Longview committee holds meeting regarding stray animals

LONGVIEW, Texas ( KETK ) – Tuesday evening, the Longview Animal Shelter Advisory Committee, along with the public, discussed ways to resolve the question of public safety when it comes to stray animals.

“The dog saw me watching from about 100 yards away and rushed me and I tried to get away with his snapping at my heels and ended up with a knee injury,” Summer Richards, Longview resident, said.

This meeting comes after a man was found dead in February after being attacked by a dog , according to the Longview Police Department.

“The mayor said we have got to look at everything we are doing. We need to figure out if there’s anything we need to put in place to make sure our residents are safe as it relates to unrestrained animals,” Richard Yeakley, public information officer for the City of Longview, said.

Residents at the meeting said there is an overcrowding problem. They said a good solution should be to captured the stray dogs and cats and then microchip them or spay and neuter.

“There’s no solution, there’s no other option, we cant keep chasing our tail. We’ve got to sterilize the animals,” Kelly Heitkamp, Longview resident, said

In the month of June, the Longview adoption center said animal control has received 700 calls and only has three officers.

“We have three that work in the city and the question is, is that enough or do we need more? Do they need to be working more hours? Do they need a cover more areas of the city and I think that’s another large part of the conversation,” Yeakley said.

There were also recommendations by residents to give steeper consequences for dog or cat owners that leave their pet unrestrained ,by increasing the amount of fines for offenses.

“It is motivating many people to be more responsible. Some people are ignoring it and acting like its not that big of a deal and eventually it catching up to you,” said Heitkamp.

The committee will hold two more public meetings before making a recommendation to city council.

The meetings will be at the Longview Animal Care  Shelter, August 15 ^th & 27 ^th at 5:30pm.

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