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Read comments (24)That was the question debated Tuesday as the topic of dogs was once again before Shelbyville City Council, with councilmen asking the city's animal control officer if shooting the wild animals was an option.
With members of the local Humane Society in attendance, animal control officer Randy McCullough appeared before the council to talk about the problem of wild canines running at large.
"Well, for one thing, I can't outrun 'em," McCullough joked to the council. The problem appears to stem from dogs that have been abandoned and he said that the most humane way to deal with the animals is to trap them. McCullough asked for suggestions from the council.
"Call Mr. Pow! Pow!," councilman Al Stephenson said, referring to a caller to the Times-Gazette's old "Who Said That" line who was a proponent of shooting stray dogs.
"Couldn't you possibly get those dogs and shoot them?" councilman Lee Roy Cunningham asked.
McCullough said that if you did, "you'll be on Channel 2 News."
"He's scared to death because he would get in a lot of trouble," Cunningham said.
"You would." McCullough agreed.
Using a tranquilizer gun was also suggested, but a person would have to be 20 feet away to use it and the drug takes 30 to 40 minutes to work, in which time the animal is long gone.
Mayor Wallace Cartwright asked what if McCullough was to fill the dart with the drug used to put dogs to sleep.
"What if a kid gets hold of it?" McCullough replied. "I'm thinking about all this stuff."
McCullough said he's only shot two dogs in his career and it was only as a last resort when the animal was a threat to the public. One shouldn't shoot a dog because it's running away, he added.
McCullough said there was one dog, a Doberman, that he has tried to catch for the past four months, but as soon as the animal sees them coming, "she's gone."
Live traps don't work and McCullough said he has been in connect with a national humane association and other cities such as Knoxville. "There's no solution," he said. "They told me to just keep trying." There are about 15 dogs that the animal control department is unable to catch, he added.
"They're wise, they've very wise," McCullough said of the dogs, adding that they've even tried using different vehicles that the animals won't recognize, but they somehow know who's coming.
Steel traps have also been considered, but they could hurt the animal or an innocent pet could be trapped in it, he said. Plus, the department does not have the manpower to "baby-sit" the traps all day long, McCullough explained.
Another problem is the dogs that are given away in the Wal-Mart parking lot, McCullough said. "The biggest part of the dogs we're after were given away at Wal-Mart. A 16-year-old goes out there, says 'oh, a cute little puppy' and Momma and Daddy says 'we don't want this dog,'" so the animal ends up being abandoned.
The council will look at the issue further next month.
"Just do the best you can," Stephenson said.
How about stiffer laws and penalties for the idiots that are dumping the animals. I have one that lives next to me. Dumping puppies and dogs when they are thru with them, letting the female run loose and getting bred by all the neighborhood dogs.
How about stiffer spay and neuter laws!!! Lets get with the rest of the world. You act like lets not solve the problem BEFORE IT STARTS, lets just SHOOT IT!!!
PREVENTION IS THE KEY WORD!!!
the council people are idiots
If you dont want Fluffy shot you better keep his hairy tail away from Whiteside hill.
Hey tmt - Put a lid on it? Oh my...aren't you the general manager of the universe now! I am not sure if the post that follows yours is accurate in its implication that you are a council person, but I would not be surprised. If you are, please lay off the "we are doing the best we can" mealy mouth excuses. My issue has very little to do with the stray dog issue. I agree that a humane solution needs to be found to ensure the safety of all concerned. Of course, giving every Bubba the right to stand out in their backyard and shoot at dogs they deem stray seems a bit off the charts to me. It will only be a matter of time before the courts fill up with the "he shot Fluffy, but I thought she was a stray" cases. Or, worse yet, a human actually be hit by stray gunfire. My biggest issue is with the ignorant remarks that are made by city leaders. I did not, and will not run for public office since I have no desire to answer to the public. You however did make that choice. So, if you don't like your comments being scrutinized, then I would suggest you sit at home next time the opportunity comes around to run for election (or re-election). Or, show some restraint in your public comments...now there is a novel idea! Geeez.....my name says it all!
The mentality of many "city" folks is they can dump their unwanted pets out in the country and us "country" folk will take them in. What they don't realize is we already have pets and quite honestly can't afford to also feed their unwanted pets.
This leads to the dogs turning wild and often running in packs. We have lost a lot of livestock over the years to these wild dogs. We get a hunting party up every few years and take care of the "problem". When you lose a 1600 dollar cow to a pack of wild dogs you'll probably have a slightly different view on how humane shooting strays is.
I will be honest, if stray dogs get left on Whiteside Hill Road, they get shot.
Well, councilman, how do you know that person hasn't ran?
I understand why everyone is so upset with comments made about shooting the stray dogs, however how would you feel if your children or your pets where in YOUR yard and these stray dogs came into YOUR yard and attacked them?!?!?!?!? I am an animal lover, but if my children and pets are at risk, then I would shoot the strays myself!!! Yes, I totally agree these animals can't help that they are "strays", but it isn't the councilmen that you should be ticked off at, it is the sorry people that left these dogs to be "strays"!! So get off the councils back and if you think you can catch them then get off your buns and DO IT!! Everyone always wants to get bent out of shape and point the finger and make hateful slurrs and comments, but nobody ever wants to come together with a solution! FACT: you are not going to catch anything riding around in a truck looking around your "city limit area". I have heard a comment was made that the city dog catcher couldn't do anything to help catch some of these strays because they were "county dogs"!! I have never heard such bull! When did this become the tale of Country Mouse, City Mouse?!?!? Like I said, EVERYONE needs to work TOGETHER to come up with a solution, and STOP pointing fingers and laying it off on someone else to deal with. And to the person who said we elected these "idiots" TWICE... if you think you can do a better job then YOU RUN FOR COUNCIL!!! Otherwise put a lid on it!!
Let me clarify what a couple of other folks have said. You do have a legal right to attend any such city or county government meeting. But that does NOT guarantee you the right to speak during the meeting.
If you want to speak, your best bet might be to try to get in touch with one of the council, committee or commission members ahead of time. Depending on how that particular body operates, they might put you on the agenda, or the council member might just say, informally, "I have a constituent here who would like to say a few words, if no one objects." Some public bodies have no problem letting walk-in visitors say a few words without prior arrangements; others are much stricter.
It all depends on the particular body in question, and on external factors like whether they have a busy agenda or whether there are one person or a hundred who want to speak.
You folks elected the idiots....TWICE!!! I once listened in horror as one of those yahoos described walking on the new "threadmills" at the Rec Center...and then there was the time that the concept of "intimate" domain was explained to a citizen...or the time one of them walked through City Hall declaring that he could fire anyone he wanted for any reason he wanted. You folks really need to get out more and listen to the folks you elect. All of the comments I mentioned were made either in a public forum or in a public building.
The question from cfrich is not dumb at all.
Yes you can attend the city counsel meetings. They are suppose to be open to the public.
Of course. They are open to the public just as the regular council meetings are. However, many times these meetings are only attended by myself, the council members and other city department heads. It is extremely rare for members of the public to attend the study sessions. Extremely rare, unless they have business before the council.
This might be a dumb question, but are the residents of Shelbyville able to attend these meetings and give our opinions as to what should be done?
"After reading this article I have confirmed the mentality of these councilmen. Their ignorance is a disgrace to Shelbyville. "
Amen, nailman, amen.
After reading this article I have confirmed the mentality of these councilmen. Their ignorance is a disgrace to Shelbyville. I worry more about inbred humans at this point. There is a way to safely catch these dogs, but very few men can achieve it. Men are usually the abusers to these dogs and they relate better to women. Get KPetty back and it will get better.
Why dont you put MS Bobo to work with her .22.She seems to think she can hit a coyote with it!!!
-- Posted by lizard00 on Thu, Apr 3, 2008, at 7:34 AM
LMAO!!! I say shoot the owners for letting their dogs keep breeding with no intention of taking care of the puppies. That is beyond cruel and inhumane.
My son has two red heelers that are kept in his back yard which is fenced in. They are not allowed outside the fence. Bud, the male, was resently poisoned (over the fence) by someone and it appears that he was singled out since Saddie did not get sick. Bud has been a long time friend and is certainly considered a member of our family for 11 years. He is critically ill and we are praying that he will make it.
The neighbors (next door) have pitbulls and they run free outside. They also have a fenced in back yard with several other dogs in it so I am guessing that the ones running loose can not be put with the rest. These dogs come over in my son's yard and have biten several people including my husband. My son has asked the owners to please keep their dogs out of his yard several times. Now he is telling them to make sure their dogs do not cross the property line.
Several of the people that live on the street have called animal control concerning these dogs, yet they (dogs) are still running loose.
I applaud those who have care and concern for animals like Mr. McCullough, but when is enough, enough?
I wish Mr. Pow! Pow! lived on that street! Better yet, Mrs. Petty (that use to be with the SBCHS), needs to go after these people. She was the best weapon for unruly animal owners.
I know that this is way off the subject of stray dogs, but I am so mad and hurt that I just needed to vent. Thank you for reading this.
How about buying a capture net gun?
http://www.statusguns.com/status_Net.htm
Or if that does not do the trick then, maybe try the jungle truck?
http://www.geocities.com/md_dude1/Jungle...
Probably gonna catch some H.. for this comment, but if the intent is to catch the dogs only to have them put to sleep I think shooting them on the spot would save a lot of time and money.
I think dogs are cute and loyal pets, but I don't adhere to the thought that they have a sole and their "rights" should be protected in the same manner a humans should be. If your going to kill an animal, as long as it isn't some long tortous means of doing it, I'd say let the guy shoot them.
We might require that all animal transfers require some sort of permanent and registered identification of the animal such as DNA records plus another identifier such as a microchip,liquid nitrogen brand or lip tattoo.
These could identify rightful owners in the event an animal were lost or abducted and could prevent sales to laboratories,slaughterhouses,breeding establishments,etc. without verification of ownership.
DNA has extra benefit in that it "comes with" the animal,can be used to connect its bloodline to its relatives and breeder and can identify deceased animals.
The breeder can take a DNA swab at birth to give to the vet or registry.
The animals' vets can begin with a description,line drawings and photos when they first see a critter and update the details on its chart during yearly visits.
Owners,boarders,etc. could have a copy of these files to use whenever needed.
That would decrease the number of "anonymous" beasts as each owner would be expected to have vaccinated animals and breeders would have to get waivers to have unneutered animals.
People who had animals on their property would have to show that they had adequate facilities for their animals that optimized their health and comfort and there would be a greater chance of a paper trail documenting an animal's care from birth to its demise.
These various public records in an animal's life would demand more accountability on the part of humans but it would prevent the number of animals that had to be euthanized due to injury or misbehavior.
This may sound extreme but we humans have taken on responsibility for our animals when we made them our chattel.
The ones that are running at large are less responsible for their fate than ill-behaved human children one might find at a mall or skate park.
As much as one might be tempted,it's not permissible to shoot them,either.
Instead,efforts are made to find out who their folks are,make the heads of the household pay the consequences for the children's neglect or misdeeds and see that the youths learn how to act sensibly in public.
Similar requirements could be made for our non-human babies,as well.
If folks get the idea that bringing a dependent life into the home is a joyous but tough committment that doesn't end when it gets expensive or tedious,then maybe falling in love with any species will be accompanied by some unselfish common sense.
SBCHA catches several stray dogs using food. We put fresh food and water out every day for these dogs, but we still can't get that close to them. It sometimes takes up to a year to earn their trust to get close enough to catch them.
Maybe if you took off your uniform and wore street clothes, then tried putting down food and bringing the animal closer to you to catch it. It is definitely a 2 person job. Perhaps we need more funding for our county animal problems. It seems to me we do alot of complaining, but when it comes to resolve, we close our minds and our pockets.
Is it possible to try and lure the dog to you with some kind of food and then catch it while it's close? That may sound dumb, but it's a thought.
Why dont you put MS Bobo to work with her .22.She seems to think she can hit a coyote with it!!!