Four animal activists interrupted a Harrisburg Police Department news conference Wednesday morning. The women were complaining about the City and the handling of stray dogs.
Police Chief Pierre Ritter and his three Captains gathered reporters together to talk about drunk driving and Holiday safety. But when it came time for questions, several women in the front row started asking questions about the handling of dog complaints.
The Chief offered to meet with them afterwards, but they kept interrupting, and Ritter was frustrated. "The public safety briefing is now over. You are dismissed. Talk to me off line."
Just as the city is battling fiscal solvency, the police department is waging its own war on crime, with less resources.
Property taxes are high. The housing stock is dilapidated. Neighborhoods are wracked with trash and debris. And there is the problem of dogs in the city.
Kris Baker of Harrisburg says it is a problem in the City. "Dog fighting complaints, dead dogs in trash bags and dumpsters, severely injured dogs, bait dogs used in dog fighting."
Baker says her major concern is the lack of response to animal complaints, specifically cruelty, abandonment and abuse calls. She doesn't think it's too much to expect from the City she pays her taxes to. "I'm not asking police to handle those complaints. I'm asking the animal control officer to handle them. I think that's a reasonable expectation as a citizen of Harrisburg."
City spokesman Bob Philbin took a conciliatory approach. "We have to reach an understanding of what can possibly be done versus the feelings that we all have for animals that are treated inhumanely. The bureau of police is doing the very best it can with one animal control officer to respond to these incidents all across the city."
The activists say one dog officer is not enough. It's a 24-7 job, not 7 to 3:30 Monday through Friday.
Baker also thinks an officer should be available nights, weekends and holidays. And she offered the city a suggestion that might reduce the problem; respond to the complaints and prosecute the violators.
Police Chief Pierre Ritter and his three Captains gathered reporters together to talk about drunk driving and Holiday safety. But when it came time for questions, several women in the front row started asking questions about the handling of dog complaints.
The Chief offered to meet with them afterwards, but they kept interrupting, and Ritter was frustrated. "The public safety briefing is now over. You are dismissed. Talk to me off line."
Just as the city is battling fiscal solvency, the police department is waging its own war on crime, with less resources.
Property taxes are high. The housing stock is dilapidated. Neighborhoods are wracked with trash and debris. And there is the problem of dogs in the city.
Kris Baker of Harrisburg says it is a problem in the City. "Dog fighting complaints, dead dogs in trash bags and dumpsters, severely injured dogs, bait dogs used in dog fighting."
Baker says her major concern is the lack of response to animal complaints, specifically cruelty, abandonment and abuse calls. She doesn't think it's too much to expect from the City she pays her taxes to. "I'm not asking police to handle those complaints. I'm asking the animal control officer to handle them. I think that's a reasonable expectation as a citizen of Harrisburg."
City spokesman Bob Philbin took a conciliatory approach. "We have to reach an understanding of what can possibly be done versus the feelings that we all have for animals that are treated inhumanely. The bureau of police is doing the very best it can with one animal control officer to respond to these incidents all across the city."
The activists say one dog officer is not enough. It's a 24-7 job, not 7 to 3:30 Monday through Friday.
Baker also thinks an officer should be available nights, weekends and holidays. And she offered the city a suggestion that might reduce the problem; respond to the complaints and prosecute the violators.