An Emergency meeting of the County Council with the HS was held this week. I am wondering if anything was resolved & if Council will be making that known to the citizens? I understood the HS euthanized an animal------ who was denied help from two Rescue Groups ----who'd agreed to take him. I cannot understand why this would happen IF the dog wasn't deemed terminal by written Vet report!
The County gives money to the HS & owns the bldg. in which they are housed. As a taxpayer & advocate for animals , I want to know exactly where my money is going for animal care & citizen protection. I have been told by the HS there was nothing they could do If an animal had food, air & shelter ---- even if tied to a 4 ft chain. Knowing a dog would then be walking in its own waste or its house , health & weather conditions may be unfit . I asked for a copy of County Laws and found , in print, what I felt were very lax Laws.
Though I am no lawyer , it did appear a 4 ft chain would be justified as Animal Cruelty. I also found an animal could kill a person & still be allowed to live!! I contacted , then Council President, John Cannon to ask for review and revisions of our Laws. I asked for this just before the a boy was savagely attacked by two dogs a few years ago!! Council heard questions & complaints from many . A committee was formed to present newer Laws for Council approval. I believe it was almost a year before they were finalized.
We have State and County Laws for our Personal and Animal protection. Who is responsible for What at our Humane Society --- Who answers to Whom and
Who follows the money trail ?
I've written a letter to the Council asking for answers, making County & State Law visible for all to see , checks & balances so citizens can see where their moneys going. Hopefully an answer will be given soon!!
EDNA H. WALLS
S. KAYWOOD DR.
SALISBURY, MD
The County gives money to the HS & owns the bldg. in which they are housed. As a taxpayer & advocate for animals , I want to know exactly where my money is going for animal care & citizen protection. I have been told by the HS there was nothing they could do If an animal had food, air & shelter ---- even if tied to a 4 ft chain. Knowing a dog would then be walking in its own waste or its house , health & weather conditions may be unfit . I asked for a copy of County Laws and found , in print, what I felt were very lax Laws.
Though I am no lawyer , it did appear a 4 ft chain would be justified as Animal Cruelty. I also found an animal could kill a person & still be allowed to live!! I contacted , then Council President, John Cannon to ask for review and revisions of our Laws. I asked for this just before the a boy was savagely attacked by two dogs a few years ago!! Council heard questions & complaints from many . A committee was formed to present newer Laws for Council approval. I believe it was almost a year before they were finalized.
We have State and County Laws for our Personal and Animal protection. Who is responsible for What at our Humane Society --- Who answers to Whom and
Who follows the money trail ?
I've written a letter to the Council asking for answers, making County & State Law visible for all to see , checks & balances so citizens can see where their moneys going. Hopefully an answer will be given soon!!
EDNA H. WALLS
S. KAYWOOD DR.
SALISBURY, MD
7 comments:
Nice post and I second the idea of much greater transparency for the HS.
Somehow the HS sees the county council as the enemy but they should be working together. We need better laws and more cooperation between them.
I wish someone could find out why they put that dog down without giving it up to people who wanted it or would have taken it. There must be a reason but, from what I can tell, no one knows what it is.
Interesting you bring up the money trail. A while ago there was a reporter from the Daily Times who was conducting interviews and speaking to families who have accused the Humane Society and (Linda Lugo directly) of selling animals out the back door without any paper work (no adoption certificates or paperwork). Sadly, the DT censored the article so strictly that the true stories were never released. Several attemtps were made to bring the issue to the attention of the Bd. Of Directors of the Humane Society, but it went no further. Sadly, it is my belief that the general population has no idea the monies that are passing through those doors that never make it into the books at all.
Also, sadly, this is not the only dog that has died with no reason. One time a litter of puppies was found, dumped in the woods. The first half of the litter (6) were taken to the humane society. When the second half (5) was caught later, they went to reunite them only to find that the first set had all been euthanized. The second half of the litter was taken to a local vets office where they were treated for fleas, put into a foster home and later adopted out. Linda Lugo insisted the first half of the litter tested positive for Parvo. A blatant lie since none of the other 5 puppies had Parvo and are still alive and well (and are adult dogs now).
How many compaints and questions have to be raised about this Humane Society for something to be done?
No no no....this is what you get when you have privatization in the area of law enforcement. Thats right - law enforcement. These are privately employed individuals with no qualifications enforcing county and state law. Period. Some time ago someone brought everyones attention to a situation where the humane society confiscated a dog and refused to return it. Many people here jumped on the guy calling the owner irresponsible. The point he was making was that the humane society had no legal authority to withold the animal yet they did it anyway. This person apparently took it to the coucil and the county attorney, after extensive research, issued a statement that the humane society had in-fact violated the law and was warned against engaging in this behavior. Now here we are again. Why? Because no one initiated any oversight THEN. It was the prerogative of the County Exec. to withold payments if he saw fit...but he didn't. Here we are again. This time an animal died needlessly at the hands of an unqualified group who continue to take tax payers dollars yet now refuse to come out after hours, holidays, etc. The board of directors for the humane society is a token board. Necessary in the by-laws in order to be considered a non-profit and eligible to take public funds without paying taxes on them. So here we are. Once again dealing with an open sore that won't heal. What say you Council and County Exec? Will you now recognize that $300,000 annually could get you a lot more than you're getting?
Ok. You can get a vehicle and one person around the clock. You can either use volunteers, community service workers, or in-mates to clean the poop. You already own the building and land. the additonal costs would be more than covered by the fines, fees, and donations. Hell, you might even save some money if fines were issued and fees were collected. Also, many people adopt animals every year. It would seem as though the ball is being dropped here - in a very big way.
Nice Post 7:06! Looks like you have a very clear understanding of what is going on! Think you could get that through the Council, Pollitts & Creamers heads??
I couldn't believe the Council turned Joe down with the offer he'd made about starting a HS on property he owned.
There is just waaaay to much going on there that needs to be corrected----Where is the money going Council????? Taxpayers want to know!!
The News of the dog that was put down was on the news last night. They had the Two Rescue Groups Heads say there was absolutely No Reason the dog should have been put down even with the skin condition they would take him in. They were in disbelief the dog was euthanized. I for one am sick over it, as the rest of the public should be also!
I will be curious to know if the Council gives any reply to this lady or gives the Citizens of this County any satisfaction as to what right they had to deny this dog to a rescue group ----what changes they will make----if any. Doubt it seriously----they let it blow over---keep quiet & figure people will soon forget. Well, It's time you don't let them forget!!! I personally will not vote for either of them come next election!
7:06----Interesting you suggested Inmates work there. I've just read on the Internet one of the States has started to do this recently. Take heed, County Council it's a most interesting & cost-effective suggestion!!!
I see where Inmates in Prisons all over the States are being taught to train Service Animals----for sure the Low crime inmates would be great at working at the HS----There are a lot of Senior citizens that would be great at doing the Book work that should be given to the County each year---you know---those Checks & Balances that should be know as to where the money ---- taxpayers money ----is going!!!!! Schools have community services the children have to do----there's another free service .
I do understand the Dog Catcher out there is quite nice. It must be hard on him working in that environment---
Get it Going Council, let the people know exactly where their money has gone & is going to go!!!!!
Which one of you will give us answers first??????-------Well---- We're waiting to see!!!
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