Priorities all wrong
Rachel Farr - Emporia
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
When did the appearance of our city become more important than the residents that inhabit it? We can mark $100,000 for statues and $225,000 for the municipal golf course, but we can’t so much as have a city animal control officer on more than a few days a week. Are our pets not residents? Are they not parts of our lives? It seems that every time I call to have animal control dispatched out to help one of our furry companions, there is never an officer on duty. The police officers are not supposed to pick up animals in their crusiers but they can haul intoxicated people to jail? So, who takes care of these defenseless creatures when no one is on duty? It falls on the responsibility of civilians.
Now, I am the first one to say that as pet owners we should take responsilbiliy for our own pets, but some people just do not. You cannot change people. But why as residents of this community are we expected to rescue and shelter these dogs when someone is appointed to do it? If we allocated more funds for animal welfare this problem would not exist. Why spend money to glorify our city, when it should be spent to maintain the one we currently live in? In conclusion, I believe that we should allow more funds to help our adoring and faithful companions.
They need a voice because they cannot speak for themselves.
Rachel Farr
Emporia
browneyebabygirl22 (anonymous) says...
my sister is seeking a loveing home for her two female dogs, 1 a begal who is 6 yrs and 1 a terrior who is 2, both are updated on shots and vactionations. must have proof of vet , email to arrange meeting. she lives in nebraska and would have to bring them down so i must find a good permanent home. both dogs are outside dogs prefer if they can find a home together. email me at browneyebabygirl22@yahoo.com, thanx
February 16, 2011 at 3:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EmporiaRocks (anonymous) says...
Seriously? This is what needs to be addressed? Grow up.
February 16, 2011 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leshnaur (George Eshnaur) says...
Ummmmmmmmmmm...no animals are no residents, I do not think we counted them in the census or our tax info, but thanks for your wild assertion. Secondly, no one is asking you to pick up and house stray animals. Thirdly, police officers doing their jobs and hauling in drunks so they aren't on the roads is much more pressing than picking up rascally animals. Finally, I have a dog and love the companionship of animals but I really cannot believe this got in the Gazette. Waste of ink and space.
February 16, 2011 at 5:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mrdeeds (anonymous) says...
Seriously...I think maybe you need to check your priorities....your post is nothing less than a complete waste of your time....not to mention everyone elses!
As was said in a previous comment...
GROW UP!
February 16, 2011 at 5:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ToxicPink (anonymous) says...
The forum newbies need to step off and actually add some content to the complaining we usually do.
None of what any of you said is helpful, or relevant.
She is RIGHT. We DO need to actually have an animal control officer on more days then we do. We need to have a shelter open more than 11 to 2 during the weekdays.
You two need to grow up. And maybe get some compassion.
I've called animal control on more than on occasion to pick up a deceased animal along the side of the road or one time in a parking lot next to a school. The love of animals aside, this is unhealthy to have rotting animals in the sun next to children but yet the city wouldn't send anyone to take care of it.
This is a problem. We have a sorry excuse of resources for animal control in this city. Its a sad excuse of a shelter we have and its not fault of theirs.
Its because no one in charge gains to benefit from actually taking care of our shelter.
February 16, 2011 at 5:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mrdeeds (anonymous) says...
I just feel people could spend their time in better ways than writing editorials about the need for more animal control officers. Nor do I see the relevance of her comparison to drunks getting a ride in a cop car.
I personally feel the Emporia Police Department does a fine job handling the animals. As a matter of fact, a dog was hit in front of my home around 8:30pm. We called the police department, an officer came out, and he gladly went back to the station to retrieve the animal control vehicle. He then promptly took the dog to the vet to receive care for his injuries.
BTW, I have plenty of compassion as I was there comforting the dog while awaiting the officers arrival as well as return.
February 16, 2011 at 6:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Delaney (anonymous) says...
@mrdeeds;
is that really how you want police officers to spend their time? And don't try to say they have nothing better to do. They always have something better to do.
Are you one of those in favor of $100,000 for statues? And a fan of golf @ Muni? I think green fees ought to be raised & golfers can do maintenance work to lower costs of playing a game, in favor of something more relevant. Say, food for hungry kids or street repair? There's a boatload of necessities more impt. than golf. And yes, I'm a golfer.
February 16, 2011 at 7:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mslater (Matt Slater) says...
What I think about this article is that this is another example of how much better $141,000 could be spent that would actually help the city, rather than on rocks. There are a multitude of ideas that have been thrown out, this is just another one. Nothing wrong with that. I can't remember who posted it, but someone suggested a very extensive network of unpaved hiking and biking trails. I think that idea was the best I've heard so far, followed closely by bicycle lanes on city streets. Then again, those were my ideas, which is why they were better than everyone elses. Kidding of course. Kind of... Haha
Matt
February 16, 2011 at 7:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ToxicPink (anonymous) says...
You have no idea how this women spends her time, she could very well have written this on her down time while doing work with whatever organization of her choosing.
Its not a waste of time, energy or space if its relevant to the community and someone can take the time to do it.
I still have had horrible experience with our police department in regards to how they handle animal control. I've been told by dispatch that they don't have anyone who can do it and that they're not sending anyone out to take care of the problem.
You still have an attitude problem.
I'll admit her drunk vs animal comparison was a bit of a stretch, but her point is still completely valid in the fact that this city does neglect the animal control issues that we have. A shelter open three hours is just ridiculous.
February 16, 2011 at 7:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jasond (anonymous) says...
The animal shelter needs attention. The roads need attention. The storm drains need attention. The employment situation here needs attention. So what gets the attention, giant limestone rocks....
February 16, 2011 at 10:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
I checked the statutes. There is no state or city mandate or law that requires any political subdivision to provide animal control. It is not a core function of the government.
February 16, 2011 at 11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EmporiaRocks (anonymous) says...
forum newbies...that's cute...
February 17, 2011 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ToxicPink (anonymous) says...
Obviously I wasn't referring to you.
But that's what I aim for.
February 17, 2011 at 4:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spectator (anonymous) says...
The city has operated without a full compliment of animal control staff seemingly forever: it's certainly not a job I would want or could handle.
That said, toxic, if'/when the A C people are off duty or otherwise unavailable, is the dispatcher supposed to pull the cops from serious calls for an animal related call? I believe they will send someone if possible but don't you suppose there really are times no one is available to send?.
You are right on target, though, that the city neglects animal control issues. And a lot of other things as jasond pointed out.
February 17, 2011 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ToxicPink (anonymous) says...
Well duh, I don't expect them to take someone from a domestic violence situation and say, oh here you have to go pick up a dead cat.
I'm not unrealistic, I just think they don't care, and at least dispatch needs to stop being so cold about the issue if I do call. Its the disrespect that bothers me the most. At the very least they can tell me that all the officers are busy and they'll look into it instead of just flat out telling me they're not taking care of it.
February 17, 2011 at 5:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sunshine (anonymous) says...
Toxic, I agree that our animal control is lacking, and has been for years. Before living in Emporia I lived in a much smaller town with full time animal control. He was a bit of a jerk, but he was available 7 days a week.
No, no one would expect for officers to drop what they are doing and tend to animal issues, unless there is a dangerous situation occurring. But I think the point made by Ms. Farr and Toxic is that we need an animal control officer, period. More hours than there is one available now. Why can't we fund that, rather than rocks. Although, as a side note to this, the funds for the rocks are no longer coming from funds that really ought to go toward this type of thing. The funds are coming from the appropriate sources. We may still see them as unnecessary, but at least the right people are paying for them.
Matt, you are right on....this is another suggestion of how our tax money should be used, and an expression of frustration. We have all voiced our frustration here in one way or another. Ms. Farr has the right to voice hers too.
February 19, 2011 at 10:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )