In the next few days, I will post about another incident that happened with Dallas Animal Services downtown two weeks ago; it had a very disappointing outcome and the post will have a call to action for you dog lovers out there. But in the meantime, I wanted to post about some positive results with DAS and a neighborhood dog issue.
If you have been following the aggressive loose dog issue in Winnetka Heights over the last week, some progress has been made in the case of the two aggressive black dogs (a lab and a chow-mix) and the red dog – all of which were intact and wandering the neighborhood.
Neighborhood collaboration was key to being able to get information and documentation to Dallas Animal Services (DAS). Your facebook post, emails, security camera videos, and pictures were a huge big help in addressing the problem. Keep up the good work everyone!
Due to the aggressive nature of the dogs and their perpensity to cross 12th street, Gypsy Dog Ops also reached out to Scott Griggs’ office. Councilman Griggs was instrumental in getting this issue to the top of the priority list at DAS.
Thanks to great detective work by the neighbors, a DAS officer was able to confirm the dog’s owners on 12th street. Once ownership was confirmed (DAS officers have to see the dogs in the owner’s possession) the owners received 4 citations – 2 for each dog. DAS will be following up with the dog owners and checking back in on the dogs.
How can YOU help moving forward? Neighbors can help update DAS if the dogs are out roaming again in violation of animal confinement laws. DAS needs documentation (pictures) if the dogs are out. If you see the dogs out again, please take pictures and send them to my attention via facebook or email.
Also please immediately call 311 and report the dogs and their location to DAS. Don’t be surprised or discouraged if they say have 72 hours to respond. Make sure you also let me know; I can expedite getting the information to the right people at DAS, and the city, that are aware of the case.
The hope is now that the dog owners are fully educated to animal confinement laws, as well as spay and neuter laws, they will be better dog owners. If the dogs are out and endangering the neighborhood again, DAS now has recourse, with proper documentation, to intervene and take possession of the dogs.
There may be additional updates about the aggressive black dogs, but that’s it for today. Now onto the red dog.
The red dog was caught by Raven. Great work Raven! She is working with Karen Simmons to get the dog medical attention. Karen took the dog to the vet where he got his vaccinations, was dewormed, and given antibiotics for his leg injury (from the dog fight). His infection has to clear up before he can be neutered, so it will be a week or two before that happens.
The red dog, now known as Clifford is looking for both a foster home and his forever home. He is a sweet dog. Raven and Karen can speak to more to his disposition and house manners. Raven has posted an adorable video of the dog here:
If you are interested in fostering or adopting Clifford – please contact Karen or Raven:
Thanks again to everyone who was part of this solution. We will have to stay vigilant and continue to collaborate to solve this greater stray and loose dog problem in the neighborhood long term- stay tuned.