Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

The run amuck canine fiasco seems to be spreading into various parts of the county.

The Democrat recently published a story about the overpopulation of dogs running loose in Western lake Estates.

Residents complained about the dogs entering their property, killing other small animals and making it a terrifying experience as they entered their cars or arrived home.

Mary Ragsdale, Horseshoe Bend resident, said there is a similar situation of the ongoing dog problems which exist in her neighborhood as well.

“Anytime you have a large community you’re going to have problems,” Ragsdale said.

There have been times when Ragsdale has been scared to come out of her house.

She said she is fearful the owners may retaliate if they know she has been making complaints with animal control.

She said once, a FedEx delivery man left a package on a neighbor’s step and the dogs took off with it and chewed it up.

“They’ve taken mops and brooms from backporches and drug shoes off,” she said. “They get into my garbage. It’s such a nuisance, it’s unbelievable.”

She added another dog continually has puppies.

“It’s just litter after litter,” she said.

Ragsdale is disabled and is confined to a power chair with limited walking abilities. She knows she would not be able to fend off an aggressive dog with her disablility should they attack her on her property.

She said when animal control officers patrol the area, the pet owners “tie them up until they get around the corner.”

“We’re law abiding and take care of our animals,” Ragsdale said, not understanding why the dog owners will not comply with the laws and do the same.

Animal Control officers said the problems exist because of irresponsible pet owners who dump dogs off in the county and let their dogs run loose without being properly fenced in and disobey county leash laws.

Karen Kessler, Parker County Animal Control officer, said some owners also disregard spaying and neutering pets causing an overpopulation of unwanted puppies.

Officers have picked up nearly 50 dogs since late summer in Western Lake Estates alone.

Kessler said many times, when a complaint call comes in about a pesky or aggressive pet, owners typically remove dogs from the area before officers arrive to pick them up.

She added owners rarely pick up the dogs once they are impounded at the shelter, racking up unnecessary housing costs and resulting in numerous euthanizations. She added in numerous cases, the owners just acquire new dogs.

Officials said summer months tend to see increased dog intakes at the Weatherford-Parker County Animal Shelter, but the past several months have proven to keep animal control officers running amuck themselves.

Shelter employees say they are doing everything they can about the problem. Volunteers have joined to help adopt pets, to keep numbers low at the shelter.

Volunteer Judy Savage, of Furry Friends Inc., praises the shelter for their efforts.

“They won’t brag on themselves, so I’m doing it for them,” Savage said in an e-mail. “With the help of the Mobile Adoption Unit at PetSmart manned by Parker Paws, the Shelter adopted out 21 dogs [earlier this month].”

She said 11 dogs were adopted from PetSmart and 10 were taken to new homes at the shelter, while employees only received one intake.

“That’s a net out of 20 dogs,” Savage said excited. “In my 12 years of rescuing and working with shelters, I have never heard of such a thing. This is truly a phenomenal milestone that needs to be recognized.”

Savage’s motto on every e-mail sums up what shelter employees and volunteers relay to the public continually.

“If we could each save just one, there would be none left to rescue,” the motto reads. “If we could all spay and neuter [our pets], shelters could concentrate on being a refuge for lost animals instead of a dumping ground for puppies.”

Kessler works with other county animal control officers daily to keep animal nuisances out of residential areas as well as respond to loose livestock emergency bite calls after hours, on weekends and holidays.

She said if owners will simply obey the laws, the county would save money and be a safer place for all residents, and officers would not have to answer hundreds of calls.