Karen Standish, ME 8/22/2008 5:38:43 PM People can also apply for grant money to help them keep their pets!!!!! The law is a great idea but prevention is better! Are these shelters No-kill! How about foster programs to help people keep their pets until they can take them to a new home!
Joy Riverview, FL 8/22/2008 11:49:22 AM That was a great idea, but here's another concern. Are the animal services helping to find the unfortunate ones homes or just sending then to shelters without another thought? Are the shelters no kill? It's great to take action like that, but what about the next step?
Pat St Louis, MO 8/22/2008 8:58:36 AM Well done, California! We have a local group here, Stray Rescue of St Louis, that has been addressing the problem through a variety of means (including taking in any dogs so abandoned.) While there is no specific law on the books--yet--believe me, Stray Rescue's track record with getting other pet legislation enacted will have something on the books soon. The problem still remains: how soon does a property owner get around to inspecting the property after a family moves out? The article doesn't really state how that part works. If a dog is left for even four or five days without water before somebody does a walk through, it really doesn't matter who notifies whom. We can't assume that all property owners know who does and who doesn't own a pet. I would doubt that Animal Welfare patrols properties on a regular basis, and not all abandoned pets are tied up outside where they're obvious. That's the angle Stray Rescue is attacking the issue from, so that abandoned pets will be discovered in a timely fashion. Education is also being directed to not only the banks, realtors, law enforcesment, etc. but to pet owners to convince them to surrender their pets to a shelter in the first place.
Cheryl Conway, MO 8/22/2008 8:11:04 AM This is a great law. I hope many more states will adopt it also.
Laura Carrollton, GA 8/22/2008 4:53:17 AM Way to go Sheri! What a wonderful you have one. Thank you for making a difference for the animals.