Humane Societies Help If You Call

Dear Ann Landers: On my way to school, I passed a dog unable to sit down because his leash was attached too tightly to a tree. I worried about this but figured the owner would realize the situation was unpleasant and remedy it.

The next day, the same dog was at that same tree, forced to stand at attention all day and possibly all night. I went to the owners’ house to ask why they were doing this and was told they were punishing the dog for digging holes. They intended to continue making his leash shorter, little by little. I was disgusted and called the humane society.

A few days after I reported this incident, I passed the dog again. This time, his leash was much longer, he had a dog house, food and water. The humane society had sent someone to monitor the dog’s condition and informed the owners of a gentler and more effective way to train animals. What I thought would be a hopeless situation was taken care of quickly and easily.

Tell your readers that acts of cruelty to animals can be prevented with just an anonymous call to an animal shelter or police station. It does wonders for these abused animals and also for your conscience. - Sleeping Better in Ohio

Dear Sleeping Better: Three cheers and two hurrahs for that humane society in Ohio. I hope your letter will encourage others to contact the humane societies in their area when their help is needed. It is obvious from your letter that the humane society in your town does an excellent job.

Dear Ann Landers: Our son, “Andy,” will be getting married soon, and no one can give me any straight answers. I am counting on you, Ann.

My husband and I are on a fixed income. Andy has asked his sister and brother and two of our granddaughters to be in the wedding. We offered to rent the tux for his brother and buy the bridesmaids’ dresses for our daughter and granddaughters. We also agreed to provide champagne for the wedding and pay for the rehearsal dinner, which now includes 25 and is growing.

Now my question: Some people in the wedding party are not married. Should their dates be included in the rehearsal dinner?

My second question: The bride’s mother says we are obligated to put up all the out-of-towners in motel rooms at our expense. Is she right about this? We have attended several out-of-town weddings over the years, and we have always paid our own hotel expenses.

I plan to insert in the invitations three toll-free numbers of some nice motels in our area so people can start making their own arrangements. Would this be tacky? Please give me some guidance. I want to do everything right. - Mother of the Groom in Wisconsin

Dear Mother of the Groom: First, live-in companions or fiances should be invited to the rehearsal dinner. It is not necessary to invite the dates of wedding party members.

Second, you are under no obligation to provide sleeping accommodations for out-of-town guests. Should close friends or family members offer to invite guests to stay at their homes, that would be nice, but it is not your responsibility to arrange housing for out-of-town wedding guests.

Relax and enjoy the occasion. Don’t let concerns about “protocol” spoil your special day. A good motto to remember, dear: “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”