E-Soundoff

By Staff
Your source for community topics and thoughts
Dog tale
"I wanted to make people aware of a situation that really upset me. A friend of mine recently called me to help her rescue a stray dog from the Wal-Mart parking lot. In the meantime, someone also called animal control. We were unable to catch the dog but the animal control officer did. Now, my friend practically begged the officer to allow her to take the dog home, get it checked out, socialize it with her dogs, and put it on petfinder.com to find it a home. This dog was a corgi mix and my friend has corgis. It was also very malnourished. But it did not show a bit of aggression even after the officer caught it. It had obviously been someone's pet at one time. The officer was ready to let her take responsibility for the dog until he called his supervisor. She said no.
He had to take the dog in and quarantine it at the shelter for at least seven days and then hope someone adopts it. Chances are, unless my friend goes and pays the $40 to get it out, he will be put down. Now, I'm not talking just to animal lovers here, but to taxpayers as well. What makes more sense here – let a woman who has experience with this breed of dog and is offering to take complete responsibility for him, take him and find a good home for him. Or spend taxpayer dollars to house, feed, treat and then probably put him to sleep. I understand rules. But as animal control officers, you are supposed to be serving for the good of the animals and the public. I don't believe this situation accomplished either."
The Hartselle Enquirer’s e-sound off is an opportunity for residents to provide anonymous comments about community issues. All comments are subject to editing. The Editor reserves the right to refuse publication. In the event of several submissions on a single topic, a representative comment may be used. Comments can include your thoughts on local issues, questions about policies or procedures or praise for a community group, business or person. Email your comments to news@hartselleenquirer.com with “Sound-off” in subject line. You can also place your comment on our recorded system by calling 773-6566, ext. 20. You do not have to leave your name or telephone number.
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