Yesterday I had to impound two dogs. They were running at large, and had attacked a stray cat and killed it. There is still another pair of dogs out there that attacked a cat, and injured it badly enough it had to be euthanized.
The issue of them running at large to begin with aside, there is the issue of animals attacking and killing other animals which can never be condoned, regardless of whether the victims are stray or not.
The first problem is that we have far too many people who still feel it is ok to let Fido out to run around unsupervised. It's not. Today a stray cat, tomorrow a small dog...or a child running around in their own yard. We all would like to believe our pets are not capable of such things...but the reality is always a little more tragic.
The second problem is that many dogs are not being properly socialized, with people and with other animals. The end result is often tragic, not only for the victim of the attack, but for the attacking pet as well. Even more tragic is that this could all be prevented in the first place.
A new year is just around the corner. My hope is that all pet owners will realize the potential difficulties that can arise from not watching your pets when they are outside. All dogs and cats that reside within the city limits of Eureka are required to have current City tags and Rabies tags. All pets outdoors are required to be properly restrained, either on a lead or inside a fenced enclosure, unless they are under the direct control of the owner in their front yard. If you take you dog for a walk, it must be on a leash.
There will be a change this upcoming year, making violations of these ordinances even more costly for the owner than they are now. So please, watch your pets when they are outdoors. It is never permissible to just open the door & let them roam free to "do their business", while you busy yourself with checking your mail or fixing that cup of coffee. The excuse of " I just let them out for a minute..." will not help if your dog is picked up for running at large, especially if they injured or killed another animal while doing so. For those pet owners who feel so inclined, they may even choose to pursue legal avenues against irresponisible pet owners who have pets that attack & kill other beloved pets. And if these animals attack a person, a lawsuit is almost a certainty.
So make a New Years Resolution to spend more time with your dogs this year, and get them properly trained & socialized. Your pets will be better for the effort, and the community as a whole will be much safer too! And get those tags! That way if by some fluke of circumstance, your pet should escape its enclosure, we can make sure they get home as soon as possible. Let's work together in this New Year to make our community more pet responsible. Everyone will benefit from the effort!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
START PLANNING NOW!
Well, it is a little early, but I thought I would just get a jump on it this year. What am I referring to? The annual Rabies Clinic we hold every year at Memorial Hall.
This coming new year it will be in February, on the 16th...that's a Saturday...from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. As usual, we will be selling the City Tags for your dogs and cats(proof of rabies vaccination required). And as luck would have it, our local Vet staff will also be on hand to give Fido & Fluffy all the shots they need as well.
I do want to emphasize one point. If you wish to get City tags for your pet - and I would hope you would - this would be the very best time to do it. This will be the time when tags for your un-spayed or neutered pet will be the least expensive. After this point, there will be a late fee assessed each month throughout the rest of the year, and that could make it quite a bit more expensive later in the year if your pet should be picked up for some reason.
Tags for animals that have been fixed will be approximately $4.00, with tags for animals that have not been fixed at approximately $24.00. Later in the year, these same tags could run double that...so plan ahead now, and get them while they are at the best price. Also, as an added incentive, every effort will be made to return pets that are properly tagged home, before they are taken to the pound. You may still incur a ticket for your pet running at large depending on the circumstances, but the savings might make the difference between being able to afford to bring your pet home from the pound or not.
So be sure to mark this date on your calendar. You & your pet will be glad you did!
This coming new year it will be in February, on the 16th...that's a Saturday...from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. As usual, we will be selling the City Tags for your dogs and cats(proof of rabies vaccination required). And as luck would have it, our local Vet staff will also be on hand to give Fido & Fluffy all the shots they need as well.
I do want to emphasize one point. If you wish to get City tags for your pet - and I would hope you would - this would be the very best time to do it. This will be the time when tags for your un-spayed or neutered pet will be the least expensive. After this point, there will be a late fee assessed each month throughout the rest of the year, and that could make it quite a bit more expensive later in the year if your pet should be picked up for some reason.
Tags for animals that have been fixed will be approximately $4.00, with tags for animals that have not been fixed at approximately $24.00. Later in the year, these same tags could run double that...so plan ahead now, and get them while they are at the best price. Also, as an added incentive, every effort will be made to return pets that are properly tagged home, before they are taken to the pound. You may still incur a ticket for your pet running at large depending on the circumstances, but the savings might make the difference between being able to afford to bring your pet home from the pound or not.
So be sure to mark this date on your calendar. You & your pet will be glad you did!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
ARE YOU READY FOR WINTER?
Yep...Ole' Man Winter will soon be upon us. Are you ready yet? Got those ear muffs and mittens handy? How about that warm fuzzy blanket to curl up with in front of that roaring fire place?
I only ask, because the odds are pretty good there are a lot of pooches out there without the benefit of even a decent dog house for the winter... let alone a fuzzy blanket to curl up with.
Which brings me to my Christmas wish for this year. Dog houses for all that need them. There are many people - maybe you even know one or two - that have a dog outside, and they really need a dog house, but just can't afford one for whatever reason.
My sense is, we can always argue the other 11 months of the year over whether or not someone should even have a pet they cannot afford to provide for...and that includes shelter. But this month, in the spirit of the Christmas season, let us just help those who for whatever reason, cannot help themselves...or their dogs. If you have the means to do so, help a neighbor, or a friend, or your local shelter. If you have an old Igloo style dog house that is no longer needed, donate it to one of the above mentioned entities. Or if you can afford it, maybe buy one for someones pet, and give Fido a Christmas to remember too!
If you don't know someone who needs one, you may donate one to your local shelter. If they are like me, they have a short list of people who have requested one, or who we know could use one, as a function of our daily travels at work. I can assure you, if you choose to donate one to our shelter, there are several needy families & pets that would be very grateful.
I am quite sure Santa will be very happy with you! I know the doggies will be too!
I only ask, because the odds are pretty good there are a lot of pooches out there without the benefit of even a decent dog house for the winter... let alone a fuzzy blanket to curl up with.
Which brings me to my Christmas wish for this year. Dog houses for all that need them. There are many people - maybe you even know one or two - that have a dog outside, and they really need a dog house, but just can't afford one for whatever reason.
My sense is, we can always argue the other 11 months of the year over whether or not someone should even have a pet they cannot afford to provide for...and that includes shelter. But this month, in the spirit of the Christmas season, let us just help those who for whatever reason, cannot help themselves...or their dogs. If you have the means to do so, help a neighbor, or a friend, or your local shelter. If you have an old Igloo style dog house that is no longer needed, donate it to one of the above mentioned entities. Or if you can afford it, maybe buy one for someones pet, and give Fido a Christmas to remember too!
If you don't know someone who needs one, you may donate one to your local shelter. If they are like me, they have a short list of people who have requested one, or who we know could use one, as a function of our daily travels at work. I can assure you, if you choose to donate one to our shelter, there are several needy families & pets that would be very grateful.
I am quite sure Santa will be very happy with you! I know the doggies will be too!
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