Dogs Killing Cats in Oakhurst
Decatur Metro | August 25, 2009 | 10:20 amSome months the Oakhurst Message Board sits dormant, with only an inquiry or two about babysitting services or roof repair. But every once in a while a post can light that place up like its soaked in kerosene.
Yesterday morning a poster named “smodan” wrote this on the site…
Early this AM, our cat was attacked by two roaming dogs (he was sleeping on our front porch on McKoy). One was a brownish pit bull and the other a black lab mix. We scared them away but our cat is in terrible shape and in emergency surgery. Be careful, as we suspect these are the same dogs that killed a cat about a week ago on McKoy. If anyone has an idea who these dogs could belong to, please let us know.
This post quickly led to a cascade of comments detailing other recent attacks and a vocal dissatisfaction with Decatur PD’s animal control unit. This reaction and organized effort to email the Chief of Police was followed with a email sent by PD spokesperson Juanchella Francis to Oakhurst residents yesterday evening…
Thanks for sending us the complaints about dangerous dogs in Oakhurst as we were unaware of the situation until now. We are actively working on addressing this issue and our Animal Control Officer (Officer Cantrell) has been made aware of these complaints and the subsequent loss of pets. He is meeting with Capt. Boyett in the morning to finalize our plan of action regarding these complaints.
Our part-time Animal Control Officer (Officer Cantrell) was on medical leave from 4/13/09 until 8/18/09. During that time period, all calls in reference to dangerous animals were referred to DeKalb County Animal Control. DeKalb County does impose a $20.00 deposit to set traps. Decatur Police does not.
We are concerned about your safety and the safety of your pets and are working diligently to resolve the problem.
Also, according to a report from last night’s ONA meeting, Francis explained to residents that the city’s part-time officer actually works for the county and when he is off-duty all calls are redirected there. Knowing the County’s response time to crimes involving humans, let alone animals, it doesn’t take much to understand why some residents are experiencing that odd feeling of dissatisfaction with law enforcement inside the Decatur city limits.
So, hopefully having our part-time officer back on duty will help resolve the current situation. However, if folks are really that dissatisfied with animal control as this recent thread of activity leads us to believe, then it seems like the most obvious solution would be to bring the position in-house. However that would obviously require money.
So, here’s the question posed to the community: are you willing to pay more to employ a full-time animal control division that is on call 24 hours a day? I’m no Andrea Arnold, but I can pretty much guarantee you it won’t be cheap.
So, here’s the question posed to the community: are you willing to pay more to employ a full-time animal control division that is on call 24 hours a day?
Yes.
My recent experience with Dekalb Animal control was a positive one, but I was made aware then of the thin staffing the department has and the problems they are required to address with such a small staff.
ALL cats should be kept indoors. They cannot protect themselves from other animals or from traffic. These damages are totally preventable. I feel very strongly about this, as you can tell.
These dogs sound like a menace, not only to cats and other animals, but also to humans (especially children) in that area. Any sightings of these two animals (or any unfenced dog) should be reported, and hopefully such reports will lead to better animal control by the individuals who are responsible for their pets. I have to add that I have no objection to roaming cats, just dogs. Some people object to “outdoor cats,” but I do not, because they rid the neighborhood of many unwanted rodents.
We love our kittehs. We keep them indoors.
They also rid the neighborhood of much wanted and appreciated birds.
Yeah, the two outside cats here in Winonna have just picked the neighborhood clean–they’re amazing; almost like they’re predators. It’s awesome, we get to sleep in until the traffic on Candler wakes us up instead of those damn birds at six o’clock in the morning.
Aren’t there already unfilled positions in the Decatur police department that are in the budget? Why not hire one to be in charge of animal control?
What about the $100,000 that we’re supposedly saving from disabling the traffic camera at Clairemont and Scott?
I refuse to believe that if they wanted to do it, they couldn’t find the money somewhere.
On or about 10 years ago there was a pack of “wild” dogs roaming Decatur. My neighbor learned how to get the fastest response to the menace. He called animal control then left his house carrying a 9mm handgun to protect himself while trying to close the gates to a back yard the dogs were in. Another neighbor called the police and within 2 minutes several officers responded. During the questioning to determine if he was the “man with a gun” the dogs got away. It was later discovered a raccoon was killed by the dogs in the back yard. The response time was amazing, but the dogs continued to roam for a few more weeks. No shots were fired, 1 raccoon was killed, and several neighborhood cats were killed throughout the Great Lakes and north Decatur area. The terror lasted about a month. Once the cat population dwindled and several of the dogs were eventually caught by animal control the dogs moved on.
So, give the dogs a month or two and they’ll move on.
I swear I’m not the man with the gun in the Great Lakes neighborhood PMcG was talking about in his story!
Nope. He spelled and pronounced his name totally different. And his name had fewer letters.
Um..was that a serious comment?
The reason this is so important is because large aggressive dogs such as this pose a risk to people as well as pets. A large dog can serious injure a child or an adult. Decatur has to be a place where our kids can walk on the sidewalks safely. Unfortunately, there are a number of irresponsible pet owners out there who keep large dogs such as pit bulls and to not properly train or restrain them.
If there is indeed room in the budget for additional police, hiring an officer who can serve in regular police matters and is also trained in animal control would be a wise and necessary use of these resources. Or perhaps the money could be used to have a current officer or two certified in animal control and to purchase in-house animal control equipment. I would like to work with the police and the council to come up with cost-effective ways to improve our ability to respond to these types of incidents.
I’m sorry to hear that Officer Cantrell was ill. I recall he was freindly and very responsive to loose animal complaints. We should definitely have a back up plan to fill in for his absence. Has the city looked into private animal control contracts?
My comment was historically accurate.
From August 1, 2000 AJC:
“Dekalb: Dog Threat Over
It’s been the talk of the summer in two Decatur-area neighborhoods, but DeKalb County animal-control officials say the threat from packs of roving dogs is over, at least for now.
Just one dog suspected in the deaths or maulings of nearly 100 pet cats escaped a two-week dragnet, they say.
The officers continue to look for a red chow mixed-breed, said Frank Boldoe, DeKalb County’s deputy public safety director responsible for animal control.”
Unfortunately, I have a sad sense of humor. Please keep all cats, loved ones, and fire arms locked up until the dogs have been apprehended.
As for adding a CoD animal control officer, I’m all for it! I would rather see money given to feet on the beat than a pole on corner.
I’m not in favor of spending more money on animal control…
Why not, Russ?
Atticus Finch knew what to do with a dangerous stray dog. Anyone got a shotgun? Gibbets?? Russ???
Word, J_T.
Yes, but it get used only before a BarBQue.
Hey Nelliebelle — I just think Decatur is small enough that it could be handled by a part-timer.
Oops, one more for the old times sake:
November 11, 1999 – AJC, page JA3
“Marauding Dogs Elude Cops’ Capture
Two weeks after they last attacked, the pack of dogs that has been killing cats in Winnona Park seems to have vanished.
Neither Decatur police, which includes the city’s one animal control officer, nor DeKalb County Animal Control has received any calls concerning the four dogs that attacked their 15th feline victim on Oct. 28. Nine cats have died and six more have been injured since the attacks began about nine months ago.”
That’s all from me on this topic.
It’s both simpler and more responsible to just keep your cats inside– as Meg correctly noted, free-roaming cats (and dogs, for that matter) are too susceptible to attacks by other animals & getting struck by vehicles. But rather than simply increasing the amount we spend for animal control, why not address the problem in a more specific manner: Increase the amount of fines imposed on careless/negligent animal owners for damage to others’ property & chattel caused by their “pets” (if our municipal ordinances in fact provide for such fines; I’m not sure, but I’ll bet our resident Code-quoter does). People tend to become a little more responsible if their pocketbooks take a significant hit.
I have to say, I ever get a stray dog in my yard acting like it’s going to attack me or my family, it’s gonna get capped. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool animal lover, but I ain’t playin’, neither.
That red chow attacked my tiny dog in my front yard way back when; I was badly bitten (by my dog) while I was snatching him out of the way.
What I would like is for a rescue group to take over DeKalb and Decatur’s animal control issues. The DeKalb police department uses animal control as punishment duty so you can imagine how ill tempered and disinterested their officers are.
It is time for the county to partner with Paws Atlanta or some other group and run animal control as animal rescue and adoption. Offer cheap spays/neuters, a no-kill shelter for pet adoptions, and only put down the vicious and unadoptable animals. in an humane manner.
One night i was walking my pup and as we turned the corner a pack of about 5-6 dogs were coming in our direction, pitbulls and the like. Completely terrified i ran to the closest house, a stranger to me, he came to the door, i explained the situation, and he grabbed his baseball bat, put me and my dog in the backseat and drove me the 2 blocks home. I don’t nomally get in strangers cars, yes i know it was a pretty stupid move, but i really cringe to think what would have happened had we had to face this pack pack down.
This was not in Decatur square but was Dekalb Co. When i was able to get in touch with them the next day, they were actually quite rude which surprised me honestly.
Every time i saw women with their strollers after that, i warned them. I never walked my dog in that enighborhood again and moved shortly thereafter.
So anyways, i guess my point is, it’s not always about a few missing animals or 1 stray dog but this potentially could be/is a dangerous problem.
Simple rule: (or rules)
Stupid people cannot have cars, kids or animals. (or guns, staplers, chewing gum, dental floss, posthole diggers, ….)
And stupidity should be painful.
But I like my posthole digger and my car.
I’m not implying anything here, but, are you saying that you fear you might be stupid?
Just poking fun at myself. I never said I was SMRT, either.
Gibbets, your name-calling, albeit quite general, along with a couple other recent comments, are beginning to toe the line of acceptability.
Please dial it back a bit.
Done.
This is crazy. I love both cats and dogs, but this poses an issue….
I think the police should get involved with the dog OWNERS and put them in jail for neglect. It’s not the pooches problem they are allowed to be violent and roam freely in the neighborhood!!
Bill
Help Animal Charities while you search the web – http://www.DoGreatGood.com
When I hear of things like this, I don’t spend time on the cat in/cat out issue, I worry about the human animals. I thought this was an informative article on dog attacks.
http://www.ajc.com/news/dog-attacks-as-unpredictable-119340.html
You can’t have feral pack animals loose in a populated area. Period. That’s as important as police and fire protection.
I favor having a “critter getter” company on retainer or a city function rather than a do it yourself approach. I’ve lived in an area where joggers wore sidearms and frequently used them on unleashed dogs. That’s not a pleasant situation.
I’m a huge animal lover, but I have to admit that I’m absolutely a dog person as opposed to cats. I’m allergic to most cats and just don’t “get” them. If you want to have a nice little kitty as a pet, great. If you want to have twenty of them, have at it! Just keep them away from me. And my roof. And my car!
Every morning when I go to my car, there are freaking cat paw prints all over it. The cats also come into my backyard, sit on the deck in front of the back door and taunt the dogs that I have responsibly kept inside while I am away. If my dogs did exactly what the neighbors’ cats did, they would be pissed. And rightly so. If you have a “pet”, you do not let it roam the neighborhood unleashed. Because at that point, it is NOT A PET, it is wild game. Frankly, I see little difference between and cat running loose and a squirrel doing the same. When it gets run over or killed by another animal, it is not the driver or the other animal’s fault. That is what freaking happens to animals in the wild (or suburbia).
Oh. My. This looks like a topic for another thread!
“When it gets run over or killed by another animal…”
I’m really disturbed by the possibility that animals are driving, and running over other animals.
Yes, don’t these animals know that it would be way more conscientious to be…
“Ridin’ on the metro…”
Nice! A Berlin shoutout!
It’s just–I can find No More Words for how bizarre this grouping together of rodents and felines is, but it is odd we came right back to the automobile again.
You are just a font of 80′s new wave/alt trivia, aren’t you?
Yes, and every breath I take spouts a world of smiles–even when I bang the drum and shout at the devil.
(Are we part of the select few that don’t take this blogging thing seriously?)
Wow, the Police, Peter Gabriel and Motley Crue all in one sentence. VERY impressive.
And I only take the blogging thing seriously when I really want to piss someone off.
So do you think DM is reading these posts right now and thinking he should just kick us both off?
Actually, I was thinking Police, Berlin again, Waterboys and the Crue. But I’ll take Gabriel.
Don’t know about how long we’ll have here–but I have to agree with pissing people off, not to mention confounding them as well.
You guys know me so well. Moderation Gibbs.
For someone that railed against “trolls”, you sure don’t have a problem with thread-jacking for your own pleasure.
Let me know if you guys want each others email addresses so you can continue the amusement off-site…though that doesn’t have the exhibitionist quality anymore, does it?
“You guys know me so well. Moderation Gibbs.”
Was it the “I dare you” sound of my post? That was not intended.(I imagine that you’ve seen it coming, good show!)
It was all in jest–earlier posts aside, those were in jest and poking fun at the self-importance of critical blogging. Unwarranted, perhaps, but they were complete meaningless [edited] all the same.
As for the exhibitionist quality of my posts–isn’t that what this whole pile of 0s and 1s is about? It’s a blog that is filled with comments by locals that others are allowed to comment on. You sound as if you don’t exhibit any of your own taunt opinions–but, it is your blog. And I do like to spot trolls–true, I had a little railing against mediocrity going on for humor sake, and I got out of hand, but who, or what, have I insulted? other than a decorum that a comment board cannot possibly keep?
I have to remind myself, now and again, that anyone who takes the things they read on blogs seriously should really have a close examination of what they are thinking, reading, writing and, ultimately, reacting to.
All things in moderation.
It was the growing sense of entitlement to post whatever suited your fancy (which led to what I would call “thread-jacking”), combined with an increased level of insult in your tone. Also, the pot-shot you took at an 11 year-old earlier this week didn’t help your cause.
Oh, and I do insist on a level of decorum and will continue to do so. And it’s not just so I can be high-and-mighty…it’s good business sense. Many people post here and no where else, because they aren’t as concerned about being flamed.
What if a cat gets run over while chasing a squirrel?
A lot of “dog” people fault the cat for its apparent independence which is odd and evocative.
It all depends on if the squirrel intentionally swerved to hit the cat.
Yeah, and how well he slept later that night.
You are all lovely freaks.
The leash law in Dekalb County applies to cats, as well as to dogs. Keep the cats indoors.
Not to be a buzz kill, but i doubt the person at the top of the post who may possibly lose their pet would find the jokes that funny. I’m not a cat person, but losing a pet really truly sucks.
Yes, losing a pet really does suck–cat, dog, hamster, fruit bat–it doesn’t matter, it always sucks (I’ve had to remind myself that I take on that burden when I get a pet: chances are I will out-live them).
However, I don’t see any jokes about someone losing their pet here, which probably means the jokes are way off-topic, but that happens. The jokes, that are even in the same area code as this thread, are clearly directed toward word usage, grammar, and running commentary on dog catchers–which are always funny.
I am a cat person, so I’m sorry about the person’s cats but I will not pass up a chance to swing the heartache.
Especially when your pet is killed by a pack of roving feral dogs, which happened to my son’s pet cat several years ago.
You know what? You’re right. In my desire to be clever and funny, I lost sight of the fact that there is a real issue here.
To the person whose cat was attacked – please accept the apologies and condolences of a dyed-in-the-wool cat person who knows what it’s like to lose a pet in a similar circumstance.
You are a good guy Eric!
Ok. So back on topic.
Problem: Dogs roaming streets. Cats roaming streets. Squirrels roaming streets.
Possible solutions:
(1) See if dogs/cats have collars on and if there are phone numbers on the tags. Call the owners and have them get their pets of the streets. Gently remind them of the laws. (For squirrels – personally, I call open season.)
(2) Like was suggested before, what are the fines for pets off leash? Can those fines be increased? (For squirrels – community service awards based on body count.)
(3) I like the idea of coordinating with a pet rescue service to supplement the existing city/county animal control, especially if it would increase response times. (For squirrels – Let’s create a friendly habitat at the south pole for them to be relocated to.)
Things I have done in my immediate neighborhood closely resemble #1 (as recently as 2 months ago). But I have my limits. Back in 1999/2000 the pack was as large as 10 dogs at times. Personally, I will approach up to three dogs at a time, but if there are more than three, I’ll just call animal control. If my schedule allows for it, I’ll follow them as best I can in my vehicle to keep tabs on the pack.