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6- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 4, 2007 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 JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director TERI CASAS Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA CALHOUN Circ. Manager Hot times need cool heads Leaving any vulnerable family member -- including infants, the elderly or a family pet -- exposed to summer's extreme heat for a prolonged period of time is not only cruel and stupid -- it's also criminal. Too often at this time of year we hear of tragedies involving people or animals being left behind in sweltering heat, without water or the ability to seek relief from temperatures that can kill. Last week the Hamilton/ Burlington SPCA reported that a three-month-old dog had died after having been tied to a post outside -- without shelter, shade or water -- on one of the hottest days of 2007. While the SPCA anticipated charges -- which can carry a maximum sixmonth jail sentence, a $2,000 fine or both -- would be laid against the dead animal's Hamilton owner, our justice system's track record is that it rarely throws the book at those responsible for such inhumane acts. Pets aren't the only ones at risk. On one of the hottest days of last summer an elderly woman was seen by passersby struggling to get air from inside a locked SUV parked at the SmartCentres plaza at Appleby Line and Dundas St. Fortunately, she survived the ordeal when a Good Samaritan reached far enough inside the vehicle to unlock a door. The trial of two Acton residents who face charges of failing to provide the necessities of life resumes in early August. According to Safe Kids Canada, the temperature inside a parked car can exceed a stifling 50 C (122 F) within 1020 minutes on a typical sunny day. Anyone left inside a hot vehicle can suffer from heat stress, dehydration, shock or even death over a very short period of time. Opening a window slightly is not enough to keep the temperature inside a car at a safe level. Oakville's fire department responds to about a half-dozen emergency calls about children and pets being left inside a hot vehicle each summer. Witnesses should never hesitate to call 911 if they notice someone -- or an animal -- in distress in a locked vehicle. While there's always a chance you might be subjected to a less than cordial exchange with the vehicle's returning owner, you may also save a life. 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 Thanks for returning camera Most of the news we hear today centers around negativity and how bad humans can be. It's important, as well, to recognize the kind spirits and good people that do exist. At the Waterfront Festival, I lost my digital camera outside a convience store. On a whim I went to the store and asked if anyone turned in a camera. Sure enough, someone actually did!. Unfortunately the person did not leave their name or number for me to express my gratitude however I want him/her to know that their kindness is greatly appreciated. I hope someday someone returns this kind act to you. BRAD BOWEN Irresponsible parents Last Wednesday was Prom Night at my son's high school school, and I understand the evening was a success. However, I was disappointed to hear some parents served alcohol before and after the event. Am I the only one who finds this offensive? I would no sooner offer underage teenagers a drink than I would offer them a cigarette. How can we expect our children to act responsibly when parents do not? PATTI NICHOLLS Thoughtless action nearly ruined Canada Day As residents of Bronte, we welcome the Canada Day festivities and the people that they bring to our neighbourhood. Our four-year-old son especially enjoys getting out there with everyone else and waving the flag. Imagine, then, how he felt when he went outside this morning and found the pinwheel he had placed in our flowerbed was missing. He chose this bright yellow ornament to add some colour to the little garden he tends in our front yard. It was there when he watered and weeded the garden, but it seems the Canada Day revelers who passed by on their way home from the fireworks show decided to mark this happy occasion with some poor citizenship. How do you explain such petty and juvenile behaviour to a young child? It isn't easy. Luckily, he has a sense of humour and has busied himself with plans to scare off would-be thieves with scarecrows and dragon noises. I guess this incident can be used to teach right from wrong. Sadly, the person who needs this lesson most is not my young son, but the thoughtless (and undoubtedly much older) individual who stole from him. CRYSTAL SMITH 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. Pud BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com