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Show Editorial Page 4A irisi South Edition Lakeside Review Wednesday, July 11, 1984 w.i.j fir .. Animal Shelter Deserves More Official Attention ... ' ' ' i - .& ' ' ' ". Sr t , ' ' T u-- - ,A A 7 ( Davis County should be diligent in its investigation into the operation of the county animal shelter. And. hopefully, that diligence should pay off in improved conditions and more consis- house, stray animals against their will. Household pets incarcerated there because' of negligent owners are reacting to the lack of attention and the stark surroundings. Animals that have become owtent policies. nerless and wild are terrified. The shelter and its manWorkers in animal shelters Staff Photo by Rodney Wright refire came under often are agement caring individuals cently when a committee who do their best to make SUMMER presents a long row to hoe for Merlyn Fowl- - acre lot in Syracuse. Recent warm temperatures have commissioned to study the conditions less unpleasant for er as he attacks weeds among his corn on his one- - helped boost crop growth throughout the area. department charged that ani- their charges. But, if county mals are being mistreated or officials fail to show enough neglected and are being put interest in the facility and the to sleep before residents have quality of its operation, time to adopt them. The abuses can occur. We hope KATHI LEWIS since July 1, 1983, has been procharges have been denied by the Davis County commisa period of one year upon the While increased public awareNoal Evans, shelter manager. sion will study results of the Review Guest Columnist claimed by media and politidrivers conviction or plea of ness has recently been promoted of cians influence be a for alike to the Drivers under Evans and the committee guilty. A limited license could by television advertisements and panacea investigation with the new the DUI Since then be issued to the driver al- billboards, more can be done. alcohol (DUI), andor problem. drugs do agree on one point: that enough interest to determine however, lowing himher to drive only pose one of the most serious laws institution, the shelter is not large enough whether such abuses have ocAlcohol abuse classes seminars d traffic problems traffic problems of our time. Naduring certain hours such as to should be instituted at the prito adequately house and care curred here. and from work. tionally, DUIs account for more have dropped by only 7 percent. for the animals that are The animal shelter is than 25,000 deaths per year. mary school level and continued At first glance, this drop may A more effective DUI law school seem significant, but when combrought there by animal con- unique in the fact that those There are an additional million could be legislated - a law which through the secondary could be level. Greater emphasis trol officers. When facilities directly affected by its operad pared with the people who survive percent drop combines the current law and placed on alcohol abuse in the before the the older law. The arresting offiaccidents but require hos- between .1982-198are inadequate, it becomes tion cannot speak for themeducation programs. driver very difficult to manage selves. County residents who pitalization. For some, hospital new laws institution, it seems cer would still have the authoricare may be minimal, but others readily apparent that the latest ty to confiscate the drivers Tougher stances need to be properly. Caring people be- pay for the shelter and whose be maimed, disfigured, or law has done little to curtail the license, but upon conviction or taken by those who prosecute may come discouraged when gov- pets may well spend some plea of guilty, the driver would DUI cases. Davis County is dopermanently disabled, requiring DUI problem. ernment seems to be time there should acquaint extensive health care. The cost Under the current DUI law, have hisher license suspended ing just that. Last year, Davis themselves with how it is runs into the billions of dollars; the arresting officer confiscates for one year without issuance of uncaring. County had approximately 400 Of course, the heart of the managed. A visit to the shela temporary license. In addition DUI cases; 33 percent of those and what of the. cost to those the drivers license of the suscases were plea bargained to lessproblem lies with pet owners ter may also encourage pet whose lives have been shortened pected driver. The driver is then to the fine and license revocay tion, mandatory verifiable com- er charges. Davis County has who must realize their re- owners to keep their pets at by unthinking, drinking drivers? granted a temporary liThe National Safety Council cense and must either request a munity service hours should be now decided that plea bargaining sponsibility to keep pets at home or on leash rather than (1980 figures) that an hearing at the Drivers License instituted. will no longer be entertained for reports home and to neuter them to risk being responsible for acciDUI legislation must also work DUIs. Division or upon failure to reaverage property damage reduce the large numbers of their capture and incarceradent costs $800, each injury acquest such a hearing, have in tandem with an educated, restray animals. Until this hap- tion. at the shelter. We, too, can do our part as cident costs $5,500, and each hisher license automatically re- sponsible public. The 18- - to Commissioners who have fatality costs $135,000. This voked for 90 days. pens, animal shelters will be private citizens to curtail the age group has the greatDUI problem. If we choose to means that drinking drivers cost Under the old DUI law, the est number of offenders in necessary and must get the not visited the shelter recentmilfor was more revoked dont drive. than traffic $127 license drink, drivers problems. taxpayers of the attention time governproper ly should also take lion per year. It would be safe to inment officials. so. do When sufficient to assume that these costs have risA visit to the animal shelterest in its management is en substantially over the last ter is depressing. Animals shown by taxpayers and electfour years. without homes present a sad ed officials, shelter conditions ; Utah, too, has a serious prob-- e lem with DUIs. In 1983, there picture. Walking through to are almost certain to imwere 283 traffic fatalities in identify a pet that had prove. 101 of those deaths or Utah; a from visitor home, strayed An increase in funds may 36 percent were in nearly is beseiged by barking dogs also be necessary to upgrade accidents. At night in and crying cats who want the physical facility and imone out of every Utah, nearly desperately to be taken from prove working conditions for five drivers has been drinking. the unfriendly atmosphere of the employees and living conIn 1982, there were 10,845 arthe shelter. rests for DUI and of those arditions for the animals. Few people who care for A campaign among animarests, 6,456 were convicted or l-lovers animals can resist the urge to could result in pleaded guilty to the charge of turn and walk quickly from enough volunteer manpower DUI (Utah Department of Highthe noise and pleading looks to cut the construction costs way Safety). These figures are Legislation alone is in the eyes of the animals. of adding space to the facility staggering! not enough to Curtail DUI carBut, this atmosphere is not for the large number of aninage. uncommon for shelters that mals brought in each day. The new DUI law, effective Viewpoint: Davis Attacking DUI Problem on-goi- ng DUI-relate- alcohol-relate- 1 1 3, , 30-da- alcohol-- related alcohol-r- elated -- gt m the tJJ Stitch of Tii Letters to the Editor Torch Runner Is Grateful Review Editor As a family, we wold like to thank the people who contributed to the fund for Todd being able to carry the Torch for the Olympic relay race. We would also like to thank all those who came and watched Thursday. We as a family enjoy and support the Olympics, but we of course did not know how the community would feel about it. What started as one of Todds goals and projects, mushroomed into an event beyond our imagination. We just assumed their were a lot of people in Utah doing the same thing he was doing. Evidently not, because we had a reporter from Los Angeles Times call us a month before the run and want to interview Todd and the family fter they had acquired the list of people and businesses who had donated and realized it was a community effort. We also want to thank the ward who sent out flyers and Carol Smedley who found out about the run and not even knowing Todd took it upon herself to make up flyers and sell balloons to raise some money for Todd. Todd and the Randall Family Centerville IF YOU . SUFFER FROM... ARTHRITIS SLEEPLESS NIGHTS BACKACHES VARICOSE VEINS NERVOUS TENSION HEMORRHOIDS MENSTRUAL CRAMPS RHEUMATISM FATIGUE . . .the Layton Hills Mall will host the 1984 Weber River Area Quilting Contest July 614. Quilts will be hung throughout the mall, and quilting classes free to the public will be offered all day today and Wednesday, July 11. Quilting fun for everyone. . .just in the stitch of time! Hall Hours: Honday Friday, 10:00 am 9:00 pm , Saturday, 10:00 am 6:00 pm Noon 5:00 pm Sunday, Hydro-A- ir Spa. The most advanced portable "air to water" whirlpool bath for therapy, relaxation or just fun. Enjoy a Whirlpool in the comfort of your own home. Try the Ono Week Trial Rental Call j $25 (l a 451-21- 99 stW Distributing Farmington, Utah LAYION W MIL MALI |