Well, unfortunately my wife and I are the previous owners of one of the most noble and friendly six-toed black cats you will ever have met.

We were very fortunate and lucky for having had the opportunity to enjoy seven plus years of his company.

We are unfortunate because Eugene became cat number 40 to be killed by stray dogs last week in his own yard which brings me to my point. I don’t understand.

I don’t understand why a problem that has been going on for so long has not been looked at by our local leaders?

Forget all the warm fuzzies about most people getting tied so emotionally with their pets; perhaps they don’t fully realize the impact it makes to tourists and visitors who read the stories of “killer dogs” running uncontrolled through our streets at night?

Forget all the pretense of the leash law, I don’t understand, when it is widely known whose dogs are running loose, why a policeman or deputy could not at least go talk to the owners.

I do understand budget demands, but I don’t understand if we have only one animal control officer why he or she doesn’t adjust at least part of their schedule to patrol at the time when the problem exists. The cost of that is zero.

These attacks aren’t occurring during the day. I don’t understand why our city leaders don’t realize that at some point someone is going to hear a ruckus on their front porch and go out and try to stop it and in the process get mauled by one of these dogs.

I don’t understand why with all the publicity of these events that dog owners continue to let their pets out at night.

I don’t understand many things about this whole situation but do you know what? I bet Eugene didn’t understand them either.

Steve McNerney

Natchez resident