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Show THE WEST MOUNTAIN TIMES, DECEMBER 3, 1981, PAGE TWO Opinion and commentary Neutering your pets A matter of conscience Im biased- -I own a dog. And a cat. And in my mere 22 years, seven dogs and four cats have been part of the Keir menagerie. And they all had to be fixed. Getting an animal fixed was part of owning the critter, I was taught. If you really wanted a dog or cat, youd give up movies and new clothes and not whine about macaroni and cheese (again?!) for a while. Most of our animals came from the pound-abandodespite perfect health and loveable dispositions and irresistible little eyes that peeked out from under long bangs or wiry eyebrows or curled-undears. They had all been abandoned by people who didnt want a litter of puppies. (Or kittens.) are ferocious little Thats understandable-puppi- es s, and a litter of 10 or 11 puppy might cost more than a child. But why did they exist at all? In my home town, there is a week-lon- g free spay neuter clinic once a year, and it is booked solid a month before it opens. And the strays still pour in at the rate of eight to IS each day. Thered be more, if we could catch cm," the warden once told me. But after three or four days of going hungry, those dogs are street-wisAint nobody gonna catch 'em then." Here in the Salt Lake Valley, animal control officials bring in 40,000 animals every year. Thats more than 1 10 each day. its because they dont care or cant afford risk a $60 fee. wont to, certainly whether The alternative? Every six months when littertime rolls around again, they can take the young animals to the pound. Or kill them. Or abandon them. If the threat of punishment wont provide the incentive to neuter an animal, what will? I dont know. But until someone comes up with an enforceable solution that wont backfire and result in more abandoned animals, more doomed puppies and kittens at the animal pounds, measures seem to be the only hope. Some towns hire high school students, idle for the summer, as dogcatchers. For minimum wage, the kids answer calls and drive the streets, looking for dogs without collars. A friend of mine who worked as a dogcatcher two summers loved the job-s- he drove a huge County truck, spent most of the day outside getting a tan, and didnt have to force herself to smile at grouchy customers. (She could growl and snarl right back.) And she caught five or six strays a day. That didnt prevent more from being abandoned, but it kept them off the streets. The only real solution, however, is convincing people not to own pets unless they are willing to ing take care of neutering them unless they specifically want a litter of pups or kittens. One family I interviewed for the Roving Reporter" story below owned three dogs and three cats, none of them neutered. One of the dogs is a puppy of another-a- nd they are keeping it. For the cost of feeding that puppy for the next year, they could neuter at least two of their other animals. I consider that decision irresponsible. Those people love their pets- -I could tell by their expression and their descriptions of each animal. But they dont care about the other dogs and cats-t- he result from irresponsible inactions like strays-th- at theirs. I confess to being a cynic about education. I dont believe anyone, even the Humane Society, can educate a conscience into people. Either they care enough to help solve the problem, even if it means macaroni and cheese for a month or no third puppy-- or they dont. By ANNE KEIR ned after-the-fa- er chow-gobbler- e. them-includ- Forty thousand. And of that number, only 6,000 find homes.' Its easy to understand why Salt Lake County is considering a measure as drastic as a $60 fine for increasing the supply of animals in Salt Lake Valley. (See story below). Prospects for solving the problem are grim indeed. So far, the County has tried to solve the problem picking up strays and abandoned pups and kittens. Thats simply not enough any more, and the $60 fee is a positive step toward preventing more strays. But the County officials are running up against the same problem that pro-gu- n control legislators are up against: The people most affected will be those who already obey the spirit of the law. Pet owners who neuter their animals without the $60 avoidance-incentiv- e dont need the ordinance. Pet owners who dont already neuter their pets, after-the-fa- Tima CorrapondeM Roving reporter By Anne Keir Magna residents react sharply to County's 'breeder fee' proposal MAGNA Western Salt Lake County residents were sharply divided over a proposed breeder fee which the county who try to sell or give away young may impose on animals. And the division, predictably, is between and The $60, proposed by Salt Lake County health officials and Animal Control Supervisor Shelby Dow, would apply to animal owners who advertised a dog or cat under six months old for sale or to give away. The West Mountain Times surveyed Magna residents about the breeder fee Tuesday at the Arbor Shopping Center in Magna, and called several West Valley City and Magna residents who are currently advertising dogs or cats for sale or to give away. ($45 of that fee could be applied by the pet owner toward having the pet neutered.) Its far too extreme," said Magna resident Nancy Don Ire, who owns two cats neither of them spayed. We want to get them fixed, but we cant afford it right now. Its not very American to fine people like that. rs that people who really want to fordably. said the orMany area residents, particularly dinance would be hard to enforce. It wont help theyll just take the puppies up and turn them loose in the mountains," said one Magna resident who owns a dog she wants to breed. A West Valley City dog breeder, Delbert Daria, said the proposed fee might increase the number of strays, rather than lower it, because people will abandon their animals rather than risking the fee by trying to find homes. If people want a dog enough that theyll take care of it, theyre willing to pay for neutering it. Ninety percent of the dogs people pick up free arent taken care of properly, and thats what makes strays, said Davis. One Magna resident. Julie CMdester, got her cat when it was abandoned at a local 1 1 store. She thinks the ordinance is necessary to keep strays under control. Its so sad when theyre abandoned. There must be a way to helo." she said. 7-- Doutre suggested an educational program similar to defensin Magna said that both of her animals, Another ive driving courses: a person caught advertising young animals could either pay a fine (Not $60, though) or attend a class one cat and one dog, are fixed and she thinks everyone else should do the same. Fixing an animal is part of taking care about the problems caused by strays and abandoned animals. That fine would really hurt us," said another Magna resi- of it, she said. I talked to expressed anger at the We cant even afford to neuter our Every dent, Nancy Rosa. none and three of three have Rosses cats, dogs strays. problem (The pets! neutered.) Most people who dont neuter their animals want One, in fact, pulled out a slingshot and showed me the ammunition he uses (small bolts and BBs) on his neighbors dogs to, but cant afford it, because their families have to come firI shoot em, he said. st. before the dogs get their proper care. when they enter his yard. I think that fee is a good idea. Anything to get rid of them strays is a Ross thinks the solution is to make neutering and spaying animals cheaper, by offering clinics once or twice a year so good idea. er er Serving West Valley, Magna, and Kearns S, WEST MOUNTAIN TIMES - &5PS125-M0- - I 'Fixed' costs vary Its a critical situation and were grasping at straws. It will be difficult to y enforce, but anything we can do to tail the population is in order," said Harrington. Costs for neutering animals at the Humane Society clinic are about half what a veterinarian would charge, said Harrington. Humane Society female male cats $20 JJJ done." dogs Harrington says hes in favor of the under $25 $30 proposed $60 fine (see story) for selling 40 lbs. or giving away puppies or kittens. dogs People arent responsive until you over hit them in the pocketbook," he said. 40 lbs. $25 $40 WEST VALLEY CITY Something has to be done, said Dr. Richard Har- rington of the Humane Society of Utah and Neuter Clinic, located in West Valley City. Harrington is concerned about the number of stray and abandoned animals on the streets of Salt Lake Valley cities. If everybody else had to put to deep as many animals as we do, theyd feel the same way. Something has to be VA to chase SLC debts Asuttanl Pubhthar DEBRA CURRY Reporter REGINA COATS Advarhtmg Manager RAND GREEN Published weekly on Thursdays, with offices at 4140 West $415 South in Kearns, Utah 84118. Telephone (801) All 966-444- 4. rights reserved. Application to mail at second class postage rates is pending at Salt Lake City. Utah and additional offices. POSTMASTER send change of address to 4140 West $415 South, Kearns, Utah 84118. Yearly subscriptions are 18, $10 outside Utah. Advertising deadline: S p.m. Monday for the following Thursday edition. For rates call (801) 9664444. Send correspondence to 4140 West $415 South, Kearns, Utah 84118. News items from dubs, churches, and other organizations are welcome. The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday for the following for freelance pay Thursday edition. Call (801) 966-44- rates. Not responsible for unsolicited pictures and news articles. SALT LAKE CITY-T- he Veterans Administration in Salt Lake City already has targeted more than a half million dollars in debts owed it as part of the VAs effort with the federal Department of Justice to collect debts owed by veterans who attended school under the GI Bill. Most of the monies owed the VA in Utah and elsewhere stem from while the educational veteran was in school or from defaulted education loans. Under VAs program begun last December of collecting debts of $l,ft)0 d VA or less. Salt Lake District Counsel Glade Bigler so far has received nearly 900 debt cases totaling more than $534,000. Bigler said the response to initial demand letters has been good. Seventy Utah veterans immediately repaid a total of $36,000. Another 113 veterans are working out repayment plans involving a total of more than $65,000. Weve been very successful in producing here the results Congress wants, Bigler said. If we cant make repayment arrangements, then we sue. By early last month, 57 suits had been filed in federal court by VA against debtors. VAs aim is to collect the debts in instances where the veteran hasnt made repayment arrangements. The veteran first is notified by letter of the indebtedness, then advised that about 30 days remain after its receipt to pay the debt in full or make other payment arrangements before court action is. taken. Debts in excess of $1,200 are being referred to the Department of Justice. As a general rule, the Justice Depart will demand immediate ment repayment of the debt. ts City-base- Letters Your opinions matter This space has been reserved for you, since the letters section of a newspaper belongs to its readers. Tell us whats on your mind, and well help you tell the rest of the community. There are no restrictions on subject matter or length, only on taste. Type or print neatly on standard-size- d paper and send your letter to The Editor, West Mountain Times, 4140 West 5415 South, Kearns, Utah 84118. Included must be a telephone number for verification and a signature. Names will be withheld upon request if a reason is given. We hope that not only will the Times let you know whats going on, but that you will let each other know whats on your minds. Take advantage of the space weve provided for your thoughts. All it costs is the price of a stamp. The Editor IRA SWEETENERS Beginning January 1. about 44 million Americans now covered by company retirement plans can invest up to S2.000 yearly, tax free, in their own individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Allowing those covered under company plans to start their own tax-frIRAs was made possible under the tax package passed recently by Congress. Also benefiting, of course, will be those now investing in IRA: the previous maximum you could invest was IS percent, up to $1,500; now thats scrapped and you can invest the maximum of $2,000. For married couples, each working partner can invest $2,000; the spousal IRA with only one employed partner will be increased to $2,250. And retirement plans, called people participating in the Keoghs, can now deduct $15,000 invested, doubling the current $7,500 deduction. Finally, says Illinois Congressman John N. Erlenborn in explaining the benefits of IRAs, if someone establishes an IRA, contributes $2,000 annually to the account, and earns eight percent per year a conservative interest, at the end of 25 years there will be a pension next egg of over S500.000 in the account. Not bad. Wish I were 25 years younger with enough sense to take advantage of this program. AN END TO USURY? Congress is considering proposed legislation that would remove interest rate ceilings on consumer credit across the country by preempting state usury statutes. Proponents say removing the interest rate ceilings will mean more availability of credit for consumers. They argue that such availability is now restricted. Why? Their contention is this: Lenders must lend at lower rates restricted by the usury ceilings, but themselves must borrow at the higher market interest rates. Thus, the proponents say, lending becomes unprofitable, so lenders are discouraged from remaining in this market. Among the proponents are the large financial institutions, including the American Bankers Association. The proposed legislation also got support from the majority of U.S. senators who attended recent hearings on the bill. Opponents, which include representatives of consumer organizations.argue that lifting the ceiling even for three years, as present bill would allow will cost borrowers billions in additional finance charges, hurting the most vulnerable group of buyers, those with lower incomes. Consumer Federation of America (CFA) contends it will precipitate thousands of new bankruptcies. The CFA argues that evidence suggests that lifting the ceilings will not expand credit availability. The organization cites comparative statistics showing higher interest rates in some states are not matched by larger amounts of loans made per capita. Opponents, including Rep. Frank Annunzio(D.-Ill.- ). normally abigeonsu-me- r advocate, also hit proposed legislation on grounds that it violates states rights to set their own interest limits. PAY UP, SAYS UNCLE SAM The federal government plans to vigorously go after citizens w ho are delinquent in paying Uncle Sam what they owe. More than $25 billion delinquent loans are out, with interest alone costing the American taxpayers more than S10 ee million a day. Among the delinquents are between 400,000 and 500,000 college students whose loans went into default, forcing the feds to take over the notes that were government-guaranteeBut total delinquent student loans about $2.2 billion is small compared with the SI3.5 billion in unpaid income taxes. In recent years, billions of dollars in debts have been written off as uncollectable." Now new legislation is in the works that would put more teeth in collection efforts, including: a provision that would allow the government to report the names of bureaus. A borrower who delinquent debtors to commercial credit-ratin- g defaulted on a student loan, for example, would risk a bad credit rating. a provision that would permit the government to garnishee up to half the wages of federal employees w ho fell seriously behind in mortgage, education or other government loan payments. According to Department of Education figures, there are 18 XX) federal employees who have reneged on their student loans. The Veterans Administration reported that thousands of federal workers are delinquent on VA loans. d. VOLUNTARY LABELING OF SALT CONTENT The average American cats about 10 grams of salt a day, ten times the amount the body needs. More and more evidence is linking excessive sodium intake with hypertension or high blood pressure which can lead to stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. As many as 35 million Americans are affected. With this in mind, medical and consumer groups are pressing to make food processors list sodium content on cans and packages. Legislation designed to force manufacturers to label has been introduced, but government officials including Secretary Richard S. Schweiker erf' the Department of Health and Human Services are seeking voluntary action from industry. Some kind of labeling of the salt content is expected from the industry. 1981 I Costs vary, depending on age of dog and whether dog has had first heat. If the dog is pregnant at the time of the spay, cost goes up by $15. Washington Watch RANDOLPH-SEN- Editor W. GLEN FAIRCLOUGH, JR. cur-Spa- t. Dear Reader: PubtitHet JOHN What these? Oh, just doing a little sculpturing chief. AlhedhMlniemBoml |