Editor, Times-Union: Today I saw a puppy left all alone in a fenced backyard. It's obvious this is the puppies living space.
This is a tragedy!! This is why we end up with so many pets being euthanized (killed) everyday in shelters.
This puppy is not more than 10 weeks old. I will refer to it as "he" from here on out. He is at the most crucial learning point of his entire life. This is the time he should be bonding with his human family, they should be teaching him the basic manners to become a well adjusted member of the family like sit, stay, down, come, walk on a loose leash, and how to potty outside, they should be introducing him positively to the world he lives in so he doesn't develop fears later. He should be meeting people of all different shapes, size, age, gender, and race.
This is the time frame where his little brain is like a knowledge sponge. It's critical that before this window of opportunity closes in a few more weeks that he be given every chance possible to learn, encounter new things, and bond with people. It is so much easier to educate him now than to try and undo a bad habit or try to eliminate a fear later.
Dogs are companion animals they are not designed to be banished to the backyard and forgotten about. ALL dogs should be in the house with their human family. That is why they are called companion animals. As a pack animal it is extremely important they be allowed to share your home and your life with you, it's essential to their emotional and physical health.
If you don't want hair on your sofa, a pee accident on the carpet, dog drool on your clothes, don't have the time to teach your dog and educate yourself about proper dog care then you DON'T need a dog. You would be better off with a plant.
We need to remember just because dogs have four legs instead of two that doesn't mean they do not feel loneliness, hunger, pain, fear, or happiness. They are most happy when living inside with their family and being treated kindly as a valued member of that family.
Melinda Zorn Warsaw
Silent Majority
Editor, Times-Union: This letter will be a mixture of subjects so bear with me.
First and foremost, why doesn't our 50 million dollar high school has an alarm system? It seems quite negligent to not have a system for crime detection when we have a police person on duty all day for safety of our students. Frank Rhoades would gladly set up an alarm system for you I'm sure.
Today on the news scroll I saw where they are deciding if lethal injection is 'cruel and inhuman -uh hello - is it 'cruel and inhuman' to kill someone or commit a terrorist act against our country or any other crime that constitutes the death penalty. I don't think Andrea Yates' children had a choice when she drown all of them...but I will tell you she deserves the death penalty for such a horrendous crime and yet she will get off because she's not competent (supposedly). We seem to forget the victims of crime and focus on the criminal - as far as I am concerned a criminal does not need to be treated like he is going to 'the Ritz' it is jail time and they should be treated as criminals. Please no letters from bleeding heart liberals, I've heard it all and my mind will not be changed. I'm not sure why it is taking the jury for Moussaoui so long to determine whether he deserves the death penalty...again he knew in August what was going to happen and he did not tell, so 2000 plus people died and millions of lives were changed - what is the questions here?
Today is primary day in Indiana - I do hope the 'silent majority' will be heard again. Which brings me to support...We need to support our President and his fellow workers, our troops in Iraq need our prayers also.
Also, this immigration issue is getting really tedious. If you are a legal immigrant, living and working and paying taxes in this country you have all the rights I do. You should speak English and as much as possible meld into the mainstream...if you are not legal then we have a major problem. If you have lived here illegally for years why haven't you tried to become a legal citizen? Why when people come here to live do we have to change everything for them? If I moved to France or Europe anywhere or any other country I would have to learn their language, pay to live in their country, learn to meld into their culture. I do not expect to hear the national anthem of any other country sung in English just to appease me so hello The Star-Spangled Banner is the anthem of the United States of America and the last time I checked we speak American English
I love the terminology the media uses sometimes...the Duke situation, the woman is referred to as an 'exotic dancer'. She is a stripper for hire. The United Church of Christ new ad uses the expression of differences...instead of saying unwed mother, gay/lesbian couples, different races, homeless - don't get me wrong if you believe the church is suppose to accept your differences then so be it - but let's start saying what it is we are accepting and not coating it with the 'politically correct' usage. The church is for everyone to come to the realization they need Christ and to repent of their sins and become more Christ like. That means we have to do a whole lot of hard work and changing on our parts. Sin is sin folks like it or lump it - but don't think you can come to church continue to live in your sin and somehow think the Lord really accepts that - He doesn't and neither should we. That is not intolerance it is fact.
"There are two ways to live your life. One as though nothing is a miracle and the other is as though everything is a miracle"-Albert Einstein.
Phyllis L. Barger Warsaw
Voting Insights
Editor, Times-Union: I don't know how many of you voted on May 1 in the primary, but here are some things I felt the need to get off my chest.
First and foremost I have to say that when I was directed to the new computer voting machines and saw what was at the top of page one, I was immediately perturbed. "Select English or Spanish". Our election ballots have not been re-written for the German, English, Czech, Russian, Asian, or ANY other immigrant group, and they should not have to be re-written for Hispancs. If nothing else prompts you to call congressmen and voice an opinion then this certainly should. Re-writing our national anthem and re-writing our election ballots to accommodate these people should not be tolerated. If you are here LEGALLY, and trying to become a U. S. citizen, and trying to learn the language and customs here, and raising your children as Americans, then God Bless You and welcome to America. But, if you are not willing to learn English even well enough to be a part of the process that is one of our most fundamental rights in this country, then you should not be permitted to participate in the election of those who make and enforce our laws. Just my opinion.
Second, I was rather disappointed to hear some of the comments at the restaurant from people who chose not to bother voting because it was "just a primary". Apparently these people do not understand how our government has become so dysfunctional and full of deadbeats at all levels in the first place. PEOPLE....THIS IS WHERE WE PICK THEM!!!!. These local primary races do not just select a candidate from each party for us to choose from in the REAL election. In many cases, the primary IS the real election. When there are 6 candidates running for a local office, and all are from the same party running un-opposed by a candidate from another party, the one who wins the primary HAS WON the election, simply because when the election comes around that candidate is the only one on the ballot. In many towns and counties, one party dominates the political arena. The primary is your only chance to decide who is running your local government. VOTE!!!
Third, I would like to offer applause and respect to the individuals trapped in the polling places, explaining the same things over and over and over and over through what must have been a very long day. Their patience and courtesy must have been tested to the edge. They are certainly special in their character to be able to perform that task with "grace under fire".
