Your Letters

I was surprised by Harris Sherline’s opinion on Universal Health care. First his statement that only 18% of the people don’t have health care. That is one in every 5 but he is not one of them obviously. Does it not concern him that people are losing their life savings? Why are people becoming conscious of it? Because the HMO’s are in the field for profit not for health and skim off 15 to 20% which should go to health care. Did you know that one CEO in an HMO gets $100 million a year?

 

It is unfortunate that when Private Enterprise fails (which it has) the Government has to step in, so let’s put the blame where it belongs the companies not the Government or the people.

Mark Sutton, Solvang

 

Michelle

The Journal has been a welcome new source of news here in the Valley, delivered in a more professional manner. Thank you.

In view of the present wildfire scenarios, I wonder what the community has been or could be doing to support the firefighters. Is this something the paper might look into?

-Katrin Meza

 

Response:

Hi Katrin, Thank you for your kind words. We will certainly be covering the fire, those risking their lives and those who volunteer and support our Fire Fighters.

Thank you again.  -MLM

 

 

Mandatory Spay and Neuter is NOT the Answer!

I am strongly opposed to AB1634 - because it would turn responsible citizens into criminals, it is bad for dogs' health and it does not solve the problem it purports to address: too many dogs in shelters, many of which wind up being euthanized. Mandatory spay/neuter is an ineffective solution to animal control problems because it fails to address the heart of the issue— irresponsible ownership. These laws are extremely difficult to enforce and can be evaded by irresponsible animal owners by not licensing their pets. It will hurt responsible breeders who raise healthy, well cared-for dogs and work to ensure that these puppies are placed with responsible owners. Voluntary spray / neutering is working! Levine himself quotes that we currently have a 70% voluntary compliance of spay and neuter for all pets - so if this is the case, why do we need a mandatory law? Feral cats make up approximately 75-80% of all shelter intakes. Wild cats - equal - no owners!

 

This bill, if passed, turns good citizens into criminals because unless puppy owners sterilize their pets before they are 6 months of age, they are breaking the law and subject to a $500 fine! The man behind this bill, Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, ignores the fact that most guide dog trainers cannot tell that early if a dog will be a fit canine companion. Most responsible breeders, cannot determine at that early of an age if a dog is appropriate quality for the show ring, performance ring or for breeding.

 

Most veterinarians believe that "fixing" a dog that young is bad for its health. Many breeds cannot tolerate anesthesia that young and many will risk death. Substantial scientific evidence shows that the early sterilization of puppies can cause aggressiveness, hyperactivity, urinary incontinence and increased chances of several types of cancers. The California Veterinary Medical Association was originally a co-sponsor of the bill. However, hundreds of their members protested supporting this bill, because veterinarians were never consulted before this decision was made and the majority of the membership are opposed to mandatory sterilization. Due to this majority push, the CVMA has now pulled their support of this ominous bill.

 

The bill contains some very convoluted exemptions; but they are thresholds few can meet. If that is the case, why are the service dog and police dog organizations still against the bill? Even the California Highway patrol is opposed to AB1634. Now the CVMA has pulled away their support. They know this bill is ill conceived and won't work. 

 

There is also an economic aspect to this issue. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent at dog shows throughout California each year. Local communities reap the benefit of the people attending these shows, staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, buying gas and supplies. The Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau says that the bill threatens the annual AKC/Eukanuba National Championship there, which brought 30,000 people to the city last year. They estimate that the show will have a $65 million impact on the city's economy and $850,000 in hotel bed taxes through 2014.

 

I strongly believe that the solution to an overabundance of unwanted pets is not bad legislation. The solution is increased education, cracking down on unscrupulous puppy mills that import to the state, denying importation of sick dogs from Mexico, micro-chipping dogs so that they can be returned to their rightful owners - instead of being sent to the pound, low-cost and free spay/neuter clinics for those that can't afford to go to vets, and other remedies that are based on rewarding positive action rather than indiscriminately punishing all dog lovers.

 

Update: As of Wednesday morning, July 11, AB1634 was to be put up for a vote before the Senate Local Government Committee. However the morning of the vote, Assemblyman Levine withdrew his controversial bill from the Committee, when it became apparent that the bill did not have the support from the 5 member Senate Committee and would not pass the vote. The bill will now be "held over" until next year's session, when it could be re-introduced.

-Cherie Virden, Los Olivos