Many speakers for the past two council meetings have turned the council chambers into a dog festival, during public participation, with some taking issue with Jim Russo the Police department's Animal Control Officer.
Unfortunately, while attempting to break up a fight between two pit bulls Jim was bitten and was rushed to the hospital.
It is now a concern how the friends of the New Britain animal control will conduct themselves at the next council meeting.
It is also hopeful that Jim will be able to return to work soon and his injuries are not disabling.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
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5 comments:
One of the things not mentioned in the Herald account of the unfortunate incident at the NB Dog Pound is the liability issue.
Just imagine; had a volunteer been the person attacked by the pit bull - even a volunteer with their own insurance - the likelihood of a suit against the City would not be erased. This is a most important reason for restricting the activities of volunteers at the Dog Pound.
Volunteers are important to the success of many municipal efforts, however, the City shall and must be able - and not criticized - to set the parameters under which volunteers are allowed to contribute/operate.
Just to have a group of folks - many from out of town - come to Council meetings repeatedly to
"DEMAND" that their personal wants be satisfied is ridiculous. They do this and threaten to return until "something is done!" Really!
This incident points out that the City shall continue to run its operations with the best interests of all of its citizens/taxpayers paramount. Our Police Department cannot have just anybody making up its standards of operation of any of its departments. Efforts of voilunteers are appreciated but cannot be, simply,de rigueur.
Lou Salvio
Officer Russo does a fine job and the NB Pound is in full compliance with CT State Law. Officer Russo's injury shows that we should remove the uninsured volunteers from the pound to protect the City coffers. Further, in the Letters to the Editor section, Officer's Russo and Cassaeria were praised for their efforts in locating an injured dog that the latter officer adopted after bringing him back to health. The Friends of the NB Dog Pound need to move on as they are nothing but a liability for us.
Just the fact that the city is allowing them in there is going to be a huge liability when one gets bitten by an animal, and if there is no history for the animal, you will have a volunteer that has to undergo the extensive rabies treatments, which not only costs a fortune, but the rabies treatment is debilitating for much of the 6 weeks it takes for the treatments, and even for several weeks after. I know, because I have had to undergo the rabies treatments due to an animal bite.
What if the volunteer is too sick to work for those 6 weeks, is the city going to be on the hook under worker's comp laws for the loss of salary from their regular job?
Maybe the city attorney can answer that question, but I would bet they would not only be on the hook for the expensive treatments, but the loss of work too.
By the way, even if the person has insurance, the insurance company will most likely refuse to pay once they find out the circumstances it occurred under, because that is a work related injury and work related injuries are not covered under a person's health insurance.
Concern for the welfare of abandoned cats and dogs is commendable to a point, but their demands seem a bit too much...have these animals spayed and neutered, especially those that tend to be a threat, such as pit bulls.
Please do not keep disrupting the council meetings..you look ridiculous after taking more than 90 minutes of a council meeting...there are other issues the council must concern themselves with.
Want to make yourselves more worthwhile? Go out and find solutions on how to help the poor homeless families who need help, especially during such a harsh, cold and snowy winter we've just had.
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Jim Russo Animal Contol Officer Hurt on the Job!":
I like it very much!
The idiot that attempted to post this on this blog ---don't try this again
frank smith
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