Adoption of dogs urged (10/16/2008)

To the editor:

Each October the American Humane Society partners with local shelters to promote Adopt a Shelter Dog month, a national campaign highlighting the number of wonderful dogs at local shelters waiting to be adopted.

Right now there are millions of homeless dogs in every shape and size anxiously waiting for a home. We would like to encourage everyone to consider visiting the Jay County Humane Society shelter to find your new best friend.

Our local shelter is located just off Bittersweet Lane in Portland at 1313 Shadeland St. The phone number is (260) 726-6339. Because of the shelter's no-kill policy, it is always full with a waiting list for placement.

With so many dogs needing homes, it may be hard to choose just the right one for your family. So here are a few tips to consider before bringing a pet into your home. Living space, lifestyle, budget and the amount of time you have to devote to your pet are all considerations. Housebreaking and exercise will request at least 30 minutes per day. Have your dog spayed or neutered to eliminate health issues, and prevent hundreds of unwanted puppies from being euthanized each year.

If your family is already lucky enough to have found the love of your life, there are still many ways to participate in the Adopt a Shelter Dog spirit.

Here are a few:

•Take time to make sure your pet has proper I.D. Tags with information or a microchip placed in your dog will keep him or her from ending up in a shelter should he or she become separated from you.

•Plan an annual donation to a local shelter (donations are tax deductible).

•Purchase a few extra supplies (food, bedding, toys, collars, leashes, etc.)

The staff of the Jay County Humane Society is doing an excellent job of caring for the unwanted pet population throughout Jay County. All shelter operating funds come from donations and fund raisers. They receive no government funding. Please do your part to see their good work continue.

We encourage you to join us in recognition of Adopt a Shelter Dog month and supporting the Jay County Humane Society.

Sincerely,

Annette Alexander, Tracy Braun, Rita Lutes and Cheryl Miller

Portland

Boondoggle

To the editor:

It is nice to see that the lawmakers in Washington have our best interest in mind as usual. They stepped up to the plate and hit one out of the park. The original proposal was three pages. The final "bailout" bill approaches 500 pages.

It includes tax credit suspensions for wool producers, elimination of the Puerto Rican rum tax, benefits for folks who bicycle to work, a subsidy for manufacturers of children's toy wooden arrows, and of course the ever important American Samoa economic development deal, which I would be willing to bet you know nothing of.

So if you are a rum drinking, arrow shooting, wool producer who bicycles to work in the sheep shearing shed in American Samoa, you should just be darn tootin' happy with this boondoggle of a bill!

Thanks Washington.

Sincerely,

James D. Fulks III

Dunkirk

'Stunning'

To the editor:

I want to thank Stephen Erwin for his stunningly "accurate and factual" review of Barack Obama's political career. Perhaps, if Mr. Erwin were so inclined, he could review what a fine job the current administration and Republican party have done. I await, filled with breathless anticipation.

Michael S. Kinser

Portland

Caution

To the editor:

On Saturday I was coming home from a friend's house. When I got to a corner there was a bush by the side of the road where I was sitting. I travel the roads because they don't have sidewalks where I was. I saw a car coming and knew it was going to turn so I started to back up to give it more room.

It didn't slow down much so I had to back up fast. It was still close. They didn't see a car there so I guess they didn't think anything important was there. Just because you didn't see anything doesn't mean nothing is there. Because of the bush they may not have been able to see me. But that isn't the point. Instead of turning a corner they made it a curve and almost hit me. You know who you are. Almost everyone in town does the same thing.

They are corners, not curves.

I've been hit by a truck once this year doing the very same thing. I didn't like it. So people of Portland, please go back to the Indiana driver's manual (page 45) and re-read the part that tells how you are supposed to turn corners and study it diligently.

There may be someone there that can't move as fast as my chair. It may be an older person or a child or just someone who isn't watching. So when you come to a corner, turn it like you did when you first learned to drive.

Jerry Wheeler

Portland[[In-content Ad]]