Let's change the way we think about our pets

Let's change the waywe think about our pets
EDITOR:
The Vindicator is to be commended for its continuing reporting of the cases of animal abuse and neglect throughout our area. Without these stories being reported, the problem cannot be properly addressed. But I found it very disturbing that the July 10 article would even be necessary to inform people of the need to provide shelter for their animals.
Ohio's laws against animal cruelty are among the weakest and ineffective in the nation. And the federal government seems indifferent to the problem. I am not an animal rights activist or a vegetarian, but for God's sake, the torture some of these animals suffer through is unimaginable. There are things that you can do to help though.
First, spay and neuter your pets. And catch and fix a stray before you feed it. The overpopulation of cats and dogs results in millions' being put to death in shelters each year. Who knows how many die horrible deaths before they make it to a shelter. Your pet will be healthier, live longer and not produce any more homeless animals once fixed.
Second, donate money (it's tax deductible!) and/or time to an animal shelter. And while you are there, adopt one of the animals. (Yes, as a matter of fact I do have a dog from a shelter.)
Third, report any and all suspected abuse, abandonment, and/or neglect. The animal involved can't. The local humane officer, Dave Nelson, is overworked and, regardless of his salary, underpaid, but does an admirable job fighting this losing battle.
Fourth, contact your elected officials and tell them you want tougher laws against cruelty and neglect. And ask judicial candidates what they think of the issue.
We have a foolish system in place in each county that uses dog wardens to spend money to chase, catch and kill stray/lost cats and dogs, when a spay and neuter program would save money and result in fewer animals' being killed.
Mahoning County doesn't even require the very few animals that leave the pound alive to be fixed. Columbiana County is at least trying to address that problem.
There is no more depressing place than an animal shelter, where every set of eyes locked behind a cage is begging for a home, even though many of those same eyes will be permanently closed in a gas chamber.
There is a saying that sums up the situation very well. Paraphrased, it says: "A society will be judged how it treats its most vulnerable members." In this, we will be judged harshly.
MATT DITCHEY
Youngstown
Hey, Youngstown, let'suse it before we lose it
EDITOR:
Over the past several days, a popular local radio talk show program and our local TV stations featured more hoopla concerning the proposed $26 million convocation center.
I can recall many attempts were made by different major corporations to locate here.
My dad told me at one time that Ford Motor Company wanted to build on the Isaly's dairy farm in North Jackson, and Anheuser-Busch wanted to brew beer using our Meander water. Chrysler wanted to build on old steel mill property but located in Twinsburg.
Youngstown was going to get a blimp manufacturing plant, and we were going to build airplanes near the Vienna airport.
What ever happened to all of these proposals?
But now we have over $26 million in hand and our community doesn't know what to do with it.
Youngstown officials knew even before they actually received the money that they were going to receive the grant.
Shame on us. We should have already had a plan in place.
It is my understanding that if the money is not used within a certain time frame, the money will go back to the federal government.
Let's not blow the money. Quit all the arguing and let's do something that is good for this area and its future.
Time is running out. Wake up, Youngstown.
WAYNE MANCINO
Youngstown