Rescuing dogs

[Michael Romanos]

There is a dog abandonment crisis in the USA. Dogs dumped on farms and in rural areas, dogs locked in the house, shed or tied to the yard etc.

I doubt therefore the following would happen in the USA because it may not be newsworthy enough on a national basis: on national tv in New Zealand and in newspapers up and down the country (some on the front page) was the news that five puppies aged two-three months were pulled out from a stream in the North Island of NZ.
The rescuer phoned the police who arrive 30 minutes later taking the pups to the local SPCA. The cute pups will be put up for adoption. The rescuer wants one of them. This kind of offence carries a fine of $25,000 or six months in prison.

[MattC]

Your right Michael. My country waists its time headlining meaningless stories of celebrities misbehaving, and athletes doing stupid things.

[Michael Romanos]

This brings me to another point. I love your exciting national polictical elections but talk about millions and millions of money down the drain when people and dogs go hungry and neglected.
In New Zealand, we don't have presidential elections but we have party elections with Prime Minister candidates heading each party. And each of the parties are restricted on how much they can raise and spend on electioneering. I think the current situation in the USA is a disgrace in wasting good money while Obama and Hillary talk about health, education, poverty, housing etc. It goes on and on - and the big confrontation has still to occur with millions and millions of more money to be spent on rallying, advertising and talk fests. There has to be a better way. I wish Corgis were in charge.

[MattC]

Nick is the official mayor of my neighborhood. So you dream is well under way. Funny you bring up the elections. My initial instinct was to respond to your first comment with "but this year is an election year". The amount of money spent by the candidates is staggering. It is a big country with a lot of folks so to get your voice heard does take a lot of money but I certainly understand where you are coming from. Also, shouldn't the two senators running for president spend some time in Congress? There are things to do there. The problem is an onion. Part of the coverage is to get the focus off of that real nasty war and other real problems the US is facing (ie weak dollar, bad economy, joblessness) and I have to say having an African American and a Woman duke it out in the primaries really helps the television ratings. Care for a little bread and circus anyone? In the machine''s defense however things have become so polarized politically in the United States that this election does carry a lot of weight.
Animal cruelty is just another symptom in a society that still believes in going to war to solve problems. Education is the only way out of this mess.

We need to be careful all this foolishness might leave this country dumb, violent, and lazy.

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by MattC

We need to be careful all this foolishness might leave this country dumb, violent, and lazy.

Huh. Are you saying we're not there yet?

[MattC]

Ha! Good point Chris!

[Chip's Mom]

What amazes me is that our country is so bad yet so many people want to live here? Me - I am proud to be an American - we may not be perfect and we may have alot of problems but there isn't another country where I would want to live. I am also proud of all of our servicemen and women who are sacrificing their selves and their families for our country.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Chip's Mom

What amazes me is that our country is so bad yet so many people want to live here? Me - I am proud to be an American - we may not be perfect and we may have alot of problems but there isn't another country where I would want to live. I am also proud of all of our servicemen and women who are sacrificing their selves and their families for our country.

I agree with Bonnie!

As for the money spent on elections, the money comes from donations. And those people can donate to whatever they want. It's not up to us as individuals to say where one spends their money.

And by the way there are 3 senators in the running right now, and yes, IMO, they should all be spending more time at their jobs in Congress.

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

There is a dog abandonment crisis in the USA. Dogs dumped on farms and in rural areas, dogs locked in the house, shed or tied to the yard etc.

I doubt therefore the following would happen in the USA because it may not be newsworthy enough on a national basis: on national tv in New Zealand and in newspapers up and down the country (some on the front page) was the news that five puppies aged two-three months were pulled out from a stream in the North Island of NZ.
The rescuer phoned the police who arrive 30 minutes later taking the pups to the local SPCA. The cute pups will be put up for adoption. The rescuer wants one of them. This kind of offence carries a fine of $25,000 or six months in prison.

Just FYI, stories like that make the news in the US quite frequently. Not only in newspapers but on TV too.

Abandoning dogs or cats is nothing new. It's been going on for years and years. It's just being reported more now. Sadly it's always been rather common for people to dump animals in rural areas, mistakenly beliving that someone would take them in or they would be able to fend for themselves.

Peggy

[Michael Romanos]

I love Matt C's response. Yes TV ratings are high because of the race for the presidency and the race issue and the exposing of would-be (still could-be I suppose) Presidents like Clinton. And without spending a cent, tv would still take up the mantle and give the candidates plenty of publicity. The push for the president of the USA is at the call of the richest and the most heavily funded candidate, election after election almost. So its money that talks not what the candidate says. Let's say that each candidate could not spend more than $2 million per campaign which also includes separate assistance by other people or organisations. Would that keep the candidates more honest and the whole exercise more in keeping with a level playing field and rid the country of wasted money which would be better spent on the poor and the needy. Its gotten out of hand - a bit like the interpretation of the right to carry and use guns.
We have a very good American basketballer in NZ from Los Angeles and he has come here to play but mostly to escape gang violence back at home. Over just the last few months five of his friends and relations have been gunned down and killed for no apparant reason. He says where formerly thugs would use fists, knives and bats they now use guns. It's getting worse not better. Who is the most anti gun among the three left in the race for the presidency? I know the answer. 11,300 people died from being guinned down in the USA over a recent 12 month period. In Britain in the same period - 70. USA has 4.5 times the population of Britain - 70 x 4.5 = 315. 11,300 gunned down compared with 315. Why??????
Sorry for raging.

[MattC]

Bonnie,
You are right on the money. Our service persons have been making a terrific sacrifice. They deserve our support and respect. It takes true courage to do what they have to do on a daily basis. All war is ugly and nobody who experiences war can ever be the same.

Please do not take my statement as knocking the USA. I am very proud to be a member of this nation's society. I live in the greatest city of the twentieth century and for the sole reason that it is in the United States of America. I am also very proud to have the freedom of my speech. I love my country too much to see it squandered on Bread and Circus.

[Peggy]

For what it's worth, we know our country isn't perfect. None of us who live here would ever say that. However, I for one think it's far better than any alternative available.

As for our political system, yes, it has some flaws too, but again, at least we get to be part of the system and we are allowed to vote and choose our government officials.

And like Bonnie says, there are more people trying to get in than trying to get out.

And yes, I'm very proud to be an American. And I don't belive in bashing other coutries because their ways are different than my countries ways.

Peggy