In the last week you have seen several stories about the abuse and neglect of a house full of animals in Hardy. Over forty animals were abandoned and left to fend for themselves. It was a horrible thing to see. Some of the animals survived. Many did not. Whether you are an animal lover or not, we all owe a debt of gratitude to Northeast Arkansans for Animals for stepping up and helping save those that could be saved. This local non-profit group is not affiliated with any national organization and fights long odds to do the very best they can for our animals. To everyone associated with NAFA…Thank you for your efforts.
On a related note I was not surprised to hear that a national animal rights organization- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA- was also in Region 8 this week. However, I was surprised that they didn’t seemed to be too concerned about the ethical treatment of animals in Region 8. Instead, they spent their time standing in front of a KFC to protest, of all things, fried chicken. I felt it was a little inappropriate. The KFC franchise they protested is a locally owned franchise. A local business just trying to do the best that they can do. They are in the food business. These PETA folks need to understand most chickens are not raised as pets, they are raised as food and we all subsist on food. Some of us even eat fried chicken. PETA needs to quit focusing on the food supply and start focusing on serious animal abuse. If anyone from PETA is reading this right now, stop worrying about making headlines, and help make this a Better Region 8.
A Better REGION 8 - Ethical Treatment of Animals
Tim, if you want to do an article about an issue you can learn rather easily,do an article on the exploding number of dogs being dumped in rural areas around region 8. Maybe if these unwanted dogs were shot and left to rot along the road, the illegal aliens would get the picture.
Posted by: counterpoint | August 03, 2009 at 09:26 PM
April 10, 2009
Letter to the Editor,
I have to say that I am truly in disgust of the recent actions of the Jonesboro City Dog pound. I have two dogs ages 2 and 1 ½ of a very well known breed for being friendly and very non aggressive towards humans that were recently accused of being “dangerous”. My two escaped from their fence and one of my dogs bite another dog (which was on a leash) and left a puncture on the top of the head. Partly b/c I believe he was trying to protect the children that were running with them and they never offered to hurt them, only the one male dog that is part Chow. Now I don’t know how many of you are aware of the chow breed but a lot (not all) are bad news. They are sometimes VERY aggressive and can turn in a heartbeat. I admitted to the pound that they were mine (although I didn’t have to b/c the dogs had broken their collars with their ID on them and I always try to do the right thing) and offered to help and did help to load them into the truck. I realize that my dogs and I were in the wrong by them being out but good grief this was my first offense and theirs. I have been told that now I have to have a concrete completely enclosed top and bottom pen and cannot ever take my dogs out into public again and they have to be sterilized and microchipped! I was told that my fines would be close to $500.00 or more plus the charges to get them out of the pound and it was up to the judge if my babies would live or die. I am not allowed to see them until our court date which is 24 days away! They have been with me since they were 5 and 6 weeks old. I’m sure they are under a lot of stress not to mention me too b/c they are away from everything they have ever known. Meanwhile I know of a man that has called and called about two pit bulls that are known to have bite 2 people and that are being mistreated and the City pound has only completed a “wellness check” on these animals. It has been 5 days since these dogs have had food or water and they are chained with only 3 feet of available movement. This man cannot get close enough to these dogs to try and help because they are so mean that he is afraid for his life! I think I would probably be mean too if I was treated that way and left to starve.
Long and short of letter is this….I have called everyday and sometimes two and three times a day checking on my babies and cannot get the “officer in charge” to return my calls. For all I know my babies have been destroyed and they just don’t want me to know about it while there are other people out there chaining their animals and not caring if they live or die and there are dogs out there that would rather bite or kill you than to look at you while mine sit in jail so to speak for a first offense and I am treated like some sort of felon. I have been given the complete run around with this. I have one person from the pound telling me that I can come get the dogs after 10 days then when call back they say I can’t and the dogs will probably be destroyed after my court appearance. This is complete torture! There is something really wrong with this picture and this system and VERY CRUEL to the dogs not being able to see the only person they have ever known!
Sincerely,
An extremely disgruntle first time offender
Posted by: Lannette Easton | April 16, 2009 at 11:48 AM
Excellent Editorial Mr. Ingram. PETA needs to stay out of Northeast Arkansas. Grandstanding is a nice term for what they are doing. They are as much a circus act as the ones they protest. Surely they don't think stirring up trouble and looking like idiots will make us not eat KFC. The owner of KFC does great and wonderful things for Northeast Arkansas. This was totally unfair and uncalled for. PETA gives animal people a bad name. They just do more harm than good.
Thanks for taking this stand KAIT. You are a great tv station.
Posted by: J Caruthers | March 13, 2009 at 01:54 PM
Thank you for the support and for the wonderful coverage that KAIT always provides. The volunteers of NAFA appreciate your recognition of our efforts to help make Region 8 a better animal community. You cover all of the programs we provide and help us get the word out to the people they can benefit. Thank you for all that you do for us and the animals of this area.
Melissa Perry
NAFA Volunteer
Posted by: MELISSA PERRY | March 13, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Thank you so much for your kind words about NAFA. We are an all-volunteer group, and we are tirelessly and fearlessly dedicated to helping so many animals who, through no fault of their own at all, end up in the most abysmal conditions, like the ones in Hardy, and those rescued earlier in Jonesboro. Your editorial helps remind our friends and neighbors that these creatures are not "just animals"; they are living, breathing, loving creations of God, and deserve to be treated that way.
Posted by: Robin L. Anderson | March 13, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Thank you, Tim Ingram and KAIT for your unprecedented, continual support and concern for the welfare of the animals of Northeast Arkansas. Your recognition of the work by local volunteers will help fuel their daily fight against cruelty and neglect. But most important, you bring to light the fact that grandstand type protesting is not the operating procedure for local rescue volunteers who work tirelessly in the background. You have shed light on the true heroes of animal rescue.
Thank you,
Wannda Turner
Northeast Arkansans for Animals
Posted by: Wannda Turner | March 13, 2009 at 09:08 AM
Mr. Ingram deserves a standing ovation on his comments about PETA.
Posted by: Kim | March 13, 2009 at 06:49 AM