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Dec. 6, 2007 Opinions |
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Editorial
Now Started, The Feral Cat Project Needs To ContinueThis community owes Suzanne Fouty and Baker City Police Chief Wyn Lohner a huge debt of gratitude. Chief Lohner was looking for a humane solution to the feral cat problem and Suzanne Fouty volunteered to be Baker City’s feral cat social engineer in charge of population control working with the trap/spay-neuter/release approach.
Because of the actions and work of Fouty, her trusty assistant Ida Scott and a small group of volunteers, Baker City’s feral cat population is healthier and less productive today. Since the first of June, 187 feral cats were trapped and taken to the veterinarian for a health screening and to be spayed/neutered. Of that number, 165 healthy cats were spayed/neutered and only 11 were found to be ill and were subject to euthanasia.
Neutering 76 feral male cats is like putting a cap on a dandelion gone to seed and the spaying of 89 feral females prevents about 300 kittens from being born next breeding season; this is 300 cats immediately eliminated from the feral cat population, and nobody got hurt.
The project was working with $10,000 so, 165 were fixed at a cost of $60 per cat. And, since City of Baker City only funded half of that $10,000, the City’s bill comes to $30 per feral cat fixed. This initial stage of the feral cat project has been tremendously successful as a start in controlling Baker City’s booming homeless and feral cat population. Chief Lohner’s humane approach to solving the problem is appreciated by many citizens and the trap/spay-neuter/release program shows a great deal of promise in controlling the feral cat overpopulation. The problems are, the trap/spay-neuter/release solution is not inexpensive and, it will take time to see results.
One additional problem is Baker City Council’s stance upon providing the original $5,000, that they were not interested in continuing to fund the project. It is hopeful that the council will reconsider their stance upon seeing the initial results of the project. It is important for the city to continue this project and to continue it as quickly as possible. Fouty understands the importance of continuing the project and has plans to organize continued funding efforts.
Funding to controlling the feral cat problem should not be a one-woman show; the city should step-up to help solve this citywide problem. It is a quality of life issue affecting the citizens of Baker City.
In Baker City, the homeless/feral cat problem has traditionally been dealt with by a very few individuals who care for large populations of cats, and many times these are members of society who can’t afford it. Some of these people will even sacrifice at their own dinner table to provide for these cats. Fouty calls these the “invisible people of Baker City.”
The city spends so much money on things like infrastructure expansion, consulting and economic development, maybe it’s time to help these compassionate, invisible people of Baker City by spending some money to continue efforts to control the homeless/feral cat population.
Then, after setting up a funding structure for the trap/spay-neuter/release program, the City should organize a Suzanne Fouty Day to thank her and to help encourage others to seek solutions to problems and to contribute to the feral cat trap/spay-neuter/release project. (BA)
Letters
It’s Time To Say ‘No’To The Record-Courier:Our country is on the brink of economic breakdown and we are facing more trouble and suffering than our nation has ever known.
The value of monies from your job, your business, bank accounts, person’s insurance, investments and all other sources will be so diminished that everyone will have to fight to provide the necessities of life for themselves and family.
This didn’t just happen, it is the direct result of government action over the last 30 years. Misguided and uninformed government officials have been brainwashed and prodded to enact laws and regulations to protect the environment that in many cases have been so excessive that they have seriously damaged the basic industries that are the foundation of our economy.
Environmental extremists supported by big money with other power agendas set out to control all access and uses of the land.
This proceeded slowly until the Clinton administration appointed top officials to the Department of Interior (BLM), Department of Agriculture (Forest Service) E.P.A., Department of Fish & Game, etc., to pursue this agenda. A major portion of the governmentally controlled lands have been taken out of production and the remainder is swamped with so much paperwork and restrictions and regulations that many industries have shut down or moved overseas.
They have succeeded to the point where our country is forced to buy overseas more than $80 billion a month of products that we won’t let ourselves produce.
Why have we let this happen to us? Far too many of our people have forgotten or don’t know that our continued survival depends on the harvest of the earth’s produce and resources. The miners, oil men, loggers, farmers and ranchers must use the land to recover these products.
If we can’t produce these vital necessities we must buy them. Where will the money come from? We must know that all original wealth comes from the earth. There is no other source. This wealth can be expanded by processing and manufacturing useful products from resources.
All other monies are earned by distributing these products and providing a service for others. They create no wealth.
So what are we doing about the problem, some people including government officials are sill working hard to take even more land out of production by restricting even more land access and use and pushing even more regulations on productive use, which makes the problem worse.
Our Federal Government goes blithely along printing money as fast as it can and plays games with money management. Well it isn’t working. The dollar is losing value every day and many countries will no longer accept them as payment for goods we need to buy.
We have purchased so much from China that they hold enough Treasury Notes and Bonds plus dollars that they are trying to convert to something more stable that they can start the run that will break our financial system if they push it.
If we’re going to have any chance to avoid complete breakdown and ease the pain of depression we must turn the policies around. We must have access to more land and change or modify regulations so productive projects can start promptly.
We must make sure that every legislator knows the extent of the problem and is willing to work to mitigate it or make sure his political career is short.Kenneth E. AndersonBaker CityPearl Harbor DayTo The Record-Courier:Sixty-six years ago, Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, an event occurred that galvanized the United States into a solidarity that, in my view, has not happened before or since. Although another one on Sep. 11, 2001 did it briefly, in no way did it resemble the previous one.
Wars had been raging in Europe and Africa since 1937 and in Asia since 1931 while our country, plagued for a decade by the depression and the dust-bowl, tried to remain neutral.
Americans made attempts to support other conflicts by individually joining forces with Spain, Finland, Britain and Canada, but major factions in America continued to protect that neutrality by limiting any increase in defense spending, improvement of defense facilities at our perimeters or remote areas in the Pacific. They also limited providing material aid to countries affected by the aggressors.
After Pearl Harbor all factions in America banded together in a united front that lasted for several years after termination of those conflicts. Regardless of political persuasion or personal philosophy America was joined together as never before. Nor did that solidarity end at America’s shores. While a few countries, notably Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, and Ireland maintained neutrality, over 50 others aligned with the Allied cause.
While I don’t advocate that we experience another Pearl Harbor, or 9/11, I sincerely hope that Americans will stop expressing emotional rhetoric and allow facts to govern their philosophy.
Having served this country in the military from World War II through Vietnam, I find that experience to have been an invaluable lesson. Not to make me a sword-rattling, war-monger, but as one who has an undying love of the United States and, as my military oath proclaimed, a desire to protect the United States from all enemies, both foreign and domestic.
As Laura Ingraham writes in her book Power to the People, “It is not enough for us to defend American soil or to maintain a thriving economy. It will all be in vain if we fail to nurture and refresh America’s soul. And it is only possible through individual belief demonstrated through action.”
I interpret Ingraham’s meaning to include maintaining our culture and language; defending our founding history, sovereignty, and constitution; and preserving liberty, justice and true freedom for ourselves and our posterity just as the Preamble to the Constitution promises. I hope other Americans who share my love of country will use Pearl Harbor Day to reaffirm their love and loyalty to America also. Val Don Hickerson Bandon, Ore.
Pets Need Extra Care With Cold TemperaturesTo The Record-Courier:In case you have not noticed, the weather is turning very cold and the temperatures are dropping below zero. Take a look around, you might see how many animals are living outside in the cold without access to warm dog houses, sheds or buildings to sleep in. Instead they are sleeping on the cold hard ground and without protection from the elements.
Oregon State Cruelty to Animal Statutes states that "minimum care means care sufficient to preserve the health and well-being of an animal."
"Food of sufficient quantity and quality for normal growth and body weight." An animal cannot keep warm when it does not have any body fat. Animals need more than a bone and a small serving of food or table scraps. For many dogs, no matter how much you feed them, their coat will never be thick enough to keep them warm, i.e. German Shorthairs, Bassetts, Labrador Retrievers, Hounds, and other shorthair dogs.
"Open or access to potable (clean) drinking water." (Not a rusty can or bucket). "Snow and ice do not count as a water source." An electric water dish can be used to provide clean drinking water, or provide fresh water daily.
"Domestic animals need access to a barn, dog house or other enclosed structure to protect from wind, rain, snow or sun and need adequate bedding" (straw, blankets) "to protect against cold and dampness." A cardboard box, hole in the ground with a blanket under the steps, deck, cars or trucks or plastic tarps around a kennel will not keep an animal warm. Dog houses filled with straw protected by other buildings are needed. Allow your pet inside the house or a garage with a heat source during the extreme cold. Buy a warm coat for your dog.
"Veterinary care when necessary. All injuries, disease and neglect should be treated by a veterinarian."
"Animals shall not be confined (chained or penned) in an area without adequate space for exercise. The air temperature (hot or cold) must be suitable for the animal. Areas of confinement must be kept clean and free from feces (dog poop) or other contanimants." Dogs need exercise just like humans. Dogs are pack animals and living at the end of a three-foot chain or in a small kennel frustrates the animal and causes undue stress that leads to other physical and mental problems. Dogs jump up and down and from wall to wall in their kennels because they have no other place to go. This also leads to continual barking, which often leads to additional physical abuse of the dog.
If you see animals suffering this winter, don't close your eyes and pretend they aren't there. They are there and they are suffering. As a responsible citizen, please stand up for those that cannot speak for themselves. Call the Baker City Police or Baker County Sheriff's and report the neglect and abuse. Don't be afraid to get involved. After all, they are living breathing animals, not disposable objects to be tossed out and ignored. The law is there to protect the animals. Let us all endeavor to bring our community up these minimum standards.
As I drive around Baker City, I see unused dog houses of all shapes, sizes, big and little. Best Friends of Baker, Inc. would gladly accept unused portable dog houses so that we can provide them to families who do not have houses for their pets. Our wish list also includes electric water dishes, old sleeping bags and dog beds (or new), pop cans and bottles, sponsors to help pay for our weekly newspaper ads, monetary donations to help care for our animals, foster homes to provide a family atmosphere for our rescued animals and monthly or annual monetary donations to support and help Best Friends continue with the same successes in 2008 as it has experienced this past year. Give us a call at 541-519-PETS (7387) and find out how you can help.
Best Friends of Baker invites you to a regular meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. upstairs at Basche Sage Place. Come meet the members, get involved and learn more about the goal to build a shelter in Baker County and how to take care of the many neglected, abused and unwanted animals in Baker County.
"Volunteering for Best Friends of Baker, Inc. is not a job, it is an adventure!"Carmen OttAdoption CoordinatorBest Friends of Baker, Inc.Record-Courier Doing A Great JobTo The Record-Courier:Having just read last week’s edition, I felt compelled to say what a joy it is that The Record-Courier has endured and continues to serve the people of Baker County, and many, many people out of the area with ties to Baker County after the sad and untimely death of Rondy (Ron) Brinton last year and the passing of its long-time and very distinguished editor, By Brinton, the year before.
Thanks and congratulations to all the staff and especially your new publisher, Greg Brinton, who has demonstrated without doubt that he too has ink in his veins! Although Greg grew up with the paper being a huge part of his life, he never had an expectation that he would run the paper. Under his leadership this past year the paper has improved greatly in terms of its reporting and in terms of its technical quality — it is looking just great.
Thanks and best wishes for the continued success of this important asset for the people of eastern Oregon. Pamela Van DuynBaker CityAnother Story On The 1917 Sumpter FireTo The Record-Courier:About the 1917 Sumpter Fire. The long-time story about how it started, was a little different than the one in Gary Dielman’s recent article. The story I have heard many times was that the cook at the hotel where the fire started was a German man. This is when World War I was starting.
The fire started in the kitchen of the Columbia Hotel while the German was working. He was never seen or heard of again. My grandparents and family lived in Sumpter at this time. My father who was 9 or 10 years old at the time, thought the fire would get to their home but it didn’t. But he buried a sack of flour and the wall clock in the garden. I have the clock and it runs good most of the time, it needs lots of TLC.Leonard BaconBaker City |
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