Streeter: Baltimore’s animal abuse commission is back. Thank goodness.

Very few things make me angrier than when people abuse defenseless animals. There is no constitutionally protected right to have a pet, and taking your nastiness out on a creature that can’t fight back makes me want to resort to vengeance, like John Wick after they killed his puppy.

Which is why I’m glad that the Mayor’s Anti-Animal Abuse Advisory Commission, which was disbanded in 2020, was resurrected earlier this month. At least now, Baltimore has more legal and non-baseball-bat-related ways to bring these criminals to justice, particularly in these economically uncertain times.

“We have a duty to not allow their suffering and to make regulations to make sure our animals don’t suffer,” said Sharon Colburn, director of the city’s Office of Animal Control and a member of the newly revived commission.

The body, which “kind of fizzled” out during the COVID shutdown amid higher priorities, Colburn said, advises on rules and best practices to protect the city’s animals at home, on the job and on the streets, and provides recommendations to city agencies on legislation to prosecute abusers.

The commission came to be after a task force was formed to investigate the savage torture and eventual death of a dog named Phoenix who was set on fire in 2009. Seriously, what is wrong with people? It was meant to be a coalition of various experts and officials who came together to agree on best practices, but the commission apparently was not always successful and questioned Baltimore agencies’ actual commitment to fighting animal abuse.

But even with its previous shortcomings, the reinstatement seems to be a sign that animal welfare matters here. And it couldn’t come at a better time. We are still suffering under inflation, and there is evidence that when Americans are hurting financially, it can make caring for our furry friends more difficult.

But the economy is not their fault. And if anyone makes them suffer for it, I’m glad there is more of a mechanism to hold people accountable. Because here’s the thing about animal abuse: You don’t have to have a pet. If you can’t afford it or you don’t believe you’re a pet person, surrender them. That’s a sad outcome for the moment, but it’s better than neglecting or hurting them. Give them a chance to find a better home.

A 2023 Vox story explained that bored people stuck at home during the pandemic shutdown adopted pets at a record level, but also that the number of surrendered animals grew in a year. It also noted that veterinary costs have outpaced inflation, due in part to a rise in the cost of supplies and a shortage of staff. Colburn added that the vet staff shortage “has been felt in the community” by way of owners not being able to get regular appointments, “and the result of that is that they have to go to emergency clinics, which are far more expensive than the regular vet.”

Colburn said that the city didn’t have specific data to prove that cases are affected by the economy, but “it’s not uncommon to remove animals when there is an eviction, and people do surrender because they lack resources, whether that’s veterinarian care or resources like food and training.”

Colburn said that the cases in which pet parents have to surrender their pets because they just can’t afford them anymore don’t rise to the level of neglect and abuse, but it’s a different story when that lack of funds leads to intentional harm.

“It’s like if they have a broken leg or some kind of injury or illness where no care was sought, or intentionally harming them, not when someone lacks resources and does the right thing” by turning their pets over to authorities, she said.

Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) takes in about 10,000 cats and dogs each year for a combination of reasons, including surrenders, evictions and animals found injured or abused. My current feline overlord, Cass Elliot Streeter-Zervitz, was allegedly surrendered by people who claimed they’d just up and discovered her in their new apartment, which I’ve never believed. She didn’t appear to be physically abused, but her fleeing whenever anyone picks up a broom or Swiffer makes me sad and suspicious. And makes me want to beat up anyone who might have ever made her afraid.

Colburn said abuse cases reported to the city can come from notifications by vets who observe apparent signs of abuse or neglect or reports about people who leave their pets outside. She also said that BARCS, in some cases, may be able to provide care to the point where the animal can be returned to its home or maybe to a rescue.

“Some owners will self-report and say, ‘My animal is really sick, I tried going to the vet but I can’t afford a $1,000 bill. What are the options?’” she said. “Then there are situations where the owners continue to refuse care, and that might cross over into neglect and cruelty,” she said.

Why is it so important to protect our four-legged folks?

“They are part of our family and provide a lot of service to the community, whether they’re a K-9 officer, an emotional-support animal or one being used by someone with a disability, or just as simple as being our pets and giving us comfort,” she said.

It’s the commission’s job to make sure the city has the tools to make these abusers face the music.

I swear I’m not John Wick. Probably.