Until recently MCAS’s animal status records have included minor documentation about health, welfare and behavior. Monthly health checks for Chucky began March 2017 until the last entry on July 05, 2017. Then it was noted he had a “mass associated with cranial lumbar spine –R/O neoplasia, infection, more prominent spinal process than typical. open.” Nothing has been reported for two months. No animal care notes or observations have been entered into records that have been requested each week. There is no information at all. They have disappeared from view. ___________________________________________________ MCAS bullies low income citizens by issuing flurries of tickets with significant fines and “failure to comply” charges usually seeking forced surrenders for minor events when practical solutions exist. It could help solve the issues by providing or referring under privileged or vulnerable populations to local resources. Instead, the agency prefers extortion. That is what they have done with Tron (his case is pending), a young pit bull, in custody at MCAS since August 19 when he was reported at large, “loose and aggressive”, along with his companion Golden Retriever. The Golden Retriever went home. Tron was held for owner surrender. The only difference between the 2 dogs was an incident that took place 3 years ago when Tron, then a puppy, dug under the fence into his neighbor’s yard and in the commotion to get him back into his own yard a minor bite occurred. That incident led to a two year “potentially dangerous” dog classification for Tron. There have been no classifiable incidents since then. If Tron’s owner had read the small print in the county law specifying that de-classification must be specifically requested when the probationary period is over, Tron would be home. But MCAS will not relent. Even de-classifications that are supposed to be automatic must be requested. A formality that many vulnerable populations fail to note dooms the dog. The focus on formality disproportionately affects low income and homeless citizens. The weakened fence has been repaired, approved as “secure”, but only one of the two dogs, the Golden Retriever will be going home, not Tron. His owner has appealed his ticket; his case will be heard in an administrative process once described by a senior animal control officer as there to “rubber stamp” MCAS’s decisions . It does. The hearings officer decides the facts, did the event occur; MCAS decides the penalty and the penalty has always been death regardless of effective humane options that preserve animals’ lives and protect the public. MCAS enforcement borrows is mission from “Pest Solutions” and exterminates. Isn’t there a better way? Can’t we just fix the fence?