Fake noise complaints sent to dog owners in Colorado Springs
A family in Colorado Springs believes their dog was poisoned, just days after some neighbors received threatening letters about their pets.
The letters claim to be from CSPD and the Humane Society, but both agencies deny them.
After getting a second one, she says she's now terrified of who may be sending them and why.
"It's kind of scary. For one the complaints they're making aren't true. We're home most of the time because we're retired so the dogs are in and out of the house but they're not out there barking I won't let them do that. As soon as they're barking I bring them in," Brown said.
But Colorado Springs police say the letter is far from real. When it comes to noise complaints, they say an officer would be called out to investigate.
And as for thousands of dollars in fines, they say someone would have to go before a judge before they'd be required to pay up.
Just weeks after receiving the initial letter, brown says one of her neighbors believes their dog was intentionally hurt.
"It was the neighbor next door that pointed out what was on Facebook that showed the dog that was poisoned and that got the same letter we got," she said.
She's now left wondering what will happen next and hopes the person responsible is caught.
"You don't know what this person is capable of, you hear of so many things happening. And when it hits home, it's this close it's kind of scary," Brown said.
The Humane Society says they continue to investigate whether a dog from this neighborhood was actually poisoned.
The Humane Society provided this statement:
The Colorado Springs Police Department and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region are aware of this letter circulating around neighborhoods in Colorado Springs. This is a falsified letter that did not originate from either the CSPD or HSPPR.
Complaint Protocol (Information provided by HSPPR):
If neighbors make a noise complaint against your dogs with Animal Law Enforcement (ALE), they have the option to remain anonymous or attach their names to an official warning. If they wish to remain anonymous, ALE will send a Notice of Noisy Pet Complaint to your residence. This notification will include a specific Activity Number for reference; however, it is simply a notice that there has been a complaint, and there is no fine or information on further action at this time.
If you receive an official warning in-person or left at your residence by our ALE team, it will list the name of the person who filed the complaint. Once you receive an official warning, if you receive another warning in the next six months, you could be issued a fine starting at $50 for a first offense. As always, if you have any questions about any correspondence you receive that seems to be coming from Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, please call us immediately at the numbers listed.
