Friday, October 8, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Animal control officers should be more tolerant of violations in remote areas
I am writing to you as a concerned senior citizen, my letter may not mean much, however I am penning it any way. Just to feel that I have made a statement of my feelings, which by the way is the same as a large number of people old and young that live in remote areas of our counties.
Over the years of living in the desert we have retrieved several animals from certain death or worse. We have fed these animals for over 20 years and kept them off of the highways and streets. We feel we have not only saved animal lives, but also may have saved many human lives as well.
As we live on State Highway 58 in Hinkley and if you have ever traveled between Barstow and Bakersfield you know how dangerous a road that is. We feel if it were not for people like us these animals can cause serious accidents by running free and not being controlled. The county animal control, of which there really isn't, would like to take away our animals and place them (they say) in homes.
But my animals already have a home, some for over 15 years. They say they can't afford to take care of them so why do they want to bother us. They don't help us with the feed bills or offer any help. We do the best that is possible to care for them. They don't bother anyone. Also I have my boys that get a disability SSI and the animals are their friends.
We may have hard moments at times but we will not turn away from our responsibility. I know people, older people that sacrifice for their animals because they are all that they have in their lives. Where we live they also depend on them for companionship and protection.
I understand that in cities and populated areas there has to be limits, but they should not apply to remote areas like ours.
When they are in fenced areas, or on chains and pens they make us take out a permit as a breeding kennel and we are not a breeding kennel. We are only trying to save animals from dying in the desert or being put to sleep by a county agency that complains about the cost of keeping them.
Each and everyone of them has their own personality just like children. And to seniors that's exactly what they are.
We see animals running loose, some in packs, that never get bothered because they don't know who the owners are. But folks like us are easy to find. Why bother looking for owners of strays. All we want is to be left alone and take care of our animals.
They are our protection and our friends, and for a lot of people all they have to give purpose to their lives. But we feel that as long as we take care of them we don't think they need to take our animals to find homes when they already have a home.
I know this letter is not the best but I hope you get the idea.
Mickey Stovall, Hinkley