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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 22, 2008

Not The Gator's Fault

Regarding "Dog Owner Conflicted Over Gator's Capture" (Metro, Feb. 16):

Two animals are dead because of one ignorant human.

I'm sorry that the woman lost her dog to an alligator attack, but the dog was not on a leash. It was wrong for the county to track down and kill the gator. I'm sure the county just bowed to public pressure to have the gator killed.

Alligators are wild animals; they eat to survive. Gators were here before humans were here. Then we took more and more of their habitat every year. That gator was doing what comes naturally. But because of one human that didn't know about the danger of alligators - and there were signs - two animals have lost their lives.
Dominion over the animals does not mean we are supposed to abuse or kill for no reason or kill because an animal was doing what nature intended them to do. What happened to live and let live?

SUSAN COOK

Lakeland

Leash Laws Needed

So yet another alligator ate a dog and in turn became a victim of stupidity. This is Florida, we do have alligators.

Anyone stupid enough to let a dog off its leash near any body of water should not be entrusted with the care of a pet. As for the chance that the gator would have pulled her into the water had the dog been on its leash, our gators may only be reptiles, but I think they have more sense than that.

Your news story indicates the dog owner had been warned before about keeping her dog on its leash. Are there no laws she can be charged under? It seems a pity the alligator is the only one to suffer.

RONALD BOND

Clearwater

One And Only Uno

Regarding "Numero Uno In Your Heart" (Our Opinion, Feb. 15):

I agree 100 percent with your editorial comments regarding Uno, the first beagle to win best in show at Westminster. I also agree that before running out to find a good beagle breeder, you should check with the Beagle Rescue and other such organizations; however, I believe that all interested in getting a wonderful merry beagle, should do your homework.

I have two joyous 2-1/2-year-old beagle sisters and would not trade them for anything. They are, however, like all beagles, high maintenance and require a lot of owner responsibility. Note that the reason there are so many beagles in rescue is that a beagle puppy is just so cute, but when the human realizes what it takes to properly care for one, often they get "dumped" somewhere.

MARTHA KNOX

New Port Richey

A Bureaucratic Mess

Regarding "Close Our Borders" (Other Views, Feb. 20):

I read the quote by a Minnesota firefighter not able to come into Canada to go fishing due to prior convictions. I have a reverse story.

I agree the system isn't "fair" as my brother was unable to fly to Tampa from Toronto to go on a prepaid cruise due to a 20-year-old minor misdemeanor. An overzealous customs official noticed the outdated misdemeanor and grilled him for four hours. He missed his flight, missed the cruise and lost all the money.

He can't even get the "conviction" expunged as it no longer exists in the Canadian system! Somehow the United States is able to have this old information from another country and still hold it against him. How does that work?

MARY WALLACE MORRIS

Zephyrhills

There Are Good People

Regarding "Penniless Man Returns $100 Find" (front page, Feb. 15):

It warmed my heart to see that in spite of today's stereotypes of the homeless, typical teenage children, and even parents, this article totally dispels those stereotypes.

It started with a near penniless man, Bill Green, who found a purse containing $100 in cash and sought out the owner rather than keeping the money for himself. Then came the teenager, Amanda Zapico, who, upon meeting the man, insisted Green keep the money, which leads us to Amanda's mother, Cindy, who raised Amanda with high morals and values. They all created this story with the happy ending.

Considering we read so much bad news every day, I applaud these three people for giving us a reason to believe in each other again. There are still good people in this world.

MARI VELAR

Odessa

Step Up For Homeless

I want to commend the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, Commissioner Mark Sharpe and Superintendent MaryEllen Elia for their commitment to helping homeless children and their families. Families in our community continue to struggle to make ends meet; often using 50 percent or more of their income on housing. With no cushion for emergencies, they can quickly spiral downward to homelessness in a matter of months - despite working full time. The negative effect of homelessness on children, which account for 16 percent of homeless people in Hillsborough County, is well documented and this effort to provide early childhood education for homeless 3- and 4-year-olds will ensure that these children have the same "step up" other children have.

I invite the rest of our community to step up and find a way to help all our homeless neighbors, including the nearly 20 percent that are families with children. It is going to take this entire community - from business leaders to concerned citizen - to show our collective compassion and implement proven workable solutions for our homeless neighbors. What will you do today?

JOAN CAIN BOLES

Tampa

The writer is president, Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County.

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