March 2, 2019

White Dog asked, "Ten minutes? And he did not even want to see the dogs…that is just crazy." 

The animal welfare officer was a couple of minutes early when he knocked on the door and the White Dog Army sang their greeting. “You are going to have to lock those dogs up,” he told Steve who looked at him rather incredulously. “I guess we can just talk here (on the sun porch),” the agent reconsidered. “Just keep them in there.” He pulled out a list that included dogs over the bridge and lacking dogs which are already individually licensed to us and Steve walked through who was who. He did not want to see the dogs. He did not want to see sleeping and feeding areas or check on water availability. And he did not want to see the yard. He signed his form, gave us the copy to take in with payment…and he was gone.

In June we began the process to renew our multi-dog permit. The city does not send out notices, says it is not possible, but we diligently keep the date on our calendar and get the paperwork lined up then.

We must each year (because again the city's system can't maintain records of chip numbers and such from year-to-year) we compile a list of Dog name, chip number, Rabies tag number and city license number. And apparently in Albuquerque no pet ever dies; WDA members over the Bridge for quite some time keep reappearing every year on the list. We then contact Animal Welfare through the centralized 311 phone system and leave a message with the understanding that "someone will return your call within ten days."

After waiting well beyond that length, Steve DROVE over to one of the facilities and found he was unable to talk to anyone about this permit directly; that a note would be sent and someone would contact us. Mind you, there are fines and possible confiscation of pets involved so I got a little nervous not being in compliance as the weeks passed and we found ourselves in the cycle of needing to renew individual dog licenses. Each time we went in to register one of the Army, we repeated our request to have inspection done do we could be certified.

 

I called the 311 System again on November 1 and followed up on the 11th of that month. When I called again on 12/18, the operator told me the original request had not even been opened and put me through to an officer's voicemail where I left a message and a request to set up a home visit and the need for multi dog permit.

LAST week, February 21, Albuquerque's Animal Welfare CALLED! Not the officer on whose voicemail I left message but another. OMD! The Army was, after all this time a bit frightened at the prospect.

Today we found out the efficient woman who loved the WDA and had filled the post for years had been promoted (great for her) but that the spot remained vacant for 8 months. No one was even answering the voicemail. The man before us had been on-board for a month. “I do not envy his catch up,” WD commented. "Think they would have announced or heck even contacted permit holders to expect delays," Bailey drying suggested.

“By this time NEXT year he will be a pro,” Bella responded. “I sure hope he learns to like dogs before then,” Pearly giggled. We are permitted…and momma is glad.