Long Beach letters

Dog fighting rings are here

To the Editor:

Your article about the dead dog really angered me (“Dog found dead in plastic bag,” April 15-21). I worked for the City of Long Beach for 16 years in the Legal Department, and James Hodge’s claims in your story are totally incorrect and show a slanted view of reality.

The pit bull problem has been around in Long Beach for years, and they don’t need to be “in the country” or “up in a hill somewhere.” During his time with the Animal Control Department, I am sure Mr. Hodge knew about the fights that were being held in basements in buildings that were practically around the corner from City Hall.

The only solution to this problem that I see is to check out the neighborhoods where you see these men — and from what I’ve learned they are men who own these animals strictly for the purpose of fighting — and enact laws to have them register these animals so that they can be checked on periodically. My other suggestion is to call an organization such as PETA who are experts on these problems, and get their advice on how to how handle this one. Gloria Febrizio

Long Beach

Officer doesn’t deserve support

To the Editor:

I read last week’s front-page article "Animal control officer arrested" with a great deal of interest. Officer Michael Fritze issued me a ticket during a snowstorm for walking my 10-pound dog on the boardwalk despite the fact that there was no safe place to walk him. Between the oversalting by the City of Long Beach and homeowners’ lack of shoveling, I decided to break the rules.

It’s ironic that now that Fritze has broken the rules, he wants support from the city and his union. He wants to explain what happened, he wants a warning and he wants a get-out-of -jail card. My response: You need to pay for breaking the rules! To say I'm disappointed by the support he's getting from the city is an understatement.

Tracy H. Eichler

Long Beach