Friday, March 30, 2007
Thank you for reminding me about my dead pet.
Last December I called the City of Seattle and when the lady answered the phone I said, "Thank you for reminding me about my dead pet during the holidays." There was a long "Ummmm" at the other end of the line so I told her the information she needed to know and that I no longer had the animal. After I came back from a wonderful Vegas vacation I found a post card notice from the city with all this red lettering for fines, penalties, collection notices - and my first reaction was "Oh crap, what didn't I pay?" Then I read all the black and see statutes and laws and realize its about pet licensing. Threats for hundreds of dollars in fines, they're going to send a cop after me, and letting me know if they get a hold of my pet it won't be returned. Gee, you've been so nice so far what kept you from telling me you're going to send her to the gas chamber? Off in a corner they say if you no longer own the animal call them immediately. They even admit they are "aggressive"
http://www.seattle.gov/news/detail.asp?ID=6998&dept=40
City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/6/2007 1:15:00 PM
Seattle Animal Shelter continues aggressive pet licensing campaign Mass mailers, emphasis patrols enforce “zero tolerance” policy
That's how the link starts off. It's not that I mind they sent a post card inquiring about the pet license, its that they could have done it nicely instead of the completely uncivilized and heavy handed manner they did it. It was completely insensitive. I do miss Maggie. I discovered the above link because on occassion I still go to the Seattle Animal Shelter page and look for another Maggie. Of course I know I won't find another Maggie, so never follow through with any of them, although last time I saw one that was pretty darn close. Over time I've one by one tossed everything that was here that was hers. Maggie really became my cat, she was like me; smart, fluffy, calm. Mittens was like Tracy; high strung, guilable. When I knew I was going to lose Maggie I snapped at Tracy once that she left me with the defective cat out of misdirected anger about it. I'm apologizing publicly Tracy. :) When I had to take her for the final trip to the vet they asked me if I wanted to be with her when they did that and I couldn't. I understand why people do and commend them for doing it, but I just couldn't. I even had to ask the vet to pay her in the examination room instead of going out front to do it.
So City of Seattle (who will never read this anyway) you should consider being a little more thoughtful about your "aggressive campaign" to collect your licensing fees. A lot of people simply lost a pet they cared for is the reason you didn't get your $15.
http://www.seattle.gov/news/detail.asp?ID=6998&dept=40
City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/6/2007 1:15:00 PM
Seattle Animal Shelter continues aggressive pet licensing campaign Mass mailers, emphasis patrols enforce “zero tolerance” policy
That's how the link starts off. It's not that I mind they sent a post card inquiring about the pet license, its that they could have done it nicely instead of the completely uncivilized and heavy handed manner they did it. It was completely insensitive. I do miss Maggie. I discovered the above link because on occassion I still go to the Seattle Animal Shelter page and look for another Maggie. Of course I know I won't find another Maggie, so never follow through with any of them, although last time I saw one that was pretty darn close. Over time I've one by one tossed everything that was here that was hers. Maggie really became my cat, she was like me; smart, fluffy, calm. Mittens was like Tracy; high strung, guilable. When I knew I was going to lose Maggie I snapped at Tracy once that she left me with the defective cat out of misdirected anger about it. I'm apologizing publicly Tracy. :) When I had to take her for the final trip to the vet they asked me if I wanted to be with her when they did that and I couldn't. I understand why people do and commend them for doing it, but I just couldn't. I even had to ask the vet to pay her in the examination room instead of going out front to do it.
So City of Seattle (who will never read this anyway) you should consider being a little more thoughtful about your "aggressive campaign" to collect your licensing fees. A lot of people simply lost a pet they cared for is the reason you didn't get your $15.
