Human Safety Must Always Come First

As of Thursday, August 25, 2011

First, I want to thank Animal Control officer Frank Ringelberg. He should not be chastised by a few residents of Mid South Club. If the dogs were as docile as they are being portrayed, then why was Animal Control called in the first place? Because the dogs were a nuisance or threat.

Stray dogs can be very threatening since they have run wild, and can be dangerous or deadly. These dogs have relied on their instinct and aggression to survive. That would not be conducive to human interaction. If just one person has a problem with these dogs, they should be disposed of.

Ms. Hagan was quoted as saying, “He (Ringelberg) came with one intention —to shoot and kill those dogs.” It is a good thing that the “squealing and yelping with pain” was not a Mid South resident or the officer being bitten by one or both of these animals.

Why not let Ms. Hagan, Ms. Abbott or Mr. Ainslie keep future stray dogs on their property, and then all would be well with the world?

Animal Control is a great service to this county, and I have found they go above and beyond in trying to seize these animals as humanely as possible. When it becomes a choice of a human being or an animal, I will choose the safety of the human every time. Thanks again to Animal Control and Ringelberg.

Gail Page

Robbins

More like this story

native 1 year, 8 months ago

I see a lot of dogs running around and I don't believe they are all stray. If you have a dog build a fence for it.or keep it in the house....Do not tie it out on a stake in the yard...and do not let it run free.

I have called for loose dogs to be picked up before and was told I would be put on a waitlist because there are not enough traps to put out and monitor...I think Animal Control does a good job for the funds they are allowed....It comes down to dog owner's need to be more responsible.

If dog owner's are not responsible, then new law's need to be passed to control the owner.

It does not make a person more macho to have an unnutered animal...

AnimalLover 1 year, 8 months ago

It's interesting that people can judge how "aggressive" or "vicious" these dogs were, without having seen them. These dogs were estimated to be 6-8 months old, by the great Frank Ringelberg himself. He NEVER stated anywhere in his report that these dogs were aggressive in ANY way. And if he truly wanted to catch them like he says, why didn't he have crates or traps with him? If he tried to catch them with a catch pole, where was he going to put them when he caught them? Was he going to let them ride in the front seat with him? If he went there to try to catch them, why didn't he have the tranq gun with him? They were already contained in the tennis court area, having just followed people right in there. Because the attitude of AC is that it was far easier and cheaper to just put a bullet in their body than to go through the trouble of catching them and taking them to the shelter to euthanize. And he shot them in their stomachs/chests, which is totally against the guidelines that they supposedly follow. There is a LOT more to this incident than AC wants the general population to know. And this issue isn't about whether or not Frank Ringelberg is a nice guy. This is about the policies and procedures of AC and the fact that there is an environment of total disregard for the humane treatment of animals by this department. If they are overworked and understaffed, then they need to do something about it. If not, then put people in that department that actually do care for the welfare of the animals in our community.

2centsworth 1 year, 8 months ago

Give it a rest already!!! How long can you beat a dead dog?

teufelhunden 1 year, 8 months ago

Next time maybe things will be different...moving on...

AnimalLover 1 year, 8 months ago

2centsworth-Until they change their methods of "animal control". The department has a history of "field euthanasia that flies in the face of their own policies and procedures, which are based on guidelines from the AVMA, not to mention the inhumanity of it. I won't stop until they change their policy of "field euthanasia" or bring in people that will follow the guidelines. There is a reason these guidelines are in place and their own policies reflect said guidelines. The current atmosphere at AC is unacceptable...period.

AnimalLover 1 year, 8 months ago

teufelhunden-Feel free to move on yourself. I choose to continue the work of holding people accountable for their actions.

Courseaire 1 year, 8 months ago

I still don't know which human's safety was in jeopardy.

emb6683 1 year, 8 months ago

Equal energy on holding people accountable for their actions should be applied to pet owners who do not spay or neuter their animals, who do not have microchips implanted, who let the animals run loose, who abandon their animals when they become too much trouble or when the kids lose interest or when they move, who chain or tie their animals in the backyard, or who are otherwise irresponsible pet owners. Also to so-called breeders who are nothing more than puppy mills and breeders who will sell an animal to anyone with the right amount of cash.

AnimalLover 1 year, 8 months ago

I absolutely agree. And I spend a lot of time trying to change the mentality of those kind of people too. There aren't enough people in this world that take responsibility for their own actions, preferring instead to lay the blame on others, or act with total disregard. I personally can do without the likes of them.