There Is Only So Much We Can Do
THERE’S ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DOBy
Todd De Haven
I have previously written about this topic, but as with other subjects, I periodically remind folks of what we can and cannot do.
I cannot tell you how many times the following has occurred. It’s a cold, rainy and wind swept Sunday evening about 8:30 pm. I answer the phone and on the other end is a very upset individual pleading for assistance for a dog that is tied to a stake with only a lean-to for shelter and a food bowl full of soggy food. I explain to the caller that the situation which they have just related, terrible though it may be, does not qualify as an emergency and well may not even be in violation of the law. Nonetheless I urge them to, between the hours of 11:00 am and 5:00pm, to please go to our Animal Adoption Center at 950 Hal Henard Road and file a complaint. I also tell them the situation will be investigated by our trained investigator. Upon hearing what I’ve had to say, the complainant then becomes extremely irritated and angry, demanding that if I don’t personally immediately go out and investigate this situation, then I should resign my “highly paid” position with the Humane Society. I tell them that is not possible for several reasons and I try and calm them down. Sometimes I succeed but often I don’t.
Similarly, we get cruelty and neglect calls every day at our Animal Adoption Center, some of which we are already aware. A great many of these cases fall, despite what most of us would consider horrid conditions, within the parameters of existing State Law. When we explain this to the caller, sometimes they too begin berating us, many even resulting to the use of shouting and expletives to convey their anger at “The Humane Society.” The verbal abuse hurled frequently at our wonderful staff, would indeed make a sailor blush.
Because of such calls and personal complaints, I have to explain that whether we or anyone else agrees or not, we are restricted by the current State Law which basically states, if the animal has shelter (as ridiculously insufficient that such shelter often is), food and water, we are powerless to intercede. You don’t like the current laws? Then I suggest you contact your State Representatives and Senator. We don’t write the laws and as with everyone else, we have to work within them. I therefore ask of everyone, if you make a complaint and don’t get the response you deemed appropriate, please don’t call back and excoriate us. Usually, we feel the same way you do.
Finally, we only prosecute the most egregious instances simply because our intent is to educate rather than prosecute. Often we’re successful by taking the educational route and changing the individuals attitude and behavior. So if we go to court, you may rest assured it is an horrific and absolutely unconscionable situation. Are those who are found guilty sufficiently punished or suffer any jail time? I honestly can’t tell you the last time over the past couple of years, I remember anyone ever serving so much as even one day in jail regardless of the severity of the abuse. Whose fault is that? I can’t answer that question. All I can say is that I have suggested we cut back on taking cases to court because for whatever reason, the punishments meted out aren’t worth the efforts involved for us to prosecute them.
Oh by the way. When it comes to my being “highly paid,” if one were to give me an AIG level percentage bonus, that would raise my income derived from being your Humane Society President to……”0.”