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The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, Wednesday, December 18, 1996 3 Life on the Streets The Tragic Plight of Strays Now Pay Attention Maureen Reid, assistant to Clarington Mayor Diane Ham re, lets Nathan English try out her boss's chair during during a school visit to Clarington town council last Friday. Nathan and his senior kindergarten classmates from Lockhart Public School came to town to check out the Christmas decorations downtown and popped into the council chambers to find out about local politics. New Cineplex Open to Public Continued from Page 1 The project was a joint investment by Cineplex and Willson. Marci Davies, vice-president vice-president of marketing and communication communication with Cineplex Odeon, said the multiplex would serve movie-goers all across Clarington, as well as patrons from Oshawa all the way to Peterborough and Lindsay. There are 11 screens in the 32,000 square foot theatre, with a total seating capacity for 1,200. The building is fully accessible accessible to the handicapped and all theatres offer devices for the hearing impaired. Theatres can be rented out by business or educational groups during the day and the foyer can be rented for receptions. receptions. "It's truly a community centre. centre. Thank you for believing in our community," said Mayor Hamre. by Lorraine Manl'redo Alley Oop is slowly getting getting die hang of walking on three legs after a nasty mn-in with a car last month. Poor Oop, a homeless two-year-old tabby, was no match for die moving vehicle. vehicle. The November 14th collision collision cost him a leg and some of llie sight in one eye. He would have died, however, however, had it not been for a caring caring individual who came to his rescue - and the Clarington Clarington Pet Connection which arranged arranged for life-saving surgery to amputate a shattered front leg. Brenda Lowry, of the Clarington Pet Connection, says Alley Oop can teach us all a lesson about the plight of strays. "The important thing is to get them off the street," she says. Cars are just one of the year- round hazards these defenseless defenseless animals face. In winter they run the very real risk of losing ears or even limbs to frost bite. "A lot get eaten by coyotes," Lowry notes. "And there is much sickness in the stray community." Alley Oop got off the street the hard way. The badly-injured Oop was scooped up and taken to the Oshawa pound by a neighbor who recognized the familiar stray. According to Lowry, the pound informed the good Samaritan Samaritan they could only keep the cat for three days, after which lime it would be pul down if not claimed. Knowing the chances of the cat being claimed were slim, she called the Clarington Clarington Pet Connection. "Unfortunately, very few cats arc ever retrieved by their owners," Wayne Lowry explains. "It's different for dogs, who are almost always retrieved if they arc loved.' Oop was luckier than most. But there are hundreds of other cats who suffer the bitter bitter cold and road hazards alone. It doesn't have to be this way. Brenda Lowry says the kindest thing you can do for a stray is call the local' Animal Control Shelter to find out if anybody is looking for a cat of that description. "Maybe we can have a happy reunion." reunion." People can also try to find a home for strays among friends and neighbors. Brenda would prefer that cats be kept indoors only. But, if you can't keep them indoors, she strongly recommends recommends the cat wear a collar with its owner's phone number number so someone can be reached in an emergency. "If your cat goes missing," she says, "actively look for it and call the animal control to sec if it has been spotted or brought in." Once he's fully healed, Alley Oop will be part of the Clarington Pet Connection's public relations team, bringing a message about the plight of strays to students from elementary school up to university. The injured cat lost a leg last month when he was struck by a car. The Pet Connection found him a foster home, but Wayne Lowry (above) worries about the hundreds of other strays forced to spend winter outdoors. Regional Councillors Consider Alternatives Newcastle Author Pat Lake will be signing copies of her book "The Rollercoaster on Sat., Dec. 21st 1 to 3 p.m. at The Book Studio 20 King St. W. 697-2635 Bowmanville Panel of Officials Will Review Reforms by Laura J. Richards Durham's regional councillors councillors are considering the formation of their own committee committee to oversee local government government reforms. Durham's 'Who Docs What' Committee could be formed as early as today, December December 18th, during the final regional council meeting of 1996. Mayor Diane Hamre told The Canadian Statesman on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 17, the committee will be made up of the regional Chief Administrative Administrative Officer, Gary Cubitt, and the CAO/Cily Managers of the eight municipalities municipalities in Durham. Plans to form the committee committee follow a decision by the Government of Ontario to proceed immediately with the amalgamation of seven municipal municipal governments into a single body responsible for Toronto. Under that plan, the number of Toronto politicians politicians would be reduced to 44 from 106. They'd oversee a metropolis of 2.3 million people. people. Ontario's Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Affairs, A1 Leach, says he plans to have the new super-city operating by January 1st, 1998. It is hoped that this mega- city concept will remove barriers barriers to growth and investment investment and create jobs. And if you do happen to hit a cal or dog while driving, please slop, urges Wayne Lowry. "If you hit it, you're responsible responsible for it. That doesn't mean it's your fault - but you can't leave an animal to suffer and die in a ditch." Just be sure to protect your hands before you pick it up and take it to a vet, the Lowrys caution. These days, Oop wears a fresh eight-inch surgical scar where his front right leg used to be. The limb was so damaged damaged the vets could not save it. His eye is clearing up nicely too, although it is not yet certain if lie has re-gained 100% vision. His foster owner spoils him with affection, which Oop laps up, the Lowrys note. Once he's fully healed, Clarington Pet Connection volunteers plan to take Alley Oop around to schools next year to educate students from kindergarten to university about care and respect for animals. animals. The cal will join the CPC's two regular public relations dogs who have been doing the education circuit since the charitable organization was founded back in the summer of 1995. Both dogs, Cara and Riley were taken in by the CPC after after being injured. Riley is another another three-legged pet. "Alley Oop is such a good natured boy," Brenda Lowry says. "He'll really touch a lot of hearts." in Downtown Bowmanville Now 'til Christmas! A Christmas gift to our customers through the co-operation of The Municipality of Clarington and the Downtown Business Improvement Area. It is with mixed emotion I announce my retirement as of December 31, 1996. After 10 years of fulfilling a dream that has given me so much satisfaction, I feel it is time to channel my energies in another direction. What I will miss most however, are the relationships I have made over the years. This is by far what has made my choice so difficult. In closing, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to you for your patronage. See You Again, , v/mn Ruthie's Nail Care Centre Don't Miss a Single Issue Catch all the news, sports and advertising that make up our community. 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