Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Letter To The Editor

I would like to address a situation' in the city of Prescott that the Mayor and City Council have said is not a problem. It concerns dogs that are allowed to run loose and often in small packs which have no owner tags.

An incident happened at my house today that has angered and upset me. I have been feeding and caring for a stray cat for several weeks which comes and goes according to her hunger pains. Also there are three or four dogs which follow my mailman around on his route (they are not his dogs) everyday. Today those dogs attacked and mauled this cat on my carport, a place she came to feel secure. I took the cat to the animal hospital, where she remains at this writing, fighting for her life.

I fully realize that not too many folks are going to get real excited over a stray cat attacked by dogs. But this cat was in my carport and it could just as easily have been someone's pet or someone's one-year-old child out eating a candy bar and was not willing to share with two or three dogs. The end result is the same.

My point is this  Prescott needs a leash law which I am fully aware would cost money to implement. But the city needs to get its priorities in order. We have spent in the neighborhood of $60,000 for a mural on a wall (which is beautiful), thousands of dollars on an industrial park, all of which has gained us nothing. We are still supplying utilities to an empty hospital building.

Possibly an agreement could be reached with the city of Hope and its animal control program on a cost share basis. Prescott could pass an ordinance requiring dogs and cats to be licensed annually that would help to offset operating costs.

I also have discussed this with my council person.

I strongly urge that some appropriate action be taken by our city council.

Raymond Fitzhugh

Prescott