, and Lynda, (Commissioner/Chair for District #1) told me that she was looking over the laws and it seems there is a roaming law after all.
She (Lynda) invited me to go to a meeting this coming Tuesday that included the Sheriff. I thanked her for inviting me and was interested in going to this meeting. She also wanted me to talk with a person by the name of Betty. Not sure what she does there, but she talks a lot on the podium. Very wise of all the stuff that is going on.
She (Betty) told me that there is a place for dogs that has only 14 slots, and it is always full. That there are many many complaints about dogs cats roaming around, and there is nothing that can be done about it. There is no place to put these animals. We talked about how much it would cost for people to pick up strays, off the road so they wouldn't get run over by a car, ($25.00) to place them in the facility. No one is going to pay that, so there are strays all over the place. The Sheriff's hands are tied, they can't enforce the law.
The meeting on Tuesday will be talking to the Sheriff about giving him a time slot to resolve this problem. Perhaps finding land and to build a shelter for animals in this area. Something, perhaps we all will brain storm, I don't know.
The thing is (as my husband pointed out) why put these animals in jail? They didn't do anything wrong. It's the owner, it always comes to that. Imposing a fine to owners won't help because, people always get away from their duties, by either abandoning them, or something else. Then there are owners (like my situation), they let their animals roam around and don't care about their neighbors or anyone else. We don't want to hurt any animal in order to protect ourselves, we just want the owners to be responsible, and keep them at home, or on a leash when walking! But again that would mean to take the animal away from their owners and placing them in a jail like situation. And as we all know, there is no such place.
This is really getting frustrating for us. We are talking about moving. Even if something can be done now, it will take many years I would guess to get this under control. We don't have many years left, we are retired.
I'm hoping who ever should read this, could come up with a really good idea/plan for animals and humans in this situation. There has got to be a creative way of doing this. But I can't think of an ingenious way, wish I could. Any takers out there?
Wish we were sue happy people. Perhaps we could get money to move on. I doubt we could even sue.
Janie
http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
It didn't go well.
I went to the meeting, stepped up to the podium, gave the petition to the Commissioners, and Lynda, (Commissioner/Chair for District #1) told me that she was looking over the laws and it seems there is a roaming law after all.
She (Lynda) invited me to go to a meeting this coming Tuesday that included the Sheriff. I thanked her for inviting me and was interested in going to this meeting. She also wanted me to talk with a person by the name of Betty. Not sure what she does there, but she talks a lot on the podium. Very wise of all the stuff that is going on.
She (Betty) told me that there is a place for dogs that has only 14 slots, and it is always full. That there are many many complaints about dogs cats roaming around, and there is nothing that can be done about it. There is no place to put these animals. We talked about how much it would cost for people to pick up strays, off the road so they wouldn't get run over by a car, ($25.00) to place them in the facility. No one is going to pay that, so there are strays all over the place. The Sheriff's hands are tied, they can't enforce the law.
The meeting on Tuesday will be talking to the Sheriff about giving him a time slot to resolve this problem. Perhaps finding land and to build a shelter for animals in this area. Something, perhaps we all will brain storm, I don't know.
The thing is (as my husband pointed out) why put these animals in jail? They didn't do anything wrong. It's the owner, it always comes to that. Imposing a fine to owners won't help because, people always get away from their duties, by either abandoning them, or something else. Then there are owners (like my situation), they let their animals roam around and don't care about their neighbors or anyone else. We don't want to hurt any animal in order to protect ourselves, we just want the owners to be responsible, and keep them at home, or on a leash when walking! But again that would mean to take the animal away from their owners and placing them in a jail like situation. And as we all know, there is no such place.
This is really getting frustrating for us. We are talking about moving. Even if something can be done now, it will take many years I would guess to get this under control. We don't have many years left, we are retired.
I'm hoping who ever should read this, could come up with a really good idea/plan for animals and humans in this situation. There has got to be a creative way of doing this. But I can't think of an ingenious way, wish I could. Any takers out there?
Wish we were sue happy people. Perhaps we could get money to move on. I doubt we could even sue.
Janie
http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
LauraMax
Cathlete
It sounds like you're getting the runaround from your county govmt. We have a shelter here as well with limited space. It doesn't mean we ignore strays--often we pay a vet to kennel them until a spot opens up at the shelter. Do you know how many vets there are in your county? This is an option--the county could work out a deal with one or more vets, or even boarding kennels, when the shelters are full.
Also, this is not about strays. This is about domesticated animals that are not being controlled by their owners. Quite frankly it's a public safety issue & I'm shocked that there doesn't seem to be conern on the part of your commissioners or sheriff that this dangerous dog is running free.
I understand you not being sue-happy, but the fact of the matter is you have now notified your local authorities about this situation and, for that matter, offered them a solution which they're essentially refusing for economic reasons. This means if something does happen they could be in a world of legal trouble. Now that they know about your situation & aren't doing anything about it they could be considered liaible.
The strays & the leash law are two entirely separate issues. There is absolutely no reason in the world your county couldn't pass a leash law. Even if it's difficult to enforce they could at least have it on the books so they could enforce it when they can locate a roaming animal's owner or respond to complaints such as yours.
Janie, you're a very sweet lady but you might have to get a little aggressive on this (naturally if it were me I'd be at the podium screaming & yelling ;-) ). Tell them you'll campaign against them during the next election. Tell them if you experience any personal or property damage b/c of your neighbor's dog you will sue them. You don't have to, but you can make the threat. You've tried to solve this in a logical way & they're too cheap & lazy to implement your solution--they're coming up w/a bunch of BS excuses that aren't even legitimate. But local govmts are scared to death of lawsuits b/c they lose quite often & the damages are high, so it could be a tactic.
I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Move to NJ, we'd have passed your ordinance in one meeting.
Also, this is not about strays. This is about domesticated animals that are not being controlled by their owners. Quite frankly it's a public safety issue & I'm shocked that there doesn't seem to be conern on the part of your commissioners or sheriff that this dangerous dog is running free.
I understand you not being sue-happy, but the fact of the matter is you have now notified your local authorities about this situation and, for that matter, offered them a solution which they're essentially refusing for economic reasons. This means if something does happen they could be in a world of legal trouble. Now that they know about your situation & aren't doing anything about it they could be considered liaible.
The strays & the leash law are two entirely separate issues. There is absolutely no reason in the world your county couldn't pass a leash law. Even if it's difficult to enforce they could at least have it on the books so they could enforce it when they can locate a roaming animal's owner or respond to complaints such as yours.
Janie, you're a very sweet lady but you might have to get a little aggressive on this (naturally if it were me I'd be at the podium screaming & yelling ;-) ). Tell them you'll campaign against them during the next election. Tell them if you experience any personal or property damage b/c of your neighbor's dog you will sue them. You don't have to, but you can make the threat. You've tried to solve this in a logical way & they're too cheap & lazy to implement your solution--they're coming up w/a bunch of BS excuses that aren't even legitimate. But local govmts are scared to death of lawsuits b/c they lose quite often & the damages are high, so it could be a tactic.
I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Move to NJ, we'd have passed your ordinance in one meeting.
That is just so wrong...what is it going to take? Is a person or pet going to have to be attacked and/or killed before they do something? Not to mention that if someone is bitten, these animals probably haven't even been given rabies shots.
There was a case here in Virginia, where an older woman and her dog were both attacked AND KILLED in the lady's front yard by a pack of pitt bulls (who were allowed to roam) owned by a neighbor. There were already laws in place, but, believe me, the General Assembly made stricter laws regarding dog owners responsibilities. I forgot how many years the dog owner got, but she's in prison now.
This stuff ticks me off to no end...along with leash laws, there should be sterilization laws, too.(for the dogs, not their useless owners...)
There was a case here in Virginia, where an older woman and her dog were both attacked AND KILLED in the lady's front yard by a pack of pitt bulls (who were allowed to roam) owned by a neighbor. There were already laws in place, but, believe me, the General Assembly made stricter laws regarding dog owners responsibilities. I forgot how many years the dog owner got, but she's in prison now.
This stuff ticks me off to no end...along with leash laws, there should be sterilization laws, too.(for the dogs, not their useless owners...)
LauraMax
Cathlete
OMG TeTe I think I remember that--didn't it happen when the woman opened her apt. door & her neighbors' two pitbulls attacked her? And the neighbors just stood there & let it happen, which is why they ended up in jail. If I remember correctly she was a young woman--about 30--& some kind of an athlete. It was really sad.
janiejoey
Cathlete
Hi there, LauraMax,
I'm Joe. My Janie read me your reply about the supposed shortage of animal shelter facilities relative to enacting a dog leash ordinance here in or county on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. My response: "she is so right and so smart." (I also said I'd like her to tell you so, but she invited me to write this reply myself; I warned Jane that I might choose to propose marriage as well, but that didn't seem to bother her much, as she knows you are half my age--by the way, that's no problem as far as I'm concerned!)
The leash law ordinance has to do with owner/keeper being responsible to the animal and showing consideration for the neighbors. The only time these animals need to be placed in a shelter by the county is when the owner fails, after warnings and multiple imposition of fines, to manage the animal. Right? That is when this becomes a public safety issue, just as you say, and the animal must be removed from the neighborhood. It seems to me that there will always be far more stray animals in the county shelter than there will be animals which are incarcerated because of irresponsible masters.
Janie is going out of town next week; I may attend the Tuesday meeting with the county commissioners and the sheriff's people. May I have your permission to read some of your thoughts if I'm given a chance to speak? You represent an experienced, knowledgeable, and wholly sensible voice on the matter. New Jersey, huh? A Princeton alumna, perhaps?
Good Ol' Joe
http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
I'm Joe. My Janie read me your reply about the supposed shortage of animal shelter facilities relative to enacting a dog leash ordinance here in or county on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. My response: "she is so right and so smart." (I also said I'd like her to tell you so, but she invited me to write this reply myself; I warned Jane that I might choose to propose marriage as well, but that didn't seem to bother her much, as she knows you are half my age--by the way, that's no problem as far as I'm concerned!)
The leash law ordinance has to do with owner/keeper being responsible to the animal and showing consideration for the neighbors. The only time these animals need to be placed in a shelter by the county is when the owner fails, after warnings and multiple imposition of fines, to manage the animal. Right? That is when this becomes a public safety issue, just as you say, and the animal must be removed from the neighborhood. It seems to me that there will always be far more stray animals in the county shelter than there will be animals which are incarcerated because of irresponsible masters.
Janie is going out of town next week; I may attend the Tuesday meeting with the county commissioners and the sheriff's people. May I have your permission to read some of your thoughts if I'm given a chance to speak? You represent an experienced, knowledgeable, and wholly sensible voice on the matter. New Jersey, huh? A Princeton alumna, perhaps?
Good Ol' Joe
http://www.picturetrail.com/janiejoey
LauraMax
Cathlete
I think I'm in love. I like older men. Janie, can I steal your husband? :+
Good Ol' Joe, you are more than welcome to read anything I sent you. Crap, you can even conference me in if I'm not asleep.
Our ordinance stipulates a fine of up to $1000 for the first offense. If a pet owner continued to violate the ordinance the fines keep creeping up & the judge could actually jail them. It would never happen but it's a great deterrant.
Pets actually cannot be taken from their owners & placed in a shelter at all unless:
1) they've bitten a human being twice (in which case they're put down)
2) there's proof of animal abuse (in which case the owner should be put down)
The only animals typically placed in shelters are strays or animals owners dump there after hours. There are some exceptions, but they're mostly one shelter or vet transferring an animal to another shelter (for example we took a bunch of animals from NO after Katrina).
I wish I went to Princeton. William & Mary, an adequate runner up. ;-)
Good Ol' Joe, you are more than welcome to read anything I sent you. Crap, you can even conference me in if I'm not asleep.
Our ordinance stipulates a fine of up to $1000 for the first offense. If a pet owner continued to violate the ordinance the fines keep creeping up & the judge could actually jail them. It would never happen but it's a great deterrant.
Pets actually cannot be taken from their owners & placed in a shelter at all unless:
1) they've bitten a human being twice (in which case they're put down)
2) there's proof of animal abuse (in which case the owner should be put down)
The only animals typically placed in shelters are strays or animals owners dump there after hours. There are some exceptions, but they're mostly one shelter or vet transferring an animal to another shelter (for example we took a bunch of animals from NO after Katrina).
I wish I went to Princeton. William & Mary, an adequate runner up. ;-)
No, this happened last year. I remember the case you're talking about, though.
Here's one of the articles on the one I'm talking about:
SPOTSYLVANIA, Virginia (AP) -- A woman whose three pit bulls fatally mauled an 82-year-old neighbor as she walked a small dog was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison.
Deanna Large, 37, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in December for the death of Dorothy Sullivan, who was attacked by the roaming dogs last March.
Sullivan had been walking her Shih Tzu, Buttons, in her front yard in Partlow when the dogs attacked and killed both.
Large was also found guilty of two misdemeanor charges of allowing her dogs to run loose and could have faced up to 10 years in prison.
Sullivan's death sparked outrage in her rural community, where residents said they had long been terrorized by aggressive, roaming dogs. Sullivan's family collected thousands of signatures on a petition urging stricter dog laws, and the General Assembly passed legislation imposing tough penalties on dog owners whose pets seriously injure others.
During the trial, witnesses testified that Large's pit bulls menaced the neighborhood. Animal control officers had taken two of the dogs away in 2004 after they were accused of killing a kitten. At one point, Large had 13 pit bulls in her trailer.
Here's one of the articles on the one I'm talking about:
SPOTSYLVANIA, Virginia (AP) -- A woman whose three pit bulls fatally mauled an 82-year-old neighbor as she walked a small dog was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison.
Deanna Large, 37, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in December for the death of Dorothy Sullivan, who was attacked by the roaming dogs last March.
Sullivan had been walking her Shih Tzu, Buttons, in her front yard in Partlow when the dogs attacked and killed both.
Large was also found guilty of two misdemeanor charges of allowing her dogs to run loose and could have faced up to 10 years in prison.
Sullivan's death sparked outrage in her rural community, where residents said they had long been terrorized by aggressive, roaming dogs. Sullivan's family collected thousands of signatures on a petition urging stricter dog laws, and the General Assembly passed legislation imposing tough penalties on dog owners whose pets seriously injure others.
During the trial, witnesses testified that Large's pit bulls menaced the neighborhood. Animal control officers had taken two of the dogs away in 2004 after they were accused of killing a kitten. At one point, Large had 13 pit bulls in her trailer.