(Reprise) 3-15-2002
Tales Of The Mayor's Big Dogs
Garza Licensed Dogs Day After They Escaped
RG Griffing, SAL Staff
(Editor'sNote: This series of stories and commentary first ran in the Lightning in March of this year. As it was largely ignored by the rest of San Antonio's media, we offer it here again, simply in light of the Mayor's recent call for ethics review at City Hall. It is archived in reverse order.)
The Lightning has learned that Mayor Garza's two Labrador retrievers, Cosmo and Astro, who escaped from the Mayor's backyard February 26th, and who were recovered that night, were licensed by Garza the following day.
The dogs were licensed at Fredericksburg Rd. Animal Hospital on February 27th, tag numbers 9787 and 9788.
In a previous story (See Below) questions arose over whether the dogs had been licensed or not, since at the time of their recovery they had no collars or tags.
When questioned by the Lightning, spokesman Steve Schauer said that the Mayor had assured him the dogs were licensed, but that the Mayor couldn't remember the date when he last bought tags for the animals. Schauer said the dogs did not have on tags when they got out because the Mayor had washed Cosmo and Astro and had not put the collars back on them.
The Lightning revealed in an earlier story that the city computer records showed no data on the animals' licensure.
Dr. William Lammers, who heads up the department that maintains animal licensing records, estimates that several hundred San Antonio citizens are cited each year for non-licensed animals, with an average fine of about $100 per citation. Lammers added that the citation issue doesn't enter this case, since no animal control or police authorities were present when the dogs were at large.
City law requires that dogs be tagged once a year, and that they wear collars and tags at all times when outside.
When asked by the Lightning if the dogs had been previously licensed, Dr. Lammers said that information could only be acquired through the Freedom of Information Act.
Shauers said pretty much the same thing when queried about the case.
-Previous Story March 2, 2001-
Are Mayor Garza's Dogs Licensed?
Mayor Says 'Yes!'; No Record In City Database
RG Griffing, Commentary
Last month Mayor Garza became frantic when he found his two beloved Labrador retrievers, Cosmo and Astro, missing. The Mayor's love for the animals borders on being legendary.
A police report indicated that the dogs had gotten out through a gate in the Mayor's backyard.
Television stations were immediately notified. An alert went out. The dogs were found shortly after that, in fine shape, and the story ended happily for all.
Well, almost ended.
A few loose ends remain.
When the dogs escaped they were not wearing collars or tags. This apparently led to rumors that the Mayor's dogs are unlicensed.
Licensing - All dogs, cats and domestic ferrets must be licensed by sixteen (16) weeks of age and annually thereafter with the City of San Antonio, Animal Care Services Division. Proof of rabies vaccination must be demonstrated when the license is issued. The license expires on the date of the annual rabies vaccination. Dogs must wear license tags on their collar at all times when outside.
(From City web page-Emphasis added-Click for more)
Any given number of rumors are floating around any given City Hall at any given time. Some turn out to be true...most don't.
But this one is puzzling since city records keepers, at first, decided to stay mum about whether or not the dogs are licensed.
City employee Tracy Rees, at first, said it was a simple thing to find out if an animal was licensed. All she needed to look that up was the name, address, or phone number of the owner. She could do it over the phone.
However, when she found out it was for the Mayor's dogs, she said she would need a request in person, in writing, to give out that information.
We then asked Steve Schauer of the Mayor's office. He said he was "pretty sure" the dogs were licensed. He allowed that he wasn't 100% certain and would check. He later contacted the Mayor, who told Schauer the dogs had definetly been licensed.
Schauer said the Mayor couldn't remember exactly when.
Schauer said the reason the dogs were not wearing collars and tags when they got out was because the Mayor had washed them a few days earlier, and simply hadn't put the collars back on.
But here's the rub.
Dr. William Lammers, who heads up the department that maintains animal licensing records, told the Lightning, at first, that any information concerning the dogs would have to come through a freedom of information act request.
However, when pressed, Dr. Lammer did say that he had checked, and found no records for either dog.
"There is a lag of as much as 6 weeks in updating our database," Lammers explained. If the dog had been vaccinated and licensed during that period, they might not show up.
So, the mystery continues. One would think that the Mayor might remember something that happened in the last 45 days, but then again he is a busy man, what with running the city and all.
Truthfully, it would be a shock to find that the Mayor had failed to follow city law. He has been widely admired for crossing the t's and dotting the i's.
But what makes this story all the more perplexing, is the amount of time it takes for a citizen, or a reporter, to get information of any kind from the city. Information which should be a matter of public record, and easily accessed.
-Developing-
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