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Show Animal control problems increase with population Abandonment. Population increase. Dog bites. Those are a few of the major problems with animal control in Uintah County, according to Jack Lent, animal control officer. Lent, who answers 5 to 15 complaints about stray animals daily, says one of his biggest problems is abandonment. "A lot of animal owners will abandon their pets when they move because they can't take them with them, or some other reason," Lent said. "They should bring the animal to the shelter, or call the animal control." Another problem is that when people find a stray animal, they let it stay around the house for a few weeks, then call the animal shelter who has a difficult time finding the owner because of the elapsed time, Lent said. As population increases, Lent predicts an increase in the number of dogs in the valley and a potential problem with control. "Many times people say they don't know what the dog ordinance requires, when they are found in violation," Lent said. "Vernal City's and Uintah County's dog ordinance is essentially the same as in the rest of Utah." "No dog or any animal is allowed to run at large," Lent said summorizing the ordinance. During the last two years over $30,000 in property damage to livestock has been attributed to animals running at large, Lent said. "Any person whose livestock is being bothered by stray animals has the right to shoot that animal," Lent said. According to the county ordinance, which resembles the city ordinance, a dog may also be killed by any person if the dog attacks, chases or worries any person, domestic animal with com mercial value, or species of hoofed domestic animal or fowl. The ordinance also specifies . that there is a violation if a dog causes damages to other's property, has a foul odor, makes excessive noise, defecates on any public sidewalk, park or private property other than the owner's, or causes unsanitary conditions in enclosures. en-closures. The Ordinance also calls for any dog in heat to be confined in an enclosure, "where other dogs can't smell them," Lent said. "We have a real problem with people calling to get rid of a pack of dogs when their dog which is in heat, has attracted them," Lent said. An ever present problem with animal control are dog bites. Lent said that every dog bite should be reported, so the dog involved can be checked for rabies. If the dog hasn't had a rabies siot then it will be quarantined for 10 days to see if it has the disease. Lent indicated that the spread of rabies is always a potential problem. Despite bad publicity in the past, Lent said "He gets along good with those he deals with in animal control." "I usually never issue a citation unless the person has been warned of the problem," he said. "I believe," Lent said, "that an animal should have proper shelter and plenty of food." Lent said that the new animal shelter is more than sufficient to meet the area's needs. Presently the city-county animal shelter is housed behind the Ashley Valley Veternarian Clinic. Dogs are kept at the shelter three days until they are "put to sleep." During the three days, efforts are made to find the owner, or someone to take the animal. . |