Letter: Animal control officers do good job (Jan. 4)
I would like to address the two items in the Madera Tribune Red Line over the last couple of weeks concerning an animal control officer and an incident that took place.
First of all, people should get their facts straight before speaking. The incident with the dog, wherein, an animal control officer for the Madera Police Department, supposedly kicked in a little dog’s teeth.
The fact is, the dog was vicious and was attacking the animal control officer. The officer at that time instructed the owners to remove their dog and to stop having him attack her. The owners did nothing. The officer did not kick the dog’s teeth in. She merely kicked in the dog’s direction and may have come in contact with the dog, but this was done to protect herself. Again, she had asked the owners to come and get their dog, and they stood idly by and did nothing.
Anyone has the right to protect themselves from a vicious attack by a dog and it is the owners responsibility to make sure that their dog is under their control at all time.
Our animal control officers do a fine job here in Madera, albeit a difficult one. I commend them for their hard work and dedication, and would hope the citizens would be responsible in all ways regarding their animals.
Donna Marden,
Madera
if you want to talk about getting your facts straight make sure you were there Donna Marden. I don’t recall seeing you at my house that day so whatever Ms. Ruble (animal control officer) told you was just to cover her behind. for one I did call my dog that is smaller than her boot. my wife and I were both out there calling him before she walked on to our property. she did not stop and wait or even slow her pace and wait for us to get him. my 5 lb chihuahua did bark at her but he never even touched her and her 1st reaction was to kick him in the mouth. i talked to the supervisor at the animal shelter and she said that would be the last resort is to hurt the animal. so why was kicking my dog the 1st resort? according to the supervisor the 1st resort is to scare them away with their clipboard this animal control officer had her clipboard with her and never used it to scare him away. she did wrong by kicking my dog, she did not follow the correct procedures in a situation like this. i’m not talking about all control officers i’m sure we have a few good ones out there i hope. But this one showed an agressive and rude attitude towards animals. if she didn’t want to get charged by my dog she should have waited until my wife or myself got the dog before she walked on to our property. theres several different ways to defend yourself from a 5 lb chihuahua that does not include kicking them. she’s just as vicious as a pitbull!!!
This is in regards to Donna Marden’s post. Do you even realize how ridiculous the comment “She merely kicked in the dog’s direction and may have come in contact with the dog, but this was done to protect herself.” MAY HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE DOG? GIVE ME A BREAK! I saw the incident was walking by there when it happened, the owners were calling the dog, the woman should of waited for the owners to get the little dog before she walked into the property.