Thank you for calling out the cruelty of dropping off guinea pigs (or any animal) – especially a domestic animal – in the woods. (“Our two cents,” July 11 edition)
As you point out, there are plenty of options available to responsibly rehome animals. Friends, family, veterinarians may all be able to help find a new home simply by passing on the need, along with your local animal shelter.
There are a number of animal rescues who may take your pet (some charge a small surrender fee, as they are all funded through kindness). The rescues are skilled at assessing a good match for a pet. Their goal is to find a loving and permanent home for pets in need.
It’s important to be very cautious when using social media and sites like Kijiji to find pet homes, especially if offering “free to a good home.” As we all know by now, the Internet is inhabited by all kinds of people and not all have good intentions. Small animals like guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits can end up in the hands of snake and reptile owners who will feed them to their “pets.”
Dogs and cats can be used as training or warmup for fighting dog rings. Some animals can be taken for research labs – there are some municipalities that sell their dogs and cats to such facilities. And tragically, there are evil and sadistic people in the world.
I’m so glad kind people found these two guinea pigs and made an effort to get them a good home.
Terri Daniels, Uxbridge
I just don’t understand why there are at least five lawn signs on the vacant lot and on the creek bed on Toronto St. between Elgin Park Dr. and Campbell Dr. I know the wind likely blew them there, but why were they not picked up?
You’re hosting an event in town so you put up those metal-pronged signs. Why not make a notation of where you put up the sign, and after your event follow your note and pick them ALL up? They are recyclable at the Recycling Depot for FREE.
It’s not rocket science, people! Sadly, the forgotten signs are all from very reputable organizations/events within town.
Members of the town would be shocked if I took pictures of the signs and posted them here. There were even one or two from people running for the last election! I even dragged one home with me an few weeks ago to save it from ending up in the creek bed. They don’t decompose well.
This seems like such a simple thing, like throwing your garbage in the nearest garbage can, or saving the non-winning coffee cup until you get to work or home, or stacking your recycling boxes so that your papers don’t blow down the street, or gift wrapping your cardboard boxes in twine instead of stuffing them in a blue box that a strong wind will tip over and scatter. Anyone and everyone is capable of keeping litter off of our roads, sidewalks, trails, creek beds, and ponds.
Please do your part and act responsibly to keep our environment clean and our animals safe. I know you can.
J. Gold, Uxbridge
I faithfully read our community newspaper, but never have I ever felt so compelled to write in to share my thoughts as I have following the ongoing saga of the rainbow crosswalk. It has taken up the majority of space in the editorial section and in Roger Varley’s column, and the more I read, the more frustrated I feel.
Let me start by saying that I have family members and friends that are part of the LGBTQ+ community. I love them and they love me, so haters, please don’t waste time hating. I know there has been a lot of hurt for people who are part of this community and that saddens me greatly. However, I cannot comprehend how painting a rainbow at a crosswalk is going to help change that. This simply does not make sense.
I think our little town is very supportive of every person, regardless of attraction, because they are part of our community. It’s not perfect, and every community has the haters, but I think council and the general population have shown a lot of support to the LGBTQ+ community. How is the painting of a rainbow at a crosswalk going to show that more?
Let me be clear – I don’t think we need an “Inclusion Pathway” either, but I think the heart behind that was good.
So much time and energy has gone into this request, and I think it has caused an unnecessary rift between those who seem on opposite sides of this issue, but are truly on the same side. Invest time into people – the impact will be much greater. Instead of spending time arguing in council chambers or writing any more about it, go and spend time with someone who might be going through something hard and just needs a friend, or someone to listen without judgement.
Instead of creating something that is going to need continuous upkeep and has the potential of causing more hurt (as seen in other places that have provided the rainbow canvas for haters to deface), let’s be the community that values people because they are people, and show other communities that we don’t need to paint a rainbow or anything else to be inclusive.
Name withheld upon request
Why doesn’t the mayor paint a crosswalk with the slogan “Unborn Lives Matter”? That group easily constitutes Canada’s greatest tragedy, with five million victims and counting. Just because their screams are silent doesn’t mean they don’t suffer.
Blaise Thompson, Uxbridge
I somehow agree with our Uxbridge mayor and the two councillors about a rainbow crosswalk or bridge. What is needed is the right education at home mostly, and in schools.
A person of right mind would never be offended by a gay man or a lesbian woman since nature simply made them that way. None of us had a say before we were born. We simply have to accept who and what we are. What we need is to have a wide open mind and show more respect and much more understanding for each other. I can’t see how a rainbow painted on a crosswalk will achieve that? To many people it may look good, but that’s all. It doesn’t do a thing for understanding the difference of others; that has to come from within each individual.
I’ve seen fathers and mothers with little children on their hands swearing at others about a parking spot, etc. How will those kids act in later life? I haven’t given up hope though. We’ve come a long way, and humanity has to come to its senses sometime, not only respecting other human beings but also respecting all living things in nature. No matter if it’s a snake, a spider, a mouse or wasps, they all have a right to be here.
By the way, the LGBT rainbow flag is very similar to the official flag of the Incas in Peru. Has been for hundreds of years, nothing to do with LGBT. Heinz Nitschke, Uxbridge