VIEWPOINT: Animal abuse is an equal opportunity crime
Thursday, 06 November 2008
By Ron Aaron Guest Commentary
Her tail was set on fire. His back was burned with battery acid. She was hung from a tree. He was thrown against a barbed wire fence, slicing open his abdomen. He was knifed multiple times. Her right front leg was crushed, her ankle broken. Her lower jaw was sliced off, her front legs broken.
Hard to imagine but these are just a few of the cases of animal abuse we’ve seen at the Animal Defense League in just the past year. These cases will break your heart.
Animal abuse is an equal opportunity crime. It respects no zip code, no quadrant of the city. We see both dogs and cats who have been brutalized. Many left for dead. But for Good Samaritans, most would never get the medical attention they need. Indeed, without help, most would die.
None of these cases has been solved. No one has been arrested. And it is unlikely anyone will ever be charged even though Texas like many other states has laws that make abuse of animals a state felony.
But the abuse of animals is often an invisible crime seen by very few and understood by even fewer. Yet the odds are the perpetrators have bragged to their friends about what they have done.
The Humane Society of the United States confirms that most people who abuse animals are males, often teenagers or men in their early 20s. And the sad fact is those who abuse animals frequently go on to abuse people, too.
Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz and Jeffrey Dahmer have more in common than just being serial killers. These three murderers are also connected by the fact that each of them tortured and/or killed animals during their childhood.
“Researchers as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies nationwide have linked animal cruelty to domestic violence, child abuse, serial killings and to the recent rash of killings by school age children,” said Dr. Randall Lockwood, vice president of training and initiatives for the HSUS. (Source: www.associatedcontent.com/article/425882/the_link_between_animal_abuse_and_serial.html)
So what can you do about animal abuse? The very best thing you can do is to keep your eyes and ears open. If you know of a companion animal that has been abused, tell someone about it and if you can do so, bring the dog or cat to us at ADL.
We are the only non-profit shelter in the area with a full-time veterinary staff and hospital. Depending on the severity of the injuries we may be able to save the animal’s life. We can also help notify authorities and encourage them to investigate and prosecute offenders if they can be found.
If you are a parent, ask your children to keep their eyes and ears open at school and on the playground. They may hear someone bragging about hurting an animal. Tell them not to confront anyone but to tell you what they heard. You can then pass that information on to us at ADL.
Together we can stop the violence against companion animals. But it will take more than wishing it was so. It will take a willingness on the part of many to tell what they know about suspected perpetrators, even if that means risking reprisals.
Doing nothing is not an option if you care about the life of a dog or cat. They are truly the innocent victims who depend upon us for their health and safety.
Ron Aaron is executive director of the Animal Defense League of Texas, the oldest true no-kill shelter in the area. A former radio talk show host, Aaron earned his master’s degree in communications from Ohio State University and his juris doctorate with honors from the George Washington University National Law Center.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Thursday, Nov. 6
Thursday, 06 November 2008
Mortgage crisis or spin?
Editor:
I read with interest the recent “Life As I See It” article titled, “Difficult times and tragic choices.”
It is too premature to make Addie Polk the poster woman for this mortgage crisis. There are too many unanswered questions regarding her loan specifics, what happened with the money and what efforts she made to get help.
The classic knee-jerk reaction is to find a tragic story during a crisis, automatically equate the two, and then demand a government solution. She likely didn’t tell anyone because she either was too proud or felt the situation hopeless.
She was undoubtedly depressed which is very common in the elderly which led to another common problem in the elderly — suicide. Depression and hopelessness are increasingly due to more and more isolation of households in America.
If Mrs. Polk had sought aid, then I am sure that her extended family, church home or concerned citizens in Akron would have chipped in $20 from 24 families to keep her from being evicted (payment $280/month). This act of charity and love would have markedly improved Mrs. Polk’s isolation and reversed her depression/suicidal ideations much better than a visit from an overworked bureaucrat who would cross-examine her to determine if she’s eligible for any “benefits.”
The time is now for all Americans to reach out to our neighbors through self-initiative, charity and love, and not to rely, yet again, on a government that is inefficient, burdened, and mortgaging our children’s future
Retired Col. Christopher J. Lisanti
Schertz resident
Negativity taking its toll
Editor:
Windcrest is a beautiful city and many people enjoy living here. The negative news circulating by way of huge disturbing newspapers articles, and a lawsuit filed recently, maybe making people think twice to not to move here.
Picture developers seeing all this bad news; why should they invest in making Windcrest a bigger and better city? So many good things are happening, i.e. Rackspace Hosting, and more Fort Sam troop movement. We would love to have some of those folks to make Windcrest their home.
Now a lawsuit has been filed by extremely hateful and negative people who are causing “forward-looking” planning for Windcrest to come to a screeching halt. Nowadays, especially with the volatile market, any unnecessary stoppage will cause future planning to become more expensive and possibly out of reach. Of course the lawsuit will cost money, which will tie up money earmarked for services to the citizens.
We all need to work together to bring Windcrest into the future. Windcrest will never again be the city “like it used to be.” Times have changed; if we do not move forward Windcrest will be bypassed and forgotten.
Picture a bunch of empty houses, not enough property tax to sustain the city and the services we have, empty stores with no customers to support them … Get the picture?
Let’s move forward and bring Windcrest into a positive and progressive city. If you are not happy here, move elsewhere! Happiness and contentment does not come from being negative.
Inge R. Geiger
Windcrest resident
EDITORIAL CARTOON: Thursday, Nov. 6
Thursday, 06 November 2008
VIEWPOINT: Let us give thanks …
Thursday, 06 November 2008
In little more than a week, we will be making plans for Thanksgiving. Reality is that many won’t be feeling grateful this year, let alone being able to afford the traditional big lavish meal. Then right around the corner looms Christmas.
Unless you’ve been in a position where you either were unemployed or living “paycheck to paycheck,” it is often hard to fathom how tough these times can be on an already struggling family.
What can be even more troubling is the depression that some people feel in this situation. Some are looking at losing their homes and/or jobs and cash-strapped agencies are unable to help. This often leads to short tempers and more domestic violence as well as suicides among those who feel that life is hopeless.
The strain on parents these days is increased by the financial stress on our society, too. Those organizations that often helped create a buffer by providing meals, and even toys, to these families are in need themselves these days. Folks who use to help these groups with donations are now sometimes the ones needing help. Businesses that often supported these toy drives are cutting back, too.
It is being said that donations for the political candidates comes in mostly from many small donations, rather than larger lump sums. If this same approach was used to help out our social agencies, imagine what a difference this would make, for the lives of so many!
Looking back at the generous outpouring of support for those affected by 9-11, as well as the numerous weather disasters we have had recently, makes me believe there is still a heart in this country. We just need to take a look around us to realize how much we have and decide if there is a small surplus that we could share.
If you are in the fortunate position of having a solid roof over your head and you are not concerned as to where your next meal or paycheck will come from, please take another look around. Maybe you have children who are also asking for the newest toys. Have them sort through the toys they no longer use and donate them. Better yet, have them help pick out a new toy to donate. Or go through your closet and donate good, usable items and/or provide a gift card to one of the social agencies, so someone could pick out an outfit themselves.
And when you sit down to that Thanksgiving feast, remember to give thanks!
Schertz anticipates start of Rec Center construction
Thursday, 06 November 2008
By David DeKunder Staff Writer
As its new public library is going up, Schertz city officials are preparing to start construction on a new 24,658 square-foot recreation center.
Leonard Truitt, Schertz director of developmental services, said the city is in the process of starting site preparation work for the new recreational center, which will be constructed next to the new 30,000 square-foot Schertz Public Library on Elbel Road, near the intersection of Schertz Parkway.
“We are likely to get work started on it by the end of November or early December,” Truitt said.
Work on the recreational center is expected to take a year. When completed, the recreational center will have several amenities to serve the fitness and athletic needs of Schertz residents, including a gymnasium, weights/cardiovascular fitness area, aerobics room, climbing wall, an exercise area with TV monitors and men’s and women’s locker rooms and showers.
The rec center will also house a child care area, a “teen center,” offices for staff and trainers, a multi-purpose meeting room and have the capability for an Olympic-sized swimming pool, which will built in the future. A spray fountain for children will be built outside of the center.
Truitt said once it is finished the center will complete a multi-use area that will be used by residents for relaxation, fitness and learning.
“It (recreational center) will tie in to the landscape there, the library, the walking trails and the Playscape,” he said.
The building of the recreational center was approved by Schertz voters in 2006 as part of the city’s $20 million bond package. The idea for the recreational center came about from citizens in public forums before the bond package was put together.
“You are seeing a lot of these facilities in other cities,” Truitt said. “This center meets the weight-loss and recreational needs for all age groups … This whole facility will be open to everyone. When we have the pool (later on), which will be intended to host athletic meets but be open to the public to use, this will be a well-rounded facility.”
Truitt said the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD and the YMCA, which will run the center once it opens, have had input on the center’s design. The rec center will be located across the road from Clemens High School and a block away from Schertz Elementary School.
The recreational center will have a tilt wall, concrete exterior design and windows on the north side of the building that will allow for natural sunlight.
