Barking up the wrong tree

Barking up the wrong tree

I just finished reading a letter written by Phil Strenkowski of Oak Park and would like to respond to his comments and blatant attack on my character. Yes, it is true that I found my experience with Officer Reva of the Agoura Animal Control horrendous. I came home with my dog vomiting and shaking for three days and my daughter exhausted, which to me was horrendous.

In response to Strenkowski’s allegations that we left a gate open allowing our dog to "run free"—they are incorrect. I did not state in my letter that my husband left the gate open. He didn’t. I find it almost humorous to think that there is a "valuable lesson" that I can share with my children, as Phil Strenkowski preaches, to be learned from a dog managing to sneak out. Anyone who has had a dog has had this happen. Ironically enough, while I was at animal control, their office dog managed to squeeze out and run freely while they went looking for him. It’s part of owning a dog. It happens to all of us. It happens to law-abiding citizens with dogs. There’s no lesson here.

In addition, Strenkowski comments on the fact that I didn’t have copies of the dog’s vaccinations in my home. I did. It was Sunday and the employees that handle paperwork at animal control were not available until Monday to do any processing. My veterinarian was actually calling to see maybe if they spoke to her they would allow my daughter to see her dog. By the time she finished talking to them, they allowed me to take Coco home.

Furthermore, suggesting that I brought my daughter to animal control to "stir the pot" perhaps reveals something about Phil Strenkowski’s character, not mine. I brought my daughter to the animal shelter to comfort her and to try to bring our dog home. I find his letter and his need to write his letter very disturbing.

I will not be responding further to any of Mr. Strenkowski’s letters as I have more important things to do with my time, and so should he.

Donna Lackmeyer

Agoura Hills