BRATTLEBORO — One year ago I asked the Brattleboro Selectboard to reexamine our town's policies regarding dogs in town.
Twice, after dogs were found locked in cars on Main Street on hot days, the town animal control officer (ACO) chose to sit and wait by the cars for the owners to return, rather than immediately release these dogs, one of which was a puppy. These incidents are recounted in a letter I sent to the Selectboard in July of last year.
Because I cannot fathom the logic or purpose of the decision-making in those two incidents involving the ACO, I am trying to work with the Selectboard to implement a town policy or ordinance that will authorize the ACO or police to immediately rescue any dog trapped in a hot car without water, rather than waiting to see what happens.
There has still been no action on this issue, yet budgetary decisions and trash disposal take priority over an issue that affects living, feeling creatures? I just don't understand how we can ignore this.
Such reasoning would never be employed if a young child was found in a hot car. Dogs, as defenseless living creatures, are just as vulnerable and dependent on us to act on their behalf when they are trapped. The website mydogiscool.com is the result of a national campaign that is the result of the tragic outcomes of this unintentional, yet nonetheless common and cruel, practice.