Response lacking to two stray dogs

I hope I never lose my dog in Yuma!

How many weeks do you think it takes the city to pick up a stray or lost dog in Yuma? One week? Two weeks? Three weeks? Four weeks? More?

One particular incident that I recently witnessed involved a pair of lovely, sweet dogs on Palo Verde Street that sought refuge in a friend's yard that backs up to the Yuma Golf and Country Club. The pair seemed to be raised together, best friends, relying on each other to survive in 110-plus degree heat. Both my friend and I called Yuma Animal Control several times a week for four weeks, with no results, and were always given excuses as to why these sweet, starving, dehydrated, lost babies could not be rescued.

My friend went on vacation, and I took over making sure they had food and water. One day I came by and the dogs were gone. I hope they were finally rescued.

What if someone was looking for them? Or even worse, what if someone deserted them? We all cringe when we see the commercials asking to send money to a national organization that shows animals that are injured, beaten and sit terrified in cages. What about in our own city?

What were the new Yuma city dog catchers so busy doing that they could be called several times a week and be unable to respond? It is a public service that our tax dollars are paying for and yet we are not receiving service for the money. Why?

As a side note, our city is overrun with feral cats. According to humane society websites, one unspayed female cat and one unneutered male cat and their offspring result in 420,000 kittens in 7 years. Just as any stray animal, they can carry disease, but these sweet, wonderful darlings could make great companions. It is not their fault that they have been condemned to a feral life, just because an owner was too lazy to spay or neuter them, and when they breed, decided it was just easier to abandon the babies.

These are problems that I feel need to be addressed and dealt with. Most people who have animals consider them part of the family. Many feel they are as important as their children, their babies. Maybe if the city thought of these poor, defenseless creatures as babies there would be more response.

Joyce Manson

Yuma