**Blink,

I've said the exact same thing you said about being willing to pay more
taxes for better police-like animal control powers. Unfortunately though, my
city is pretty small compared to Miami or Houston or LA, etc, so the budget
is tiny for my local animal control. There is verrry little that my animal
control can do if someone neglects his or her animals, and it's just too
common here for me to even begin to talk about.

It's really a shame and failure to our animals how anyone can get/ buy an
animal, and then place it in their backyard like a ornament, and neglect it
day-in and day-out. And God help you if you try to be a good Samaritan and
try help the animals. Then you* risk being retaliated against, and I have
been, several times already. I just called animal control last wk to report
my two black thug  neighbors who's dad has moved out and basically done the
black male awol bit that's so common, and simply left them there to tend to
themselves and live right beside me*.  Their mother disappeared years ago.
They are just at legal ages, and I unfortunately do not live in a 'home
owners association' neighborhood, because if I did then* I would have some
legal teeth to get their butts kicked out. They act like total low-class
trash, and have a long history of animal neglect and abuse, but yet, their
past animal neglect and abuse cases still remain 'open' to this day from
1997(!?).

Well, the two surly young men just got another poor baby puppy and* a pit
bull and basically Never tend to the dogs.. very long story. And when I
called again ( 3rd time) to report them because the dogs had no water at
all.. weeell.. they then stupidly ( pulled a Johnny cockren) called the cops
on me* to say I was a racist and harassing them(!).

The animal control man called me later to say that he did write them up, but
other than that, there was very little he could do to remove the puppy and
young pit bull, and that sadly this is the case all over! And he also added
that I needed to be very careful since they were going to be, "very hard to
deal with" and knew it was me*. Shortly after that phone call the men called
the cops on me to say I was racist, etc. Talk about upsetting and
frustrating! And my hands are tied! Yes, something needs to be done now*
with our laws here in FL to help protect so many helpless animals because
neglect and abuse are just too common and widespread to comprehend.

ML

I've watched Animal Cops a few times, but it's very hard.  I usually end up
in tears before the show is over.  I'm in NYC and I've seen the New York
animal cops featured on the show a few times.  One time I watched, I think
they said that there are only a few of them working the whole city.  They
can also actually arrest people.

--
Liz