Wed. 2/28/07 edition of the call newspapers!
Folks, we have some interesting articles on the "animal control" issue from the meeting on 2/22/07! If, you as I, did not make it to the meeting this will bring you up to speed on this issue.
There are other articles, as well as an editorial by Mr. Burke Wasson that create food for thought, so please read, and enjoy.
Tom Ford
NO. 292
There are other articles, as well as an editorial by Mr. Burke Wasson that create food for thought, so please read, and enjoy.
Tom Ford
NO. 292
posted by Crestwood Independent at 19:09
12 Comments:
A lot of people say they love animals, but then, when they come across one that has a scar, is a little bit skinny, or is coughing up blood, they just turn their heads. Well, I love animals of all shapes, sizes, and disabilities. That's why I devote all of my free time to finding and caring for diseased and deformed animals. I just can't get enough of those smelly, limping critters!
I'd never be so cruel as to turn away a stray dog, just because his care requires that I siphon fluid from his lungs with a plastic tube every four hours. If you only like animals that sport silky fur or have tongues, then you can't say you truly love animals. I love all of the earth's creatures—those with and without tapeworms.
Just take one look into my Siberian husky Clancy's pus-encrusted eyes. How could you not love him to pieces? He's so special to me, as are the five or ten cats dragging themselves around my house any given week. I give every animal a name, no matter how close he or she is to death.
Add one more to the list of little buddies in cages stacked on, or hanging from, every available surface in my home. Muffin, a guinea pig with a tumor three times the size of her head, may need a little more care than a so-called "normal" guinea pig, but I'm more than happy to put in the extra effort. Every mange-covered, rasping animal is a gift from God. Sure, sometimes the smell can be overwhelming, and sometimes the animal hair clumped on my couch, clogging my kitchen drain, and clinging to my clothes can be a bit unpleasant. But once you've bottle-fed an abandoned, three-legged ferret, like I do every morning with little Tripod, there's no turning back: You're a true animal lover.
Every animal deserves tender loving care, even if he or she is well beyond hope of ever living independently. I have an iguana with chronic pneumonia, and a 17-foot boa constrictor with a skin disease so advanced it turns the vet's stomach. Then there's Señor Oink, the epileptic pot-bellied pig I found in the giveaway section of the classifieds. I love little Oinky, no matter how many times he's accidentally bitten me or destroyed one of my lamps during an episode. I can't believe someone actually wanted to get rid of him!
Not all of the animals I own are pets that were left to die in a sack on the side of the road. I've rescued my share of wild animals, too—everything from birds with broken wings to Smokey, a raccoon that swallowed a tin-can lid.
Just last year, I rescued a deer. My then-boyfriend Larry and I spotted the little guy lying on the side of the highway, covered in blood and barely breathing. Of course, I insisted that we heave him over into the back of Larry's pick-up and take him home. There, I wrapped him in a blanket and kept him on my front porch, where I hand-fed him corn that I chewed up myself. I even outfitted him with toddler-sized diapers, which stayed in place because his back legs were paralyzed.
I feel good knowing that, even though I couldn't save the deer, I kept him alive for almost a week. Larry thought we should put him out of his misery by running over his head with the pick-up. So much for that relationship! I dumped Larry, as soon as we unloaded the deer's carcass back at the same spot by the road where we first found him.
People might wonder where I get all the time and energy to take care of such an interesting menagerie. I won't lie and say it's easy. I need a giant calendar to keep track of who gets special-diet food and whose festering wounds need irrigating. But just when I think I've had enough of mopping secretions off of my floor eight times a day, someone like Toby—my little beagle with mild dysautonomia and a severe allergy to grass—does something adorable. I can't stay mad at these enfeebled and contorted little guys. It's not their fault that they have so many problems.
If you really care about animals, you're going to love a Siamese cat like Phantom, who lost half his face in an exhaust fan, twice as much as you love a cat that has his whole face. Really, what these animals need most of all—even more than lots of very expensive medication—is affection. Sure, I have a lot more broken furniture than most people, because of my pets' seizures and emotional outbursts. But does that mean I stop loving the little guys? These animals just need hugs, patience, and plenty of time to romp around outside. Except Patches, who can't be exposed to direct sunlight.
Tricia McCory
That is some funny shhtuufff!
Ah, Trica, where did this come from? Have you any interest in becoming the animal control officer?
Such compassion should not go un-rewarded!
Tom Ford
Don't you just love the folks our mayor put on the Animal Control Board? They are all animal loving PETA nuts.
Speaking of nuts, let's say I have a 6 yr old male mutt dog with all his orginal equipment in place. It's a house dog, has tags, etc. These people want me to foot the bill for having it fixed? Not to say the pain the 6 yr old dog will go through after his "equipment" is cut off. WHY?????
He isnt a stray, dont know we have a stray dog problem in Crestwood, he isnt aggressive, he's a house dog. Talk about the Police Palace crap of an idea, this is almost as bad. Mayor better veto this bill if it passes, or he will pay next time he runs for office.
This what our Animal Control Board thinks would be great if it happened in Crestwood!!
PHILADELPHIA–A University of Pennsylvania study released Monday found that U.S. pets enjoy superior healthcare to that of Rwandan humans.
The five-year study, which compared the medical care of 2,500 U.S. dogs, cats, hamsters and parakeets to that of 2,500 humans in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, found that the Rwandans were edged out in every category.
"America's pet lovers can rejoice knowing that their precious, furry companions are well taken care of," study co-chair Dr. Nate Gotcher said.
Among the good news for U.S. animals: America has 15 veterinarians per 1,000 dogs, compared to Rwanda's one doctor per 1,000 humans. The infant-mortality rate among U.S. cats is 7 per 1,000 live births, compared to 119 per 1,000 live births among Rwandan humans.
"When the infection started to spread to my upper leg, they had to amputate," said Rwandan Kasongo Tshikapa, whose left leg was removed in May 1997 after he stepped on a piece of rusted scrap metal. "The surgery took five hours, and there was no anesthesia. The operation was performed by my brother-in-law, who has experience as a carpenter. Eight men had to hold me down."
Added Tshikapa: "If only I were a border collie in America."
According to Dr. Wendy Hentrich of the American Association of Veterinary Medicine, new breakthroughs in animal medicine are being made every day.
"The last few years have seen so many exciting advances in high-tech health care for pets," said Hentrich, also chief of cardiology at UCLA's Veterinary Hospital. "For example, at UCLA, we've developed a balloon angioplasty technique that can open a cat's deformed cardiac valves. A catheter is passed into the deformed valve, then a balloon is inflated, allowing blood to pass more freely. This painless, revolutionary procedure has already been used to save the lives of thousands of beautiful, lovable cats."
Such breakthroughs, along with advances in the prevention of diseases like feline leukemia, have caused the average life expectancy of U.S. cats to rise to 18.6 years, which, when converted to human years, is substantially higher than the Rwandan life expectancy of 38.8.
"If I do not have medicine soon, I will die," said Ndola Iringa, who contracted malaria five weeks ago during an outbreak of the disease in her village. "My sister and three of my brothers have died already. The convulsions are getting worse."
As a result of the study, Rwandan physicians are beginning to look toward U.S. petcare policy for ways to improve their own healthcare system. "In America, many dog foods contain nutritional supplements for healthy teeth and gums, as well as a lustrous, glowing coat," Rwandan physician Mbeya Liwale said. "Perhaps such supplements, if they could somehow be found here in Rwanda, could be put to use reducing the death tolls brought on by mass famine and genocide."
"I just don't know what I would do without my Muffin," said Palo Alto, CA, resident Gloria Shifrin, whose 6-year-old Welsh corgi had a grapefruit-sized tumor removed from her chest Monday and must undergo five weeks of chemotherapy. "But, thank God, the cancer is in remission, and it looks like she's going to be all right. No dog should have to go through this."
You think this is funny, when they came for the stay dog to neuter, I said nothing, when they came for my neighbors dog I said nothing, when they came for my dog, well you know the rest of the story.
This is not a joke. I can see it now, Joe Citizen is walking his dog, Bert. One of our over worked underpaid Police Officers sees him. The Officer of the Law pulls himself away from the speed trap duty he has been assigned and stops Joe and his dog. He demands proof of neuter, which Joe doesn't have, so the Police Officer rolls the Bert on his back to do a visual examination. Bert fails exam. Both Joe and Bert are hand(paw)cuffed and taken to Crestwood City jail where they are held until their trial date. Jail cells are not "animal friendly" so Peta and members of Crestwood Animal Control Board file class action suit claiming cruel and unusual punishment on Bert's behalf. Bert is released, Joe is held and losses his job while in jail. This causes him to lose his house. Wife divorces him, takes their 3 kids with her, then the Crestwood Swim Club kicks him out for not paying his monthly fees. Joe moves in with the Rev. Larry Rice, who finding out Joe was from Crestwood, sends him to shop at the new Salvation Army store on Watson Road.
Mean while, Burt goes under the knife, but because he has no home, after he is released from the Animal Hospital he is taken to the County Pound where he is "put under" because no one claims him. All of this because Joe wasn't neutered and his owner lived in Crestwood. There must be a better way to increase revenue for Crestwood than this half baked idea.
CIRCUMCISION MAY HELP PROTECT AGAINST HIV (Health Day) In Africa
...uncircumcised men are infected with HIV by age 25. Most of the men were Luo, a group that does not traditionally practice circumcision.The researchers assigned half of the men to voluntary circumcision, and the other half remained uncircumcised during the study.
CIRCUMCISION REDUCES HIV RISK
LONDON (AP) -- Scientists say conclusive data shows there is no question circumcision reduces men's chances of catching HIV by up to 60 percent _ a finding experts are hailing as a major breakthrough in the fight...
Most cases of Aids in Africa are the result of heterosexual behaviour.
After Animal Control Board radicals get done neutering our animals will this be the next move they take to protect us? Makes about as much sense!
Tom,
Was it true that not one of the Animal Control Board Members attended the open meeting at Whitecliff?
What power will this animal control ordinance give to the Animal Control Board for the City of Crestwood?
Tom,
How many animals are running loose from Grant's Farm as stated by the Animal Control officer?
What is the Animal Control Officer's certification?
12:35 and 12:36 blogger: Sorry I was in Houston, Texas the night of the meeting, so I have no idea who was there.
There has been no feedback that I have seen so far, so I again do not know if the animal control officer has any sort of certification at all.
I know this isn't much help, but maybe someone else can fill us in here.
Tom Ford
who the HECK picked the members of this band for the Board to approve?
May I suggest if you have questions that you call your alderman? He/she is paid a salary to make themselves available to the constituancy.
Answers about the animal control officer, etc. should then be forthcoming.
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