My neighbors used to keep their two dogs outside all the time, and without any sort of shelter. The dogs then had nothing to protect them from the rain and nothing to keep warm in the winter except a whole in the ground. I thought that it was required to provide some sort of shelter for outdoor dogs. I called animal control and reported it, and they did nothing. So what are they really for, other than picking up stray dogs?

wow... where are you and what sort of people are these?

seriously, I see them on Animal Planet all the time kicking butt and taking dogs to the dog shelter or dog pound when they see something like this...

Before I was married and was living in a rental house with a bunch of other girls, we had to call Animal Control because some raccoons had gotten into the attic, so they came and put traps or something down. not to kill the raccoons, but to get them out of the attic humanely.

Oh wait, they were possums in the attic, not raccoons. Still. Didn't want 'em there.

I don't think that Animal control is resposible for animal abuse. The police usually handle that. Animal control is called in to capture stray dogs and rabid animals, so that the police don't get hurt trying to.

Yes seems like when they are really needed where are they.

On Animal Cops (on Animal Planet) they are always doing great things for animals. Hmmm..

In the summer, my next door neighbour's dog managed to get out on the roof of the house by getting out a second storey window. I called Animal Services and they told me they wouldn't get "off the ground" to rescue the dog. The dog almost fell off the roof a couple of times. I ended up calling my husband at work (about 5 minutes away) who got up on a ladder and managed to coax her down.

Also, my local pet store owner lives next to people who are abusing a GSP. She has called Animal Services a number of times and they haven't done anything.

I thought it was just here. It is distressing to think that this is happening all over.

Originally Posted by SeeSpotRun

I don't think that Animal control is resposible for animal abuse. The police usually handle that. Animal control is called in to capture stray dogs and rabid animals, so that the police don't get hurt trying to.

Isn't Animal Control a branch of the police dept? In Savannah at least, they drive a truck that says Savannah Police on the side. Anyway, I had reported the problem to the other police also. I think the only thing that was ever done was a written fine for not having the dog tags.

Originally Posted by PugLuv

wow... where are you and what sort of people are these?

seriously, I see them on Animal Planet all the time kicking butt and taking dogs to the dog shelter or dog pound when they see something like this...

I was just about to mention the officers on Animal Planet. Do you guys think that's just for show?

I think it depends where you live... In the US, Often a county is responsible for its "Animal Control" and some take it more seriously than others. Some counties do a better job than others to work with law enforcement in terms of rounding up abusers and bringing them to justice. As for shelters and adoption centers, many of these are financially dependent on funds raised from the community, and fees paid for adoptions.