Gene, you are SO right! I always tell people to put these two numbers in your cell. Calling Animal Control Directly saves time and you get right to their dispatch. If you lose or find a dog the ARL receives all dogs from Animal Control. Many dogs are chipped and the ARL can scan the dog and get in touch with the owners. It is your choice whether or not you want to leave a dog you found at the ARL but they will continue to try to reach the owner regardless. So those two numbers: Animal Control 412-255-2036 and the ARL at 412-661-6452. Lost and found is ext. 215. Just a little FYI.

From: skisk8r@hotmail.com
To: mary_withrow@hotmail.com; karendifiore@yahoo.com; neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com
Subject: RE: [Highland Park] German Shephard owner
Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2011 08:28:29 -0400

If you run into problems and you have a cell phone call 911. They will send out animal control to handle the situation. I had a problem last year with a dog off a leash attacking my dog. I got the car license number and they were contacted by police and there dog had no rabies shots or dog license. It happened to be someone from the suburbs. Get all the info you can and call imediately. Animal control will come and take your report. And if your cell phone has a camera, thats even better. And carrying a stick (piece of broom handle) as a walking stick also serves as a good defence against agressive dogs off the leash!

From: mary_withrow@hotmail.com
To: karendifiore@yahoo.com; neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com
Subject: RE: [Highland Park] German Shephard owner
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 12:00:48 -0400
CC:

I'm SO sorry that you had to have that experience, it's very frightening and very disturbing to humans and to the dog who was attacked. Neighbors, I know we all love our pets, those that have them, and even if your dog may be friendly and you decide to walk it off leash, know that dogs are unpredictable and ANY dog is capable of a bite. I cannot take my dogs or the shelter dogs I walk to Mellon Park any longer, it is NOT an off leash park, but people insist on letting their dogs run threatening the safety of both adults and children as well as other dogs. It is not "if" but rather "when" an accident will happen with an off leash dog. Pittsburgh has a leash law, if it were enforced we may not be a bankrupt city! Here are the guidelines and laws from the City of Pittsburgh for responsible pet ownership. http://http://www.pittsburghpa.gov/animalcontrol/owners.htm

Please keep your dogs on a leash, it's being responsible and it's the LAW!

Mary Kennedy Withrow

Please spay/neuter and LOVE your pets!

Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2011 05:00:29 -0700
From: karendifiore@yahoo.com
To: neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com
Subject: [Highland Park] German Shephard owner

I am looking for help in locating a family that owns a German Shepherd and has a teenaged son. On Thursday, around 6 PM, I was walking my dog on leash by the farmhouse. A teenage boy on his bike, with his dog running behind him, came from the opposite direction. When they got to us, his dog, which was off leash, attacked my dog. The boy immediately jumped off his bike, tackled his dog and held him down so that we were able to leave the area. I did not think at the time that my dog had been injured or even to get the boy's name or information. After I got home I saw that my dog did have two gashes that needed a trip to the vet and did require medical attention. If you are the owner of this dog, or know the owner and could pass the information along to me, I would appreciate it. All I really remember about them is that it was a big, I'm fairly certain, German Shephard, and the boy was shirtless at the time, on a bike, had a little bit longer, but not long, wavy hair. I think he was very worried also and was very respectful. I appreciate any help you can give me. Thank-you.

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