Letters to the Editors

Microchips can save pets' lives

Editor: On Feb. 19, I attended the meeting at Pasco Animal Control regarding scanning pets for microchips. All attending were very disappointed and discouraged when Pasco County officials tabled a decision until their next meeting. The only thing they want to know is what it will cost them. Not what the benefits are either to them or the taxpayers.

Microchipping is a safe, permanent and inexpensive method of identification. Owners still need to license their pets with the county, and there is a one-time registration of the microchip. Even if pets are licensed and have collars, they can lose either the tag or both tag and collar. Some animals are not good candidates for collars: dogs with long, thick coats and cats that can get out of any collar or kill themselves trying. And tattoos fade so that they are illegible or get overgrown with hair.

The number of animal control agencies scanning for and even implanting microchips is growing rapidly. They confirm that the number of pets returned to owners is much greater when they are microchipped.

The cost to the county is minimal. The scanners are donated by the manufacturers (Pasco already has them). All it costs is the 15 to 30 seconds to scan an animal. And it could save many lives. It could mean the difference between your pet being euthanized or returned to you. And more owners would have their pets microchipped if the shelters scan for them.

Animals adopted at the shelters in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are microchipped. You might have a false sense of security thinking that if our pet gets picked up in Pasco (or Hernando) County that they will scan for its microchip. Not at this time. Most people think of their pets as their children and would do anything to get them back.

Pet owners need to be responsible for their pets. But county officials need to get up to date and try to help reduce the numbers of animals euthanized. Scanning for microchips is one step in the right direction.
-- Gladys Newton, Hudson

Captain's folly costs taxpayers thousands

Re: A wet, cold, hungry lesson, Feb. 6

Editor: My compliments to the Coast Guard for rescuing the captain and his passengers. The Coast Guard prevented a tragedy, for which I am sure everyone shares my gratitude.

It appears, however, that the captain left his common sense at the dock by failing to monitor his fuel, by failing to carry a marine radio or cellular phone and by failing to carry flares. This was an accident waiting to happen. The need, therefore, for a rescue was foreseeable and avoidable with reasonable prudence, thus a drain on the Coast Guard's resources to rescue boaters from unforeseeable weather conditions, accidents and mechanical breakdowns -- and therefore a drain on the taxpayers' wallets.

Had the captain exercised any common sense, he certainly would not have run out of gas. Notwithstanding such a brain lapse, had he carried a marine radio or cellular phone, he could have been rescued by a commercial service such as Sea Tow. Had he carried flares, he certainly could have been rescued more quickly with less expense.

The captain claims he got a "good chewing out" from the Coast Guard. The captain deserves a good chewing out from taxpayers for having to pay his $82,615 for a Coast Guard rescue that could have been avoided if he exercised even a slight degree of common sense. It is the captain, not the taxpayers, who should foot the bill for his stupidity. He should start by surrendering his boat to help pay the bill and prevent him from endangering the lives of others in the future.
-- Dale L. Bernstein, Bayonet Point

Drivers cannot navigate U.S. 19 like a highway

Editor: There has been a lot said lately about traffic lanes on U.S. 19. Whether we agree or not, U.S. 19 through Pasco is not a highway; it is a long, cluttered main street.

The idea of keeping to the right except to pass is not feasible, since a good portion of the motorists are planning to make left turns at lights or median cuts. It is very unsafe to have people cutting across three lanes as they approach their destination. The only safe way is for those planning to turn left to drive in the left lane; those planning to turn right stay in the right lane, and through traffic use the center lane.

Incidentally, driving is not a right -- only a privilege. As to speed, the condition of U.S. 19 calls for a safe speed or no more than 35 mph.
-- Harold Porter, New Port Richey

Brown-Waite represents people, who voted for her

Re: Lawmaker must choose: gun lobby or public safety, Feb. 21 letter

Editor: The letter writer picked on U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite when she was a state senator and is still doing it now that she is U.S. representative.

Just remember, the people voted to put her in office. She was elected, not appointed. So the voters know that she will do her best, as she has done in the past, protecting our Bill of Rights.
Chuck Rhall, Port Richey

Another Wal-Mart, another traffic hazard

Editor: Have our county commissioners considered the safety of the residents of Pasco County? U.S. 19 is considered one of the most dangerous in the country and still another Wal-Mart Supercenter is proposed for this highway at Gulf Trace Boulevard, Holiday.

One of the entrances to this Wal-Mart Supercenter will be opening on Gulf Trace Boulevard. We now have difficulty getting out of this area with the traffic from the county park, Key Vista (Ryland Homes), Gulf Trace Homes and the McDonald's. There have been numerous accidents. We don't need more problems!

We already have three grocery stores and Sam's Club in this area. Why another grocery store and more unsafe traffic? Hasn't the commission learned anything from Ridge Road?
-- Beatrice Meyers, Holiday

More work needed to keep drivers on the right path

Editor: A few months ago Pasco County did a great job in repaving most of Hudson Avenue between Fivay Road and Little Road. I am sure this was appreciated very much by those of us who use this route often.

But I think the time has come for the county to finish the job since it has failed to provide the proper stripping, turn-lane painting and some reflectors to help the motorist find the way to turn onto side streets and keep us on the right side of the road.

Recently, on a rainy night, I couldn't find how to turn into Millwood Village (Clayton Avenue) and likewise found it impossible to assure that I was on the proper side of the road before making the turn. If it would finish Hudson Avenue as it did Clayton between Hudson Avenue and Fivay Road, the county could really be proud of its work.

So thanks very much Pasco County, but now let's get the job done right and help our drivers avoid accidents.
-- Clint Thaxton, Hudson

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