It seems in the past week that both Dallas and Garland Animal Services Departments have come under fire. From what I gather the two issues of complaints are much different. In Dallas it seems people are concerned for the welfare of people in that viscous pit bull attacks (even involving deaths) are the main sources of those complaints while over here in Garland we have animal rights folks saying that animals are maintained under inhumane conditions at our shelter.
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No Cruella de Vils among our Animal Services Personnel in Garland, Texas
In fact, they deserve some gold stars!
I probably wouldn’t even be writing this post except for my own recent interaction with the Garland Animal Services, which was more than satisfactory for my pet and me. Last Sunday, June 3, I was away from home from 1 to 6 PM. When I came home my 18-year-old rat terrier, Bubbles was gone. I have a fenced backyard and a dog door leading from backyard into my kitchen. Someone must have opened my unlocked gate in my absence and let Bubbles out.
After running around calling her for about half an hour throughout the neighborhood, I posted to the local online neighborhood gossip chain and then I went to the online mutt shot gallery that is posted on our Garland Animal Services site.
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There she was. A note below her photo said that it had been posted within the last hour. That brought me so much peace of mind to know that Bubbles was safe and not been hit by a car or destroyed by a larger animal. Otherwise I would have worried all night long about her safety.
Charlie and I were at the Garland Animal Services one minute before 10 AM when they opened on Monday. When I was filling out the paper work, Charlie went back to the kennel area to see Bubbles. He reported that she was drinking water and that she also had food and a clean cage. [Note to Cynics and would be Critics: Ok you can say that since it was 10 AM that the cages are cleaned just prior to opening the facility at 10 AM. I’ll give you that. The real test is to ask if the facility has SCHEDULED spot checks for water and clean cages throughout the day.]
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I sent an email to the Garland Animal Services on Friday asking them if they had a schedule they followed throughout the day to ensure the animals have water and clean cages.
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To prove their merit for this star, here is a message that was in my email box this morning from Mr. Hugo:
Good afternoon Elizabeth,
We do an in depth cleaning in the morning and we have officers make rounds on half hour or hour intervals, depending on availability. We do check water levels and soiled cages. There are times, like today, that there is a lot of people visiting the shelter. We do our best to make sure that someone is back checking on the pets as soon as time permits.
Thank you,
Hugo Espinoza
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Bubbles needed a rabies shot so she got one prior to being able to leave the facility. I held her as she was given the shot and she did not even flinch, much less bark. My dog is old and arthritic. Sometimes she yelps when I pick her up.
Also I talked with a friend of mine who said that two years ago she had a squirrel in the fork of a tree in her backyard. It was foaming at the mouth and bleeding from its rear end. She called Garland Animal Services and they were at her house within the hour. The fellow who came put on big gloves and gently removed the squirrel and put it in a cage. He ask my friend if the squirrel had been close to her dog and told her that a vet would check for rabies on the squirrel and let her know either way. He also assured my friend that the squirrel would be put down humanely. Jane said that you could just tell he was the kind of person who loved animals.
Bubbles, My Friends and I all think the Garland Animal Services personnel deserve a Five Star Rating for their treatment of animals and use of resources they are given.
Bubbles and Liz give the Garland Animal Services Personnel a 5 Star Rating
