This debate over the re-enactment of the county’s leash law is getting more emotional. Remember, it’s emotion that spurs, “it’s for the children” in school bond elections (regardless of how much debt and taxes are raised to pay “for the children.”)
[Attention Candidates for Sheriff: You Better Weigh in on this Issue!]
Now the emotions are being threaded in this latest debate. Right now commissioners are meeting in the courthouse, and will hear from folks who have 870+ signatures to re-enact the dog leash ordinance, which basically states that the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office patrolled looking for criminal dogs.
My question is this: if there are pet/dog-assistance groups, why isn’t it them - not government - handling this issue? The cost savings of $350,000 in scrapping this program could be put to better uses, like maybe hiring more sheriff deputies to patrol rural areas - looking for crime, not wild dogs.
Our government wastes too much money as it is. Maybe we ought to re-set some goals for the sheriff’s office. Personally, if there are that many people willing to help these animals, those people should form a POP - Pets on Patrol. That way, these private posses of people could do the role of a needless government function. But what would I know, I’m just a fiscal conservative.
‘On county leash law’
To the Editor,To the Ellis County Commissioners Court: I write to address your recent decision to eliminate animal control service to the county, except in situations of a vicious or rabid animal.
I reside approximately two miles outside of the Palmer city limits in an area that sees more than its share of dumped animals. Upon return to my home on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at approximately 1 p.m., I found a small female Chihuahua sitting in the drive just outside of my gates. This very sweet, small dog had recently had pups, within a day or two of her abandonment. I searched for a litter, but was unable to locate the same. She was very scared and, as with so many of other dogs dumped by their owners in that area, was sitting and waiting for that person to return to pick her up. This was not a lost dog, as our home is sufficiently remote that no dog of that size could have just wandered up after being lost.
I called the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department, as we have done in the past, to have the dog picked up and cared for by the Ellis County SPCA, only to be advised that, by vote of the Ellis County commissioners, that service was recently terminated. I thereafter met with County Commissioner Dennis Robinson of Pct. 1. He advised that this service was abandoned in order to save approximately $350,000 a year and that I should “dispose of the animal” at my discretion as they were not responsible.
Considering that in Ellis County, it is a class C misdemeanor to abandon an animal (which amounts to basically a slap on the wrist - if the offender is caught), it is now apparently the problem of responsible Ellis County residents to deal with abandoned animals. It is also my understanding that by eliminating this service, approximately $350,000 will no longer be available for the operation of the Ellis County SPCA which, of course, may eventually cause the demise of that organization so that Ellis County will be devoid of any animal-assistance group.
Your action has given free rein to irresponsible animal owners to just turn their unwanted dogs and cats out to fend for themselves, which we all know is not possible. Certainly this poor little female Chihuahua weighing approximately 4 pounds would never had made it through a night without being painfully killed by coyotes. You have also made it the burden of responsible citizens who care about the plight of abandoned animals to protect the same with absolutely no assistance from the county.
Also, please consider the longer-term consequences of your actions to save an estimated $350,000 annually. For example, many companies seeking a new plant location may summarily dismiss Ellis County from consideration because of their perceiving (a) your action toward animals as barbaric and (b) the overall quality of life offered by Ellis County as being substandard. Those companies will look upon your actions as being simply unacceptable.I would be very interested to know why we pay Ellis County taxes each and every year for what appears to be less and less services. Certainly some of the roads in the county are not maintained properly and now you have basically washed your hands of any responsibility for animal control, except for vicious or rabid animals. I am sure you realize that most of the abandoned dogs and cats are not vicious, just products of idiot owners. Do you realize that by your decision that each of you is leaving innocent animals to die while their irresponsible and uncaring owners just continue time after time to get a dog or cat, not care for it and dump it when it becomes too much of a problem?
Do you offer county-funded free spay/neuter and vaccination clinics in various towns in the county? No. This might help control the animal population, but I suppose that would dip further into county funds. By the way, as a taxpayer, I would appreciate knowing just where this $350,000 savings will be directed.
Please advise the date, time and location of the next county commissioners meeting so that I may be in attendance.Allen Hamilton,
Palmer
1 Comment
January 8, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I used to be an animal control officer in another state, in a county that was less popluated then Ellis county. They managed to operate a county facility (built a new animal shelter), have four full time wardens, purchase two vehicles and maintain operating expenses all from the sale of manditory dog licenses. Each warden was a deputy, authorized to issue citations to anyone not having a current dog license. Fifteen years ago the license were 6.00 per dog and had to be renewed each year. The county commissioners would place an add in the local paper several times within the month of December with a form to fill out to send in for the license. They also had a few local business that sold the licenses.
The deputys handled various calls from livestock kills, dog bites, injured animals, dogs barking, etc. There is no reason to terminate the service of animal control in Ellis county if you implement a way to pay for this service. Another plus for the people is that if the dog is wearing its license and is picked up for running loose. those people are notified and the dog is returned to their home instead of being destroyed. I think instead of thinking of other ways to spend your 350,000 that you are saving you should be thinking of ways to implement a plan that works best for the county and its people.
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