Letters To The Editor

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

Punish animal beaters severely

It remains incomprehensible that grown men (if you can call them that) would beat a poor, defenseless animal with a baseball bat. Who knows what permanent and possibly irreversible psychological damage was done, not to mention the physical agony the poor dog suffered. The poor thing can’t communicate vocally the pain and confusion he is suffering.

Persons who would do such a thing ought to be taught that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated. A large fine and jail time, followed by 500 hours of supervised community service at one of our local animal shelters would be a fitting punishment. Perhaps it would change their attitude toward man’s best friends.

It’s a sad day and won’t be forgotten for a long time by all of us animal lovers. Larry and Rhonda Ecklund Spokane

Bless those who sought to help dog

Re: the recent dog beating incident. On Labor Day, I was brought to tears when I heard there were individuals who had the compassion and decency to do something. I thank God for them and ask God to bless them.

Three “grown men” allegedly chained a defenseless dog to a table and proceeded to take turns beating it with a baseball bat. We hear countless times how young children who abuse and torture animals will surely hurt or kill a human.

When will the legislators upgrade animal abuse and neglect misdemeanor infractions to felonies? Sam N. O’Neil Spokane

Kayne decision terribly wrong

So, acting Court Commissioner Richard Kayne felt the bail request by the prosecutor was too harsh. The alleged tying up of a defenseless animal, beating it with a bat around his head, breaking his nose and causing damage to his head, etc., isn’t severe enough to warrant the suspects staying in jail until a court hearing.

Considering the suspects’ records alone should be grounds for keeping them away from the public. I only hope people remember Kayne’s name when he comes up for re-election Perhaps he feels a dog’s life isn’t important. I wonder what his ruling would have been if the dog had been killed. Violence is violence. This is unforgivable! Nancy J. Roth Spokane

Dog’s death drives message home

I sincerely hope many people here in Spokane saw the television program on Aug 21, which showed the actual putting to death of a homeless 4-year-old dog. In the Review on Aug. 23 there was an article about the dog’s euthanizing at the Guilford County (N.C.) Animal Shelter.

An attendant at this shelter stated that the showing has brought international attention to the issue of spaying and neutering of cats and dogs and to the man behind the radical measure, Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes. People were lined up before the shelter opened and adoptions were up over 300 percent. In his own shelter alone last year, Barnes put to death 10,000-13,000 animals. Same here in Spokane.

Spaying and neutering is the only answer to inhumane cruelty that continues year after year. You will receive a free coupon for spay or neuter from SpokAnimal CARE when you purchase a dog or cat license for when they turn six months old. It doesn’t alter their personality or make them less of a hunter or watchdog. They will be happier and stay home more.

Please, heed this message. Eileen R. Deaton Spokane

FIELD BURNING

Think before ruining farmers

Since when did “agriculture” and “farming” become such dirty words in this region? A lot of the recent articles in The Spokesman-Review and most of the letters to the editor appear to be anti-agriculture and anti-farming. It seems the only time Spokane cares about the farmers is when they generate dollars with such events as the ag trade show, the State B basketball tournament and the Junior Livestock Show.

As for all the coverage regarding the grass and wheat stubble burning, granted, there may be a few farmers burning illegally. But that doesn’t mean every farmer is doing it. Most of the farmers I know are some of the hardest working and most honest people around. My father is still one of them. They take better care of their land than a lot of people in the city. They have to - it’s how they make a living.

I wonder how many members of Save our Summers would like it if someone parked on their front yard (possibly covered with grass) and threatened their livelihood? At this rate, it will only be a matter of time before most farmers are forced out of business.

Will we import most of our food, unregulated, from other countries that don’t have an FDA to keep an eye on them? As for food prices, are you willing to pay $10 for a loaf of bread or never see green grass again?

I remember a bumper sticker on my father’s pickup “Don’t talk about farmers with your mouth full.” Christy L. Heitstuman Spokane

Consider pollution vs. erosion

I see by your paper that the flow of the Spokane River is down to around 1,000 cubic feet/second. This is normal for this time of the year.

The people who don’t like grass burning should take a trip to Nine Mile Dam and see how silted up it is. This silt all came out of Latah Creek, which runs to Tekoa, Wash.

A number of years ago, I made a trip to Rockford to see how to set up a harvester for grass seed. The farmer mentioned what a blessing the bluegrass was to that area, saying, “We get too much moisture to hold this ground with cereal grains.” Once the bluegrass is seeded, it can be 10 to 15 years before they have to tear it out. It is hard to get a good stand some years due to the weather and other factors.

No farmer likes to see erosion. So which is worse, soil erosion or air pollution? Dan Plaster Edwall, Wash.

ENVIRONMENTALISM

No altruism in foundation grants

It’s interesting that the Kettle Range Conservation Group, Okanogan Highlands Alliance and the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, groups that file lots of lawsuits to stop local logging, mining and cattle grazing, receive funding from grants from such prescriptive private foundations as the W. Alton Jones Foundation Inc., Rockefeller Family Fund Inc., and the Bullitt Foundation. What makes this interesting is that the stock portfolios of these private foundations include Western Mining Corp., MacMillan Bloedel, Georgia Pacific Corp., Boise Cascade Corp., Louisiana-Pacific Corp., Potlatch Corp., Caterpillar and Burlington Resources Inc.

Why would these foundations want to stifle rural Northwest businesses? So their stock portfolios will grow in value by eliminating the competition. Is this legal? Quite possibly. It is morally right to cripple the economies of rural America in this manner?

Incidentally, groups buying parts of the Loomis Forest to stop logging and who knows what else are funded by these foundations. I smell something fishy. Bruce Hahn Omak, Wash.

OTHER TOPICS

Christian is as Christian does

Re: Edwin A. Olson’s “Discrimination can be appropriate.”

How is it that the right to discriminate against homosexuals is included in your basic human rights? If you are truly a Christian, as you say, then you should be able to “love the sinner, hate the sin.”

I myself know that homosexuality is frowned upon by God and I certainly don’t condone the act. But even so, discrimination is uncalled for.

I’m sure that God would be proud of him if instead of attacking homosexuals for their practices, he bit his tongue or better yet shared his biblical knowledge. At least this way he would know he tried to make a difference. If he can’t bring himself to do this, I strongly suggest that he re-evaluate his Christian values. Rachel L. Yeaman, 14 years old Spokane

Birth is a private event

Have we lost all dignity? I, for one, did not appreciate your front page coverage on Sept. 7. Giving birth is a beautiful, private event. What’s next, the moment of conception? Betty L. Curry Spokane

Why not go full-bore gross?

I was appalled at the front page picture of a woman giving birth (Spokesman-Review, Sept. 7). Apparently, she has no need for privacy or even any feelings of modesty. Oops, I forgot, “modesty” is such an old-fashioned word.

After I looked at the picture for a moment, I wondered why the photographer didn’t take it from the front-andcenter angle, with the gown raised a few more inches for better viewing. The woman probably wouldn’t have cared. And what a treat for those of us who still cling to the silly notion that some events in life are not for public ogling. Luella J. Dow Cheney