Run down water district property
The piece of property behind the fire department on Hill Road is overrun by weeds and people are using this area as a rest station for their dogs. Who needs to be contacted about this. I am willing to sponsor a dog mitt station if need be. People use this property to gain access to San Pedro Park.
Dear Eyesore Watcher:
We agree with you that the property behind the Santa Clara County Fire Department on Hill Road at Dunne Avenue is an eyesore and we did find fecal matter all over the perimeter, which was disgusting. You need to contact the Santa Clara Valley Water District to file a formal complaint. Let them know you’re willing to sponsor a dog mitt station there, but be aware that the district may not want the public to have access to the property. About your mention of a San Pedro Park, it’s not an actual park, but a walking trail on water district property that the public can use. Again you would have to discuss access to this area with water district officials. Contact the district’s Creek Maintenance and Cleanup Department at (408) 265-2600, ext. 2378.
Trapped animals
The Morgan Hill Unified School District set out traps for skunks and raccoons one night and left the trapped animals out in full view of the students the next day. Why are they trapping these animals that cause no problems during the day at Live Oak High School? And why are they neglecing to check the traps before school starts?
My child got sprayed and this caused considerable trouble for me, since I had to pick my child up from school and try to get the smell out of his clothes.
Dear stink-trouble:
Students tend to be curious and this is a quality we need to nurture. However, our children’s inquisitive nature can sometimes get them into trouble and, in this case, your child got too close to the trapped skunk in the cage and got sprayed. When skunks are startled, as we’re sure this animal was, they make a purring, growling sound and then emit their sulphuric spray in self-defense after raising their tail. We’re so sorry your child was the victim of this natural animal defense mechanism. We’re also sorry about how horrible the smell must have been to endure for your child and you, the parent. You’re child is lucky the spray didn’t get in the eyes as it can cause blindness. We’re sure you had to dispose of the clothing as the odor is nearly impossible to eliminate.
But back to your important question about why the district is doing this in public view. Live Oak High School Principal Nick Boden told the Red Phone that on occasion the campus experiences the presence of feral cats, which attracts a variety of other animals.
To insure a safe campus environment, the school contracts with an agency to remove the animals that may cause a disruption or health hazard to the students, Boden said. School personnel monitors the traps daily when they are present and contact the agency as soon as they’re aware of any activity so they can remove the animals promptly.
Caller, although we’re sure your experience was not only traumatic for your child but disgusting and foul-smelling for you, you’re lucky the incident didn’t inflict more damage on your child and we’re confident he learned a lesson about wildlife’s defense mechanisms and the school’s issues with feral cats.
