editor's inbox

No-Kill shelter, not the answer

Dear Editor,

When Ron Stoessell wrote to a local newspaper about the miraculous changes made by his wife, Londi Moore, the new director at the Valley River Humane Society, and how they've turned the shelter into a no-kill facility, there are a few things he forgot to mention. He neglected to tell you that nokill really means leave the killing to someone else. No-kill shelters turn animals away when the facility is full. How naive to think that asking people to take an unwanted animal back home with them and get on a waiting list is caring about the animal. Someone drives from Hiwassee Dam with a stray dog or litter of kittens and they're going to take them back and keep them just because Mr. Stoessell or his wife asks them to?

Animals refused admission will be set out on the road, drowned in the river, left in the woods or worse. The local humane society was established nearly 40 years ago to help unwanted animals and Mr. Stoessell, his wife and a few others are trying to undo decades of work. Yes, many of the animals surrendered at the humane society have to be euthanized because there are not enough foster homes or room at any shelter to keep the hundreds of animals that enter the shelter each year. What intelligent person could think otherwise? Just saying the shelter is no-kill doesn't stop the killing. If it did, we would have done that years ago.

The humane society has handled animal control for several counties for years, but county officialshave been unsuccessful in working with these people who are determined to get their way over the welfare of the animals.

Mr. Stoessell and Ms. Moore moved here from Louisiana, had some money, and proceeded to spread it around. Their aim is to take possession of our animal shelter, but they need to take their money and build the kind of facility that will make them feel important, warm and fuzzy at the end of the day.

When shelter animals can't be placed in loving homes, the rest of us, along with national humane organizations like PETA and HSUS, "just want to offer unwanted animals a meal, a kind word, a loving touch and a painless release from an uncaring world."

Jerri Ruth Roberts (Smith) Past Humane Society President and life-time member

Sincere appreciation

Dear Editor,

The Tri-County Joblink Career Center staff would like to express our sincere appreciation to you for your help in the fight against cancer. Your generous donation of advertising and 2008 Relay Idol articles was beneficialto our overall success.

Your contribution to our Relay Team was extremely "valuable" in helping us achieve (to dat) a donation of $9,400. We are still rafflingseveral items to raise more money and the raffle winners will be announced at the primary Relay Event at Konehete Park on May 16, 2008. Please feel free to join all the supporters of this great cause.

Thanks again for your support of the Tri-County Joblink Career Center Relay for Life Team. All monies earned will go to the Cherokee County Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.

Sincerely, Tri-County JobLink Relay Team

Backstabing Northerners?

Dear Editor,

I was surprised and dismayed to read the column,"Ramblings of an Amused Mind" in the Wednesday, May 7, 2008 edition of your paper. In my opinion this was one of the most prejudicial, unkind, biased, and uncalled-for set of remarks that I have read in a local paper during my ten years of living here. If Thomas Roskelly's mind was amused by what he wrote, I have to say that he has a peculiar sense of what is funny.

His comparisons of the North and the South began innocently enough with simple, cultural comparisons which, though inaccurate in the detail, were mildly amusing contrasts. Then he suddenly launched into what is clearly an attack on the North: "The North worships money and power, the South worships God." What a terrible statement to print in a supposedly neutral newspaper! Don't we have enough problems in this country, serious matters that require we all pull together, respect one another, love one another, without this kind of demagoguery? Is this statement a reflection of the opinion of the newspaper staff?

After a few other mild comments, Mr. Roskelly wound up with another attempt to backstab Northerners: " Where you came from, a friend was someone who could do something for you. Here in the South,a friend is a friend--period." What an ignorant, mean-spirited remark, one that could only have been meant to hurt! Did not anyone in the newspaper officequestion the acceptability of this remark? Did no one see that it was grossly unfair?

Upon reading the entire column, I reread the headline, and suddenly was struck by its implication. Many differences between the North and the South were listed, but the headline referred to "the real difference", in the singular. Presumably the real difference was in the perceived quality` of the people. Hopefully not too many people bother to read Mr. Roskelly's column, a good bit of which seems to come from the internet. Columns like this one will ensure that not too many people will bother to read your paper at all in the future. An apology is in order.

Betty Best

Betty,

The last thing I ever intend with my "Ramblings" is to offend readers. Apparently, I have done so with you and I certainly do apologize. However, I must admit I'm pleased you took time to read...and respond!

My intent is to give readers a smile...and I obviously failed to do so with you this time. I have heard from others who thought it was amusing, so I guess I'm dealing in 50/50 humor. Some like it; some don't.

God have me a sense of humor and I like to use it. The column is mine and I take total responsibility for its content - it does NOT reflectthe opinions of anyone else here at the Sentinel.

Please reserve judgement...and hopefully read this week's "Ramblings" which is a reflection on the wisdom of mothers. I'd be interested in your feedback.

Thomas Roskelly