Opinion, Analysis, Discussion
Letter: Patriotism is best felt, not forced
May 20, 2013 —Patriotism can’t be forced
Representative Esquivel of Medford is sponsoring a bill to require a daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in all Oregon public K-12 schools. On the surface, it appears to be a patriotic measure intended to foster positive citizenship. Below this noble veneer is a clouded personal agenda.
Learn more »Letter: Enforce gun laws we already have
May 20, 2013 —Criminals won’t buy guns legally
Those adamant about gun control laws forget several things. First, there are already laws on the books that, if they were enforced, would stop crime. Second, background checks are already required. Be honest, criminals won’t buy a gun and go through a background check. Gun-free zones just invite shooters who can be assured no one will be able to fight back while they commit their crimes. Adam Lanza specifically chose a gun-free zone to fatally shoot 20 children and six adults.
Learn more »Letter: Vote ‘no’ on Roseburg school tax; public safety more important
May 20, 2013 —Vote ‘no’ on school levy
I’m voting “no” for the schools levy because I’m more worried about public safety. Every school has empty classrooms and yes, it’s sad to change schools. But I don’t want to live in a community like Eugene or Grants Pass where there are no consequences to committing a crime. They go to jail for one day, then are released due to lack of beds, including pedophiles!
Learn more »Letter: Fire District 2 needs Wes Melo’s leadership skills
May 20, 2013 —District 2 needs this leadership
I know nothing about firefighting or serving on a fire district’s board, but I do know Wes Melo, whom I would support for any elected position he sought. Here’s why:
Learn more »Publishers Notebook: Roseburg woman deals in guns and butter
Carolyn Kellim’s home sits in a quiet Roseburg neighborhood and there is a wooden nativity scene outside her door that stands testimony to her Christian faith. The 84-year-old silver-haired native of Jefferson (14 miles or so south of Salem) greeted me at the door with an offer of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Her home was bright and sunny and there were fresh flowers in the kitchen. As soon as we finished our sandwiches, we adjourned to a back room filled from floor to ceiling with guns, rifles and enough ammunition to hold off a platoon.
Learn more »Editorial: Oregon’s timber counties wait for a good word from Wyden
In addressing the future of the Oregon & California Railroad lands, some words won’t do anymore. Words such as “studies,” “timelines,” “frameworks,” “strategies” and “principles.”
It’s time to hear a four-letter word: “Bill.” There needs to be a bill to put into place a mechanism for increasing logging on O&C lands.
Learn more »Circuit queen
Most of us can find numerous excuses not to exercise regularly. Not Roseburg’s Winifred Fiske. She makes it to the gym at least three times a week and also rides a stationary bike whenever possible.
Learn more »Letter: She was a paper carrier in Yoncalla
May 16, 2013 —Carried papers in Yoncalla
I enjoyed reading the recent article “Paper boys of the past learned responsibility from routes.” I can relate to their stories, although I think that my experience delivering the News-Review was quite unique.
Learn more »Letter: Driver’s License requires insurance, but Driver’s Card does not?
May 16, 2013 —No insurance for Driver Card
Regarding “Immigrant Driver’s Card bill passes;” give me a break. This great state has just passed a bill for immigrants and others who don’t have documents proving they are in the country lawfully, including elders and homeless people. They can apply for driver’s licenses, if they have lived in Oregon for at least a year and meet other requirements. These cards would be marked “Driver’s Card” and can’t be used to vote, board a plane, or purchase a firearm. How does a homeless person or illegal immigrant prove they have lived in Oregon for any period of time?
Learn more »Letter: Restore America to freedom and prosperity
May 16, 2013 —The road back to our America
Predictably, the last Tea Party turnout was small in number, not like the first demonstrations. When the demonstrations started in 2009, people turned out all over America with their flags and signs. It was to impart a message: “We are here, we are America, we are ready to fight in the cause of freedom.”
Learn more »Letter: I don’t recognize my America anymore
May 15, 2013 —What happened to my America?
I have served two years in the U.S. Army, 14 months of that was in Korea. I have taught 36 years in public and private schools. I also wrote my own history book, “America, The First 500 Years.” In watching our nightly news, I don’t recognize the America I taught anymore.
Learn more »Letter: Save the Stewart Parkway S curves in Roseburg
May 15, 2013 —Don’t iron out the S curves
Why must life’s trips always be neat, tidy and in a direct line from points A to B? I don’t see any need for spending nearly $3 million to straighten S curves on Stewart Parkway. Are they a hazard? Have there been many accidents there?
Learn more »Letter: Positive things about guns and money
May 15, 2013 —Gun business still thriving
I recently learned some interesting facts about the positive things going on in the firearms industry, one of the very few truly thriving businesses in this country since the economic collapse of 2008.
Learn more »Editorial: Constitutional principle falls victim to student drug testing
May 15, 2013 —Beginning next fall, the Sutherlin School District will require students to pass a drug test to play sports and participate in other extracurricular activities.
The adoption of this policy without visible opposition signals that times have changed. But what’s the bigger change — rampant drug abuse among youth or a disregard for constitutional principles among adults?
Learn more »Letter: Tax increases are not the only answer
May 14, 2013 —Stop scaring us into more taxes
Well, here we go again, the widow and orphan scheme. Now we’re being asked to have our taxes raised yet again. This time it’s to provide books, computers and a more comfortable environment for our children. It seems that every time our elected officials want to raise taxes, they scare us into it by telling us if they don’t, our police and fire departments will have to be closed down, or our children will have to be taught in overcrowded classrooms with no air conditioning and they will be using out-dated equipment. I thought the lottery money was going to be used for schools. And how about the two measures that were passed not long ago? Wasn’t the money supposed to be earmarked for schools?
Learn more »Guest column: Five tips to securing the ideal home loan
With interest rates at historic lows and home prices well off their peak values, now may be the ideal time for prospective buyers to enter the real estate market. Although many banks have revised and tightened their lending criteria, that doesn’t mean home buyers can’t get loans. Of course, the environment is much different today than it was during the real estate market boom, and consumers are wise to spend some time thoroughly evaluating their financial footing in order to secure the best loan for their particular situation.
Tip 1: Understand your entire financial portfolio. Take stock of your complete financial situation to determine what you can afford. You’ll want an accurate picture of your income and expenses as well as any savings that you may want to tap for a down payment or closing costs. In general, home payments shouldn’t be more than a third of your monthly income, and it’s important to factor in other savings needs — for retirement, college and emergency funds, for example.
Learn more »Guest column: Oregon Legislature’s focus shifts to Ways & Means
Editor’s note: Following is Senator Jeff Kruse’s weekly newsletter from May 10.
Learn more »
Letter: Is Congress caught in a Hale Bopp moment?
May 13, 2013 —Congress in Hale Bopp?
Remember the Heaven’s Gate cult? They were mostly educated bright people who thought they could attach themselves to a rocket that trailed the comet. Ridiculous, right? I call this our “Hale Bopp” side. We all have it. Yes, you do, too. It’s our ignorant side, a part of our brain that isn’t grounded in reality.
Learn more »Letter: Now is the time to build the Tri City fire station
May 13, 2013 —Now is the time to build
There will be another requested bond measure for a new fire station for the residents of Tri City on the May ballot. Last November the $2.5 million measure was voted down, probably for several reasons. The main reasons were the weak economy coupled with the proposed tax for $1 per thousand added to our property tax bill.
Learn more »Publisher’s Notebook: Down a chicken, but prospects still good for eggs
May 12, 2013 —Always the romantic, I thought Mother’s Day would be a good time to provide an update on my chickens.
It seems like forever ago that I brought nine new chicks home from the feed store and stuck them in my sunroom, where they would be warm and cozy under a red heat lamp until they got old enough to put into the chicken coop that came with the house.
There are eight left and I’ll get to that tragic event in a minute. First, I wanted to review what I’ve learned about raising chickens in my first two months on the job.
For starters, chickens grow fast. Seems like just yesterday they were cute and fluffy as they scampered about the plastic box I’d previously used to store tennis balls, rackets and other stuff we never use. We got a couple of water feeders, metal chick-food feeders and three or four heat lamps with extension cords. The chicken classes taught us the difference between chick “starter” food and regular chicken food and that the water must be clean enough for humans to drink, or the chicks will get sick and die.
For the record, I never drank from the chick feeder because it had chick doo-doo all over it because … well … chickens like to poop where they drink and I don’t. So I just had to assume that the water I gave them was clean enough for humans.
It should be noted that chickens poop a lot, which is not good because before you know it your sunroom stinks so bad it makes your eyes water.
It should also be noted that The News-Review came in very handy during the chick-raising period, so if you have a mind to raise your own, I can get delivery started as soon as you’d like. It’s not a good idea to line your chick box with an iPad or laptop. Some things just don’t work like an old-fashioned newspaper.
Since it’s likely that at least one of your new chicks won’t make it to chickenhood, it’s not a good idea to name them. It creates an emotional attachment too painful when the time comes to eat one, or when one falls victim to predators, which includes most of the Animal Kingdom. Let’s be honest, there aren’t many things that can’t kick a chicken’s butt.
Unfortunately, that’s the first thing my wife and daughter did when I brought the nine chicks home.
“Your turn, Daddy!” they cried. “You get to name three of them!”
“How about chick one, two and three?” I asked, looking to bail, but not wanting to curb their enthusiasm.
After almost three weeks in the sunroom it was time to move the nine chicks into the coop. They were making me gag and they were no longer as cute. They could also fly and my tennis racket container wasn’t large enough to keep them contained.
As it turns out, it was a brilliant move. The chicken coop is a great place to keep chickens, so long as the predators can’t get in at night and eat them. They had plenty of room and the heat lamps kept them warm through April. At least the eight that made it through April.
One day my wife (Happy Mother’s Day, honey!) was replacing the water and food feeders inside the coop when our Lab, Ben, darted in and grabbed one of the chickens by the neck, killing it instantly. I’m not sure which one it was because all the chickens look alike (except for the two Americanas) and I’m not the one who named them. All I know is that I got a text at work saying that something terrible had happened at home and that I should call right away.
This is a good time to pause. I know we live in a digital world, but it’s not a good idea to send a text like that. Some very bad thoughts raced through my head and none of them included a dead chicken. The list included wrecked cars, burned-down houses, an IRS audit, major water leak, or surprise family visit.
By the time I got home they’d already had the funeral for the chicken. She’s buried in the garden so the dogs can’t dig her up. Think compost on steroids.
I later learned that the best way to teach your dog not to kill your chickens is to tie a dead one around his neck and leave it there for a week or so. “He’ll never kill another chicken,” they promised.
That sounded logical to me. I can say with relative certainty that I’d never eat chicken again if they tied a dead one around my neck for a week. The same goes for a cow or pig.
The remaining eight chickens (we have since learned that one of them is a rooster) seem to be loving life in and out of the coop. I enjoy going out there in the mornings and evenings to check on them because they owe me some eggs after all this work and I want to make sure they stay safe and healthy.
And in an effort to somehow tie this chicken update into a sweet Mother’s Day message, all I can come up with is this: Raising chickens is much like raising children. You feed them, put a roof over their heads and, if you’re lucky, they don’t poop on your shoes when they grow up.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Jeff Ackerman is publisher of The News-Review. He can be reached at 541-957-4263 or jackerman@nrtoday.com.
Editorial: Plenty of reasons to pass Roseburg schools bond levy
May 12, 2013 —Undoubtedly the biggest issue facing Douglas County voters in the May 21 election is the Roseburg School District’s five-year, $6 million bond levy.
Roseburg is the most populous school district in our county, and its high school is among the largest in the state.
Approximately half of our readers reside in the district and must decide how they will mark their ballots, if they haven’t done so already.
We urge a yes vote for the children who attend Roseburg schools, for the community and for our future.
We acknowledge there are serious issues with the Public Employees Retirement System taking away needed funds from the classroom. That’s a complex problem that must be corrected fairly at the state level.
It’s not a reason, however, to defeat the levy and put our students at a disadvantage.
We know that if the levy doesn’t pass, Rose Elementary School will close and nearly 350 elementary students will have to attend a different school next year. That alone is not a reason to vote “yes.” Those children will switch schools at least twice more before they graduate. They are resilient and will survive, if not thrive.
Voters should approve the levy:
• To allow for the purchase of new curriculum and textbooks. When there aren’t enough textbooks to go around, children who need extra time to learn and study can’t take them home. And when curriculum is outdated, students aren’t receiving the high-quality education they deserve.
• To provide updated computers and other technology for students. Effectively using computers is a must in today’s world, whether students are entering college or the work force upon graduation. We must give them the tools to succeed after leaving high school. District officials are also concerned that the existing computers are becoming too old to support the software necessary for students to take state-mandated tests required for graduation.
• To protect the investment taxpayers have already put into the school buildings. The district has clearly laid out a five-year plan of priorities for replacing and repairing roofs, floors, heating systems, a septic system and the like. Proper maintenance is the key to extending the life of the existing buildings, so this is a wise and necessary use of funds.
• To show students that this community believes in the value of education. We believe education can help families move out of poverty, live healthier lives and become inspired to give back to the community that supported them along the way.
The levy is a reasonable amount. Taxpayers would pay an estimated 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. That amounts to about $5 per month for the average homeowner. And the request comes after the district has cut $10 million from its budget over the past five years.
Voters across the state are being asked to approve more expensive levies. It would be good to report on May 22 that Roseburg students were on the winning side of the results.
Letter: What are the odds on safety?
May 10, 2013 —What are the odds on safety?
Reading the Scientific American Mind magazine, I came across an article titled “Deranged and Dangerous?” The article stated sociologist Henry J. Steadman found about one in three of severely mentally ill patients with drug abuse problems engaged in one or more violent acts in the year after they left the hospital, whereas only one in five without drug issues were violent.
The article concluded that most severely mentally ill patients released were not dangerous.
By this reasoning, the old Russian roulette gun game sounds quite safe.
I believe there is something wrong with this picture, but not being a trained professional, I’m obviously not qualified to be judgmental.
Terry Stafford
Riddle
Letter: Our Roseburg students deserve better
May 10, 2013 —Our students deserve better
Over the last couple months I’ve heard every excuse imaginable. The federal government taking away our O&C dollars is why we can’t fund our schools. It’s the school board’s fault that our Roseburg schools are in this mess. This predicament was caused by an inept administration. It’s the state’s fault we don’t have enough money for our schools. It’s the teachers’ union’s fault we don’t have enough money for curriculum, computers/technology and building maintenance. It’s the parents’ lack of involvement that is to blame for our schools failures.
Which one do you believe? Maybe it’s all of them. In my humble opinion, everyone needs to take a share of the blame, but no matter whom we blame, our students are paying the price.
One thing is certain, it is not our students’ fault their schools don’t have updated curriculum, current computers/technology and proper maintenance. Yet they are the ones receiving the substandard education.
We can blame a lot of people for a deteriorating school system, and many times we may be right, but pointing fingers does not fix the problem. All it does is shift the blame to someone else and leave our children holding the bag.
Stop listing the excuses and start coming up with solutions. This bond levy ensures Roseburg money goes to Roseburg schools for very specific purposes. Let’s give our kids the curriculum, computers/technology and safe schools they deserve with a “yes” vote on the May 21 bond levy. After we have given our kids the tools they need to succeed, we can decide whether we want to keep pointing fingers, or work together to fix the problem.
Scott Allen
Roseburg
Letter: Re-elect Wes Melo to Fire District 2 in Douglas County
May 10, 2013 —Re-elect Melo to Fire Dist. 2
Wes Melo has served Douglas County Fire District No. 2 as a volunteer firefighter, a budget committee member, and for the last four years, as a board member. Wes has spent much of his life volunteering in the fire service and has a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Wes also brings a lifetime of business experience to the board. His business career includes several management positions concluding with his recent retirement from Ingram Book as Vice President of Operations.
Wes has the knowledge, commitment and background Fire District 2 needs to continue to provide quality fire protection and emergency medical service to our citizens.
Please join me and re-elect Wes Melo.
Joe Waldron
Roseburg
Letter: Create a zone of respect in downtown Roseburg
May 10, 2013 —Create respect, not separation
A recent police log entry in The News-Review included the arrest of a transient for stepping out into traffic. I saw two teenagers on their way to the mall committing this offence only yesterday. Time to call the police!
Come on, Roseburg, you are better than this.
A lot of the downtown merchants are concerned that the transient population is having a negative effect on their business, and there is talk of creating an “exclusion zone” in response to this.
Instead of a barrier, why not create a bridge? Maybe the city council members and the downtown merchants could try something really radical: the lost art of conversation.
Talk to these people that you want to “exclude.” Ask them if they would be willing to help you create a solution that works for everyone. Ask them how they are doing, how their day is going, if you could help them in return for them being willing to help you.
Instead of a zone of fear and separation, why not create one of mutual respect and goodwill? People aren’t a disease to be quarantined from. They are your fellow human beings.
Elizabeth Cosslett Myers
Roseburg
Letter: Candidate apathy doesn’t help Douglas County voters
May 10, 2013 —Apathy won’t help our county
Voter apathy? How about candidate apathy?
Election day is just around the corner and I’ve received my ballot. When I opened it and realized there were no candidate statements enclosed, I called Douglas County Elections. They told me they no longer do that, but I could review the candidates’ submissions on their website. So, to be a better informed voter, off I went to www.co.douglas.or.us.
All I had to do was scan down to the individual races occurring in my area, click on the candidates and review their qualifications, education, and hopefully, a candidate’s statement.
Now keep in mind that on the candidates form, certain areas are marked “required.” That didn’t stop some candidates from just leaving a field, or in some instances, all of the required fields blank! No current employment, past employment or educational fields were filled in at all on some of them. Or how about “public employee, retired” as work experience? I mean, come on, were they the dog catcher or the county auditor?
Not only does this make it impossible to pick a qualified candidate for a position, but in essence, the candidates are thumbing their collective noses at the electorate saying, “I don’t have to fill out this stuff.”
Of course, it doesn’t make the choice any easier when they are the only candidate for a given position. We’ll be lucky to poll 25 percent of the registered voters in this election; we don’t need candidate apathy to contribute to the general malaise.
Bill Schmidt
Roseburg
Editorial: Roses & thorns
May 10, 2013 —ROSE
Spiffy salute
A couple of Winston men did more than just notice something that bothered them on a spur-of-the moment stroll through the town’s Civil Bend Pioneer Cemetery. The put some elbow grease into a solution.
Michael Liles, 26, and 22-year-old Raymond Malone followed a whim by searching for the cemetery’s oldest grave some time back. It was probably harder than they thought. Moss-encrusted headstones and wayward foliage made it difficult to identify the plots. Many people would have considered it a shame and moved on. Liles and Malone, however, grabbed gloves, scrub brushes and weeding tools and set to work. The two figure they’ve cleaned up 60 to 100 graves as a way of paying respect to veterans. Malone said he salutes each grave after cleaning it and says a prayer for the occupant.
Sadly, the board overseeing the cemetery was less than enthusiastic about the cleanup. A board member cited concerns about liability if a volunteer should have a mishap on the grounds. Given that a fair number of the 2,286 graves no longer have links to family members to keep up appearances, we think Malone and Liles are on a meritorious mission. They deserve thanks and appreciation for their practical methods of paying respect to long-gone servicemen and women.
THORN
Only you can prevent forest fires
It’s worrisome to have a wildfire cut through 206 acres of forestland in south Douglas County so early in the year.
With the dry conditions, unseasonably warm temperatures and lack of rainfall, one wonders how frequently smoke will be a familiar visitor in our skies as spring stretches into summer. Or how many trees we might lose in our overgrown forests where plenty of fuels on the ground can feed fires.
We don’t even want to think about the threat to homes sitting on the edge of our forests.
Fortunately, Sunday’s thunderstorm helped firefighters knock down the Shively Creek fire in four days, limiting the damage. Still, the fire burned through a clear-cut area of recently planted Douglas fir trees. Those trees, an estimated 400 to 450 per acre, and the work to plant them is lost.
All we can take from the fire, suspected to be human caused, is the warning to be extra vigilant around fires and fuels. There can be no carelessly tossed matches or cigarettes. Backyard fires must be carefully tended. And be sure your home isn’t vulnerable to fire — remove any flammable substances nearby.
As the saying goes, let’s be careful out there.
ROSE
One student’s influence
Yoncalla High School senior Taryn Lowes gets high marks for organizing a campaign to stamp out the R-word, a slur directed at the developmentally disabled.
Her sensitivity stemmed from her involvement in raising money for Special Olympics. The Oregon State University-bound Lowes asked fellow students not to use the derogatory term.
The campaign became her senior project, and it grew. She collected 450 pledges this year in Douglas County, making a powerful statement against a thoughtless and cruel smear.
She also used her organizing ability to help plan the Eugene Polar Plunge, a fundraiser for Special Olympics. She assembled a team of students and teachers to take the cold dive.
Lowes said she’s been inspired by meeting Special Olympics athletes. She’s also a source of inspiration.
Lowes graduates next month. She will be the class valedictorian and will leave a legacy of giving. Yoncalla High School Principal Brian Berry said he will be sorry to see Lowes go, but excited for the world to meet her.
Other voices: Campaign contributions should be more transparent
May 9, 2013 —Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, have delivered on their promise to propose legislation that requires fuller disclosure of campaign contributions — the sole recourse for those seeking campaign finance sanity in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money in elections.
In a December 2012 column in The Washington Post, Wyden and Murkowski outlined their proposal to draw back the curtains on anonymous donors. “At minimum, the American people deserve to know before they cast their ballots who is behind massive spending, who is funding people and organizations, and what their agendas are,” they wrote.
Last month the senators formally introduced their Follow the Money Act, which would require any organization spending $10,000 or more on electoral activity to register and disclose contributions above $1,000. The proposal would raise the threshold for disclosure by individual contributors to $1,000 from $200 for all political committees, including those of candidates and political parties.
The bill also would put in place a system of real-time disclosure, require independent groups to adhere to Stand By Your Ad provisions (including the identification of their three biggest donors), require federal candidates to file campaign reports electronically, and require tax-exempt 527 groups to file disclosure reports with the Federal Elections Commission. And it would direct the FEC and Internal Revenue Service to jointly craft and enforce regulations that plug the legal loopholes that have allowed dark-money campaign operations to quickly gain a formidable foothold on the elections landscape.
The need for such legislation stems from the Supreme Court’s noxious Citizens United decision, which triggered an avalanche of campaign spending in the 2012 elections. Great rivers of cash flowed to dark-money groups established for the sole and cynical purpose of concealing the identities of fat-cat donors.
Wyden is a longtime champion of campaign finance reform, but Murkowski is a newcomer. In 2010 and again in 2012, she voted to block the Disclose Act, a campaign reform bill that would have required nonprofit groups, unions, corporations and super-PACs to report major donors.
Murkowski’s change of heart can be traced to 2010 when independent conservative groups, given the green light by the Citizens United decision, helped defeat her in a GOP Senate primary. (Despite opposition from the same groups, Murkowski successfully ran as a write-in candidate in the general election.)
Murkowski and Wyden deserve credit for putting forward a bipartisan proposal, but they face an uphill climb. Their proposal already has come under fire by opponents of campaign finance regulation.
Cleta Mitchell, chairwoman of the American Conservative Union Foundation, said in a statement: “When liberals talk about ‘transparency,’ that isn’t what they mean. What they really want and what this bill provides is a target list of conservatives who have the temerity to contribute their after-tax dollars to support candidates and issues the left hates.”
No, what Murkowski — who no one could reasonably call a liberal — and Wyden want is transparency that reveals the growing mob of unrestricted and unidentified donors who underwrite virulent attack ads and other secretive tactics that make cruel mockery of American politics.
The Associated Press provided access to this editorial.
Editorial: Animal control should be everyone’s responsibility
May 8, 2013 —Oregonians like sharing their homes with critters.
The American Veterinary Medical Association reported this year that the Beaver State ranks fourth nationwide in pet ownership, with nearly two-thirds of our households featuring at least one animal in the family roster.
It’s understandable if Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Lee Bartholomew feels as though he’s taken a call about each and every one of them.
There was a time when the county’s Animal Control division staffed five deputies. That time is past, leaving Bartholomew the lone animal control deputy in the state’s fifth-largest county in land mass. Bartholomew’s territory is 5,134 square miles. A typical shift finds him driving 250 miles.
Not only that, but he’s usually driving to or from a problem. Some are deadly. Others are heartbreaking.
Should an elderly woman be found with 52 cats in an excreta-filled home, Bartholomew will be sent there. If a wayward Australian shepherd rips out the throats of a herd of ewes and lambs, Bartholomew is going to be called. When an emaciated horse is discovered staggering and near death in a remote field, Bartholomew is likely to be the first on the scene.
The department’s funding and staffing decreases have coincided with a spike in the number of animal-related problems. More dogs are attacking people and each other. As more people get pets, more homes are likely to harbor animals lacking the necessary licensing and vaccinations. Less money is available for livestock claims.
County residents need no reminders that budget cuts have carved out a new world, one in which workers in the public and private sectors are compelled to do more than ever on fewer resources within memory. Life is tough and we all have to be tougher.
The beastly part is that so many of these calls should never have to be made.
Americans don’t like to be told how to live their lives. They’re not too fond of what they regard as infringement of their rights.
No law requires a human to pass a test or seek government permission before adopting a pet. From the viewpoint of an abandoned dog or stray cat, a less-than-ideal home is better than the shelter or a euthanasia needle in the foreleg. And for the ill or lonely, an animal can offer comfort that may offer purpose and solace for the first time in years.
Yet while there is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits anyone from pet ownership, there is also that old killjoy called accountability.
Lee Bartholomew can’t be everywhere, and he shouldn’t have to be.
Caring for an animal means looking out for a dependent in a way that not only looks after its best interests, but also those of neighbors and fellow taxpayers.
Dogs that are trained and monitored will not go on killing rampages. Cats that are kept out of next-door flower beds will not be shot by irate gardeners. People who educate themselves about animal behavior will be able to avoid placing their pets in situations in which they may bite. At the least they should keep anxious animals away from others and out of situations that can be dangerous, even fatal.
Those who take pleasure in the companionship of pets must take responsibility to keep them out of hairy situations.
