DOG OFFICER
To the Board of Health:
Approximately 39
dogs were picked-up and placed in Porter Road Pet Care, and 8 dogs were
euthanized. Most dogs went back to their
original owners, or went to a dog rescue.
Most others were adopted into new homes.
We have had many
reports of leash law violations, barking dog complaints and lost dog
calls. Please call if you have questions
or need to report a dog problem.
If you lose a
dog please call and report it. The first
24 hours are the most crucial when a dog is lost. I will be happy to direct you in the best way
to relocate your dogs. The best way not
to lose your dog is still to contain or leash them properly and not leave an unleashed
dog unattended on your property. Tags
are imperative to a lost dog. A Rabies
Tag, ID Tag and a License is the best weapon against euthanasia. An untagged injured dog will be taken to a
animal hospital without ID. Many of
these dogs are put down because there is no one to speak for them. Tags mean a quicker return. This year more dogs have been found with no
tags or collars. Please be more diligent
about tags in the coming year. Your
dog’s life depends on it.
Licensing your dog yearly is
mandatory. Currant rabies shots need to
be in place. This guarantees a safer environment
for all pets. Rabies can be contracted
from both blood contact and saliva contact.
A bite or scratch from a rabid animal can give a pet or person a
possible case of rabies, a disease if untreated will cause death.
Please bring
dogs in if they are barking for more than a few minutes. Be respectful of neighbor’s rights to peace
and quiet.
Remember there
are leash laws and feces removal laws.
Please obey them. The dog must be
walked on a leash if off your property.
Do not let your dog run loose on property it has no permission to be
on. If you are not controlling your dog,
you don’t know where it is depositing fecal matter. Be respectful of other people’s property.
Thanks to all
the dog owners who have continued to be responsible pet owners. Nothing makes a dog officer happier than a
well-kept dog. Thank you to the staff at
Porter Road Pet Care, who cared for strays.
Thanks to the many rescues who helped place stray dogs and provided
extra ordinary health care to strays in need.
Thank you to the Board of Selectmen, the employees of both the
Selectmen’s Office and Town Clerk’s Office who are instrumental in helping me
do my job. Thanks to the Police Officers
who take the calls at the Police Department and pass them on to me. Everyone has been very supportive and that
made my job a little easier.
I will be
leaving my position as dog officer in January 2005, for family reasons. It was an honor and a privilege to serve the
Town of East Longmeadow since 1998. I
will retain my position at Porte Road Pet Care and will remain in contact with
many of our Town’s pets. Thank you for
all the wonderful support these last years.
Respectfully Submitted,
Natalie Rice, Dog Officer
