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Bodies In motion Memorial Hospital staged a special event to maise money for its maternity unit. Bodies in Motion, a «'fitness test", was held at the -Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex on May 11. Hospital CEO Tom Scbonberg was on hand to open the event. Councillor Pat Pingle rvpresented the Town at the event and offered words of encouragement to both the hospital and those participating. She then introduced the three election candidates for Durham East. Letter to the Editor Mr. Porter is correct when he stated that the facts in the case of the shooting of our dogs are muddied, and this paper dîd not get a few facts right in the May lOth edition. WE DI) NOT GET PAID ANYTHING! A littie responsibie journaliim goes a long way. We also wish to clarify that we have not questioned a farmer's legal right to shoot dogs damaging livestock. What we are not certain of is if the shooting of our dogs occurred under Livestock Act conditions. By misrepresenting the Livestock Act to us, the municipality forced us into agreeing with their proposai not to caîl in the livestock valuer to assess the damages and the farmer would have had te agree with this. We were threatened that we would lose the surviving dog if we did not agree to this proposai, this threat being made to us over the phone while our dog was in their possession. The Animal Control Officer who picked up the dogs first toid us that the livestock allegedly killed consisted of rabbits, geese and ducks, and then two days later we were told it was chickens. That's quite a transformation and compensation came to $200 for what finally turned out to be a rabbit and an unspecified number of chickens. What, if anything, did this Animal Control Officer really see and why did it take three days for compensation to be determined. Most farmers would know within hours the monetary value of their damages. We stated without hesitation that we were completely wiiiing to pay for any and ail true damnages; we stili don't know exactiy what these are, and neither does the Gord Milîs (NDP), John O'Toole (PC), and Mary Novak (Liberal) ail worked up a sweat in the first of three sets of the workout. There were two masseuse on hand as well as Bonnie loch- McInall from Body and Sole. They were ail on hand to help with any sore and stiff body parts after the workout., Awards were given out to the participants that raised the most money for the hospital. Al money raised is going towards the purchase of a foetal heart munîcipality though they certainiy should. Were those dogs actually shot on that farmer's property? Did they actually darnage any livestock? Would the farmer have been eligible .;for compensation at ail under the Livestock Act? These are very serious questions that remain unanswered for the moment. If our dogs didn't kil any livestock and/or were shot off that farmer's property, it wouid be more than a terrible coincidence, as Mr. Porter puts iL It would bcoa crime. Our personal belief is that shootin g should bc seen as a last meort rather than as the first thing one does to "protect an investment".' This is the way we have deait with the many dogs that come onto our property on a regular basis and I'm sure those dog owners were grateful for our understanding. Farmers should weigh the penalty inflicted on the dog and the dog owner against the damage done to the livestock, but this is a decision that aIl farmers must make for themselves. Once they make a decision, they should be able to stand behind it and explain to thedog owners why they made it. This issue is about, responsibility for one's actions and accountabiity, and it is often this process alone that induces some people to behave in a civilized manner. Mr. Porter also stated that farmers might now be tempted to take the easy way out and simply bury dogs they shoot to avoid any debates. This would in no way describe our behaviour or that of the farmers we know with whom we have discussed this matter. Most of the farmers we know are honest and responsîble members of the community, however, there are as many kinds of farmers as there are people. '1 We are completely responsible monitor. Carol Selby-Reed, who runs the Active Bodies Fitness Centre in Bowmanville, was the motivating force behind the event. "I wanted to do this to help maise funds for the Hospital ... My son was born there only a few weeks ago, and 1 thought it would be great to fundraise for a foetal heart monitor for the obstetrics department." A foetal heart monitor is used to monitor the vital signs of an infant before birth. for the actions of our dogs, have stated so publicly, and have paid this farmer for these alleged damages. We have neyer denied that our dogs did anything because we wouid not deny what we do not know. Every accused has the right to know his/her accuser and the right to know exactly what offence he/she is charged with. Our rights have been denied. Our dogs did not have a single feather, piece of fur, any other blood on them, or in their mouths, as would have been the case if they had indeed killed livestock, according to an experienced former livestock valuer we spoke with. We have been pursuing this issue baseti on the facts, few as they are, but others may not be. As Mr. Porter did say, the facts have been muddled, and the municipality has been unable to corne up with a consistent expianation of what happened. This has been compounded by their allowing the farmer, apparently at his request, to remain anonymous. This is a decision we have appealed under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. We wish to thank ail those who signed the petition to Town Council (over 100 signatures) supporting our request for consistent and comple information about this incident. Town Council is supposed to conduct a review of Animal Control procedures as concerns Livestock Act/dog shootings and inform those concerned. We wil continue to circulate the petition and collect signatures. Yours sîncereiy, Linda and Herb Gasser C4Y&,'gifts - home decor& 210 Klng St. W., Newcastle 987-1978 ~The NortUmlberjad-clarlngtou Board of E&ducatiw Iraskm in Learnng YOUTH AND ALCOHOL A PARENTS NIGHTMARE, Sponsored by: Clarke High School A special meeting for parents and students to talk about their concerns Resources: Pinewood Centre Dr. R. Parthun - Psychologist N/C Board of Ed. Addiction Counsellors Wednesday, May 315 1995 CLARKE HIGH SCHOOL GYM 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Ail are welcome. R. (OICK> T. 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