dog on the loose

[Ignorance is Bliss]

IN DEBT wrote:

<quoted text> So what you are basiclly saying is he usually will take the dogs to the owners, so why am I the one with the court date and hefty fine? My dog is fixed and registered, my dog usually is on tye down except for this one time,and she snapped her collar but yet I still have to go through all this! Why give up my dog to a nice family when she already has one? By the way you have prooved my point not everyone faces this kind of actions over their dogs being loose SO WHY US?

I was referring to the animal control officer several years ago. I am not real familiar with the new animal control officer. I wish it was still like it was several years ago when you were charged just a holding fee. I realize that some people don't take care of their animals and refuse to abide by the leash law and sometimes a ticket is necessary. I think it was overboard in your case. I feel you should have just had to pay the holding fee since this was just an isolated incident. The animal control officer should make himself familiar with what dogs belong to which house. Meaning, he drives around town alot. He should know where most of the dogs live and make an effort to return those dogs or call you or even knock on your door. You can normally tell just by looking at the dog if it is well taken care of vesus one that lives on the street. I don't have a fence and my dog is a house dog, but we let him out and he's good to stay in the yard. If he were to get picked up and the same done to me as you, I would feel the same way. I am sorry this happened to you. I hope the city can come up with a solution to this problem.

[Rhonda]

In Debt, please call me. I would prefer to visit with you over the phone or face to face. I am working at B and R Greenhouse today. I know your last name but can't locate you in the phone book.

[justwondering]

Sounds to me like the holding fee is okay, but a fine, heck if they can't feed the dog for 30 dollars that's bad, why can't they get those 2 big red dogs that run around all over town and out of town eating peoples chickens and they are large dogs who could be dangerous. I'd love to see them picked up, and the starving dogs running around town. I have reported my own dog when he has gotten out just so they can tell me if they see him. There are alot of big scary looking dogs running around that did picked up, that are seen daily. That's what they should be concerned with.

[Talisman]

I had no idea there was a dog license requirement in Talihina. I remember an article in the Talihina American requesting people keep their dogs up but no mention of licensing as I recall. There needs to be better communication with the public about these kinds of things.

The fine of $215, if that has been set by the council or trustees of the town is excessive in my opinion. If a licensed dog is picked up, I can see a fine of $50 with at the most $20/day kennel fee and that is all. If the dog is not licensed by the city then bump up the fine to $100 plus kennel fees plus the cost of rabies vaccination if the owner can not provide proof the animal was vaccinated.

There are people around here that have spent a great deal of money to ensure the health, welfare of their pets and to be in compliance by containing their pets on their property. When the pets of these owners get loose it is usually an accident and only an infrequent occurrence. They should be dealt with accordingly. But, there are people around here who pick up puppies for their kids, the pups grow up and stop being cute and they are not longer cared for nor contained. And, there are those pet owners who have had breeds known to be dangerous and have let them run wild on the streets. These animals, the unlicensed, unwanted and the free roamers, need to be picked up and the owners dealt with sternly.

I have to say there has been an improvement in the roaming dog population around here, but there is a ways to go still yet.

[Good Girl]

Talisman wrote:

I had no idea there was a dog license requirement in Talihina. I remember an article in the Talihina American requesting people keep their dogs up but no mention of licensing as I recall. There needs to be better communication with the public about these kinds of things.

I agree totally. Maybe during one of the many other events, the city could set up a booth, and let people,for that one day, get city licenses for free. Include a cute dog contest, and maybe some who didn't know would then be able to abide by the ordinance. Maybe get a few vetenarians offices to help provide spaying and nuetering information. A lot of people get new pets for Christmas, and then again on Valentines day. Talk it up and advertise it well, and just maybe, control can be gained over the wondering dog population. By the way, I would love to volunteer to help with this.
What I also want to know is what about the cats? Is there an ordinance for them as well?

[Rhonda]

Cats must also be licensed, but are allowed to roam free with a collar and tag.

I will tell you that our facilities are not large enough to hold both cats and dogs, so at this time cats are not picked up unless they are suspected of being diseased.

Would you be interested in contacting some vets and setting up a spade and neautering clinic?? I will arrange for the use of the Tom Coleman Municiple Building.

[good girl]

Rhonda wrote:

Cats must also be licensed, but are allowed to roam free with a collar and tag.
I will tell you that our facilities are not large enough to hold both cats and dogs, so at this time cats are not picked up unless they are suspected of being diseased.
Would you be interested in contacting some vets and setting up a spade and neautering clinic?? I will arrange for the use of the Tom Coleman Municiple Building.

I will look into that, as soon as I can get some info I will get in touch with you.

[Talisman]

My daughter is from a much larger town and had two German Shepards and a Jack Russell get out of the yard a few days ago. She was charged $8/day each for holding fees and $59 to purchase a license/tag for the three dogs. She got off light because she lives on the town/county boundary and there was some confusion about licensing requirements for people living in that area.

The regular fine for picking up a single dog that was not licensed in that town is $250. It should have cost her $750 in fines for the three dogs plus $18 in holding fees.

If you want to clean up the dog problem in town, just implement something like that. It will be doubtful that those who don't register their mutts will pay such stiff fines and those dogs will quickly go out of circulation. Owners who license their dogs should pay a reasonable fine and holding fees when their pets are constantly out roaming around. The fine or forgiveness for a periodic "break-out scoundrel" should be up to the discretion of the animal control officer maybe?

But, communicating the fine and license structure is really needed to be fair to the public and pet owners out there.(announcements in bank statements, Talihina American, fliers posted in businesses, whatever it takes to get the word out.)