Update: statement issued by the Director of ACPS on Thursday 29 Nov 2012 regarding the issue noted below:
Thank
you for your concern. Please note that these are old pictures from before our
officers responded the first time to the situation and impounded the dog. Since
these photos were taken the yard has been cleaned up and the owner reclaimed
their pet. When our officer went out today to recheck he found only one
violation related to the structure being used as shelter not having a required
floor and a citation was issued. There are no other violations that were
observed and the dog is in good health as assessed by our animal cruelty
investigator. When the neighbor was questioned by the officer they said their
only concern was barking and they were advised on the affidavit process for
that violation.
As an administrator of the Facebook page for Pet Rescue North I attempt to publicize many things regarding animal rescue. PRN, among other rescue groups, recently received an email asking us to publicize the deplorable conditions in which a dog was living despite numerous complaints to ACPS. Because the email contain several photos and over a page and a half of text it was impractical to post that all to Facebook. For that reason I have posted the contents of the email and the photos as a page on this blog so that interested parties can access the information
This email is yet another attempt to help a neglected dog.
My friend who lives next door has been trying to help him for months now by
placing complaint after complaint. The dog has been removed already once by ACC
but the owner paid the fines, got the dog back the same day and put him right
back where the officer got him from. ACC does NOT do follow-up visits. No
improvements were ever made. This dog has no shelter, food or water. He lives
in garbage and lays on garbage to stay away from the cold ground at night. His
only shelter is a hole he dug under an old junk RV in the yard but, when it
rains, the hole gets full of water so he ends up cold AND wet. You can see the
pictures for yourself. There is always garbage tangled around his lead and last
week, my friend had to get his legs untangled twice after he was stuck there
for an entire afternoon unable to move. The food you see on the pictures is
what she managed to throw him over the fence. You can see a food bowl in one of
the pictures and, if you look closely, you'll notice it has dry dirt in it.
That bowl hasn't seen food in a long time. The last time my friend saw him get
food from his owner was when he threw some meatless chicken bones to him. Talk
about a deadly feast. I placed my first complaint 2 weeks go today and not a
single ACC officer has gone to the property yet. TWO WEEKS. A vagrant was
caught on a security camera trying to beat the dog with a piece of lumber
because he wouldn't let him get to the old RV with his "girlfriend".
We told the city that too. Still nothing. The neighbors have come to my
friend's door and yelled at her already. She is worried about what they will do
next to her or her dog if they find out she keeps complaining. We've been trying
to handle this quietly without turning it into a "rescue crusade"
since most people already think we (rescue people) are crazy animals rights
activists who just want to stir the pot and cause trouble. We didn't want to
cause this dog more harm than good. Unfortunately, I was told today that
anonymous calls are considered a low priority. Basically, they'll get there
when they get there so, if anyone can help this little guy, please do. Go drive
by the property. Take pictures (discreetly). Call the city and complain. Maybe
if a bunch of people call in, they'll finally do something about it.
Thank you
Below is the email my friend sent last week again along with
the pictures.
Sylvie
Rescue administrator/website administrator
www.froggyscatrescue.com
"Good afternoon,
I'm contacting you via email with some pictures of a dog in
dire need of your help at 1114 Franklin St. 32206.
Many reports have been made since spring in regards to his
living conditions, left alone in filth, trash and feces, with no shelter food
or water by myself, my neighbors as well as visitors and friends who were
shocked as much by the condition the dog is living in as well as by the smell
of feces and the constant barking. The last food this animal received other
than what I gave him were meatless chicken bones that his owner threw in the
dirt for him. He was removed from this property at least once but, as soon as
the owner paid the fines, he was returned the same day to the same conditions
and no follow-up was ever made by ACC. No improvements were ever made
whatsoever.
Last week, a vagrant trying to bring a woman back for a good
time to the unlicensed junk rv in the back yard was confronted by the dog as
usual. The vagrant carried a very long piece of lumber jabbing the dog in the
head and face trying to get past.This is not the first time. He couldn't get
past the dog so they decided to leave. I do have this last time recorded on my
security system but not sure how to capture it for email. However, it is
available as evidence for ACC officers if they want to come by and see it. If
the property was properly fenced, this situation would not be able to happen.
As well as feeling sorry for the poor dog, I also fear for my own safety after
watching this display of needless violence against an innocent animal who was
just scared and trying to protect himself.
A report was made last Tuesday Nov 13th but we have not seen
anyone from animal control at the property. A follow-up call was also made on
Friday adding the update about the incident with the vagrant but still no
visit. We have given permission for ACC Officers to enter the side property by
the front gate at 1161 E st st. They can walk down the side of the house to
where the dog is. He barks and is afraid of people he doesn't know but he is a
nice dog.
The attached pictures were taken on 11/18/12 where the dog's
leg was tangled in the roping and trash you see in the picture. He was stuck
there unable to move all afternoon and noone came out to help him. This trash
has been attached to him for about a month now. I was able to get his leg
untangled through the fence, and some of the garbage pulled off the lead. I'm
sorry the pictures are not very clear.. The red lead is tied from the tree and
the garbage you see is wrapped around the lead. This poor dog has been
suffering from neglect and cruelty from the moment he was tied to this lead and
reports have been made for months on end without any results. This has lasted
long enough. It's cold now and this poor dog curls up in a shivering ball on
top of garbage to try and stay away from the cold ground. Please send an
officer right away and help this dog or I will be forced to contact local
rescue groups and go public on the lack of action in part of the "Animal
Protective" Services if this situation doesn't get resolved soon.
Thank you for your prompt attention in this matter"
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