In Fayetteville, the roundup begins
A private company hired to round up stray dogs in Fayetteville, N.C., captured six over the weekend, using baited traps and tranquilizer darts.
A pair of two-man teams began working 12-hour shifts Friday, Cumberland County animal control Director John Lauby told the Board of commissioners Monday.
They’ll continue to do so for the next 30 days in a bid to eliminate the packs of dozens of dogs — up to 150 by some estimates — that they say have “terrorized” residents and pets, and sparked fears of a rabies outbreak, the Fayetteville Observer reported.
Fayetteville opted against hiring the Texas outfit that originally offered to take care of the problem — the Dangerous Animal Task Force.
According to a Fayetteville Observer article last week, City Manager Dale Iman said that company was “not a registered entity,” and that it didn’t ”have a lot of experience to go by.”
Instead, the city contracted with a local company called Mims Wildlife Control. The company is not authorized to kill dogs during capture attempts; if that became necessary, county animal control officials would handle it.
Lauby has repeatedly described the dogs as a threat, and says they create a risk for a rabies epidemic. “Feral dogs are not like pets that you and I know,” he said. “They are like wild lions and tigers; they are very dangerous.” But he does acknowledge that some dogs who get caught up in the sweep could be recent pets and turn out to be adoptable. He said all the dogs will be assessed before they are euthanized. All dogs brought to the shelter are kept for three days by law.
Fayetteville doesn’t have an animal control department, and is splitting the cost of the round-up with Cumberland County.
When Commissioner Jeannette Council asked Lauby if the animals could be adopted, once caught, he said it’s possible, but most would be too wild.
“We’re going to give that dog a chance,” he said, “but no dog is going to be adopted from our shelter that’s going to be a danger or a potential danger to our citizens. I won’t let that happen.”
While rounding up an euthanizing Fayetteville’s feral and stray dogs doesn’t seem to have become a hugely controversial issue, we did find one Facebook page devoted it.
As far as our view of all this, in case our earlier pieces didn’t make it clear, we think stray dogs — even “feral” dogs — deserve a complete evaluation by professionals; that some of them, at least, should have a shot at being rehabilitated and becoming pets again; that three days may not be enough time to make that decision; and that, with the possibility of 150 dogs being hastily executed in Fayetteville, some animal welfare group, however unwelcome they might be, should be stepping in.
Posted by jwoestendiek August 3rd, 2011 under Muttsblog, videos.
Tags: adoptable, animal control, animals, assessment, capturing, cumberland county, dangerous, dangerous animal task force, dogs, evaluation, fayetteville, feral dogs, john lauby, mims wildlife control, north carolina, pets, stray dogs, threat, video
Comments
Comment from jwoestendiek
Time August 3, 2011 at 10:08 am
Even if you weren’t vigorously agreeing — and I love vigorous agreement — I would have to say that was very well said.
Comment from Starla
Time August 3, 2011 at 10:49 am
The dogs shown in the video did not appear (to me) to be “wild dogs” but appeared more to be irresponsible peoples animals who were allowed to run at large. They appeared to be fed, especially the Rotti, and had no apparent skin issues. Even in the kennels & on the catch pole, they did not appear to be “wild” but that’s just one dog lover/ dog foster’s humble opinion. I hope the dogs in question get fairly evaluated & make it into good homes where they will be loved & supervised, as they should be.
Comment from Hanna at Dog Products
Time August 3, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Before I proceed to vocalize the indignation I feel about the prospect of euthanizing so many dogs which are purported to be wildly dangerous, I wish someone would explain why the authorities waited for their population to grow to such proportions.
Had these stray dogs been picked up as they were spotted, the task would not have been so overwhelming and the process of rehabilitation would have and could have been easily handled.
Being that as it may, could those dogs that are deemed too wild to adopt into household be dispersed among zoos instead of being killed?
Comment from Sue
Time August 3, 2011 at 5:46 pm
You know, sometimes I think what scares me most is that these people who do not care for their pets (hence they are “wild” or “feral”) … most of them have children. Makes me shudder.
Pingback from Fayetteville, North Carolina has begun hunting, trapping and killing dogs, why is this not being stopped? | BSL News
Time August 4, 2011 at 3:51 pm
[...] A commenter said it best. “Once again it appears as though expedience will win out over humanity and common sense / decency…. [...]
Comment from Tanya Walter
Time August 5, 2011 at 10:13 am
I totally agree with everyone here – this is as much as saving us as it is about saving these dogs! What kind of “civilized” society allows such uncivilized behavior organized by the very officials who are supposed to “protect and serve”? We HAVE to do everything we possibly can to force the issue of mandatory spay/neuter!
Comment from KayAnn Dihel
Time December 1, 2011 at 12:08 am
You are stupid, animals are people as well, just think about takin your children and shooting them in the head with a gun, cause that’s technically what your doing to these animals…..they have feelings and they want a home cause they want to be loved like you do…if I shot you in the head just because i didn’t want you around then your family would miss you very much, so think about these animals that want to have a great life instead if having to die just because you don’t care……. I hate you people and I know that karma is going to bite you in the ass for killing all these innocent animals.. They didn’t do anything to you to get you to murder them…. All animals deserve a chance to live just like you, otherwise I don’t think you deserve to live either.
Comment from Meaghan Edwards
Time December 5, 2011 at 10:50 pm
I have a former feral dog. She is the sweetest dog I have ever known or had. They need to be givent he same proper treatment as any other dog. Manhandling does nothing.
Comment from smoketoomuch
Time August 3, 2011 at 8:19 am
I have to vigorously agree with every single point in your last paragraph.
However, it once again appears as though expedience will win out over humanity and common sense / decency.
Of course, none of this would be an issue if dog owners were required by law to be responsible pet parents (since personal responsibility alone is obviously no longer motivation enough), to spay and neuter their animals, and to care for them for their entire natural life span.
I fear for the future of common decency and personal responsibility in America, and I see no reason why many, if not most, of those dogs should have to die because of circumstances not of their own making. They are simply trying to survive – just like the rest of us.