Texas: Heartless animal control officer drags injured, shot dog by neck with catch pole

TEXAS -- A resident of the town of Alice, Texas, was shocked and appalled when the city animal control arrived to help with an injured dog she found. Instead of gently taking the dog who had been shot and getting the dog medical care, the animal control officers took a catch pole and dragged the injured animal across gravel to their truck.

The person who called animal control said the dog was very friendly. She thought she was helping the dog, but she wrote: "they dragged the dog with its open wounds through the dirt and rocks!"

The photograph shows the animal control offices dragging the dog behind her, nonchalantly, as she walks toward her truck. She obviously does not care how her actions are further injuring the shot dog. There is no indication that a catch pole was needed, but even if workers were worried that an injured dog might bite, there are humane ways of moving an injured dog.

Some ACOs might muzzle an injured dog or wrap a leash around the dog's muzzle. No one would ever simply drag the dog by the neck over gravel causing abrasions to the already severely wounded animal. Dragging a dog with a catch pole can choke or otherwise injure a dog, and this is a dog who was already injured.

It would seem a foregone conclusion that the City of Alice, Texas, needs new animal control workers. From the actions seen in the photo, it would appear that the person who so cruelly mishandled this dog is guilty of animal abuse.

When the office of the City Manager was contacted about this, an employee said that she would email a press release about the investigation. Unfortunately -- oops -- the city is investigating the wrong incident! The press release states:

"The City of Alice was informed yesterday evening of a Social Media post involving an incident with our Animal Control Department. The City of Alice is committed to a careful and thorough investigation of this incident. The Alice Police Department is conducting an investigation into the unknown assailant that resulted in a dog being shot in an Alice neighborhood. If anyone has any information about this incident, please report it to the Alice Police Department. We appreciate the concern we have received from the Public, and will commit ourselves to proceeding with resolving this matter as expeditiously as possible."

A call was placed back to the City Manager's office to clarify that the question about an investigation was regarding the animal control officer's inhumane treatment of an injured dog. "Someone will call you back," was the response. No call has been received.

Please share this article. Contact the City of Alice City Manager at (361) 668-7210 and urge friends to call, too. They need to understand that this shameful action by an ACO is cruel by everyone's standards. You can also email the city council at: citycouncil@cityofalice.org / council.iornelas@cityofalice.org / council.lescobar@cityofalice.org / council.mesparza@cityofalice.org / council.pbeltran@cityofalice.org / council.rburke@cityofalice.org.

The woman has been identified as Rose Mary Hawkins.

(Examiner.com - May 19, 2016)