Let me say this first, I've no real problem with Brevard County Animal Services & Enforcement. They are only enforcing laws on the book.
I've got a problem with the laws on the book and the way they are enforced.
This is the EXACT wording of section D of Brevard County Ordinance 14-4:
The Board shall nominate an Animal Services and Enforcement Council to affirm or reverse staff's sufficient cause finding. The Council members shall be one veterinarian and one alternate veterinarian, one dog behavioral trainer and one alternate dog behavioral trainer, and one kennel worker and one alternate kennel worker. Council members shall serve one (1) year or until a replacement is duly appointed. The Animal Services and Enforcement Council shall adopt rules of procedure to govern such hearings, as necessary. A copy of the rules of procedures shall be made available to any person who requests a hearing. The Council is not an advisory board subject to the uniform advisory board ordinance, and public comment shall not be required at each council meeting.
They fail to mention that as long as there are ANY number of "Council members" at the hearing that it is legal and allowed to happen. Hmmm doesn't say that any where does it?
Oh and the best one, they are ruling on a COUNTY ORDINANCE and they are not subject to the uniform advisory board ordinance? now why is that? Hmmm conflict of interest maybe?
I'll hold off on the rest till tomorrow.
Ok it's tomorrow almost 6 weeks later. . .
Yes I took my time to simmer on this. Work has been super busy and I've had other things occupying my time. Let me fill you in on whole story from my stand point.
Buddy was born in November of 1988, I witnessed his birth. He was my 3rd. Siberian Husky. I watched him grow up from day 1. I enjoyed his company and he was a good boy and a great father. Being a Siberian Husky
he did have some "misshapes" most of them where typical Siberian Husky things. He jumped 4 foot chain link fences, 6 foot wood privacy fences and could dig under any others. He never did anything bad when he
got lose except RUN and RUN and RUN. Never bothered anyone or anything. Till that one night......
In late June of 1998 Tasha and he got lose late one night and went running. It seems that some incredibly ignorant cats owner had left their cat out lose roaming the neighborhood that night too.
Let us cover the fore mentioned cat a little bit. According to B.A.S.E.'s report that I was given the cat was a "outside" cat, had not seen a vet. for shots in over 3 years, was not neutered, was considered a "Neighborhood" cat by the owners and next door neighbors.
Now I'm confused that almost sounds feral cat to me. I'm also wondering how someone that claims to love their cat would ever let it outside unattended or not take it to the vet for basic health care. That sounds like a very UNCARING cat owner.
Then again this is Brevard County where cats are allowed to run free and dog owners are fined for almost anything there dog does.
Now back to the point. Both dogs probably saw the cat and gave chase. The cat fearing for it's life ran. This was what cost the it's life. This next part may seem cold and uncaring but. . .
Once the cat ran that kicked in the pray drive that all dogs have. Being a 13 year old cat he couldn't out run the 2 dogs. They did not draw blood or brake the skin on the cat. They played with him, Siberians play rough. Sadly the cat did not survive.
This entire ordeal happened in the owners backyard. It woke up 3 neighbors but not the owners. The owners never showed at the hearing either. The owners where issued 2 warnings(I agree with this).
I was issued 6 citations totaling $530. Charged $100 for the transporting of 2 dogs under 15 miles to a shelter and $440 for 10 day stay at the same shelter. I was NOT allowed to chose where they where to spend the 10 days which is Wrong and B.A.S.E. admitted that.
Then there is the $300 "dangerous dog" fee per year per dog. A scam for B.A.S.E. to make some money. Plus all the other things you do once you are declared a dangerous dog owner. ie $100,000 insurance policy on the dogs with B.A.S.E. as the payee. (SCAM ALERT)
The chains,tattoos,misc items totaling about $300. All total a ignorant cat owner cost me $1,930.00 in under a week! With a $600 a year bounty to boot.
You may be saying to your self "Why in the hell did you fight it? Just let them put the dogs to sleep" If I would have just let them put the dogs to sleep it would have cost me $1,030.00. I wasn't going to let them do it!
I love my dogs, they are my children, my life.
This will be it for now. I'll add more later.
