Published: March 04, 2009 09:20 pm      

Oakley was behaving when they took her away

Dear “well-meaning but over-protective” Downtown Mall Patron and “well-meaning but over-zealous” animal control officer, my name is Oakley, I am a 5-year-old Golden Retriever and I am writing to you from a lonely place. You see, I am spending the night in the animal shelter.

Today, as I’ve done hundreds of days before, I headed downtown for a few hours of errands. Banking at First Peoples, my meds from CVS, stamps at Hallmark, Art from Arteco, lunch at the Culinaire, cones from the Creamery, rawhides from the Downtown Dollar, and lets not forget the best fries in the world at Curtis’ (even if I do have to balance them on my nose before I can eat them!) Farmer’s Markets and Fridays after Five, the list goes on, we’ve done it all.

Yep, a couple hours getting pats and people watching is pretty much my idea of dog heaven.

But today it was different. Today they took me away. Even though I was leashed to the rack and have a license, shots and a tag with home info, they made me go.

Nobody checked with the local shop keepers, Dawn at the jewelry store would have told them I was hanging out as is my happy habit.

I wasn’t menacing or barking, I wasn’t “soiling” the mall. I wasn’t freezing or getting heatstroke.

I was politely minding my own business, soaking up the sun and getting love from passers-by, but they called me “abandoned” and took me away. I don’t know but if that makes me “abandoned,” bikes are abandoned here every day.

When my owner found me missing, she was so worried. She checked with the shop owners and pedestrians. She went to the police station, and asked our friend Cathy who lives outside. She walked every side street, and when she finally got home there was a message, but the shelter was closed. So here I sit.

Here’s where you come in, we need your help to change this silly anti-pet rule. Call your city council or local authorities and find out why they can take me, or your pet, away like this.

Work to help us change this lousy law so we can all enjoy the outdoor public spaces without risking this sort of hassle and, I expect, expense. I’d hate to give up visiting everyone I love downtown, after all, I’m their Best Friend — Oakley.

Dawn Frigge

Cumberland