Arkansas needs to create a database or some type of registry that handles repeated animal abuse. Arkansas could be a leader that would create stronger penalties for animal cruelty and neglect (and make it stick).
There is so much neglect and animal cruelty just in Mississippi County, we would never be current with the jail fees (course we can't seem to anyway). One of our greatest problems we have, and have been having for years, is dropping off animals out into the county. Notice I said one of the problems, for there are many that need addressing. That may not seem to be so much of a concern to city folks, but I can tell you it most surely is. When the dogs pack up, which is natural for them to do, they come to town to forge for food. They can surely become dangerous. They can become vicious because that is part of the "survival of the fittest."
Follow me closely on this. They are dropped out in the dead of night. Most of them are very sick, never had any vet care and many pregnant. Example, Mamma ain't happy about having a dog, and when she sees it getting that-a-way, she alerts her husband that "we ain't having no puppies at this house" -- so out to the county she goes. County folk don't want your problem -- they already have enough to deal with.
Or another example -- folks will pick up a cute female puppy that grows into a young adult and goes into estrus. Out she goes to the county to the waiting mongrels that breed her. Most of the puppies are not going to live -- many will die from disease or exposure; some will be eaten by predators. Same goes for kittens and cats.
Somewhere does this not ring a bell in the head of the perpetrators that this is a redneck way of doing things? Are they absent from the day? Preaching to the choir?
So what should people do with their unwanted animals? First off, if you don't love animals, don't get one! That's simple enough. If you are in possession of one you don't want, take it to a shelter. In the case of our Humane Society, which is a "no-kill shelter," they are full always and most probably they ain't going to take your animal. The city shelter is over-crowded as well. Before you throw them out in the county, it would be less cruel to take them and euthanize them rather than throw them out like yesterday's newspaper.
The current Arkansas law is full of holes (some of it makes not much sense). If you plead guilty to animal cruelty or neglect, you can serve about seven days up to a maximum of one year. Do it again within I think five years, you're going to get 90 days. Do it again for the third time, and you'll get a maximum sentence of one year. If you have an animal that repeatedly kills the neighbor's chickens, you can bet what will happen there. Any of this make sense? If it does, let's do something about it. If it does't make sense, then I have wasted your time reading it and my time writing it!
As Jazz would say: "There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog." (Wilson)
Thought for the week: "Animals are such agreeable friends -- they ask no questions, they pass no criticism!"
I hope to have good news for all next week -- you can make it even better if you wish-- Box 2374 Blytheville.