Comments on: Howard Lake K-9 dog is found deceased

By: fanofthedogcatcher

fanofthedogcatcher — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:57:56 +0000

To also anonymous how can you say our towns dog catcher was sub-standard. I find it funny how you and wow can place the blame on the dog catcher and can not see any fault with the police department. I think it is terrible that the police did not release the information to the public with pictures of the dog as soon as the found the dog missing. I also believe the officers involved in this should be in trouble too.

By: Anonymously Irritated

Anonymously Irritated — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:28:45 +0000

also anonymous, get off your high horse and look at the information that has been disclosed publicly. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture for how the dog was treated, it’s one thing for a dog to be fit, another to be emaciated and poorly socialized. It also appears that our dog catcher lost his post and the humane society is being punished for something that appears to be the fault of the officers for not following up with either the dog catcher, the humane society, or the local paper until it was far too late.

Please enlighten me as to what crimes have been prevented? I have lived in Howard Lake almost my entire life, and the local police have been there to annoy and harass far more than to protect and serve. It isn’t as though there is a lot of crime in our community and almost every other community in Wright County gets by with the WC Sheriff’s officers just fine.

That is my opinion, and if you disagree, argue the points, don’t patronize people who differ from your views, it puts your ignorance and lack of an ability to formulate an argument on display.

By: Lynda Jensen, Editor

Lynda Jensen, Editor — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:33:16 +0000

Yes, the meeting was last night and they talked about Felony at length, ending the city’s contracts with the humane society and with the dog catcher (unofficial contract with him). Reporter Ivan Raconteur attended the meeting and is writing the story now. For those who wish to contact the Howard Lake council, I recommend sending an email to Administrator Kelly Hinnenkamp (cityadmin@howard-lake.mn.us) or using the contact list that is posted on our web site — http://www.herald-journal.com/government/officials/wright-county/howardlake-city.html

By: CheriLynn

CheriLynn — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:19:32 +0000

Lynda do you know if they will be having a public meeting?

By: HL Resident

HL Resident — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:01:26 +0000

First of all I would like to say that just because many of us feel that someone in the Police Dept. failed this poor dog most of us are still very thankful to them for all the good they do for our community. Although the good does not excuse the fact that Felony’s situation was not as it should be. While visiting family in another state I had mentioned what had happened- everyone there- over 20 people – from 4 different states had never ever heard of a department keeping a K9 officer in a kennel and not with a trained handler… kenneling this poor dog was the first poor decision of many it seems. The follow up while Felony was missing also was handled poorly by the department in my opinion. I see lost dog ads in the Herald all the time- why did you not let the community help!!!

I would like someone to post if there will be a public council meeting or something on this… As tax payers we should be involved in the decision as to whether they should get a new K9 officer and if they do that it is required that they improve their protocol for the care and keeping.

As a side note- my husband and I remember when Sonnek was here and brought the dog to Memorial Park for ball games… we have not seen much of Felony in the last 2 years in the community which is sad. Just another note that Felony obviously deserved more than He received in recent years!

By: also anonymous

also anonymous — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:37:29 +0000

In defense of HLPD, I also saw Felony on a regular basis with the night shift police officers. I didn’t think he was being mistreated or underfed. Skinny maybe, but he’s old and that’s not entirely uncommon. Also, service dogs aren’t supposed to be fat. Sorry folks.
Alot of you mentioned that it was mistreatment for Felony to be kenneled at night and not brought to an officer’s home. Again, although that would be nice, let’s remember kids, this is a service dog, not a pet.
Felony was a member of the force, and it’s great to know he won’t be easily forgotten. From now on police forces, dog catchers, and humane societies across the state will remember Felony and think twice before they jump to conclusions.

It makes me sick how quickly all of you turn on the people who are sworn to protect you and your loved ones. No one pays attention to the crimes prevented and the arrests made, but you’re sure quick to attack them if someone slips up along the line. Even if that someone is a sub-standard dog catcher.

By: Anonymously Irritated

Anonymously Irritated — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:58:06 +0000

I’m afraid of getting ARRESTED again for my dog barking in the middle of the night, so I’ll stay anonymous. (Somehow she managed this while sleeping in my room on the floor and without awakening me)…. This isn’t a joke, it really happened, though the officers story changed as time progressed. Other smart as*ed comments were made prior to the charges.

This is yet another example of why the government should not have unrestricted access to my money.

I feel sorry for the dog, he’s the biggest victim followed by the taxpayers. I have also on numerous occasions heard him barking in the middle of the night. The report of the dog being malnourished is infuriating, a long with the poor effort to retrieve this highly skilled, and high cost animal. The police screwed up, the gal who found him the dog catcher and the humane society all seem to have done their jobs.

By: tammy bren

tammy bren — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:18:41 +0000

I think they know it was Felony that got put to sleep, because the humane society took pictures of him and put them up on the website, with all of the other found pets. I assume that they were shown the pictures, when they called their on Nov 16th to see if they had their dog. Just my guess.

By: confused

confused — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 06:30:48 +0000

I have one question no one has asked… do they know for sure that it was felony? did they see him after he was put to sleep? did Tammy get a stray dog running around town and felony is some where else still very much alive? just curious…….

By: fanofthedogcatcher

fanofthedogcatcher — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:01:30 +0000

My big question is I thought it was common knowledge to never leave a choke collar on a dog unless the animal is training or working. I am pretty sure that is one of the first things you learn when you are training a dog. What owner would not go and look at the dog when the dog catcher says they have a black dog. I also think this police department now just did not know how to take care of an animal. I used to see officer Sonnek play with the dog when he was still at our police department. I find it so funny how our tax payers dog going missing did not make the paper the monday after the dog went missing. I think it all comes down to the police department trying to cover their own butts. I do not see anyone else at fault everyone else followed protocol.