I attended the first public meeting of Baltimore's newly appointed Anti-Animal Abuse Task Force earlier tonight.
The crowd that settled into the auditorium at Polytechnic Institute wasn't massive -- about 75 people, many volunteers at or supporters of the city's animal shelters and rescue organizations.
After the task force members greeted the crowd -- the panel includes elected leaders and their staff and representatives from shelters, the police, animal control, churches and non-profit groups -- people had a chance to address them. Many offered suggestions, a few told sad stories.
The overriding theme of the evening was education -- person after person urged the panel to consider creative ways to get into the schools and churches to teach young people empathy for animals.
A number of speakers also urged tougher sentences for animal abusers. Others suggested the city adopt mandatory spay and neuter laws to cut down on the number of homeless animals roaming the streets and becoming targets for abuse in the first place.
The panel promised to incorporate what they heard into recommendations that they'll present to Mayor Sheila Dixon next July.
Others ideas floated included: Bringing "pets on wheels" programs to schools; recruiting local stars like Ravens players to become role models on how to treat animals and hiring a trained investigator for the police force that specializes in animal abuse cases.
The task force was formed this summer after a pit bull puppy was doused with gasoline and set on fire. The puppy, named Phoenix, was euthanized a few days later because of her injuries. Since then two cats died after being tortured and burned, another cat named Gabrielle was set on fire after kids through bricks at her and another kitten, Miracle, was swung by the tail into the ground and suffered a broken jaw.
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