Spartanburg County Animal Control: What's Their Purpose?

I live in Cowpens, SC, which is in Spartanburg County. My house is a little off in the country and it's usually very quiet. That is, until you hear stray dogs rummaging on your porch and in your yard at night when you're trying to rest. A neighbor of mine has quite a few dogs that seem to roam our neighborhood. At any given time, my four year old daughter and I can't even go to our mailbox with out having a number of dogs run up at us barking and growling. Constantly, I'm waking up to trash being strewn all over my porch after these dogs have been through it at night, which could result in a fine for me, since I'm told it's illegal to leave trash bags on my porch even if I'm leaving momentarily to take it to the trash dump.

So tired of all the stress these animals are causing me, I finally decided to call Spartanburg County Animal Control. I was told by an officer that patrols my area that she would look into the problem and get back to me. Several days later I receive a call from the officer saying that she found where the animals live and who the owners are, but to my disgrace, she wasn't able to confine the animals. So, the officer asks me if I could catch the animals myself next time I find them in my yard, then call her back to come and take the animals.

The officer also informed me that if she could not find the animals residence, then she could not take them. I was laughing hysterically inside at the sound of this. First of all, I do not work for the state of South Carolina or the county of Spartanburg. So why should I be the one to catch these animals up? Since when is it OK for animals to run freely in other peoples yard, especially without rabies tags? Well, according to the Spartanburg County website, www.spartanburgcounty.org this is against the law. Under Spartanburg County's Leash Law, animals roaming freely are subject to being picked up by Animal Control officers and being impounded or taken to the Animal Shelter. Animal Control officers also have the right to pick up any animal that isn't wearing an up to date rabies tag.

I find it absolutely absurd that I couldn't get any help from the Spartanburg County Animal Control. These people are supposed to be here to help us with problems and to keep us from getting bit or attacked by a rabid animal. But my problem was just simply pushed under the rug. It seems to me that the Animal Control officers are simply put, lazy, and just wanting others to do their job for them. I do plan to take my manner to a higher authority.