PLEASE SHARE and MARK your CALENDARS
It’s time for District 1 Town Hall meetings. Please come let the City know that animals issues are a concern to you, your family, your neighborhood, and the safety and quality of life of communities all over our city.
Since the last set of budget town hall meetings, City Council has asked Dallas Animal Services (DAS) for a “strategic plan” and an accompanying budget. They very specifically asked to have loose and dangers dog issues addressed in this plan.
This request and this process has been an epic failure. “The City” (the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager, the Director of Code Compliance, and the head of DAS) have not put forth a viable plan or direction. In the meantime, the Council had to approve a fiscal budget for DAS with no accompanying plan. They were basically forced to write DAS a large budget increase without understanding how the money would be used. One year later, they still don’t know how that money is solving the loose and dangerous dog issues plaguing our City.
Since the last set of budget meetings a year ago:
-District 1 is now #2 in the City for dog bites per square mile. You might be shocked to see what districts are in the top 6.
– Dallas has moved from the #5 to the #3 city on the United States Postal Service’s dog bite list. We are # 9 in population nation wide.
– Since last August, in District 1, 27 people (age 17 and up) have been attacked and bitten and required police or ambulance assistance. There are most likely at least 5 to 9 additional victims under the age of 17 for which records are not available online. There were also many more bites that were not reported through DPD. According to national insurance statistics the average dog bite costs $32,000.
– Dog bites requiring police or ambulance assistance have been trending up and Citywide they are currently up 60% over last year.
– Please keep in mind that DPD records likely represent a small set of all attacks that have occurred across the city.
– Citywide, there were 251 dog attacks requiring police or ambulance assistance (age 17 up). There are likely another 45-83 victims under the age of 17 for which records are not available online.
– A Dallas resident and Army veteran was mauled to death by a pack of loose dogs. She was essentially eaten alive by a dog pack. That could have been any of us as District 1 has had several know packs that have run our neighborhoods and our parks for years without relief from DAS.
Check out our interactive dog bite map to see how your area and your district looks.
INTERACTIVE MAP | Click here for a full screen version
Let’s let our Council representatives know we expect accountability moving forward and we want the Council to make it a priority to dedicate the time and money needed to solve this crisis level problem.
Need one more reason to get the City to take action?
“Super coyotes” – it’s a thing. Loose dogs and coyotes will readily breed if given the opportunity. The cross breeding creates a predator that is not afraid of people and is quite large and powerful. North Oak Cliff is reported to have one that will climb a fence and be so bold as to snatch up your small dog right in front of you. How can you prevent such a tragedy? Expect the City to pick up all loose dogs. Loose dogs and coyotes together are bad news. Coyotes are part of our natural eco system – loose “domestic dogs” are not part of the eco system. They are companion animals bred to be with humans. They are not meant to roam neighborhoods, fight for resources, and breed with coyotes.
MEETING SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, August 16th
Dallas City Performance Hall
Thursday, August 18th
Martine Weiss Recreation Center
Monday, August 22nd
Black Blox Theatre at Hampton Illinois Library
Thursday, August 25th
Kidd Springs Recreation Center