The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, July 23, 2014 | 6 A sad `tail' to tell In today's edition of the Oakville Beaver we have a story about a Halton woman who recently appealed to us to carry a message to our readers. The woman is concerned about the sale of certain dog treats in the wake of her beloved family pet's death last month. No one, from the woman herself, to the dog's veterinarian, is able to or has laid blame on any speci c treat, retailer or agency. However, there is an ongoing mystery that appears to indicate a high correlation of pet deaths and the use of dog treats originating from China. No proof has been found, but major agencies are investigating because something seems to be affecting the animals and the closest link appears to be these type of dog treats. Not long after we posted our story on insidehalton. com, we received a letter critical of the story. (See letter this page.) While the letter writer did not take issue with the woman sourced in our story, he did question our report. Despite what the letter writer believes, our story is not designed to sensationalize a subject. Nor is it breaking news, as the matter has been copiously documented by both media and investigative agencies. We've told a local story. At best, it is a potential local angle to an international story. At worst, it is the story of a family's loss of a pet and their search to nd answers -- relevant in a community where many have pets. We have responded to our readership; the folks who saw t to ask for our assistance in `getting the word out' by sharing their experience and putting their name to it. Local authorities, including the Oakville & Milton Humane Society, offered comment and it was in the same vein as the woman who experienced the loss of her pet -- no accusations, no names named, but a message to the public, to use caution. Our reporter sought comment from all concerned. Not sensational reporting, just the facts. This issue is not news to the distributor, which has posted statements on its website. Other media has been knocking on the door well before our arrival. We did document that jerky treats originating in China, across numerous brands, had been investigated. We sought to provide perspective from all sides including pet stores that are also aware of the issue -- some of which have responded by pulling products. If it proves helpful to someone, those who came forward in the rst place can know their efforts did some good. If people's awareness is raised and positive changes made about an ongoing issue, we have done our job. Though our detractor said our story was more worthy of a supermarket tabloid than a respected community paper, we beg to differ. As a community newspaper and website, we told a local story and provided response to a reader. This is not the stuff of tabloid journalism. What do you think? Is this sensational journalism or a community story that needed to be told? We want to hear from you. Visit this editorial online www.insidehalton.com and post a comment or send us a Letter to the Editor. We want to hear from you. Editorial I N G A B R I E L L E ' S "Connected to your Community" N A M E 447 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 52 | Number 87 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Participants start the 10K Family Ride in third annual Gabrielle's Ride at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex Sunday. Gabrielle's Ride is a charity cycle inspired by the life of the late Gabrielle Ide Cinanni, who died at age ve. Funds raised go directly to the SickKids Foundation to help children living with cardiac disease and stroke. With a goal of $100,000, the ride raised more than $130,000, and counting. For more photos, visit www.oakvillebeaver. com.| Photo by Michael Ivanin - special to the Beaver Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution Letter to the Editor CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Sensationalism worthy of supermarket tabloid Re: Halton resident urges caution on choice of dog treats, insidehalton.com, July 21, 2014 Firstly, The loss of a pet is tough. I do not fault Ms. Reinhard at all for looking for reasons as to why Jessy passed and in no way is any of this letter addressed to her. However, Metroland/InsideHalton should be absolutely ashamed of itself for writing such a `news' story. This is the type of sensationalism that I would expect to see from supermarket tabloids, not a respected community newspaper. Nowhere in the article does anyone from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Oakville & Milton Humane Society (OMHS) or Normerica or PetSmart or PETco or even the family vet caution the use of VitaLife treats. In fact, quite the opposite is revealed, that there is no established link between the treats and pet mortality. Steve Barrow, Milton Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Rotary was the backbone of Ribfest success We would like to send a huge `thank you' to our friends at the Rotary Club of Oakville Trafalgar for another fabulous Ribfest weekend (held June 20-22 at Sheridan College's Trafalgar Road campus. The Rotarians obviously know how to throw a party. There is something magical that happens when the whole community -- people of all ages and stages -- comes together to celebrate Oakville. Proud Official Media Sponsor For: The weather was perfect, the music was great and the food was amazing. Everyone had a wonderful time and we have the Rotarians to thank for all of it. They worked tirelessly to provide a worldclass event......and they succeeded. Barbara Ferrone executive director Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton 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, 5040 Mainway, Burlington ON L7L 7G5 or via e-mail to; ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. 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.