Researchers show that there could be over 7,500 stray dogs, or should I say dawgs, in the D and over 18,000 stray cats. I would disagree with the number of stray dogs I think that's totally false. Now on the other hand yes there are at least 18,000 stray cats, now they are all over the place and that is differently a problem but that is besides the point. Everyone always is hearing of Detroit's stray Dog problem and I would like to go on record saying that it is false. Why might you ask, because of a few reasons:
1. Apparently almost everyone owns a dog in Detroit. I have come in contact with many people in the area where I live and I would say that of the kids about 80% claim to have or have had a dog. One girl exclaimed this past week that she had 5 dogs at one point and then proceed to say that they all died but she has another one now. Many doors that I go to top pick up kids for the different events we host I hear barking, sometimes multiple barkers, on the other side of the door. It is just so weird to me that literally everyone owns a dog or has owned a dog or owns multiple dogs.
2. None of the dogs have collars and most are dirty. When you see someone from the neighborhood walking their dog, well I guess you can't even call it that because its usually just a person walking and their is a dog nearish them with no collar or leash. The dog comes when called and listens to their owner which tips me off that they own the dog even though most times im not sure. The dogs do take after their owners and tend to walk in the middle of the street even though there are sidewalks on either side of the street. (This is a post for another time, drives me nuts) I almost hit about 1 dog a week on my drives too and from work. Last week when I was driving one of the kids home I came across, and almost hit, what I assumed was a stray dog. It was dirty, walking in the middle of the street, no collar, and then proceed to poop in the middle of a neighbors lawn. I say to the guys "good thing I didn't hit that dog" and one of them replies "that's my dog." Well naturally I did not belive him but sure enough he gets out of the van and calls his dog and it runs toward him and instantly wants to play fetch.
3. Detroiters do not listen to Bob Barkers advice of getting their pets spade and nurtured. This would help control the dog population of Detroit which is high. The people who own the dogs do not get their dogs fixed and therefore they end up having puppies which means more dogs without collars on the streets. This makes the non-issue look like and exponential one because of the more and more dogs that are around.
My conclusion is there really is not a dog problem, someone owns the dog or is taking care of it, at least is attempting too. Im not sure where these researchers get their numbers from but they need to be knocking on doors and asking if that dog is someones. Except the fact that the dog could be blocks away from his home because the owners let them run free. Now yes a lot of it is on the owners to keep track of their dogs and not let them run free, keep them clean, get them fixed, and properly feed them. But their owners love their dogs and do the best they can to take care of them and show them love.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140202/METRO01/302020010
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