The Baltimore County Bureau of Animal Control?s policy is terminally flawed. On Aug. 22 at 7:30 a.m. I found a dog amid feces and without water in the “Safe Pet Kennel” at the police precinct where I work. The dog had been there since 4:30 p.m. the previous day. He waited at least 15 hours before an Animal Control officer arrived.
Except for three, all Baltimore County Police precincts have such kennels. They vary in design but generally consist of a cage with a cover, a dog shelter and several cages for cats.
The name “Safe Pet Kennel” is an oxymoron.
Earlier in August, with the mercury topping 100 degrees, I removed a cat from a 1 foot x 1 foot cage in the kennel. Her panting had begun to wane as she neared unconsciousness.
Her death would have occurred long before the AC officer arrived more than an hour later. If a citizen inflicted such abuse animal cruelty charges would be warranted.
I once watched an AC officer “hose down” an overheated cat from the kennel. I asked why such suffering was allowed to occur. He asked me how I knew the cat was not already overheated when placed in the cage.
Another officer told me on the basis of anonymity that cats had died this way.
I reported such occurrences to Charlotte Crenson-Murrow, director of Animal Control, in July 2005 and 2006. I asked her to conduct an evaluation of the kennels and suggested an animal welfare group like the Humane Society should participate and advise. An AC officer told me any animal welfare group would deem the kennels inhumane no matter what.
Animal Control?s “Operating Guidelines: Kennels at Police Precincts” call for citizens to take stray and lost animals to a precinct and tell the desk officer they are placing them in the Safe Pet Kennel.
From 11 p.m. until 8 a.m., however, no one staffs Animal Control. If the situation is urgent, an on-call AC officer may be notified through 911, but their arrival won?t necessarily be timely.
Routine rounds by AC officers are few and far between, and when summoned it can be hours before one arrives. Extreme Maryland weather conditions should preclude the placement of animals in these kennels for any period of time.
Guidelines call for precinct staff to provide water for animals and to notify Animal Control if the kennel is dirty.
Most animals are frightened, however, making this risky since even the tamest animal can be aggressive when afraid. Police personnel should not have to prompt Animal Control to clean its own kennels.
Countless precinct employees have lovingly cared for these animals. But due to the emergency-laden nature of police work and changing shifts, such care cannot be guaranteed.
Crenson-Murrow stated in an Aug. 18 letter that a prototype kennel is under development for the new Parkville Precinct, which is slated to open this winter, and that it will be tested at another precinct first.
Adequate funding must be allocated so humane facilities may be created, and an animal welfare group must be consulted as to the design before winter arrives. Saving money should not be a determining factor.
Facilities must be temperature controlled to protect animals from excessive heat or cold.
The facilities must be accessible from the inside of the precinct so police personnel can properly monitor them.
Like children, animals are the most helpless members of our society.
There are many objections to government spending, but few Baltimore County taxpayers would balk at spending money to end the abuse of these innocent animals.
Corinne Becker writes about quality of life issues in the community. She is president of Riderwood Hills Community Association in Towson, Baltimore County. She can be reached at [email protected].
