Thread by @BobChoate54

@leboomleboom Are you telling me that you ~do not~ live in Houston? Funny you should suggest that I "get in the car." I just got back from driving to my daughter's house and back ... to Cypress, 24 miles R/T, to pick up her 2 dogs, both if them "rescued" from BARC. (more) ⬇️

@leboomleboom Most of the trip was spent on ~surface streets,~ not highways. Guess what? I saw only two..TWO dogs that were running loose.

I do not know about any "estimate of a few years ago; I AM aware of a report on @NPR by reporter @samraphelson. The story aired on Dec. 29, 2017. (more)

@leboomleboom @NPR @samraphelson The story claimed that there were 2 MILLION strays in Houston.

2,000,000. That's 3,000 PER SQUARE MILE, at that's EVERY square mile of the city. Downtown. The Medical Center. The Heights, Midtown, the Museum District. Meyerland, EaDo, Acres Homes. Sunnyside, Alief. (more)

@leboomleboom @NPR @samraphelson I believe that it also included the bayous, but I could be incorrect.

3,000 per square mile.

@KenCultureMap, who at the time was a columnist for the Houston ChronicLiberal, saw the absurdity in the "information." He likened it to the stampede scene in "Jumanji." (more)

@leboomleboom @NPR @samraphelson @KenCultureMap Even if the 2,000,000 were spread throughout all of Harris County, it would equate to 1,500 per square mile.

The story cited author Peter Zheutlin, who is based in...get this... BOSTON! Boston. They couldn't find anyone closer to Houston? (more)

@leboomleboom @NPR @samraphelson @KenCultureMap As I had great difficulty understanding how this could be, I took the time to seek and contact Mr. Zheutlin. He admitted that he had "no idea" how many strays there were in Houston and supposed that the NPR reporter found it convenient to link him to the story as he had (more)...

@leboomleboom @NPR @samraphelson @KenCultureMap ...published a book about the stray problem in the US.

When reporters questioned City officials about the report, do you know who they found at BARC to back up the info that allegedly came from that organization? NO ONE. 🥴

You suggested that I should "get in the car. (more)

@leboomleboom @NPR @samraphelson @KenCultureMap I did better than that. As a semi retirement job, I drove a 15-seat bus for METRO. I drove a variety of routes that were primarily in under-served neighborhoods; places like Acres Homes, Sunnyside, Southeast Houston.

I can tell you that I spent >1,000 hours driving (more)...

@leboomleboom @NPR @samraphelson @KenCultureMap ...through those parts of town. In the course of 1,000 hours, I may have seen 10...15 strays. And a few of those strays looked as though they owned the neighborhood. They appeared to be healthy and strolled around with swagger.

I actually saw more junk cars ... (more) ...

@leboomleboom @NPR @samraphelson @KenCultureMap ...and abandoned tires than strays.

As for your countless hours rescuing animals and working with shelters, I appreciate that. As for me, I am spending a lot of my time focused on getting @SylvesterTurner and City Council to F O C U S on the crime problem and (more)...

@leboomleboom @NPR @samraphelson @KenCultureMap @SylvesterTurner ...to get better judges in the criminal courts. As one city Councilmember introduced me to a small group of people, "Bob is a thorn in ~everybody's~ ass."

Have a nice day. Please remember what I said at the start of this too-long thread. Be a little nicer.