Support our local shelter (05/08/08)

To the editor:

On Feb. 28, my husband and I attended our first annual meeting of the Jay County Humane Society at the Jay County Public Library. There were a total of eight people in attendance.

We recently began providing financial support for the shelter and felt this meeting would give us an opportunity to see how we might better help the shelter. This meeting did give us an understanding of how the shelter operates. It was formed and incorporated in 1964. It is not funded by the county or any other government entity.

In the past, revenue was generated by hosting weekly bingo. That source of revenue ended a few years ago, and local support has not been enough to continue operation of the shelter for much longer.

The organization does have some generous donors, but after reviewing the financial report, the outlook was grim. There is hope of starting bingo again, but it is costly and requires many volunteers and time. The shelter can not wait for this to happen. If financial support does not increase, the shelter will not be able to operate by the end of this year.

Citizens of Jay County need to be aware of how this shelter benefits our community. The shelter rescued 322 animals and was able to find homes for 306 of them in 2007. The shelter is "no kill," so every animal is given a second chance at life. The humane society does advertise the animals on www.petfinder.com. There are many programs the organization participates in. Some of those programs are the Pet Food Bank, education of the public and in schools, animal neglect investigations, spay and neuter discounts, foster care, Paws to Recycle, microchip scanning, Second Chance, Sponsor a Cage, and volunteer programs.

There are many things the humane society can use: Financial support, volunteers, kitten or puppy food and supplies, foster care families, members to help in keeping the shelter represented in the community, government support, and, most of all, educated citizens to care for our animals in the community.

The humane society would someday love to expand and build a bigger, better facility. This is a long-term goal that can be accomplished with your help. Take that first step and become a member for as little as $5 or sponsor a cage for as little as $50.

Animals are a wonderful gift from God and need to be treated as such. They bring joy to our lives and show us what unconditional love really is. Being a dog lover, my heart aches for the 4 million dogs in shelters across the United States. My husband and I were blessed to have a beagle for almost 13 years and were heartbroken when we lost her three years ago. I can certainly testify that she was a blessing in our lives.

Please spay or neuter your pets and find a way to make a difference in your community. Visit the shelter in Portland or call (260) 726-6339 to see how you can help.

Thank you for your support of this necessary organization in our community.

Annette Alexander, Portland,

member, Jay County

Humane Society

Face reality

To the editor:

It is time to look at reality with gas prices reaching $4 per gallon.

Face it, we are forced to adapt with the economy. It is time for us to look at better means of transportation. Technology becomes more advanced every day.

Development of public passenger train service could benefit our economy.

Some readers remember when there used to be active trains on the rails every day. Yet today, we seldom see any passenger trains. I wonder what affected the decline to traveling by train.

We have vast networks of train tracks across America.

I suggest we make use of them. Our friends in Europe have railways that enable you to travel to every country within the continent.

This seems to have provided a reliable network of transportation for them.

Here in the U.S., I think it would allow for more opportunity of travel and also build growth in tourism.

We should adapt with the demanding growth in population, rising fuel prices and our pocketbooks by expanding the need and want for public train transportation.

Chad Vore

Portland

Ride your bike

To the editor:

Give your car a rest and join others for National Bike-to-Work Week May 12-16. May marks the annual Bike Month designated by the American League of Bicyclists.

The Jay Community Center would like to encourage the community to ride their bikes to work on Friday, May 16.

This is an excellent time to start pedaling to work to enjoy glorious weather and join the community of cyclists.

If it doesn't work out to ride to work, we encourage you too ride to school with your child, go for a family bike ride, or ride in your first organized event this month.

In conjunction with National Bike-to-Work Week, the Jay County Cycling Club would like to invite all beginner and advanced riders to take part in the weekly bike ride on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. The ride leaves from the Jay Community Center, where all riders have the option of riding a 10-, 20, or 35-mile route.

The Jay County Cycling Club also invites anyone who wants to join them on May 18, 2008, for the May Madness ride in Roanoke, to meet at the Jay Community Center at 7:30 a.m. that day to caravan over.

You can choose from routs of 14-, 32- or 54-miles.

The scenery includes an iron trestle bridge, riding along the Wabash River, and crossing Huntington Reservoir.

The cost is $15 for the ride, which includes snacks, SAG stops, map and fanny flag.

Stop by the Jay Community Center for a registration form.

Stephanie Arnold

Jay Community Center[[In-content Ad]]