Culver City Observer
June 23 - 29, 2005 Letters to the Editor I was one of several persons that attended the Culver City Council meeting on Monday, June 13, 2005. Several members of the Friends of Culver City Animals were given the opportunity at this meeting to speak to the Council about the need for local animal control in the form of an animal control officer in Culver City to handle the myriad of animal-related issues that every city encounters, Culver City included. Culver City residents are getting the same animal control service as residents of unincorporated LA County, but we are paying 33 percent more in dog license fees. We are paying the same as in cities like EI Segundo, Redondo Beach and Torrance. In those cities, they currently have city-based animal control officers. These cities don't rely on the County. In El Segundo and Redondo Beach, they have well-established, city-maintained dog parks. In Torrance, dogs are allowed on-leash in every city park. Here in Culver City, we are paying more than residents of Manhattan Beach, where they have 3 animal control officers in their police department, and an area in a park for off-leash dogs. We are paying more than residents of Santa Monica and their police department has animal control officers as well as an animal shelter. This City Council determines how much residents pay in dog license fees, and the level of service that residents receive. I think it's fair to say that responsible dog owners, who are residents of Culver City, are being ripped off because they wind up paying the bulk of the license fees while other residents shirk their license responsibilities and don't pay the fees. I understand that there has been talk about using dog license fees to pay for a dog park, but until we have city-based animal control officers or a dog park in place, we are paying more without getting more. Wendy A. Wilson Culver City Letters to the Editor I am a resident of Culver City. I recently have been witness to the lack of animal assistance and control officers in this city. For about one whole week there has been a dead cat and a possum on Jefferson near Culver City Park where I walk my dogs. I have called in to animal control in Carson where our city is contracted out to report it. I have not seen any results and the removal of strays and dead carcasses like this is not happening in a timely manner. For the health of youth too young to know better and for the health of my own animals this must change. Yesterday I was witness again to the compounded disgust when a car was parked on top of the carcass of the dead cat. I do not think it is fair to assume its ok to the driver of the parked car or any resident walking by in this city to have dead animal carcasses not being removed for weeks. What's more is that the animal control we lack here is unnecessary. There needs to be a city division of the animal control system in Culver. This is an important endeavor for our city and hopefully we can see results for the requests we have been making. I am not the only one who feels this strongly and we all hope the city decides what is best. Karyn Gatt Culver City |