{"id":8076,"date":"2016-05-09T19:45:28","date_gmt":"2016-05-09T19:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?p=8076"},"modified":"2016-08-24T15:38:18","modified_gmt":"2016-08-24T15:38:18","slug":"we-ask-again-dear-mr-mayor-whats-it-going-to-take","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/?p=8076","title":{"rendered":"We ask again: Dear Mr Mayor, what\u2019s it going to take?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Words can\u2019t begin to describe the prostrate frustration that has spun us into a deep, hopeless, depression over the mauling of a Dallas resident by a pack of loose dogs<\/a>. Our hearts are heavy and our prayers go out to this poor woman and her family as she clings to life.<\/p>\n

The Mayor\u2019s and the City\u2019s recent statements in response to the loose dog issues are not alleviating the worry and concern for our fellow citizens\u2019 general safety and quality of life. These statements continue a long pattern of placating empty promises with\u00a0a lot of talk but no meaningful action and statements that show a general disconnect from the negative reality that is the crisis level animal\u00a0issue plaguing our southern sector.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll give you an example or two.<\/p>\n

THE CITY ON SPAY AND NEUTER EFFORTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"13140698_10206371631585172_30491721_n\"Mayor Rawlings has been quoted as saying the issues comes down to simple math, \u201c Dogs can procreate faster than we can spay and neuter them\u2026.We\u2019ve got to double up our effort on this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those of you that follow me know that I\u2019m not that good at math, but let\u2019s take a look at the statement. DAS\u2019 new \u201cloose dog initiative\u201d plan calls for 40 spay and neuter surgeries a month. Let\u2019s take the Mayor\u2019s statement and double down and make that 80 spay and neuters a month.<\/p>\n

There are approximately 90,000 intact animals living in poverty in South Dallas. If the City doubles down efforts and spay and neuters 80 animals a month, as the Mayor prescribed, that will get this emergency crisis situation under control in about 93 years. I feel safer already.<\/p>\n

ON COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DAS AND DPD on DANGEROUS DOGS AND DOG BITES<\/strong><\/p>\n

Back in December 2015 at the Oak Cliff Animal Initiative\u2019s Laws for Paws meeting, we let Jody Jones know there was a huge disconnect and issue with dog bite reporting. There is no meaningful system for full reporting and there is no comprehensive system for data collection. There is no communication or coordination between DPD, DAS, the dangerous dog \u201cdepartment\u201d, and hospitals on dog bite reporting. We let her know again in a meeting in March.<\/p>\n

\"LawsForPaws_post\"<\/p>\n

The impact of this chaos is that citizens are left to figure out what to do after being attacked by a dog. Maybe they know, maybe they don\u2019t that DAS is supposed to quarantine an animal for 10 days after a bite to monitor for rabies. Rabies control is one of DAS\u2019 main functions; they should be proactive about this, not reactive.<\/p>\n

In this gap, citizens are left to figure out how to get an animal picked up for rabies quarantine and are left alone to figure out how to navigate the cumbersome process of filing a dangerous dog report. Days can go by before an animal with a known address is picked up and quarantined. It is a very broken system lacking in any collaboration and checks and balances to make sure that public safety is priority one.<\/p>\n

Additionally, this March we reminded Kris Sweckard and Jody Jones that the system requires an ORR for the dog bite victim to get the owner\u2019s information for the dog that bit the victim. It takes a minimum of 10 days to get back this information. Why is this important? The victim only has 10 days to file a dangerous dog report. You can see that the math does not work in favor of the victim.<\/p>\n

Additionally, in March we let Mr. Sweckard and Ms. Jones know that a dog bite victim was having trouble getting his ORR filled. There was no offer of help or any concern for this citizen. This particular dog bite victim has now filed with the Office of the Attorney General so that he can rightfully attain the dog owner\u2019s information for his insurance company.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, the dog bite victim\u2019s name and address are open to the public to view. Seems a little silly that the victim\u2019s information is public but the law breaker\u2019s info is not. DAS and Mr. Sweckard were not interested in looking into these process and procedure issues and the matter was closed as far as they were concerned. The public does not consider this addressed or resolved in anyway and the tragic mauling of a south Dallas resident highlights these issues even more.<\/p>\n

LOOSE DOGS<\/strong><\/p>\n

The loose dog discussion\u00a0will get a future post of its own. We\u2019re making a timeline of the City\u2019s \u201cefforts”\u00a0to pick up loose dogs. It\u2019s a long, frustrating journey to today where a Dallas resident sits in a medically induced coma clinging to life. In our neighborhood, we are all aware that in a blink of an eye, that woman could have been or could still be any of us.<\/p>\n

This tragedy might not have happened if the City had taken the citizen\u2019s concerns about the process to report dog bites and dangerous dog, and the known issues with “311 vs 911” \u00a0more seriously back in December. This may not have happened if DAS had taken the citizens concerns about loose dogs seriously for the last 4 years. This may not have happened if DAS was not so busy dismissing the will of the citizens and the directives of City Council.<\/p>\n

This sadness and powerlessness weighs heavily on our hearts. It makes us feel voiceless and dismissed, and at what cost. After years of watching our neighbors, our neighbors\u2019 dogs, and our mailman be attacked and bitten, we always come back to this same simple question to the City, \u201cWhat\u2019s it going to take for the City take this seriously? Does someone have to die?\u201d Well, here we are praying that someone doesn\u2019t die. And as we always do, we\u2019ll close with this: Mr. Mayor when you are serious about solving this City\u2019s crisis level animal issues, give us a call.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

P.S.<\/p>\n

Mr. Mayor, The Dallas Morning News thinks you should call us too – check out #2<\/a>. They mean us as well as others. This is not the first time the DMN editorial page has suggested you call us. We\u2019re standing by ready to help.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Words can\u2019t begin to describe the prostrate frustration that has spun us into a deep, hopeless, depression over the mauling of a Dallas resident by a pack of loose dogs. Our hearts are heavy and our prayers go out to this poor woman and her family as she clings to life. The Mayor\u2019s and the City\u2019s recent statements in response to the loose dog issues are not alleviating the worry and concern for our fellow citizens\u2019 general safety and quality of life. These statements continue a long pattern of placating empty promises with\u00a0a lot of talk but no meaningful action and statements that show a general disconnect from the negative reality that is the crisis level animal\u00a0issue plaguing our southern sector. We\u2019ll give you an example or two. THE CITY ON SPAY AND NEUTER EFFORTS: Mayor Rawlings has been quoted as saying the issues comes down to simple math, \u201c Dogs can procreate faster than we can spay and neuter them\u2026.We\u2019ve got to double up our effort on this.\u201d Those of you that follow me know that I\u2019m not that good at math, but let\u2019s take a look at the statement. DAS\u2019 new \u201cloose dog initiative\u201d plan calls for 40 spay and neuter surgeries a month. Let\u2019s take the Mayor\u2019s statement and double down and make that 80 spay and neuters a month. There are approximately 90,000 intact animals living in poverty in South Dallas. If the City doubles down efforts and spay and neuters 80 animals a month, as the Mayor prescribed, that will get this emergency crisis situation under control in about 93 years. I feel safer already. ON COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DAS AND DPD on DANGEROUS DOGS AND DOG BITES Back in December 2015 at the Oak Cliff Animal Initiative\u2019s Laws for Paws meeting, we let Jody Jones know there was a huge disconnect and issue with dog bite reporting. There is no meaningful system for full reporting and there is no comprehensive system for data collection. There is no communication or coordination between DPD, DAS, the dangerous dog \u201cdepartment\u201d, and hospitals on dog bite reporting. We let her know again in a meeting in March. The impact of this chaos is that citizens are left to figure out what to do after being attacked by a dog. Maybe they know, maybe they don\u2019t that DAS is supposed to quarantine an animal for 10 days after a bite to monitor for rabies. Rabies control is one of DAS\u2019 main functions; they should be proactive about this, not reactive. In this gap, citizens are left to figure out how to get an animal picked up for rabies quarantine and are left alone to figure out how to navigate the cumbersome process of filing a dangerous dog report. Days can go by before an animal with a known address is picked up and quarantined. It is a very broken system lacking in any collaboration and checks and balances to make sure that public safety is priority one. Additionally, this March we reminded Kris Sweckard and Jody Jones that the system requires an ORR for the dog bite victim to get the owner\u2019s information for the dog that bit the victim. It takes a minimum of 10 days to get back this information. Why is this important? The victim only has 10 days to file a dangerous dog report. You can see that the math does not work in favor of the victim. Additionally, in March we let Mr. Sweckard and Ms. Jones know that a dog bite victim was having trouble getting his ORR filled. There was no offer of help or any concern for this citizen. This particular dog bite victim has now filed with the Office of the Attorney General so that he can rightfully attain the dog owner\u2019s information for his insurance company. In the meantime, the dog bite victim\u2019s name and address are open to the public to view. Seems a little silly that the victim\u2019s information is public but the law breaker\u2019s info is not. DAS and Mr. Sweckard were not interested in looking into these process and procedure issues and the matter was closed as far as they were concerned. The public does not consider this addressed or resolved in anyway and the tragic mauling of a south Dallas resident highlights these issues even more. LOOSE DOGS The loose dog discussion\u00a0will get a future post of its own. We\u2019re making a timeline of the City\u2019s \u201cefforts”\u00a0to pick up loose dogs. It\u2019s a long, frustrating journey to today where a Dallas resident sits in a medically induced coma clinging to life. In our neighborhood, we are all aware that in a blink of an eye, that woman could have been or could still be any of us. This tragedy might not have happened if the City had taken the citizen\u2019s concerns about the process to report dog bites and dangerous dog, and the known issues with “311 vs 911” \u00a0more seriously back in December. This may not have happened if DAS had taken the citizens concerns about loose dogs seriously for the last 4 years. This may not have happened if DAS was not so busy dismissing the will of the citizens and the directives of City Council. This sadness and powerlessness weighs heavily on our hearts. It makes us feel voiceless and dismissed, and at what cost. After years of watching our neighbors, our neighbors\u2019 dogs, and our mailman be attacked and bitten, we always come back to this same simple question to the City, \u201cWhat\u2019s it going to take for the City take this seriously? Does someone have to die?\u201d Well, here we are praying that someone doesn\u2019t die. And as we always do, we\u2019ll close with this: Mr. Mayor when you are serious about solving this City\u2019s crisis level animal issues, give us a call.   P.S. Mr. Mayor, The Dallas Morning News thinks you should call us too – check out #2. They mean us as well as others. This is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7544,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-follow-our-progress-with-the-city","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/11914760_972905552770052_4199530337574440421_o.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8076"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8107,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8076\/revisions\/8107"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gypsydogops.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}