Dear editor,
I am writing to make a desperate plea. Please release Chum and Champ to their family.
This is not a case of dangerous dogs; these dogs pose no risk to the public, but instead a dispute between neighbors that could be solved with a proper fence and training.
I am begging you to do this not only because there are lives a stake, but because the relationship between the public and animal control is at stake. I work for the regional government in Victoria and I would like to believe that we are trusted representatives of the public, here to protect their best interests.
I have always worked closely with the SPCA and animal control at managing pets and finding homes for abandoned animals. We rely on public cooperation, respect, and funding to function.
These recent acts of pet-seizing due to breed prejudice and false information are irreversibly damaging this relationship. We are making enemies of the public and ensuring that they will find us as a threat in the future.
We work so hard to find these animals homes, it is just devastating to see them ripped away from them and destroyed needlessly.
These altercations bring into question the bylaws regarding property boundaries and fencing. This needs to be addressed to prevent further incidents between neighbours and pets.
The other absolutely necessary part of successful pet management is education and awareness. We need laws and incentives to ensure dogs, especially large dogs, are trained properly.
Let's take every precaution available to avoid conflicts and ensure public safety.
Jaime Noddings,
Sooke