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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 14, 2012 · 6 Opinion & Letters 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5566 Classified Advertising: 632-4440 Circulation: 845-9742 --Open 9-5 weekdays, 5-7 for calls only Wed. to Friday, Closed weekends Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. The Oakville Beaver THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Canadian Circulation Audit Board Member THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Suburban Newspapers of America Canadian Community Newspapers Association ATHENA Award Neil Oliver Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The OakvilleBeaver is a division of David Harvey Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief Daniel Baird Advertising Director ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor Riziero Vertolli Photography Director Sandy Pare Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production Manuel garcia Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution Sarah McSweeney Circ. Manager He has wonderful deep-set eyes and an expression that haunts even the most hardened of hearts. When you view the stark photos of this injured boxer-type dog, you can't help but wonder about the people who let this animal suffer so. The plight of the boxer, fondly known as Chance, has taken our website -- www.insidehalton.com -- by storm. Thousands of our online readers shared the story of the stricken canine and are demanding to know who is responsible for dumping this poor dog at an elementary school in Milton. The suspects were caught on the school's video security camera at about 8:15 p.m. on Feb. 24. Halton police and the Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) have been examining the footage for clues. For those of you who have not been following the stories on Chance, he is a beautiful dog despite suffering from mange, sores all over his frail body and a fractured rear leg that required surgery. "He's very sweet with a sweet attitude," said Brenda Dushko, media relations co-ordinator with the OMHS. "He's got such a great personality. Everyone who meets him loves him." But not so sweet are the people who treated this animal in such an inhumane way. This case of neglect has angered many of our readers. The following are some excerpts posted on www.insidehalton.com: · "I have thought long and hard about this case of abuse. There is no way to rationalize out what this heartless person did to an animal so ready to love." · "My wife and I own a beautiful white boxer and would like to see if this can fit in with our small family and would pay for everything moving forward." · "What is going on in Milton? There have been more than a few instances of abused and dumped dogs and cats in Milton in the past year or so. Add me to the list of reward donors should someone come forward to turn this sicko in. I'm in for $150." · "It's sad when stories such as this reach all the way to another province, British Columbia." Back in November, the OMHS celebrated a landmark sentencing in an animal cruelty case. A Milton couple were sentenced to a jail term and fines totaling $10,000 for the distress they caused to Mea, a gentle Victorian bulldog/Sharpei. Obviously, the fines and jail terms are not sending a strong enough message to those members of society who cause suffering to animals. We need to get tougher and live by the words of Mahatma Gandhi: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." 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. A second Chance Councillor puts forth challenge Re: Calling residents to take action, Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, The Oakville Beaver To my fellow members of council: You may have read the recent Letter to the Editor in the Oakville Beaver by Jennifer Malabar calling on our Town Council to have every member register to donate their organs. The Ontario government has made it extremely simple to register. I have been registered as a donor for some time, and I suspect many of you are registered already as well. I would like to take on Ms. Malabar's challenge and ask each of you to give serious thought to organ donation, and register if you haven't already done so. The link to register is www.beadonor.ca and it takes only a few minutes. The last full week of April is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. It would be wonderful if we could make the announcement at our council meeting on April 16 that our council recognized the need to register as an organ donor, and extend the challenge to all residents of Oakville to join us. At the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence, one of the 2011 recipients spoke about her son who had passed away before being able to receive an organ transplant. There are far too many stories like this. We can help to make a difference. I do recognize this is a very personal decision and ask that you give this your utmost consideration. I will keep track of our progress -- so please let me know if you are already registered. If you feel it appropriate, please register and let me know when you have. Thanks in advance for your consideration and assistance. Pam Damoff, Ward 2 Councillor Letter to the editor Letters to the editor 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. Tax hike dismays resident I was dismayed to see that the Town of Oakville is increasing property taxes by 6.6 per cent. This follows 5.9 per cent in 2011. It is disingenuous to taxpayers for Councillor Tom Adams, budget chair, and Mayor Rob Burton to reference the total tax increase. They are attempting to rest on the laurels of the Region's 1.2 per cent and the Province (education fee) zero per cent increase. No, they are increasing the tax that they levy by 6.6 per cent. Taxpayers are likewise (I believe) being misled by the forecasted three per cent tax increases for 2013 and 2014 and the claim by Councillor Adams that the budget is sustainable with future budget increases -- expected to also be in line with inflation. This is nonsense. The budget report puts the Town's tax hike for 2013 at 5.1 per cent and for 2014 at 4.7 per cent. Again, they are attempting to rest on the laurels of the Region and Province (education fee). Councillor Adams may be pleased with himself for maintaining services, but I'm not: the same services at a 6.6 per cent price hike is not a good deal. As a former chairperson of a Ward 6 residents' association, I endorsed Councillor Adams in the 2010 election and cited his role on the budget committee. I regret that endorsement and apologize to my neighbours. I have humbly suggested to Councillor Adams that he resign his position as budget chair to put the public purse in more competent hands. If the Town meets its 2013 and 2014 forecasts, when the 2014 election arrives, the Town will have raised taxes by 25 per cent over its mandate. This 25 per cent tax hike will be the record that Councillor Adams, Mayor Burton and the rest of council will need to run against for re-election. Michael Hawkins, Oakville