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Conference misery::feline

Title:Meower Power - Where Differing Opinions are Respected
Notice:purrrrr...
Moderator:JULIET::CORDES_JA
Created:Wed Nov 13 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1079
Total number of notes:28858

654.0. "Request Statistics on MA town/animal control officer" by USCTR1::ESULLIVAN () Fri Nov 12 1993 12:14

    
    
    
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    	I am very upset about the number of animals that get killed on
    local streets and highways AND THERE IS NO ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER
    paid for by the town.  As I have stated, my own town of Holden,
    MA does not have an animal control officer.  Several ariticles
    have been written in local newspapers, Holden Landmark and 
    Wachusett People, which have complained about the lack of an
    animal control officer in Holden.  One person recently wrote
    that an injured deer, which was hit on a HOlden road, was left
    to suffer and die because there was no animal control officer
    to handle this.  
    	We can't expect the police to handle this problem if a town
    does not have an animal control officer.  Also, dogs and cats
    have been reported to the Holden Police Dept., who were injured
    and dying along the side of a road.  This is DISGUSTING.  So I
    am going to do something about it, at least at my town level.
    I would encourage you all to do something, too.  Start by
    complaining to your local selectpersons, write letters to your
    local newspaper, etc.
    	I would be interested in hearing from fellow FELINE'rs if you
    know if your town in MASSACHUSETTS has an animal control officer.
    Please forward your reply to my VAXMAIL.
    
    		State the name of your town.  (MASSACHUSETTS ONLY)
    
    		Yes or No if you have an animal control officer.
    
    		If yes, part-time or full-time.
    
    		If you know how this person is funded. please indicate,
    		i.e. from general funds or specifically through dog
    		license / registration fees.
    
    REgards,
    
    Eleanor
    
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654.1NETWKS::GASKELLMon Nov 15 1993 06:415
    Groton, MA		part time animal control officer
    			(refuses to handle rabid animals
    			and seems to be reluctant to 
    			handle ANY animal complaint, but 
    			he's all we have.)
654.2POWDML::MANDILERainbow in my pocketMon Nov 15 1993 07:275
    Middleboro, MA     Full time Animal Control Officer, who is
                       actually a member of the police force in
                       my town.
                       I cannot put my opinions of his performance
                       here......
654.3Holden, MAREFDV1::ESULLIVANTue Nov 16 1993 09:269
    
    
    Holden, Ma		No animal control officer.
    
    			Police handle calls about all
    			complaints about animals.  Will
    			also handle rabid animal complaints -
    			at least one officer has had rabies
    			prevention shots.
654.4Nit - rabies vaccine isn't a preventativePTPM06::TALCOTTWed Nov 17 1993 05:116
    Minor point - the rabies pre-exposure vaccine isn't a "preventative."
    It reduces the number of post-exposure shots you need from 6 (or 7 if
    you follow World Health Organization guidelines) to, ummmmm, I believe
    1.
    
	    Vaccinated Trace Who Still Worries (some) About Exposure
654.5MAYES::MERRITTKitty CityTue Nov 23 1993 05:3319
    Fitchburg:  Animal Control Officer (not sure if it's part 
                time or full!)  City paid for her to have the series
                of Rabie shots.
    
                Prefers to be contacted on any suspected Rabid animal
                because our police force just shoots them no matter what.
    
                She cannot handle all the loose dogs in Fitchburg even if
                there is a leash law.  BUT if you catch a stray dog...she 
                will pick him up.
    
                Police officers will pick up dead animals on the road if 
                they get many complaints.
    
                The animal control officer has  helped me on numerous 
                occasions to take animals away from bad abusive situations.
                (she truly takes the animals needs into consideration)
         
               
654.6Bolton MAUSPMLO::GPELLETIERWed Nov 24 1993 08:5920
	Bolton, Mass.
	-------------

	We have an animal control officer (who also is a special police
	officer) to attend to the wide range of animal issues that can
	occur in a rural town.  We also have a dog officer whose services
	are shared with another town.  Then there is the environmental police
	who handle such issues as deer/car collisions, unfortunately an
	increasingly common occurrence.  They cover a region of towns.

	Because Bolton was hard-hit by raccoon rabies earlier this year,
	the police put in force a policy to deal with any type of encounter
	with these animals.  They do not automatically destroy the raccoon,
	by the way.

	However depending on the problem, the police themselves may handle it,
	and I've always found them responsive whenever I've had to contact
	them.

	George
654.7Thanks for responsesUSCTR1::ESULLIVANMon Nov 29 1993 06:324
    		
    Thanks, so far, for the responses.
    
    Eleanor
654.8Hudson, MAMROA::LCHESTERMon Nov 29 1993 14:466
    Hudson, MA     Yes, there is an animal control officer
    		   and she is very caring (not sure if full
    		   or part time).  Town is very strict about
    		   licenses and vaccinations, event to the
    		   point of free clinics each spring by local
    		   vets.