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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2012)
letters TO THE EDITOR I know personally many folks who work and volunteer at Greenhill and they are all good, caring people doing very diffi cult jobs, the very best they can, day in and day out! Tim Boyden Eugene UNPOPULAR DECISIONS I support Greenhill and its mission. I am offended by people who make infl ammatory statements without disclosing all the facts. I am offended by personal attacks directed towards Greenhill’s veterinarian, director and other knowledgeable and devoted animal welfare professionals. Oakley has become the poster child for what Greenhill is apparently doing wrong. Oakley suffers from painful ear infection, kidney failure, arthritis in all four legs, a cancerous tumor, painful eye disease, and dementia causing him to act unpredictably aggressive and making treatment of his health problems diffi cult. This was confi rmed by a veterinary specialist. Mister was an FeLV/FIV positive cat with cancer and a terribly painful eye condition that rendered him almost blind. Greg had multiple, overwhelming health issues. No amount of testing and diagnostics would have been useful in helping to save his life. Still the questions remain. Is it “hu- mane” to send an animal with overwhelm- ing health issues to a rescue or hospice situation? Is it really being “rescued” if its suffering continues just so people can say it wasn’t euthanized? What if it doesn’t receive the care it needs to alleviate its suf- fering? When this happens, the mission of humane care for animals becomes about people making a poor decision just so they don’t have to feel bad. So when you accuse Greenhill of being a “kill” shelter because they make unpopular but medically sound decisions based on what is best for the animal, you are barking up the wrong tree. Randi E. Golub Certifi ed Veterinary Technician Eugene CARTESIAN CHICKENS The most offensive part of your Aug. 16 cover story on locally raised chickens was when Ephraim Payne smugly praises Derek Brandow for thanking the chickens for their “sacrifi ce” on butchering day. Never mind the exaggerated claims of sustainable agriculture — despite the fact that these grass-fed chickens still consume 10 times their weight in grain. Never mind the questionable label of “healthy food,” despite overwhelming evidence that eating meat is responsible for epidemics of heart disease, various cancers and a host of other maladies. While these assertions are mere misin- formation, the logic of “humane slaughter” is not even internally consistent. To say one should — or even can — act humanely, we’re acknowledging that chickens are sen- tient. If they are sentient, with a capacity for suffering, pleasure and relationships, if they fear death and love life, then genuine humaneness would take their interests into full account. Considering truly sustainable, deli- cious, healthy and nutritious alternatives are readily available, how can one claim VOTE NOW! BESTOFEUGENE.COM that cutting a chicken’s throat after living one tenth of her natural life span is hu- mane? Can we really pat ourselves on the back for not torturing her beforehand? If you want to eat meat, you can either adopt Descartes’ 17th century view that chickens (and dogs, cats, cows, etc.) have no souls, intelligence, perception or sensation, or you can choose to look the other way. However, it simply makes no sense to claim humaneness when killing to appease one’s taste buds. Instead, why don’t we give thanks for the fact that we don’t have to? Lucas Spiegel Eugene IGNORING THE PEOPLE Ambrose Bierce defi ned “corporation” as an ingenious device for obtaining profi t without individual responsibility. Our local county offi cials also take no responsibility when they turn a blind eye toward the safety and wellbeing of citizens and only represent millionaire developers. This is the case of the latest decision that was made concerning the site review of Parvin Butte Aug. 25. One hundred people testifi ed in person and writing against the Lost Valley Rock Products quarry. A large animal vet testifi ed that blasting and rock crushing will have negative effects on large animals. A woman testifi ed that veterans suffering from PTSD living in a veterans’ home close to the quarry site are having negative reactions to blasting and rock crushing noises. OSU extension staff testifi ed of the negative effects of dust on organic and hay crops close to the quarry. A man with 80 percent hearing loss worries about losing the rest of his hearing and has submitted letters from his doctors. Rattlesnake Road will be used to carry this rock and has no pull-offs or shoulders and will impact the safety of residents who bike, walk their dogs and ride horses on this road. Rattlesnake Road was not built to handle trucks that weigh over 45 tons. Are Lane County residents expected to repair the road damage caused by these private trucks? Gary Darnielle, the hearings offi cer, said clearly the site review process as interpreted in this decision does not provide the protection expected by most of the community. What an understatement! Arlen Markus Dexter Shedd Theatricals 2012 The Gershwins’ 1924 musical comedy Lady, Be Good! October 4, 5, 6 & 7 - The Shedd Concert production - 541-434-7000 - theshedd.org www.papajohnseu gene.com your order is just one click away WELCOME BACK STUDENTS UNWRITTEN DECREES This letter is in regards to Jerry Ritter’s letter asking to see a decree to provide housing to the homeless [8/16]. Mr. Ritter, there were unwritten laws and decrees in this country centuries before the fi rst welfare line of illegal aliens. But they weren’t called as such. No one would go hungry or without a warm place to stay, especially children. To me you sound like the 1 percent — if we didn’t have this law written for you then it does not apply. I am glad you would rather have your taxes go to provide housing for the 1 percent rather than provide it for our own children. Ken Bryant Springfi eld $12 $ 1 2 Deal D l Limited L im mi it t ed Time On nly ly Get ANY G A N Y pizza Get t a Large G L for r j just $12.00! for j just $10.00! fo S. Eugene g Springfield p g Santa S t C Clara 30 W 29th Ave (@ Willamette) 1402 Mohawk Blvd (just North of Centennial) 54 Division Ave (just off River Rd) 541-484-7272 541-746-7272 541-461-7272 EUGENE WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 5
