Get your pets spayed or neutered

A particular breed of dog is not at fault when usually off-leash, off-property attacks occur. How to control aggressive wayward dogs, male and female, when owners don't requires more animal control staff in conjunction with spaying or neutering.

Statistics show that aggressive dogs are often running loose, uncontrolled and also unaltered - especially unaltered.

It is certainly unfortunate that the Elgin City Council about 20 years ago chose to reverse a progressive altering law only two weeks after it was enacted. The law required much higher Elgin registration fees for unaltered dogs and cats. The complaining residents objected to the higher fees because they had unaltered animals and because they had incomplete information. Rather than table the issue for public clarification, the council overturned the law.

Responsible pet owners should be made aware via city publications that their animals should be controlled at all times, on and off their property, obedience trained, and altered unless the owners are professional breeders. A lack of education of former council members and some pet owners has created unfortunate, avoidable animal/human situations.

Susan Hess

Kindness Inc.

Elgin