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Al Hicks, 73, wanted to adopt a dog from the Lodi Animal Shelter but was denied. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
Lodi man: Why can't I adopt a dog?
Animal shelter says it's because staff have handled two calls about dogs at Al Hicks' residence
When Al Hicks' roommate moved out and took her two dogs with her, the Lodi resident decided that he wanted a pooch of his own.
He went to the Lodi animal shelter and looked at the many dogs waiting for homes, and soon grew attached to a 3-year-old dog, a mix named Cindy.
Then animal control officers gave him the bad news: Because they'd been called out twice for his roommate's two dogs, including a time a mail carrier was bitten, Hicks can't adopt a dog.
The 73-year-old West Vine Street man was devastated.
"I'm trying to help these animals out," Hicks said. "I have a beautiful home. I spoil the animals rotten."
To compound matters, there's actually nothing stopping Hicks from going elsewhere to adopt a dog, because other cities don't have the same kind of policies.
Hicks grew up in the Bay Area and ran a Volkswagen and Porsche business for 40 years. He's called San Mateo, San Francisco and Sacramento shelters, and says they had no problem letting him adopt a dog.
The Stockton animal shelter only requires that someone have the money to pay the fees related to adoption, said Stockton Police Officer Pete Smith, a spokesman for the department that oversees the shelter.
Lodi screens potential adopters to make sure the animals will receive proper care, said Animal Control Officer Brena Schweitz. They physically check homes and also look to see if they've been called there previously. The matter is handled on a case-by-case basis, she said.
"Based on prior history, we did not think it was appropriate for (Hicks) to adopt a dog from us," Schweitz said.
The animal control officer has been called to Hicks' home twice on dog bite calls. The first time involved a person who was walking a dog, and it appeared to be more of a "startle factor," not an act of aggression, she said.
The second call was when a dog chased and bit a mail carrier.
Schweitz said that Hicks, as the property owner, took responsibility and acknowledged that he must have left the gate open.
Hicks, meanwhile, says he was napping when his former roommate apparently left the gate open and her two pit bulls got out.
The former roommate is the girlfriend of Hicks' high school classmate, who has gone trout fishing with him for 60 years. The woman and her dogs have since moved out of Lodi.
Hicks had been cited, but the matter was dropped, at the agreement of the mail carrier, when the dogs were moved, Schweitz said.
Thirty years after Hicks' English Pointer dog, named Jennifer, died of tumors at the age of 16, he still talks fondly of her. He also recalls his cat that lived to the age of 24.
"I'm just going to give a good home to a dog," he said, his voice breaking with emotion.
He lives a block from Lodi's dog park inside Vinewood Park, 1824 W. Tokay St., and said he used to walk his roommates' dogs and take them to their veterinary visits.
Now he has a new plan: He has checked out ads on the wall at Discount Pet Foods, 1411 S. Stockton St., and he plans to adopt a dog privately. Schweitz said there's no law against that, as long as Hicks gets a dog license as required under Lodi's municipal code.
For Hicks, the whole experience has been upsetting.
"I'm a little disgusted," he said. Then his tone changed and he smiled as he added, "But I'll feel better when I have a puppy."
Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.
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PAL wrote on Jun 5, 2009 9:20 PM:
I understand that we want to make sure a forever home is found but with all the requirements and those that charge anywhere between a 250 and 400 adoption fee they are losing many loving homes for these poor dogs and cats. "
mgchrm3 wrote on Jun 5, 2009 8:26 PM:
How can any of you make judgements against LAS when you have no clue what really goes on day in and day out at that place. What the officers and volunteers face everyday is not something most can deal with, and I don't mean euthanasia; but seeing abused and neglected animals day in and out, watching older animals get left behind because people want younger animals, or designer animals, seeing the sad look on the face of an 8yr old dog after her owners abandoned her. When the shelter is short staffed, there are going to be problems, they do the best they can with what they have. When was the last time you were at work and some random person called you a nazi for doing your job? "
Journey wrote on Jun 5, 2009 7:35 PM:
glad2beout wrote on Jun 5, 2009 7:19 PM:
BuddynLodi wrote on Jun 5, 2009 7:16 PM:
Kurt wrote on Jun 5, 2009 4:05 PM:
Neo wrote on Jun 5, 2009 3:00 PM:
El Rushbo wrote on Jun 5, 2009 2:23 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Jun 5, 2009 1:34 PM:
T & C wrote on Jun 5, 2009 12:52 PM:
lodivice wrote on Jun 5, 2009 12:52 PM:
dogs4you wrote on Jun 5, 2009 12:14 PM:
A better idea Al, if you don`t mind traviling, San Francisco, for all it`s problems and set backs have the best run animal shelter anywhere, they are a no kill shelter. Can laughable, somewhat lovable Lodi say the same.
Cochise1200 I don`t blame you for moving and if I could I would also, Lodi sucks. "
luvmesomecritters wrote on Jun 5, 2009 11:44 AM:
mgchrm3 wrote on Jun 5, 2009 11:31 AM:
SJUNE74 wrote on Jun 5, 2009 10:22 AM:
So but they (DOGShelter)has its own Politics!!!
If you connect with an animal in the shelter, Why not if other problems been solved??? "
dogs4you wrote on Jun 5, 2009 10:16 AM:
dot dot dot wrote on Jun 5, 2009 9:50 AM:
lodigirl209 wrote on Jun 5, 2009 9:33 AM:
Sorry Al, and best of luck to you! Dogs are the best and loyal companions a person could have! "
1143 wrote on Jun 5, 2009 9:28 AM:
El Rushbo wrote on Jun 5, 2009 8:44 AM:
mandi1 wrote on Jun 5, 2009 8:37 AM:
mandi1 wrote on Jun 5, 2009 8:36 AM:
I love this town...but not the BS politics. "
Cogito wrote on Jun 5, 2009 8:11 AM:
deblaw wrote on Jun 5, 2009 7:55 AM:
Al, there are plenty of dogs out there that needs a good home. God bless you for your humanity. "
cochise1200 wrote on Jun 5, 2009 4:56 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.