Abandoned Dogs Roam Detroit in Packs as Humans Dwindle

[jakeXT]

As many as 50,000 stray dogs roam the streets and vacant homes of bankrupt Detroit, replacing residents, menacing humans who remain and overwhelming the city’s ability to find them homes or peaceful deaths.

Dens of as many as 20 canines have been found in boarded-up homes in the community of about 700,000 that once pulsed with 1.8 million people. One officer in the Police Department's skeleton animal-control unit recalled a pack splashing away in a basement that flooded when thieves ripped out water pipes.

“The dogs were having a pool party,” said Lapez Moore, 30. “We went in and fished them out.”

Poverty roils the Motor City and many dogs have been left to fend for themselves, abandoned by owners who are financially stressed or unaware of proper care. Strays have killed pets, bitten mail carriers and clogged the animal shelter, where more than 70 percent are euthanized.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-21/abandoned-dogs-roam-detroit-in-packs-as-humans-dwindle.html

[fasttense]

1. The rotting of Detroit brought to you by Capitalism.

Capitalism destroyed the city. The endless bailouts for the corporations that use to run Detroit have ensured those corporations will survive somewhere else, probably India or Communist China. But Detroit will crumble away into nothing. The people, the city, are NOT worth saving in a capitalist society. The only thing worth saving were inefficient, abusive, obsolete gas powered car corporations.

Why do we allow capitalist and corporations to decide which of our cities will be sacrificed to the god of greed?

[erpowers]

2. Not Capitalism

Capitalism did not destroy Detroit. Without those bailouts the situation in Detroit would likely be worse. The bailout of the American car industry saved about one million jobs throughout the state of Michigan and surrounding states. The people and the city are worth saving. In addition, the people and the city can be saved. The city just needs investments.

It would be nice if the federal government would fully fund the Detroit police force. At least all the additional police Detroit currently needs. That would put more cops on the street, which would most likely reduce crime. In addition, the additional police would put more money into the local economy in that more people would be getting paid and therefore, they would be able to spend some of their money.

The federal government could also provide the money needed to demolish abandoned buildings. There could be an attempt to assure that most of the workers hired to do these jobs lived in Detroit. Once again more people would be employed, which would once again lead to more money being put into the Detroit economy. Finally, the federal government could try to come to an agreement whereby the federal government would pay all wages above minimum wage in order to allow for union wages to be paid until all abandoned buildings have been demolished.