County Should Pass Tougher Animal Control Ordinance
It’s hard out there for an animal control officer.
The two hardy souls who take on that task for Rio Arriba County are fighting a losing battle. Loose, uncontrolled, un-spayed or un-neutered dog packs roam much of the County and there’s not much David Gasca and Cipie Maez can do about it.
The County is preparing to pass a tougher animal control ordinance but the task will still be daunting. Two men, one county the size of New Hampshire.
Add to that there’s really nothing they can do except write a citation that a judge won’t fine them on or the offender will get it tossed with the aid of elected officials.
Assistant county planner Louise Pocock couldn’t have said it better. “It’s a politically unpopular thing to do,” Pocock said. “The commissioners don’t want you going around citing their relatives.”
Add to that, their voters and you’ve got a big problem no one wants to address. And it comes back to how the majority of County pet-owners refuse to spay, neuter, care for and protect their animals. Letting an un-spayed or un-neutered dog or cat run around loose all day and night is not proper care and that’s what Gasca and Maez are trying to address.
The two hardy souls who take on that task for Rio Arriba County are fighting a losing battle. Loose, uncontrolled, un-spayed or un-neutered dog packs roam much of the County and there’s not much David Gasca and Cipie Maez can do about it.
The County is preparing to pass a tougher animal control ordinance but the task will still be daunting. Two men, one county the size of New Hampshire.
Add to that there’s really nothing they can do except write a citation that a judge won’t fine them on or the offender will get it tossed with the aid of elected officials.
Assistant county planner Louise Pocock couldn’t have said it better. “It’s a politically unpopular thing to do,” Pocock said. “The commissioners don’t want you going around citing their relatives.”
Add to that, their voters and you’ve got a big problem no one wants to address. And it comes back to how the majority of County pet-owners refuse to spay, neuter, care for and protect their animals. Letting an un-spayed or un-neutered dog or cat run around loose all day and night is not proper care and that’s what Gasca and Maez are trying to address.
For the full article click here: http://www.riograndesun.com/articles/2009/11/06/opinion/editorials/doc4af1a1616eb0a128997044.txt
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