Expert: Stephen Vantassel - 1/28/2005

Question
Hello,

I hope you can give me some suggestions, please. I find this concern very distressing.  Unfortunately, to many people in the area in which I live let their dogs run loose or get out of the yard.  It is an area of busy streets and fast cars.

Yesterday I saw a dog running loose in a busy intersection.  I managed to get out of my car and call the dog to an open field, but he wouldn't let me get close enough to him to see if he had any identification on him or to put a collar and leash on him so I could take him to animal control.   This morning I saw the same dog dead in a near by street.

My heart broke because if I had known what to do, I may have been able to stop this from happening.

Can you tell me what to do when I see a dog running loose in traffic?   Calling animal control in our area will do no good.   It takes them way too long to respond.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank You,

Marilyn Dalrymple
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Answer
Pet owners letting their pets roam free is a big problem. In many communities it is already illegal to let dogs run loose. The difficulty is the law is not enforced. It would seem to me that you need to encourage your local officials to start enforcing the law. If it isn't the law in your area, perhaps it is time to get it on the books. Be sure to include cats too.
as for you getting dogs etc. off the street. I would advise against it. It is probably too dangerous given the traffic and the risk to your personal health ie. getting bit etc.
Your dog catcher should be made aware of a new device out called the collarum trap which has been successfully used by dog catchers to capture dogs.

You can learn more about the device at http://www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com