Goats, Fences, and Lies - (long post)

[sunnychooks]

Years ago, before I moved to where I am now, I lived in a house that had garden apartments behind my back yard. We have dogs and a woman who lived in the apartments never missed an opportunity to complain. She would watch my DH scoop dog poop up immediately after they went and make remarks about how disgusting it was to have to watch. She would also complain about barking which was very rare and always because of something in particular (rabbits in yard, dinnertime...). One day animal control showed up in response to a complaint about barking. Luckily, she sat in her car in front of our house for some time before coming to the door. She said she did not hear barking and when we walked in the yard where the dogs were, they barely gave her any attention. She inspected the yard which was clean with no smell and told me that she had inspected yards with less dogs that were dirtier than mine. Long story short... This was a great opportunity to make friends (and a good impression) with our local animal control officer.
When we moved to where we are now, one of the first things I did was make of donation of goods to the local shelter and meet the people who work there. Our animal control officer here is great. He always lets me know if an animal is loose in my area to make sure it isn't mine, lets me know if there are bears around and has even asked for assistance with posts for the shelter (I have a dog kennel business). My point is that this may be a wonderful opportunity for you to get to know your AC officer and have him see what type of owner you really are. If another complaint is made, he will immediately be on your side.

 

[lizardz]

I, too, was reported to Animal Control because I was "starving" two of my horses. Yes, they were in a small pasture which was predominately dirt and surrounded by 40 acres of lush green grass. When the Animal Control officer came out, I had to explain why I wouldn't turn them out to graze - they are both mustangs and if they get too much of the green grass they founder. They are kept in the pasture for about 2-1/2 months until the grass turns brown (I know, it seems a cruel thing to do, but better than them foundering). They are fed twice a day, with fresh water twice a day, a shelter to go into (which they never do), and the pasture is cleaned every couple of days. It took a while for the guy to understand, but eventually he did. I retrospect, I'm glad someone cared enough about my animals to have someone look into it, but I wasn't very happy at the time.
Liz

 

[SpottedCrow]

Weymouth's ACO is really good too...
He came to inspect my place directly from a Vietnamese couple who he said had chickenpoop up to the chickens' knees...The couple said that the chickens don't mind "poop". He comes here and there's Slifer watching TV in front of the air conditioner and Obelisk dustbathing in the garden...he just shook his head and gave me my permit...

 

[dacjohns]

I used to work in a 7 county mostly rural area local health department and had to deal with animal bite reports and possible rabies exposure. I got the impression from some of the communities that animal control officers are often not trained or even have a background in animal care. In one town the animal control officer job went along with working for the street department.

I know many areas have trained and competent animal control officers but some areas have one because it is required by some local or state ordinance. They may have no training or experience.

 

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
I don't think we even have one - my neighbors reported a stray dog to the sheriff and they told her to shoot it. That is an honest to God true story.

 

[dacjohns]

Ducky, I can believe it.

 

[sundance]

Cannon Co. has NO animal control at all, You can call the sheriff;s dept when someone dumps animals in your yard and they just never get around to comming out. We have so much crime in our small Co. I guess they stay busy all the time. Someone stole the street sign and stop sign so I called the highway dept to ask for a newone, Gail told me she had 26 signs sitting by her desk to be replaced now and school is not out here yet.

 

[DuckyBoys]

Quote:
Oh geesh, gotta love the sheriff's dept.

If we call the sheriff they tell us they don't come out our way because most of our country is concentrated in the north east corner. LOL...Ok? I guess the answer to everything out here is "shoot it".

 

[Beekissed]

My sister is one of those people who report folks for animal cruelty. She is very active with the humane society and adopts horses and dogs frequently( because she is so well known to them, they never check out her farm). She is also what is known as a "collector" and cannot provide adequate shelter and care for all the animals she collects. She seems unable to stop and keeps incubating chicks and buying chicks to replenish the dying and disappearing flock at her place. I could tell you stories that would curl your hair about the cruelty and neglect going on at her place. The animals that have died lingering, painful deaths because "I just can't kill it". Her cattle are always out and never have water or feed, her dogs are confined to too small of a kennel and are extremely overfed and under active, her cattle and horses have no shelter, etc. You get the picture! I think these folks get involved with the humane society to feed their mental illness and so they won't get in trouble if someone reports them. I guess I just can't stand it when someone reports in a case like yours and people like my sister are usually the one's doing the reporting!

 

[dacjohns]

Beekissed.

I had a neighbor like that. She got in trouble with the law for "rescuing" a dog that was tied up. She wanted to rescue horses but couldn't take care of the ones she was responsible for. She couldn't provide for herself either and depended a lot on the charity of others. It bugged a lot of people that were trying to help her because she give it all away and then ask for more.