10/08/2024
Dog Control has been keeping me hopping. However, this is not a good thing. My numbers are documented, and high numbers make it look like I’m not doing my job. I just want to share what constitutes a call to dog control:
-If you hit a dog and no owner is in sight. Or if you find dog on the side of the road that has been hit and is still alive.
-If you witness a dog being dumped with your own eyes. Try to get a license plate number!
-If a dog is at large. *But please do not call if you know it’s your neighbors dog.* Shelters are fuller than full, taking dogs with a home is hurting our efforts to help dogs that really need it. Just talk to your neighbor! Remember, my salary is paid with taxpayers dollars. The less hours I get, the better for everyone involved, including the dog. (Shelter life is super stressful and scary😢)
-With dogs that are “picked up” on the side of the road, the individual bringing them in will be required to sign an affidavit. Far too many dogs are dumped on our townships when the owner decides they no longer want them. With this affidavit, if the dog control officer or the township discovers the dog actually belonged to you, you will be required to reimburse any fees acquired during the dogs impoundment, and you may be subject to other legal proceedings.
-If a dog bites a human, another dog/cat, or attacks livestock. However, only do this if you are willing to come to court. I can not do anonymous reports. If your neighbors have an unlicensed dog, you can report it and remain anonymous. Dangerous dogs however, require a court hearing and the complainant must attend.
Things dog control can not help with:
-Cruelty calls. We have no legal authority when it comes to cruelty. Cruelty concerns need to be addressed by law enforcement. If they feel a situation constitutes dog control services, they will call your local dog control officer or shelter.
-Bark complaints. If a township does not have a noise ordinance, there is nothing we as dog control can do. Check your local laws.
-If an individual moves out and leaves their dog behind, is incarceeated, or is taken to the hospital. Our responsibility is dogs that are unidentified and at large. If dogs are contained and in a home, the family or landlord is now responsible for that dog. Remember, dog control services run on taxpayers dollar, imagine the cost if we took on this responsibility. Not only could our townships be sued if something happened to that dog, but the cost would be astronomical. If you as a family or landlord find yourself in a situation such as this, contact local shelters and get on their surrender list. Shelters are currently full and there is no immediate solution. For that I am so sorry. But the alternative is shelters going back to euthanizing for space, so it’s a catch-22. I will happily help to connect you with local shelters, I just can not take the dogs myself.
I’m sorry if this was a long read, but I feel like the expectations of dog control, and what dog control is actually responsible for are blurred. I want to educate and advocate. Knowledge is power!
But all these things aside, you are always welcome to contact me on a personal level and ask for advice. I could talk about animals all day! 🤷♀️😂
Thank you for reading🥰
