More than a week ago, the Cape Gazette learned that an older person walking a dog near Rehoboth Beach had been attacked by two dogs that injured or possibly killed at least one dog.
A vicious attack by unleashed animals draws intense public concern. People anywhere near the attack – including all of Rehoboth Beach – are justifiably concerned about children, family and pets that could have been injured by two dogs on the loose.
The Cape Gazette sought to verify the incident and tell readers how the case was resolved. To date, we have no report of the time and place the attack occurred or the extent of injuries.
Without verifying details, state officials said two dogs related to this incident were surrendered by their owner and euthanized.
But that's hardly the end of the story. Where did this event occur? How serious were the injuries? Who is responsible for the dogs? Why did officials euthanize them?
To get answers, state Department of Health and Human Services officials required a formal request under the Freedom of Information Act, which gives the agency three weeks to respond.
Why is this necessary? Any state enforcement agency authorized to issue criminal summons should expect to release timely information about significant cases, just as other law enforcement agencies do. For an incident so severe that dogs were euthanized, citizens expect to learn what happened and what their government did about it.
Since January, Delaware Office of Animal Welfare's Animal Services has taken on dog control throughout Delaware. The chief enforcement officer apparently released details in the Rehoboth case, but health officials have withheld it, all the while insisting the Office of Animal Services wants to improve accountability.
When an agency uses public funds to respond to serious incidents and then euthanize animals, accountability demands a full report of the incident.
As President Harry Truman once put it, secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix. Stay tuned.
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Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
