Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. said the city’s dog catcher needs to be more “vigilant” when it comes to capturing loose dogs within the community.
But Alderman Dr. Jack Varner said the animal control officer simply isn’t doing his job.
“We need to retire him,” Varner said, in reference to the city’s animal control officer David Rogers.
It is a subject matter that has been brought to the table for several years at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting. And during Monday’s meeting, it was revisited.
“We have a lot of loose dogs, and I know this is an old subject matter,” Brent said, opening the discussion. “They are causing a lot of our citizens problems in terms of losing sleep at night because of the howling and having puppies everywhere. I would like the dog catcher to be a little more vigilant about these dogs. If they are not on a leash or if they are not owned by anybody, then they need to be picked up.”
Alderman Gregory Robertson said he has also received concerns over people who are being chased by dogs as they enter church.
“But I have contacted the dog catcher several times, and he has been responsive to me,” Robertson said.
Varner said Rogers has “never done his job.”
“This dog catcher is never going to do the job,” Varner said. “He lives so far out in the country, you can’t reach him by telegram. He is not competent to do the job. I have indicated that for the last ten years”
Varner said, over the years, he has suggested to the city council to hire a younger person who lives within the city limits.
The animal control officer falls under the umbrella of the Yazoo City Police Department. Chief Andre Lloyd said Rogers checks in with his department every morning.
“From checking in, he makes his routine rounds around the city unless somebody calls him and needs him in a specific area,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd also added that Rogers’ hours are “staggered” since he required at various times over the week and weekend.
“He must wear shades all the time and can’t see a lot,” Varner said.
Robertson said the board should be provided documentation surrounding Rogers’ staggered hours.
“He doesn’t find the dogs anyway,” Varner replied. “He may can tell you, probably can’t.”
Mayor Diane Delaware said there are challenges when it comes to loose dogs.
“I think it’s important to note that dogs have four legs,” she said. “And with those four legs, they roam from place to place. I don’t have any means to make them stay in the spot they are in. They seem to know he’ (Rogers) coming.”
But Delaware said if the city council wishes to enforce its animal control ordinances, they need to stick to it.
“We need a little more prevention,” she said. “We need to enforce all the laws in Yazoo City. Unless we enforce all of our laws, it’s not going to be the dog catcher’s fault. You want the law. We will enforce it.”
