Suki
09-04-2006, 04:32 PM
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Animal control must follow law
LOS Angeles County seems to have lost control of its, well, animal control department once again. According to a lawsuit chronicled by staff writer Nisha Gutierrez last week, the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter allegedly euthanized two Labrador retrievers only hours after having been relinquished. Existing law mandates shelters hold such animals four days in order to give owners the opportunity to reclaim them or for potential adoption. Exceptions rightly exist. Dangerous dogs or those animals severely diseased or injured, for example, ought to be put down as soon as possible.
It's surprising that the Baldwin Park facility is at the center of this controversy as we've always found it clean, well-run and very much attuned to pet adoption.
What happened this time?
If this was a simple error, we understand. New laws passed with much fanfare and hopes of reducing the number of stray and unwanted pets have initially overwhelmed an already overburdened agency. Ordinances that forced owners to spay and neuter their pets and insert identification chips, while conceptually sound, seem ready-made for chaotic implementation and virtually unenforceable.
Indeed, fines of $250 set to take effect today have been pushed to March, giving owners and county shelters a breathing period.
Certainly we support the notion that responsible pet owners ought to help reduce the population of stray dogs and cats by making sure their own pets aren't adding to the problem through unplanned breeding. Identification microchips as well will reduce the number of animals that must be euthanized. According to the Department of Animal Care and Control, hundreds of thousands http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifGetAd('tile','box','/opinions_article','','www.whittierdailynews.com',' ','null','null');dcmaxversion = 9dcminversion = 5DoOn Error Resume Nextplugin = (IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." & dcmaxversion & "")))If plugin = true Then Exit Dodcmaxversion = dcmaxversion - 1Loop While dcmaxversion >= dcminversionhttp://m1.2mdn.net/951574/1x1.gif ("]http://m1.2mdn.net/951574/1x1.gif[/url][url=")http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifof lost animals have been reunited with owners through the chips. Officials note that 15,000 dogs have been microchipped by the county since June, thanks to free clinics offered at the shelters.
Thanks to L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe, compliance time has been extended partly because of this overwhelming response. The free clinics should also continue, scheduled to end at the close of this month (clinic schedules at animalcontrol.
co.la.ca.us).
Of course, that would mean more money. The current clinics are offered through a donation by the Found Animal Foundation. While we agree that the death of the two Labrador retrievers is egregious, A Dog's Life Rescue, Inc., plaintiff in the lawsuit against the county, could perhaps better aid the overall effort by affording like funding in lieu of legal action. A pattern of such lawbreaking would be a different matter. As far as we know, that hasn't been established. Animal control's priority should be taking strays off the street, yes, but reuniting owners and lost pets and facilitating adoption should also be part of its mission. That means keeping strays and those relinquished for as long as the law allows. The very agency enacting laws expected to be followed by residents ought not be breaking their own.
Animal control must follow law
LOS Angeles County seems to have lost control of its, well, animal control department once again. According to a lawsuit chronicled by staff writer Nisha Gutierrez last week, the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter allegedly euthanized two Labrador retrievers only hours after having been relinquished. Existing law mandates shelters hold such animals four days in order to give owners the opportunity to reclaim them or for potential adoption. Exceptions rightly exist. Dangerous dogs or those animals severely diseased or injured, for example, ought to be put down as soon as possible.
It's surprising that the Baldwin Park facility is at the center of this controversy as we've always found it clean, well-run and very much attuned to pet adoption.
What happened this time?
If this was a simple error, we understand. New laws passed with much fanfare and hopes of reducing the number of stray and unwanted pets have initially overwhelmed an already overburdened agency. Ordinances that forced owners to spay and neuter their pets and insert identification chips, while conceptually sound, seem ready-made for chaotic implementation and virtually unenforceable.
Indeed, fines of $250 set to take effect today have been pushed to March, giving owners and county shelters a breathing period.
Certainly we support the notion that responsible pet owners ought to help reduce the population of stray dogs and cats by making sure their own pets aren't adding to the problem through unplanned breeding. Identification microchips as well will reduce the number of animals that must be euthanized. According to the Department of Animal Care and Control, hundreds of thousands http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifGetAd('tile','box','/opinions_article','','www.whittierdailynews.com',' ','null','null');dcmaxversion = 9dcminversion = 5DoOn Error Resume Nextplugin = (IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." & dcmaxversion & "")))If plugin = true Then Exit Dodcmaxversion = dcmaxversion - 1Loop While dcmaxversion >= dcminversionhttp://m1.2mdn.net/951574/1x1.gif ("]http://m1.2mdn.net/951574/1x1.gif[/url][url=")http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifhttp://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/std/clear.gifof lost animals have been reunited with owners through the chips. Officials note that 15,000 dogs have been microchipped by the county since June, thanks to free clinics offered at the shelters.
Thanks to L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe, compliance time has been extended partly because of this overwhelming response. The free clinics should also continue, scheduled to end at the close of this month (clinic schedules at animalcontrol.
co.la.ca.us).
Of course, that would mean more money. The current clinics are offered through a donation by the Found Animal Foundation. While we agree that the death of the two Labrador retrievers is egregious, A Dog's Life Rescue, Inc., plaintiff in the lawsuit against the county, could perhaps better aid the overall effort by affording like funding in lieu of legal action. A pattern of such lawbreaking would be a different matter. As far as we know, that hasn't been established. Animal control's priority should be taking strays off the street, yes, but reuniting owners and lost pets and facilitating adoption should also be part of its mission. That means keeping strays and those relinquished for as long as the law allows. The very agency enacting laws expected to be followed by residents ought not be breaking their own.