TO THE EDITOR
are instead wisely building a self-sustaining
no-kill community philosophy. This is not just
semantics; a no-kill community philosophy is
one in which the entire community takes re-
sponsibility for all animals in need, rather
than leaving it to a single agency or shelter.”
The cornerstone of this philosophy is af-
fordable spay/neuter availability. Willamette
Animal Guild (WAG) is currently in the
process of opening a clinic. Yes, there is a
huge animal overpopulation crisis in Lane
County. If you want to make a difference,
spay or neuter your pets and send WAG
(www.wagwag.org) a donation.
The no-kill shelter of old where animals
are warehoused is not what we are striving for.
The self-sustaining no-kill community we are
building is already a success in many commu-
nities all over the U.S. Read about it here
www.nokillsolutions.org We will build this
new community with or without help from
current “experts” in charge. To them I say get
with the program or get out of the way!
Bev Jorgensen
Springfield
Homeless Animal’s
Lifeline Organization
I KNEW THE DOGS
I have been following the letters of
Catherine Mish (6/21) and Johnni Prince
(6/28) regarding the recent euthanasia of dogs
at Greenhill Humane Society.
Ms. Mish stated that five dogs were eutha-
nized in the span of two weeks. Ms. Prince
(executive director of Greenhill) wrote that
she was distressed about the letter and con-
fused about which dogs were euthanized.
I may be able to help clear things up. As a
long-term dog-walking volunteer through
May 2007, I knew some of the dogs who were
euthanized. They were not sent to a shelter in
Portland, as suggested by Ms. Prince. Let me
help refresh her memory of some of the dogs
euthanized in May: Shiner: May 1. Bronwyn:
May 1. Bucket: May 5. Peanut: May 14.
Precious: May 14. Paws: May 18. Lindie:
May 19. Cleopatra: May 26.
These dogs were ones that I met, walked,
played with and cuddled. In addition to these
eight dogs, there were numerous other dogs
killed at Greenhill during the month of May.
Other dogs that come to the shelter are eutha-
nized without ever being placed for adoption.
At the May 15 Greenhill board meeting, it
was stated that approximately 33 percent of
animals that are transferred to Greenhill by
other shelters or surrendered by owners are
subsequently euthanized.
I believe that Johnni Prince should indeed
feel very distressed, not so much about
Catherine Mish’s letter, but regarding the
policies for the care of the dogs at Greenhill.
Some examples: dogs being left in their ken-
nels for days on end, being underfed and los-
ing significant amounts of weight, tempera-
ment testing procedures which appear to be
arbitrary (and the outcome means life or death
for the dog) and the percentage of animals
being euthanized.
The kennel staff that I met at Greenhill
were absolutely wonderful people who care
deeply about the well-being of the dogs.
However, they too are hamstrung by the poli-
cies of Greenhill. Like Ms. Mish, I believe
that a review of Greenhill animal care and eu-
thanasia policies is long overdue.
Cindy Munyon
Eugene
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY
Nearby Nature
Summer Daycamps
in Local Parks
Experienced Naturalist Educators
Small groups, Hands-on Learning
Ages 3-11, Weekly Sessions
To register call 687-9699
or visit www.nearbynature.org
EWEB Sponsored Scholarships available
8 JULY 5, 2007
Many associate beer with Independence
Day. My husband is a member of Teamster
Union Local 206 and works for a company
called Western Beverage that delivers for
Anheuser-Busch company, i.e.: Budweiser
beer. After months of negotiations, they de-
cided to go on strike. The company’s main ob-
jective was to get the union out. They want to
join the rest of “American” big business and
slash workers’ benefits.
American unions like the Teamsters are
there to protect our workers. When big busi-
ness tries to intimidate and bully them out, it
is not only un-American, it is the most un-pa-
triotic thing I have ever been witness to.
Pension plans and solid health care benefits
should not be up for bargaining.
On the picket line, a Western Beverage se-
curity guard attacked one of the wives who
was there supporting her husband. He grabbed
her by the hair and pepper-sprayed her face.
All because she is standing up for her family’s
right to health care! Western Beverage trucks
were almost running over families that were
their walking the line. Shame on Western
Beverage for being violent, greedy corporate
mongers and thinking only of their own prof-
its. Who is going to protect the American
worker if not unions like Teamsters?
As our families celebrate the Fourth of
July, please boycott Anheuser-Busch and
Western Beverage with us. It’s time to stand
up and say no more shameful un-American
union busting. We, the American workers,
have a right to our benefits.
Sara Rich & John Buckendahl
Eugene