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Displaced St. Bernard is better off with his new owner

Re: Dispute nips at prosecutor's heels, July 4.

I agree totally with Pam Bondi's decision to keep her newly adopted pet, Noah. Had Noah not been displaced by Hurricane Katrina and had the good fortune of being adopted by a person who obviously cares very much about his welfare, it is highly unlikely that dog would be alive today.

Heartworm is a preventable disease. My dog is 9 years old and has been given a monthly heartworm medication that is chewable and very easily administered. It does cost approximately $45 for a six-month supply and must be obtained from a vet.

My point is that it does cost money to raise and maintain a healthy pet. Noah obviously did not have that when he was chained up outside 24/7 in the Coutures' yard. Dogs are social, pack animals who need a family in order to live and be happy. It is cruel to chain any dog up outside. If you don't want the dog to be part of your family, which means allowing it to live in your home with the rest of the family, why bother to have one?

Dogs are live beings and depend on their human counterparts to love, care for and nurture them properly. If you cannot or will not provide that, then you have no business owning a dog.

The best day in Noah's life was the day Pam Bondi walked into it. He looks beautiful, healthy, cared for and loved. I hope she hangs in there and does not cave in to public pressure.

The only sad part of this story is the possibility of the Coutures getting another dog to chain up outside. No one who truly loves a dog would do such a thing.

Cheryl S. Hernandez, St. Petersburg

The responsibilities of pet ownership

Re: Dispute nips at prosecutor's heels.

The Couture family's dogs should remain with the people who took them into their homes after the devastating storm Katrina. To return them to the original owners would be to place them in harm's way again should another storm come their way.

Part of storm preparedness is planning an evacuation with your pets ... not leaving them behind as an expendable commodity. These people (the Coutures) did not consider the fate of the animals left behind in the chaos of an approaching storm.

To the Coutures I say: Be grateful your dogs were adopted by loving families, and move on! There are hundreds of animals just waiting for you to take them home and love them.

Just remember, this time have an evacuation plan in place that includes your pets. That is called responsible and loving pet ownership.

Marti Lazdins, Seminole

Return the dogs to their family

Re: Dispute nips at prosecutor's heels.

Last August, my daughter, her husband and their two small children lost their new home, van, boat and everything they owned to Katrina. The devastation to the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts is unbearable. People have had to relocate and find new lives because they lost everything.

Here is a successful attorney who is denying a family a piece of their life back. Is it about how much better she can take care of the dog, or is it about what the dog would mean to a family that has seen more tragedy than Pam Bondi could ever imagine?

I hope that she will use good common sense and do the right thing.

Judy Rambo-Little, St. Petersburg

A good deed goes punished

Re: Katrina dogfight goes to court, July 6.

To Ms. Bondi, who adopted Noah: No good deed goes unpunished. Ditto to the Humane Society.

After Katrina, the media were begging people to adopt lost animals. If there is ever another Humane Society adoption campaign, I'm sure this episode will discourage any sane person from participating in it.

Margaret Pastorelli, Spring Hill

A lack of compassion

Re: Katrina dogfight lands in the courts, July 6.

It would seem obvious that a sense of compassion would pre-empt personal feelings of ownership or attachment to pets.

This family, victimized by Hurricane Katrina, a disaster which deprived them of their security as well as all of their worldly possessions, likely has deeper love and emotional need for the dogs that were a part of their family for years compared to a few months by the present owners.

How sad it is that a lack of understanding and love for fellow man has forced litigation instead of acceptance of an unfortunate occurrence in the lives of all concerned.

R.M. Gibbs, Clearwater

Do what's best for the dogs

The controversy over whether the St. Bernard "Noah" and the dog "Nila" should be returned to their former owners should be decided on one basis only - what is in the best interest of the dogs.

We are all sensitive to the hardships endured by the Coutures in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but returning the dogs to them would only do the dogs more harm.

While the Coutures may have loved their dogs, they apparently didn't love them enough to care for them properly. The dogs lived outside in the Louisiana heat and the St. Bernard had a severe heartworm infestation when rescued. What is sad is that heartworm disease is entirely preventable.

The Pinellas Humane Society has been criticized for not waiting long enough before adopting the dogs out. The Humane Society has limited resources and must constantly juggle the need to wait with the needs of unwanted pets in our own community who they must then turn away.

The dogs should definitely stay with their new owners. I wonder how many people will come forward to adopt homeless pets the next time there is a natural disaster knowing what the Pinellas Humane Society and Pam Bondi have been through.

Linda Lyman, Tampa

Fight arrogance at the polls

Re: It was a radical idea, not to swap out one monarch for another, July 4.

Howard Troxler outdid himself with his July Fourth column. In addition to a much-needed history lesson, he reminded us of the true reason for the celebration and the very best reason for everyone to vote in every election.

All of the politicians mentioned in his column are guilty of the crime of arrogance with a capital A. The greed and corruption in Washington increases with every passing day. I have lived a long time and have never seen such total disregard for the will of the people, especially the middle and lower classes.

I will be working at the polls again this election, and voting as I have in every election that I could since I was 21 years of age. I encourage everyone else to do the same.

Let's make this a true Independence Year!

Sylvia Fies, St. Petersburg

Too much inspiration

Re: How now the Dow, Gov. Gallagher? Any stock tips? July 6.

Howard Troxler puts a great amount of creativity in all he sees around him every day.

Wouldn't it be terrific if he didn't have so much inspiration and government officials and staff acted morally and responsibly more of the time?

Robyn Dalton, Largo

The search continues

Re: Government caters to corporate greed, letter, July 5.

Show me one "decent, honest and straight-talking agent" and I will vote for him/her, even if I have to change parties to do so.

Bethel Luzader, St. Petersburg

[Last modified July 7, 2006, 02:26:44]