Dear EditorIt's difficult to walk down some streets in North Battleford, and, no, I am not talking about the people who don't clean their sidewalks. Rather, I am concerned about the situations some dogs are forced to live in. Dogs are left outside with their only shelter being a plywood box. There is no evidence of any insulation, bales or heat lamps, to keep them warm. In some cases they are confined on short heavy chains. Some seem to live outside houses where people are there part time. I never see them walked. They seem starved for attention and care. I assume someone is feeding them. I have seen people drive up at night to feed a dog and then drive off.
What can be done to help these animals? Talking to individual owners hasn't made a difference. The City's bylaws do not define the kind of shelter and care an animal needs in this climate. It's hard to contact the officials who have the power to check out the situation and when they do intervene the dog owner is given time to rectify the situation, leaving the dog with the same conditions.
I am not confusing the needs of animals with those of people. There are many situations in our community in which people live in appalling housing. It just seems to me that it says something about us when we show so little care for those creatures who cannot care for themselves.
Amy Williams
North Battleford
