Man Pleads With City for Time to Pay Bill For Dog
Monday, May 14, 2012 @ 10:31 AM
Prince George, B.C.- The Flynn family is trying to get its dog back.“Roxy” escaped from their home last week when the three year old in the household Mikayel, opened the front door of the Hart area home and the family’s pet poodle “Roxy” bolted.
( at right, Mikayel and Roxy during happier times)
Lincoln Flynn took off after the dog, but the pooch was too fast for him, and ducked under a fence, out of Lincoln’s reach.
Roxy ended up near the Hart Mall and was picked up by a woman who was concerned about the little pooch. Roxy spent the night at the woman’s home. The woman called Animal Control the next day, and Roxy was picked up and taken to the Animal Shelter. When the Flynn family learned Roxy was at the pound, they were told they would have to pay $285.00 to spring her loose, or, she would be put up for adoption by Wednesday of this week.
Speaking on the Meisner program on CFIS FM this morning, Lincoln Flynn says the payment is a little too steep for him right now. “I don’t mind paying on a payment plan, but because my company was contracted to Lakeland, I’m out of work since the mill exploded. I will get another job, I am able bodied and willing, but right now, that $285.00 is just too much.” But if he fails to pay the bill by Wednesday, Roxy could be “sold” to another family.
Flynn says his children are devastated, and have been drawing pictures of their beloved pet and crying because they miss her.
He has written an e-mail to Mayor and Council, and is hoping someone will offer some assistance. In his letter, he asks the Mayor and Council to look at changing the bylaws. “I’m not asking for a reprieve from the set fines and licenses" writes Lincoln Flynn, "All I’m asking is that you look into letting families go on some sort of payment plan, so in the mean time they can have their animal back. This just isn’t right, and nobody should have to go through this again.”
Opinion 250’s call to the Mayor has not been returned, and we are waiting for a call from the head of bylaw services.
Comments
Gusdal will have a million reasons why bylaw services will be unable to act.
As per usual!
What is this, 18th century Britain? Pay up or we’ll sell your dog??? Who is the heartless Scrooge who makes up these rules?
Give the Flynn’s a break, let them pay in installments & give them their family member back. What’s next? No money to pay
at emergency? Guess little Johnny goes up for adoption by next week.
That is so sad :-(
I hope this family gets their pup back.
Am I missing something? Couldn’t the family go in first thing next Wednesday and ‘adopt’ their dog back?
$285 seems a little steep to me. How about having a friend go in and adopt it for them. Got to be cheaper than paying the fine.
Maybe the owners of the dog can discuss a compromise. Maybe if the owner of the dog promised to fill in a few craters on his street, providing the labour aspect, the city can forgive his fine? The city just has to drop off the asphalt in a pile in front of his house and he and a few concerned neighbours can provide the labour thus saving the taxpayer labour costs for filling the pot holes. Do you think pot holes filled by rank amateurs are any different than they are now? It’s a win win. The guy gets his dog back, the city has a few craters filled, the city saves labour costs for a few guys, and all this guys neighbours get a nice street. (for a few weeks anyway).
And not to be an a-hole, because I feel bad for the family — but who is going to administrate payment plans for people who can’t pay their bills? Do they need to hire more staff at City Hall to do this? It’s always tough when you try to set a precident. Then everybody wants the same treatment.
This family should ask for money from the lakeland fund. Isn’t this kind of thing should be covered as this family is affected by the mill closed down.
Come on P.G. there’s got to be someone who can afford to pay for this dog’s ransom.
I imagine everyone has a sob story, when it comes time to paying fines!
I don’t buy it. You can’t pool enough resources to spring your dog out of the pound? If that really is true, and you’ve exhausted the friend and family bank too, then you probably can’t afford to own a dog and are looking to earn someone elses money with tears.
Oh, Christ, this is why you should have a line of credit. It’s not up to the city to manage pet owner’s finances.
I’ll kick in 10 bucks.
$285 seems awfully steep. Where does that come from? It’s one thing to fine people who abuse animals or let them be a nuisance, but there’s no reason to harass people who have an innocuous pet run off.
a new journalistic low for Opinion 250
I think the cost of adopting a dog at the pound will be close to the same amount as this fee.
And truly sad to read there is $155K sitting there, set aside and raised by the people of PG to help the families affected by the Lakeland fire, and families like this can not access much needed funds :-(
That poor little three year old boy who opened the door. Big consequence for a little guy :-(
For all the negative posters on this subject – hope you are never in a situation where you have to ask for help. Whats the matter with you people? The man says he can’t afford to pay this draconian type fine – then he can’t afford to pay it! None of you negative people are in his shoes and you do NOT know his and his families situation, so keep your opinions to your self.
This is the kind of thing that turns people against politicians and namely city hall. This animal is a part of the mans family and someone somewhere should have compassion and help.
I’m going to phone the animal shelter and offer to help this family. I hope others will do the same.
Maybe City council would flip the bill with the raise they all gave themselves.
Money is needed for Frizzell’s pay raise.
Why is it costing so much to spring their dog? Has it been picked up before? A repeat offender? Sure doesn’t seem a fair fine for an escaped dog if it’s a first offense.
This is unreasonable. So they can’t afford the bill, now what? The dog sits in jail until it gets put down, because nobody wants an older dog? Give them the dog back and let the family collect donations on behalf of the SPCA. It’s simple. By the way, I will contribute a few bucks if it comes down to it
Dear Mr. Editor,
If someone were willing to chip in to pay for this pooch’s fine, where would you go?
The SPCA or city Hall?
Good question, Howard. I’m there too.
As promised I contacted the SPCA and left a message that I would like to help financially to get this pet back to its owners.
The SPCA just called me back and told me that an anonymous donor has paid the full fee and that the dog is now home.
I for one thank this person whomever they are – you are good people! Thank you.
Despite the fact an anonymous donor has stepped forward to “pick up the tab” to bail out Roxy, the SPCA could use your help too. We thank you all for your kindness and willingnes to step up to the plate on this one.
Elaine Macdonald
Well there goes the hope of some bartering to get some pot holes fixed.
Train your dog to come when it’s called! Doh!
If the dog had a 2012 PG dog licence already, then I tend to feel bad for the family. If the dog did not have a PG dog licence, then I have no sympathy for the family.
I live by those ppl and there dog is always roaming the neighborhood, they just lost it last month as well.
$285 is for an not fixed, unlicensed dog who is not a first offender.
I am so glad this story has a happy ending.
Thank you O-250 for posting this story. And thank you to whomever paid the bill allowing Roxy to get back home.
“so keep your opinions to your self.” .. yes, heaven forbid you have an “opinion” on Opinion250…give me a break.
Its completely unreasonable to hold a family dog ransom for that kind of fine.
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