Before we had our own Culver City Animal Services Officer, I was bitten by an off-leash medium- sized dog.
The dog ran out of a business on Sepulveda Boulevard, across four lanes of traffic and attacked me. I had no one in the city to call to help me. The emergency room contacted the County Animal Control office. The County Animal Control Officer went to investigate the dog's owner at a Culver City business. The owner told the County officer that the dog belonged to his son, so the County officer dropped the matter.
I walked the streets scared that another off-leash dog would bite me again. Now if I have a problem I can call our own Animal Services Officer Corolla Fleeger. She can follow it up with the dog's owner and explain the leash laws to them.
When I found a dead possum in our backyard, I contacted our local Animal Services Officer. She came right away and safely removed the dead possum before my dogs and cat could go outside that morning. When I found an injured baby possum in my backyard on another morning, I called Officer Fleeger. Again she promptly came to pick it up, have it taken care of and released into the wilds again.
Before, when I would find a stray dog without its owner I didn't know how to reunite it with its owner if it wasn't microchipped. Now, with the help of our local officer, she has better records to help her identify the dog's rightful owner and can help them reunite.
When an individual left his or her dog inside a car at a local supermarket on a hot day, I immediately called Officer Fleeger. She came, confirmed my findings and spoke with the owner. She explained to the owner that it was illegal to be doing what he was doing.
I can't imagine going back to the days of not having our very own local Animal Service Officer under our city's control.
Thank you.
Ms. Mayeda may be contacted at amayeda@sbcglobal.net
