Sunbear Squad Offers Advice

Thank you to those of you who wrote in offering suggestions to Aaron, the Tennessee Dogster frustrated with the abuse he sees in Cleveland, Tennessee. One of the most helpful suggestions dealt with issues only in Tennessee but Anna Nirva at the Sunbear Squad wrote in to suggest some things we all can do in our own neighborhoods.

Anna Nirva wrote:
Use neighbor power to monitor the situation, educate others, and influence the offenders by forming a neighborhood watch for pets group. If the family in question knows that their pets are being monitored along with everyone else’s,by their own neighbors, they might improve care of their dogs.

The group can also communicate regularly with the sheriff and become informed of Tennessee cruelty laws. In the situation described, no laws may be violated currently, but better monitoring might uncover a violation that the sheriff can act upon.

The Sunbear Squad site has free tools and information for starting such a group. It’s easy and free. Print out free door knockers and window signs, organize a group, a plan, and a schedule.

Benefits in addition to promoting better animal care in the neighborhood might include sharing pet advice, promoting reciprocal pet care for vacationers, promoting taking walks with your dogs while monitoring the neighborhood, and helping youth and adults become better citizens.

Be sure to recruit teenagers to the watch group who attend the same school as the offending family. This type of activity is very developmental for youth, and the influence of peers at school can be more powerful and effective than the influence of adult neighbors.

Thanks Anna! If any Dogsters have participated in neighborhood groups like these, bark in and let us know!