|
|
23Editorial: Animal Control Is Out Of Control
|
|
T O P I C
|
Discussion Started: 03-03-2005, 9:56 PM
|
|
|
|
In a series of exclusive stories, 23News Reporter Emily Valdez revealed Kern County Animal control euthanized as many as 2,000 animals in a way condemned by the American Veterinary Medical Association. That's because it causes a slow, painful, agonizing death. A death so violent that one former animal control worker told us she shot a dog, rather than let it suffer after giving it this chemical.
Former workers told KERO the culture at Animal Control makes it almost impossible for them pursue animal cruelty charges against abusive owners.
Look, we realize these are only animals. But there's something seriously wrong if we allow animal control to inflict needless suffering on dogs and cats, and refuse to go after owners who do the same.
Kern County Animal Control is out of control.
Channel 23 calls on Kern County's Supervisors to make sweeping changes here.
They can start by putting animal control under the jurisdiction of the sheriff.
First Aired 3/3/05
|
|
View Messages: [newest first] | [oldest first]
|
MaryAnnR
|
01-08-2007, 2:09 PM
|
|
|
But Joy...This is Kern County. To prosecute the head of Animal Control, would mean our crooked DA's office would have to go after him. Animal control is all part of the 'good ole boy" system here in Kern county. Here's how it works. When the DA has somebody that they really want to prosecute,for political games, personal reasons, prejudices..etc...and that person has animals of some kind, they call up their little buddies, and they go out and find anything, everything they can(even making up laws they are breaking). In turn, the DA's office protects Animal Control. The rest of us are out here like sitting ducks, with nothing to protect us from their games. It's not what you do, that determines if you get prosecuted, it's who you are and who you know. A lot of animal control is not about protecting animals. I had a neighbor call on me one time because they were getting revenge,and I have lots of animals. Animal control didn't find anything, but I pointed out to him that my neighbor had twice as many horses as he is suppose to have and they were getting stuck under my fence. I forgot that the neighbor on the other side was a sheriff and his friend(one of the protected).Animal control told me I should be careful calling agencies on people, it may backfire. Did he talk to my neighbor about being illegal?nope Did he threaten me? yep
|
|
4dachsies
|
08-23-2005, 7:29 PM
|
|
|
The animal Control is already under the Sheriffs dept, I thought. What ever dept it is currently under whether Sheriff or Enviromental dept. It is not working. It is a disaster of the greatest magnitude. The people who were working there the last two years should all be fired. They need to get someone with experience in animal care and rescue in to help solve this problem The little town west of us Santa Maria, just opened a brand new "no kill" shelter. We too could have one. If, and only if all the people of Kern County would be willing to be educated about the care and resposibility of dogs and cats. First and formost spay and neuter your animal. We need a County Vet to take care of the animals, and be there for all emergencies and able to care for the animals.People in this county should hang their heads in shame at the way our animals are being treated.
Terry & the Fearsome Foursome
|
|
mikesmom94
|
07-17-2005, 8:20 PM
|
|
|
I lived in Bakersfield for 15 years and of course it is where I call home. I live in Denver now and I have been here for 4 years. I visit my Aunt once or twice every year. One time last year, she took a ill cat to the animal shelter and watched as they took her cage and let the cat go. Of course the cat ran away and nobody attempted to catch it. This last April, I was in Bakersfield because, sadly my Grandma had passed away. There was a cat in my Aunts yard that was friendly enough to comfront but he had open sores all over one side of his body. So with my Aunt already with five cats, she decided to take this one to the shelter. I took the cat in the cage and gave him to the man and the man went around a corner and sure enough there went that cat running through the shelter towards the open field in the back. I asked the man "you let him go?" he said that the cat bit and scratched him. I took the cage and left appalled at the way that cat had been treated. All that man had to do was say, "here kitty" and hold out a caring hand and that cat would have not fought him. I am sick to death with that whole senereo. It should have not happened that way. Now, my Aunt is afraid to take any cats that are ill to the shelter especially if she has to pay for them. It is all money wasted. What ever happened to humane? Humans have no right to treat animals the way that they are treated at the Bakersfield shleter? Where did the SPCA go?
Jen
|
|
chrisanne_
|
04-13-2005, 6:33 PM
|
|
|
I live in Los Angeles and frequently work in Bakersfield. I am also an animal activist. I am sharing this article with every L.A. animal activist I know. L.A. will soon be knocking on the doors of the County's Supervisors. Shame on every public official that allowed this abuse to happen!
|
|
Moje
|
03-15-2005, 8:52 PM
|
|
|
Why did they whistle blow now? Why not when the actual atrocities occured? Why did Hines administer the inappropriate euthanizing agent more than once? Right is right, wrong is wrong. Why wasn't she questioned about this? What brought about this whistle blowing? Why was one of them terminated? What will putting animal control under the juridicton of the sheriff's depatment do? Who is accountable for allowing the misuse of public funds for the running of animal control? Is the animal control problem just a symptom of the overall attitude toward animals in general in Kern County? What factors contribute to the callous treatment of animals in Kern county? Poor education? A machismo attitude? Why are the authorities, politicians and media afraid to take on this issue?
|
|
Joy*4
|
03-04-2005, 9:46 PM
|
|
|
I can not understand how this has gone on for so long. Steve McCalley should be prosecuted for "Extreme Animal Cruelty" for the inhumane treatment that has gone on in the Animal Control Services Dept. No matter what anyone says he knew what was happening was wrong. Animals do NOT scream for hours if they are given the right medication to be euthanized. This is not the first mess that McCalley has made of things. Look at the "Bones" case. This can not continue - there is no reason for this to continue. We need to make an example of Steve McCalley and prosecute him. Joy
|
|
Top
23Editorials