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How many reports of dangerous dogs or dogs in general running loose will it take before the City of Williamsport and those responsible for public safety take this problem seriously?
Several times a day residents continue to hear reports of dangerous or uncontrolled dogs roaming city streets. More and more irresponsible owners appear to be allowing their dogs to run at large, leaving residents afraid to walk, to walk their dogs, let their children play outside, or simply enjoy their own neighborhoods.
This is not a minor nuisance. It is a public safety problem that demands immediate action.
We have already seen the consequences of allowing this situation to continue unchecked.
In May and June, two dangerous dogs terrorized a community for weeks. More than three dozen cats lost their lives because of these dogs, children and dog walking citizens were chased, the community was living in fear. The situation continued for far too long, while residents were left to deal with the terror and devastation.
Ultimately, a citizen was forced to take action and shoot one of the dogs to end the situation.
Let that sink in.
A citizen should never have been put in the position of having to take such drastic action because a dangerous-dog situation was allowed to continue for so long.
That should have been a wake-up call for every official responsible for protecting the citizens of Williamsport.
Instead, we continue to hear reports of dogs running loose daily.
So I am asking the Mayor of Williamsport, City Council, the Williamsport Bureau of Police, the Lycoming County Dog Warden and every other agency responsible for enforcing our animal-control laws:
What are you doing to prevent this from happening again?
Are officials waiting for another neighborhood to be terrorized? Are they waiting for another three dozen animals to be killed or injured? Are they waiting until a child, an elderly person, a pedestrian, or another resident is seriously injured or killed?
How many more warnings will it take?
The May and June incidents should not be viewed as an isolated event that has passed. They should be viewed as a clear warning of what can happen when dangerous dogs and irresponsible owners are not dealt with promptly.
Responsible dog owners should not have to live with the consequences of irresponsible owners who allow their animals to roam freely. And citizens should not be expected to put themselves in harm's way because the authorities have failed to resolve an ongoing threat.
There are laws and ordinances for a reason. They must be enforced!
Residents deserve to know how many complaints have been made, how many citations have been issued, how repeat offenders are being handled, and what concrete steps are being taken when a dangerous dog or dog at large is repeatedly reported.
Most importantly, residents deserve to know that when they call for help, someone will actually respond and take action before the situation becomes a tragedy.
We cannot undo the lives lost in May and June. We cannot bring back the cats that were killed. And we cannot erase the fear that those incidents created in our community.
But we can make sure it does not happen again.
Williamsport officials have a responsibility to address this problem before another citizen is forced into an impossible situation and before another animal or person is injured or loses its life.
Do not wait for another tragedy to force action!
The residents of Williamsport are asking for more than statements and promises. We are asking for enforcement, accountability, and results.
Our streets should not be places where citizens have to fear uncontrolled dogs when outside their homes. Our neighborhoods should not become hunting grounds for uncontrolled animals. And no citizen should ever again be placed in the position of having to take matters into their own hands because officials don't act.
Williamsport officials: This is your responsibility… Address it -- and stop it -- before someone else pays the price.
JOY FRIESE
Cogan Station
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom