http://community.myeyewitnessnews.com/blogs/speakup/archive/2008/06/13/3108767.aspxHELENA-WEST HELENA, AR - Mayor James Valley says strays in his town are better off fending for themselves then they are at the local animal shelter.  So on Wednesday June 11th, he released nearly a dozen dogs just yards away from a National Foresten-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60217.2664)http://community.myeyewitnessnews.com/blogs/speakup/archive/2008/06/13/3108767.aspx#3109748Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:48:27 GMTc55e6020-de53-4b6c-990f-08fb9756fadd:3109748Gail1771Releasing the dogs into the forest was a very irresponsible thing to do! Does the mayor not realize that these dogs will breed and it will create packs of wild dogs running loose and cause a danger to children, animals and have the potential to spread rabies? Time to place someone in office that has better skills at determining policy and procedure for that city and county. We need more strict laws in place and see them carried out, to put the responsibility of pets in the laps of those who abandoned those animals, (which opens a whole other can of worms).http://community.myeyewitnessnews.com/blogs/speakup/archive/2008/06/13/3108767.aspx#3109940Sat, 14 Jun 2008 15:38:55 GMTc55e6020-de53-4b6c-990f-08fb9756fadd:3109940Dover"Mayor James Valley says he had no other choice.  "It's gotten hot.  The animals are housed outside and it has gotten rough to deal with all the things animals need." What a pathetic excuse. What the animals needed was the very basics like food, water and shelter! "Helena/West Helena could not take care of 12 dogs?? A resident stated one of the dogs was obviously ill. There isn't a vet nearby that would donate his/her services to care for the ill dog/dogs????  Did anyone think to phone a nearby city that COULD  and WOULD take care of the animals before dumping them? This was a terribly stupid and cruel thing to do. The animals may become aggressive and bite someone, but they will surely die a slow cruel death by heat, starvation or dehydration. This is NEGLECT/ABUSE so the HS or ASPCA should be paying 'the mayor' a visit!http://community.myeyewitnessnews.com/blogs/speakup/archive/2008/06/13/3108767.aspx#3110425Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:16:01 GMTc55e6020-de53-4b6c-990f-08fb9756fadd:3110425shelbyWhen a city can't supply shelter, food and water for 12 dogs the last person out of town needs to turn the lights out and forget the place.