What Can I Do? Animal Control Here Is No Help.

[Candy317]

My neighbor's have had countless of dachshund dogs roam loose in the streets. We do have a leash-law, but all animal control ever does is stick them with fines. They leave their feces in everyone's yard and knock down the trash cans. I just want animal control to REMOVE these animals from their premises and ban them from EVER owning one again, PERIOD. They did remove at one point THIRTEEN breeding dachshunds, from a neighbor complaint of the stench from the yard beinging so strong and plus the pet limit here is four.

Now why am I beinging so harsh for them owning animals? Beside the fact that they're bybs and use their dogs to make profit....Here's why,,,,

Before they just use to have one doxie. I've seen this little one grow up from puppy to an adult. It was always allowed to run loose. Even when animal control has been called many times, and they've been sticked with fines, they still allowed this dog to remain loose. This dog was killed by a car not so long go. It died horrible death. It was hit so hard the eye was out of its socket. Even though the dog was a menance I felt sadden by the news.

Then they just had two doxies left. Even after the death of their one doxie and a cat [they also have roaming cats], they still let these two roam around. Then another doxie gets killed. I heard it get killed, it was awful. It was in the middle of the night and I heard it yelp when it got hit. This brought back bad memories when dog of mines got hit by a car and killed. I hated witnessing events like these. In the morning their was a puddle of the doxie's blood on the street. Poor thing got hit by a HUGE truck.

Now they're down to just one doxie. Though they had THREE losses to of having their pets loose, this one STILL remains loose. I just keep thinking about how long until this one gets killed? This to me, what they're doing is MURDER. To lose one dog to one's mistake, okay....but TWO? These dogs don't have collars, and even though its the law I doubt it they have their rabies shot. I see the kids [teenagers] go to the store with it crossing a BUSY street and the dog running after them, almost getting hit several times. One time I was getting the mail, almost witness this dog get hit and one of the teens was walking home from school. I was freaked out by this event...the teen? Not even fazed by it. These people don't care about the dog. Not even the kids. I feel bad for the younger kids who keep having to loose their pets. But not even they do anything to help stop it from happening again. I seen one of the teen's myspace and she was holding two puppies from the pet store, another pic holding a small kitten........I guess they care when they're small, but once they grow up they don't give two cents.

Something else too. This poor doxie has been a breeding machine for them. Now since they only have that doxie, I'm like finally she's going to get a break. NOPE. Even worst it bred with a neighbor's PIT BULL/GSD MIX. Now they hve two pit bull mix puppies on their hands. The doxie is aggressive, I can only image how these pups are going to turn out. Yes, these puppies are also loose. But thankfully I never seen them leave the front yard.

I call the ac, but they don't do nothing but fine them, sometimes don't even show up. I swear they only care if its a pit bull loose, then watch them come with a sense of urgency. But because they're doxies....whats the dmged? People can't ride their bikes, walk their dogs, or stroll their babies around the block without this little vermin dog trying to go after them. I wish this dog was more approachble so I could catch it and take to the HS, so if its adoptble, could find better home. But then again, that won't stop these people from getting another dog....another dog to have killed on the streets. This is not a life for this dog, a pet dog,,,,this to me is abuse. But animal control doesn't seem to care. Its just another ''neighbor complaint'' to them. Is there anything I can do to help this dog's after not be be like the other two doxies?

My most recent call to the ac was not good.

The lady treated me like my call was some sort of prank or non-importance. I sound very young on the phone, and even though I said I was 19, she asked does my mother know I'm making this call? WTF? So if a 10 year old picks up his cell phone and reports an abuse, what makes the difference from an adult? The person making the call isn't the importance here, its the friggin animal! I felt very disrespected and if I really wasn't an adult, I would be very discouraged to make a call again, since its only adult reports are the ones that matters.


I stay in Broward County, Florida....by the way... county away from where they film animal Planet's animal cops.

[Kotabella]

Do you have a home owners assocaition to contact?

[Steff]

The two new puppies should be caught so they can be in good homes before they too are killed. This is a really sad situation to have to live near. I know I would have a hard time dealing with it. I would try to call the animal control in a different county close to you, explain to them the situation and that your local animal control hasn't done anything regardless of your concerns you've shared with them. Tell them what you told us on this discussion, I'm sure they'll try and help you out somehow. Taking pictures or video and letting animal control see it may also help get them involved. Keep us updated please! I too hope something happens to the owners where they cannot own again, you're right, this is cruelty.
Steff

[Cynthia]

Here is a link to the letter of the law in Broward County. It does have a provision about 1/2 way down the page for filing a complaint. It also says it is against the law for dogs to be off-leash. This is clearly a public safety issue. If you approach it from that angle, you may have more success than if you go at it from an animal protection issue angle.

http://www.broward.org/animal/ani00100.htm#11

Frank Boldoe is the name of the assistant director of Broward County Animal Control. If I were you, I would call and ask for him by name at 954-359-1010.

If you are treated disrespectfully on a telephone, ask politely to speak to the person's supervisor. Have all your facts and figures in front of you before you call. You won't get anywhere with this unless you concisely and succinctly state your case. No matter how young you sound on the phone, they should still treat every caller respectfully because you're a taxpayer and you pay their salary.

[Candy317]

Thank you all for the advice.I'll keep you guys updated.

I kind of gave up on the doxie for while, but with the new pups I got back in the act to get these animals help. I'll be highly upset if those pups get run over or put to sleep, because they bite someone.

I just called...Frank isn't at his desk, but I left my name and number so he could call me back and I also left a message for the dispatcher.

[Debbie]

You need to get a petition with signatures, make your petition say something to that fact that you would like a full investigation done by an outside agency and charges brought against those who are liable.

Here is the website, but take notice of their temporary downtime.

The Care2 Web site will be available but with some limitations on functionality during the weekend of 5/16/08 -- from Friday night May 16th at 8pm PST until Monday May 19th at 8am PST PST as we replace servers and perform the upgrade.

After you create the website, post it, for your aspca family to sign.

Hugs,

Debbie

P.S. Thanks for taking a stand, now it's our time to help you continue to move forward on these accusations to show just cause.

[Dia]

1. These dogs should not be running loose in the streets in the first place.
2. Dependant upon the location or the size of the property, there are limits as to the number of indoor and outdoor pets. Outdoor pets are considered to be any animal that uses the restroom out of doors.
3. This is obviously a case of neglect. A caring, non neglectful owner would not have their animals roaming loose in the city (especially dogs). Also, I think they should reconsidered allowing cats to remain out of doors (day or night) without proper supervision. It’s just plain dangerous for the cats.
4. They may be illegally breeding their animals. It sounds as if your neighbors are running a puppy mill.

If all else fails and the officers are not taking you serious over the phone, then meet with them in person. Make sure you document all observations and take pictures if you can. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Why not call the Animal Planet show? Maybe they will be more willing to help.