Editor, I am writing in reference to the very poignant letter from Petra Brooks, regarding “Liberty County must stop animal neglect and abuse.”
Mrs. Brooks’ comments bear deep consideration on the part of your county commissioners. If it is true an Animal Control officer stated during a Neighborhood Watch meeting that his department is understaffed and overworked, and can’t handle all of the necessary investigations regarding pit bulldogs and Staffordshire terriers roaming loose, then that should not be the case.
Also, the situation Mrs. Brooks mentions of a small dog that was kept chained and was attacked and bred by pit bulls, means unwanted puppies will be born and add to the huge pet overpopulation problem.
This points to the need for animals to be kept in a fenced yard. Keeping a dog on a chain is cruel, both physically and mentally. Many are kept chained in all weather extremes, and exist as sad, lonely, neglected animals because their owners are not responsible pet owners.
Dogs are pack animals, and need to be a part of the family structure.
I hope many of your readers will join forces with Mrs. Brooks to ask your county commissioners to work on passing laws against chaining animals, and also to enforce leash/dog licensing laws. If these laws are enforced, the county could then afford to hire more animal control officers from the funds derived from license tags.
Again, when issuing a dog license, spaying/neutering should be taken into consideration. A minimal charge of $5 per year for a spayed or neutered pet, but $300 per year for unaltered animals.
The money spent on wholesale slaughter of unwanted animals in your community would be decreased considerably, plus humane consideration would be achieved.
Deborah I. Friedman
President Save-A-Life
Animal Welfare Agency
Savannah
Mrs. Brooks’ comments bear deep consideration on the part of your county commissioners. If it is true an Animal Control officer stated during a Neighborhood Watch meeting that his department is understaffed and overworked, and can’t handle all of the necessary investigations regarding pit bulldogs and Staffordshire terriers roaming loose, then that should not be the case.
Also, the situation Mrs. Brooks mentions of a small dog that was kept chained and was attacked and bred by pit bulls, means unwanted puppies will be born and add to the huge pet overpopulation problem.
This points to the need for animals to be kept in a fenced yard. Keeping a dog on a chain is cruel, both physically and mentally. Many are kept chained in all weather extremes, and exist as sad, lonely, neglected animals because their owners are not responsible pet owners.
Dogs are pack animals, and need to be a part of the family structure.
I hope many of your readers will join forces with Mrs. Brooks to ask your county commissioners to work on passing laws against chaining animals, and also to enforce leash/dog licensing laws. If these laws are enforced, the county could then afford to hire more animal control officers from the funds derived from license tags.
Again, when issuing a dog license, spaying/neutering should be taken into consideration. A minimal charge of $5 per year for a spayed or neutered pet, but $300 per year for unaltered animals.
The money spent on wholesale slaughter of unwanted animals in your community would be decreased considerably, plus humane consideration would be achieved.
Deborah I. Friedman
President Save-A-Life
Animal Welfare Agency
Savannah