Pet owners must do their part to reduce abandoned animals
Maybe you’re pregnant and don’t want to deal with both a baby and a dog. Or you’re relocating and can’t have a pet. Or your newest dog isn’t getting along with the old one, so one of them has to go. Taking that pet or those new puppies to the Rowan County Animal Shelter will surely mean they’ll find new homes, right? It doesn’t always work that way. While it’s true some animals are adopted, the chances are overwhelming that your cast-off dog will end up dying at the shelter. Thousands of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens that go to the shelter are killed each year.
While volunteer efforts are under way to make the shelter a better place, the cold hard fact is that too many pets end up as strays, road kill or shelter cast-offs. While a good dose of intelligent pet acquisition and compassion would go a long way toward helping resolve this problem, an even better solution would be to limit the number of unwanted animals being born in the first place.
Those who deal with animal rescue understand fully the effect that one fertile female dog, successfully mated, can have on the canine population. For otherwise responsible dog owners who think it’s cruel to neuter a male dog or spay a female or want their kids to witness the miracle of birth, consider this: A “fixed” canine is less prone to cancer and has many fewer behavioral problems than one left intact. Rowan County residents should do their part to reduce the number of helpless domestic animals dumped at the shelter or left to fend on their own by accepting responsibility for pet ownership. Adopting a pet isn’t like acquiring a fashion accessory, to be tossed out when its no longer in style.
Here’s to treating man’s best friend the way he should be treated and remembering that all pets deserve forever homes.
— Samantha Smith
Salisbury
I don’t quite understand
Listening to all of the talk about Obama letting us go over the cliff, I can’t help but wonder: Are we citizens who are falling over the cliff also the ones paying for the Obama vacation? I am sure with all of the travel and security etc. expenses, it could come in at least a couple million. I don’t know about everyone else, but I sure could use a trip to Hawaii. Then I could go ahead and jump off the cliff myself. I don’t think things are ever going to get better. It seems like they get worse every day.
— Nancy Whaley
Rockwell
Merry Christmas, United Way
“Tis the Season!” On behalf of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, its corps officers and staff, I sincerely congratulate the Rowan County United Way for yet another outstanding fund-raising campaign. To the multiple supporters, volunteers and United Way staff members, thank you for once again enabling your 16 Rowan County member agencies with the ability to continue serving and meeting the needs of Rowan County citizens.
Since 1912, our Rowan County Salvation Army chapter, an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, continues to support the needs of Rowan County residents by helping those in need without discrimination through a broad range of social services. Support includes providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. Without the tremendous annual support from the Rowan County United Way, the Salvation Army would be unable to keep up with the high demands for basic needs and services of our Rowan County citizens. Your generosity of obtaining and distributing vital monetary contributions is a “gift” to all member agencies that is unparalleled in kindness and giving. Because of you, our Salvation Army unit has been able to support many more needy Rowan County residents than we would have been able to otherwise.
So, during this wonderful holiday season, on behalf of our outstanding Salvation Army Corps officers, Lieutenants Josh and Chasy Morse and their staff, we say merry Christmas to all United Way volunteers, supporters and staff.
Thank you for all you do for Rowan County residents.
— David Aycoth
Salisbury
Aycoth is chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.