Pet Peeve

An oddity occurred in the headlines this morning . The Spokesman Review above the fold headline was Best friends, big bucks and the Coeur d'Alene Press led with KHS (Kootenai Humane Society) holding firm to no-kill policy .

The thrust of each article touches on attitudes of two cities divided by a state line. The Spokane article talks of how technologies for fighting human disease and disablement are becoming more available and affordable for pets. The other, in addressing a boom in our cat population bemoans that enough of them aren't being killed. Including comments from a former director of the humane society to a county commissioner up for re-election to an animal control officer.

I know a lot of you are animal lovers. One of my favorite bloggers just lost his beloved Rufus. I had a lump in my throat while writing him a personal note even though I have never met him. I judge people more on how they feel about animals and how they treat them than anything else. There is absolutely nothing I would not do for that old guy in the picture. And there was no stone left unturned for any of his predecessors.

We have been fortunate to have had the means to take the best possible care of our pets. That, however, does not seem to me to be the point. It's attitude. I don't care if it's a cat or a rat, it is a living breathing being; not merely a possession - or a wild thing that has no value. It's life should not be abused nor ended because it becomes an inconvenience.

I was elated when KHS hired it's current director. The attitude of the former director is one reason why he is no longer at the helm. As for animal control, what can I say? Technically, death is a type of control.

I know this over population of cats is an issue. But rather than addressing it and trying to solve it, the death option is far more convenient and cost efficient. This type of thinking is one reason, among others that indicate a similar mind set, that the commissioner will not get my vote.

The Coeur d'Alene area keeps getting mentioned in magazines as being such a great place to live. It may be for the wealthy who can still afford their summer places on the lake and the medical and legal communities. Other than that it is not a wealthy area, the economy died along with the timber industry and it is not the destination tourist community one is led to believe. It is an area divided by political acrimony and for good reason.

Yeah. I know. Sour grapes. It's true. Hub and I knew after a few short weeks we had made a mistake. We don't "fit" and we never will. We're stuck for the time being, until the economy turns around. Then there will be another house on the market. No, it's not on the lake. We don't fit in that financial category. But we have nearly five acres, fenced; plenty of room for your pets to run.

If you want to bring them.