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| Updated: Animal Control Won't Work With Rescue Groups |
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| Written by Will | |
| Tuesday, 05 February 2008 | |
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About a week ago, Animal Control suggested to the picture takers that they no longer come and take pictures. They cited "liabilities" related to portraying the animals in a false way. Below is a letter, written by Sue Rhoades. The letter is written as a dog who has been picked up by Animal Control. I was brought here and I don't know why. They put me in this cage and they are pretty nice to me, they feed me and water me every day. Sometimes I get treats. A nice lady used to come and take our pictures. She told us she was going to send the pictures to everyone she knew at rescue groups and help me find a home. She used to come in every week. I heard today that she can't take pictures of me anymore. The boss lady told the nice lady that it was a liability for her to take my picture. They said she could slip and fall with her camera. The nice lady told the boss lady that she could slip and fall anywhere with her camera. The boss lady said yes, but the city doesn't want to have to replace her camera. This doesn't make sense because I thought I was here because I needed a home. Why won't the boss lady let the nice lady help find me a home? The boss lady says that SHE will take my picture and give it to the nice lady from now on. But the nice lady takes all of our pictures. The guys next to me need homes, too. What if the boss lady doesn't take their pictures too? I hear that we will go to another shelter to get a home. I hear that shelter kills a lot of the dogs there when they don't find homes. I thought that's why the nice lady was there to take our picture, so we didn't have to go to the other shelter. I'm afraid if I go to the other shelter I will die. I think I was better off running loose without a home. At least I would be able to stay alive. The nice lady can go to the shelter where they kill dogs and take my picture. Nobody tells her it's a liability. Not yet. I hear at Stray Rescue, The Humane Society, and the ASPCA let kids come in and play with us and take us for walks. The boss lady says that can't happen here because it's a liability. The rescue group ladies can't take us out of the shelter to attend adoption events so we can find a home. The boss lady says it's a liability. I wonder who says everything is a liability? I want to run, I want to find a home, and I want someone to care for me. I'm afraid if I stay here, they will put me in the truck and take me to the other place where I will die. The nice lady asked the boss lady if she and other rescue groups could have more than 3 dogs so we could stay with them until we found a home. The boss lady said no. The nice lady said why, and the boss lady said because of rabies. And noise. And a lot of other things, and the limit ordinance will never allow rescues to foster if they have more than 3 dogs. I'm getting scared. I'm beginning to think I am not going to live very long. Rescue groups don't see dogs with rabies anymore. Not since we all had to get vaccinated every year. And if they did, they wouldn't bring them into their home, would they? They'd take the sick dog to the doctor first. Who is this "liability?" Why does he hate us so much? Does he want us to die? What did we do to him? I wish he liked me. Then I would have a chance to live, the nice lady could come and take my pictures, and we could find a home. I am getting scared. I can't go outside and I can't go for walks with people. All I can do is stand here in my cage and hope somebody will adopt me. If nobody does, I don't know what will happen to me. Where is the nice lady? Why won't she come back? She was helping us find homes. I am so, so scared. I want to get out of here. If I don't find a home, they will kill me. From Sue Rhoades: Update: Arnold Animal Control has now sent pictures of some of their dogs to Act Now! Which dog would you rather adopt?? Max- Taken by Act Now! 
Goofy- Taken by AAC 
Ginger- Taken by AAC 
Dusty- Taken by AAC 
Chip- Taken by AAC 
Buddy- Taken by AAC 
Bear- Taken by AAC 
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Hits: 338 Comments (13)
  written by srhoades, February 05, 2008
Will, thanks for posting this! I'd like, nowever, to make it clear that the problems rescue groups are having is with ARNOLD ANIMAL CONTROL and not JEFFERSON COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL. Thanks. Sue Rhoades
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 written by Melody, February 05, 2008
This is so unfortunate. I know first hand the good that has come from the pictures being taken. I circulated some and luckily got a hit from a great woman named Gina in TN. She adopted Max from AAC and I had the pleasure of letting "sleep over" till his ride got here. Maybe that's not "the norm" but it happened because of the pictures. Even though AAC puts pics on petfinder.com ,we are not allowed to copy and repost them. You would think everyone would be working together to save them...why aren't we???
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 written by Faith, February 05, 2008
It has been nearly 48 hours since Arnold said they'd send me pictures. I'm still waiting, patiently.
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 written by Jess30, February 05, 2008
Very nice post Melody. I agree with you.
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 written by Jessica, February 06, 2008
To the City of Arnold - What a crazy thing to even worry about! Liability of taking photos? Portraying an animal in the wrong way? I don't see Arnold Animal Control going out of their way to adopt these animals or promote them. They should be paying this volunteer for what he or she does! This is crazy! I saw the postings and all it is is a way to connect the animals with a future home! Obviously it is a CONTROL THING! If they are afraid someone is going to get hurt at their facility - make them sign a release!
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written by srhoades, February 06, 2008
If you do not like the fact that taxpayers are being denied access to taxpayer funded buildings because of liability, please, please come to the council meeting this Thursday evening and let the council know how you feel. We will be there to speak for the animals, they have no voice of their own. All they know is they are fed and watered -- they don't know they will be led to their deaths at Jeff County Animal Control after the 5 day holding period there.
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written by Jessica, February 06, 2008
Have the volunteer sign a waiver! It's for the animals - saving the animals!
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 written by Bobbie, February 06, 2008
I barely got through this email with out crying, those people disgust me all they care about is euthanizing these poor animals that never asked to be born in the first place. I do understand that people should spay and neuter there dogs and i think the only way to enforce this is to make it a law, and if you break you pay unless you are a LICENSED breeder! I dont understand why it is so easy to take your dog to the pound if you cant take care of them or just dont like them, but you wouldnt take your children somewhere and have them put to sleep.... It makes me so sick to think about this!
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 written by pm, February 06, 2008
I'm thinking we should call and write the Mayor or Arnold and tell him what we think and let him know that these City workers are now responsible for killing these sweet dogs that no longer have a chance!
Arnold City Mayor: Mark Powell 2101 Jeffco Blvd Arnold, MO 63010 (636) 296-5940 
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 written by Audrey, February 06, 2008
Just another stupid example of Governmant taking charge. This time, it is hurting defenseless animals. If the city of Arnold is not going to try and place animals I suggest they not have a shelter. For Gods sake, let their pictures be taken and be thankful for any and all help you get to find these animals a home. I know shelter work is a thankless job ( I worked for the city of St. Charles) but you should have compassion for the animals to have a position like that. Why are the rescue groups still waiting on pics from you if you said you will take them? I'm sure you know this is a time issue. Get with it or change careers!!!!!!!!!!!!
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written by pm, February 06, 2008
Write to the Mayor and let him know that he and those workers are responsible for the death of innocent lives being taken!
Mark Powell 2101 Jeffco Blvd Arnold, MO 63010 (636) 296-5940 report abuse
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written by srhoades, February 06, 2008
The reason I posted this story in the first place was not to "bash" Arnold Animal Control, or the City per se. What I wanted to point out is that I believe it is one of our fundamental rights as taxpayers who fund an animal control department to be able to enter with a camera and photograph animals, whether or not we are a rescue, and that insurance companies and attorneys have taken over how the city is able to communicate with its citizens. The insurance companies and the attorneys do not pay our tax dollars for us -- if that day ever comes, then tell me where I can go and what I can do there, let me buy a 1st class ticket to the nearest Communist city first....as an aside, I cannot blame Arnold AC for their policies and procedures, and I believe they do care for these animals, I've seen it myself. We are not talking about abuse. As a rescue, the reality is that if the dogs don't get adopted within whatever holding period over 5 days the city feels they can hold them, they will be sent to JCAC, where their chances of getting adopted and staying alive are lowered tremendously as they are now in "competetion" with many, many other dogs up for adoption. It's my belief that until the public becomes aware of this and gets together as a group to petition for ordinance changes (and, obviously, a new insurance company), and as long as there are many employees dependent on their paycheck to support their families due to their jobs (whether it be feeding and caring for the animals or killing them), this will continue. Bashing the city of Arnold and Arnold Animal Control will not get these guys homes any sooner. They are still the ones who are suffering!
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For years, the Arnold Animal Control center would let people from local rescue groups come in and take pictures of the dogs and cats. These pictures would then find their way to various websites where people could see the pictures and hopefully adopt one of the poor creatures.
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