New Haven Independent

I really did think I had heard and seen it all.

So let me see if I get this right: Abandoned and wild cats and dogs who have led what could best be described as a wretched existence …foraging for bits of food and places to call shelter…are discarded like so much garbage into the landfill to save a few dollars.

(Read Sharon Bass’s original article here.)

Even more worrisome is that it appears as though that Chris Smith , the new animal control officer has little if anything to say on the subject. No comment to the Hamden Daily News, but you can hear the usual tried-and-true excuse now: “I’m just following order and doing my job.” Didn’t those funny fellas with jack boots and swastikas use the same rationale …”just doing my job?”

It was under Smith’s watch the policy of turning the bodies of formerly living, breathing beings into landfill was implemented. It is obvious that Mr. Smith has little to no respect for animals.

More importantly Smith has no respect and regard for residents of the Town of Hamden. Could he honestly look at residents and say this is what they would have wanted him to do? Government is responsible to and works on behalf of the people. I can’t imagine anyone remotely suggesting this is the people’s “will.”

Still unanswered. How did the dogs die? Were they found dead? Badly injured? Were they ever seen by a vet? Were they shot, hung or electrocuted as Michael Vick killed his? Just wondering. Someone should ask.

If it sounds like I am pushing the edge of the envelope…well I am. But then again I never thought I would see the day when a human being, any human being, would have such callous disregard of innocent animals, dead or alive, as has been displayed by Mr. Smith.

And the terrific savings from tossing the animals over the cliff? Thirty dollars for a mass cremation.

The town council has a moral, possibly legal and clearly ethical l obligation to fire Mr. Vick — err, Smith — and to order the dogs be picked up and cremated. Actually, my first choice would be to make him pick up the animals and then fire him.

Failing that, and since it happened under Mayor Henrici’s watch and with his tacit approval and possibly permission, I suggest we give the clean up role to the mayor. It would be his first step in cleaning up City Hall — err, the landfill.

He hired Smith, so he should clean up the mess he created. Then we should censure Hizzoner for allowing this policy to be implemented in the first place. And if he says he didn’t know, well that’s even worse.

Actually, the council could make a real statement. It could ask the mayor to take the money he received for badly documented mileage payments (wasn’t it about $7,000?) and use the funds to buy a freezer and pay for the cremations.

And hire a decent animal control officer, not a man who things dead animals are garbage.

Sign Up for Email AlertsEmail This Story Email the Author

Your Email:

Recipient's Email:
Your Email:
Message (optional):

Your Name:
Your Email:
Message: