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Question:
Dear Elinor D Molbegott, I am writing to you today with a heavy heart and desperate for someone to help us. Please give me 5 minutes of your time to read our story. My family consists of my partner, my disabled 11yr old daughter, our three dogs, Lennox a 5yr old American Bull Dog cross, Juicy a 3yr old pedigree Boxer, George an 8yr old Yorkshire Terrier and of course myself. On 11th May 2010 D.Wardens called to my home to leave renewal forms for my dog licences. This d.warden having seen a glimpse of my dogs through a gate at the bottom of my property went back to base and reported me as having a Pit Bull. On 19th May 2010 Dog wardens and Police turned up at my door with a search warrant, to seize Lennox my American Bull Dog cross as they said he is a Pit Bull, I was horrified. The d.warden said no member of the public had reported him, it was the dog warden colleague who had called to leave the licence forms who had reported him. I confirmed I had seen both of his parents his mum was an American Bull Dog and his Father was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Labrador cross, so how is he being accused of being a Pit Bull. The D.Warden said they where takeing him for a few days to measure him and send photo’s of him to a man in England who would confirm he was a Pit Bull. I offered to let them measure him there and then, but they had only come with the intention of taking him away as they didn’t even have a measuring kit. They couldn' get proper measurements of him in as he is fearful of strangers and there where 5 people in my tiny kitchens he was so scared he wouldn’t keep still, so they took him, which I had no control over, I was hysterical. The D.Warden phoned me and said they carried out MOST not all of the measurements and based on his leg and muzzle being x inches long he needs to be destroyed and that if I sign him over they won’t prosecute me, but if I dispute this they will prosecute me and he will still be destroyed and with a prosecution I could loose my job. I will not be blackmailed into killing my healthy dog who has never done wrong, he’s being punished simply for how he looks. Lennox is a 5yr old family pet who is licensed, neutered, insured, micro chipped and DNA reg and also Pets Safe reg. He is kept in a secure back garden and you can only see him through a 6 ft high iron gate at the bottom of my driveway. My whole family have been devastated and when our daughter was told what had happened it caused her to have a severe asthma attack. He will not do well as strangers cause him high levels of stress which results in health problems and now he is in kennels surrounded by strangers. - Northern Ireland
Answer:
You should immediately hire an attorney in your area to help you. Your local humane societies may also provide some assistance. You need to act quickly.
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Question:
Are there laws against keeping a dog chained 24/7 - Ohio
Answer:
There are several state and local laws regarding tethering/chaining dogs. The laws vary, some prohibiting chaining except in certain limited circumstances, and others limiting chaining time. For example, California’s law provides, in part, that it is unlawful to tether or chain “longer than is necessary for the person to complete a temporary task that requires the dog to be restrained for a reasonable period.” According to www.unchainyourdog.org, North Royalton, Chagrin Falls and Middletown Ohio have laws that limit chaining by time. Depending on the length of the chain/tether, the weather (if the dog is chained/tethered outdoors) and other conditions there could also be a violation of animal cruelty laws. Every state has an animal cruelty law.
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Question:
Hi, Elinor, I am a public school teacher in Long Island and have been feeding a small group of (3) feral cats on school grounds. I also have small dog houses to provide as shelter. This is all done on the back of school property, out of anyone's way. I am now being harrassed to remove all the houses and cease feeding the animals. Is school personnel allowed to remove the housing and food bowls? Are they allowed to have the animals picked up by the town shelter? Am I within the law? I read that in New York, the feeding of animals on public domain is legal. Is a public school considered public domain? Thanks for your help.
Answer:
I am not sure what law you are referring to. While the school personnel cannot legally harm or abandon the cats, it is my understanding that the school personnel could call animal control to have the cats picked up and could remove the bowls and shelter on school property. Since feral cats are not readily adoptable, many animal shelters will not accept feral cats for adoption. Those shelters that do accept the cats into the shelter sometimes euthanize them after the legal hold time. Some organizations, including North Shore Animal League America, have programs for free or low/cost spaying and neutering of feral cats. This is usually done as part of a TNR (trap/neuter/return) program. Have you discussed TNR with the school? This could better ensure that the cat population around the school won’t increase. There are humane societies and feral cat organizations that will help you trap the cats and negotiate with property owners, or in this instance, the school authorities, to attempt to resolve the issue humanely.
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