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6- The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 11, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: The Oakville Beaver is a division of IAN OLIVER Group Publisher Media Group Ltd. NEIL OLIVER Publisher DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA ANCHOR Circ. Manager A long time coming Last week Queen's Park introduced the Provincial Animal Welfare Act but our enthusiasm for these changes to animal welfare legislation is muted by the fact the changes were so long overdue. That these were the most significant changes to animal welfare legislation in this province since legislation was first passed might be impressive, if it wasn't for the sorry fact that animal abuse laws were first adopted in 1919! It has been nearly 90 years since a provincial government has given animal abuse legislation more than a passing glance, and while the new changes are certainly welcome, we can't help but wonder why it took so long. Under the proposed legislation animal abusers could be slapped with jail time, banned from owning pets and fined up to $60,000 -- all positive steps forward. Veterinarians will also be required to report suspected abuse or neglect. Under the proposed new law, animal protection officials will no longer have to prove intent in cases of cruelty but only evidence of ownership and that the animal was mistreated. Inspectors with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) will be allowed to inspect non-residential premises where animals are kept for entertainment, exhibition, boarding, sale or hire -- including pet shops, circuses and public and private zoos. The OSPCA could also seek custody of seized animals while the courts deal with their owner -- a marked change from the current law where a person charged with abuse can retain care of the animals by cleaning up the conditions and paying any bills owed to the OSPCA for interim care. These changes do aid in protecting Ontario's animals and punishing those who abuse them. But we are disappointed it took so long for lawmakers to protect man's best friend and all the other creatures that enrich our world. It's almost as disappointing as reading the OSPCA's news release from last week about charges pending against a suspected puppy mill operator in Bancroft in which 166 small breed dogs were seized. The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR I do not believe that there is a town-wide ban of clotheslines. However, some Schedule `A' on house purchases may include a 'ban' within that area. Elsewhere in Oakville, you will often see laundry hung out to dry. In fact, my neighbour is an all-weather proponent of drying outdoors. When my family was home, use of a `whirl-around' drying device was frequently deployed and enjoyed. It is also easy to save energy, lessening the household carbon footprint, by placing laundry on a rack within the house or by purchasing a Hanging clothes is legal and beneficial It's official -- no clothesline ban front-load washing machine which uses less energy, water, detergent and is kinder to the clothes, while resulting in `dryer-from-the-washingmachine' laundry lessening or removing the need to turn on the dryer. Drying washing outside is not the only option, although few things equal the smell of sheets dried outside. With everyone adjusting their daily life-style, choices just a little, a lot can be achieved in terms of reducing the consumption of energy. ANN MULVALE Re: Time to ban the clothesline ban and Let's hang ban out to dry, Oakville Beaver, April 7. In response to recent Letters to the Editor published in The Oakville Beaver, I would like to dispel the myth of the clothesline bylaw in Oakville. Good news Oakville -- the Town does not have a clothesline bylaw or impose a ban of any sort. In fact, the Town encourages the use of clotheslines as a means to reduce energy usage. Hanging your clothes to dry outside is a great way to save energy. It's a simple habit that can provide long-term gains for the environment and reduce your energy costs. For more tips and ideas on how to save energy at home, please visit www.oakville.ca/environment.htm SUZANNE AUSTIN MUNICIPAL ENERGY CONSERVATION OFFICER Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com What clothesline ban? In response to the letters to the editor (Oakville Beaver, April 4) about the clothesline ban. I would like to ask what ban?. Having moved to Oakville from Australia, last year I was also surprised to find that very few homes had clotheslines. I was told that in many areas, clotheslines were banned. This is why I did a little research to find out that, on the Town of Oakville website, there is a question, Can I erect a clothesline? The response: "There is no bylaw that says you cannot" (www.oakville.cafaqs.htm)." MICHELLE HALLIDAY The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.