The city has a new app that makes reporting issues to 311 a snap. Download the app and it’s ready to go. The first screen on the app allows you to file a new report, check your existing reports, or just check to see what other people are submitting. You can submit ANONYMOUSLY – that’s not a problem.
How do we want you to use this reporting system to help animals? Please take any and all PICS of STRAY OR LOOSE dogs that you see. We do not expect the city to respond immediately, but this reporting system will allows us to track and identify animal issues in the neighborhood. This record will then allow us to focus resources, rescue groups, spay and neuter services, and other resources to help improve the quality of life for the animals and the people of Oak Cliff.
Let’s start to change mindsets about quality of life here in Oak Cliff. There is a current mind set that seeing stray dogs is just part of living here – but without a call to action for change, that mindset is not acceptable if you care about the animals’ welfare. What can you do to help?
Lets take this easy step to document the animals (through the app or an actual traditional call to 311) and work to make a change for our neighborhood’s animals and people. Oak Cliff is know for many things, let’s not let stray and homeless dogs be one of those things.
Here’s how the app works:
Pick an action
Pick a service:
Use the map and pin feature to add a location
Upload a picture and add a description
please note as much information as you can about them: the number of dogs, color, breed, location, direction of travel, etc.
Rinse and repeat ANYTIME you see a stray or loose dog. It’s that easy. Again, this will allow us to work with the city to make sure the neighborhood is getting the resources to change the perception and the reality that dangerous stray and loose dogs are a part of life here.
The mayor says the 311 app will also help the “Grow South” initiative. “Having roaming dogs out there and trash is not acceptable in any part of this neighborhood”
Even with the top down support from the city for the 311 app initiative, let’s set some expectations about what happens when you make a report. We do not expect the city to respond immediately and show up and solve these problems with understaffed and inadequately trained DAS field services alone.
You all know the scripted response: “DAS has 72 hours to respond to your call and it can be up to two weeks before a sweep team comes through the neighborhood.” Your 311 report will create clear and immediate documention of problems. It is our first step to opening a conversation about where and when the neighborhood needs focused Animal Services resources.
For more information, check out our post on how to report a loose or aggressive dog
Together we can make a difference in the quality of life in our neighborhood – it starts with making a quick and easy report to 311.