On June 8th, my parents were enjoying the Catskill Yard Sale with my aunt, uncle, and 9-year-old daughter. While on Cedar Street they passed a home with a large dog that was not properly restrained, he was simply tied to a pvc pipe in the ground with a yellow nylon rope found in the garage. Once my parents were down the street, they heard the rope snap and the large dog attacked their 8lb Pomeranian Achie from behind, killing him. The owner who was not watching her dog came out of her house when she heard my mothers screams. It was too late for Achie. The Catskill Police were wonderful in their efforts as they rushed Achie to the vet. 

The problem came when it came time for the woman to be held accountable for her actions as an irresponsible pet owner. Since she was not a full-time resident, she was allowed to pack up her dog with no repercussions. State Laws cover and protect animals from abuse, neglect, and holds owners responsible for their actions. In most cases, a Humane Law division attached to the government or a local shelter takes on this responsibility. 

Greene County has no Humane Law Department and the local law enforcement had no idea how to pursue charges. Other families have come forward with issues in the town in regards to irresponsible ownership that goes unaddressed. The police have enough to deal with. It is time our county has its own shelter and their own Humane Law division to prevent animal abuse and neglect in our county and to hold owners accountable for the actions of their animals.