How Can HLP Prevent Animal Mistreatment?

For many residents of Highland Park, the sound of barking dogs eventually becomes background noise. A nuisance, for sure, but one that can be ignored or overlooked with time. It's all part of life in the city.

However, the sound of an incessantly barking dog is often a symptom of a larger problem--neglect--which can have dangerous consequences for both the dog and the community at large.

Patch received the following e-mail from a Highland Park resident who, along with her own dog, was attacked by a large Doberman on Avenue 52.

My dog's injuries were very serious. His front leg was pretty shredded; his back leg has several bites; his head had several bites. He was bleeding profusely when I took him to the emergency room. He had to have staples and some heavy duty pain meds to manage the pain. By the time we got to the emergency pet clinic, my right forearm was purple and swollen twice its size. I thought it might be broken, but the emergency room doctor confirmed that it was just badly bruised after getting some xrays. It still is bruised, three weeks later, and still hurts. My dog is almost all better, thankfully.

The e-mailer told Patch that she believed the dog became violent as a result of being neglected by its owner.

The dog's owners neglected it, leaving it outside behind a gate all day no matter how hot or unpleasant the weather is, and the poor dog became violent as a result.

Proper Enforcement?

As previously reported on Patch,

According to the ordinance, a dog's barking would be considered excessive if it continued for 10 minutes or more, or intermittently for 30 minutes or more within a three-hour period.

Fines would start at $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense and $1,000 for a third after a hearing by the Department of Animal Services.

Los Angeles County law also prohibits the "inhumane treatment" of animals--meaning that owners are required by law to provide proper food, water and shelter. The violation of this law can result in felony charges being filed against owners.

According to the county's leash law, it is unlawful to let dogs run at large day or night, with or without a license.

As Highland Park residents know, these laws are broken on an almost daily basis, resulting in undue suffering for animals and occasionally causing them to act violently toward humans. The end result is often a death penalty for the animal. They're euthanized as a result of being pushed to the edge by a lifetime of mistreatment.

A violent and constantly barking dog is mostly likely a neglected, lonely and unloved dog.

Can we solved the problem by becoming more vigilant neighbors? The laws aren't perfect----but calling on the city and county to enforce laws relevant to animal neglect and excessive barking would go a long way toward prevent violent incidents.

Patch Asks: How can the Highland Park-Mount Washington community help prevent animal mistreatment?