The "scandal" at animal control has cooled down. The thing is, I really believe the people treating these animals inhumanely should be punished. No, not the animal control people but the sorry "A" people that put these animals out there to START with.

These animals do not appear by magic. The control officers don't steal them, and very few of them escape (from fences or leashes).

They come from your neighbors, friends or family. People let their pets breed at will, then discard the pups or kittens by turning them loose somewhere else. They get rid of grown, unwanted pets the same way.

Unfortunately, many of those that don't die from starvation or exposure turn to their primal instincts to survive. Cats can go feral in less than a week. Dogs will often form packs, breed at will and do most anything to survive. Packs will often kill other animals not only for food but for fun.

Many of these animals come to people who are too uncaring to keep their pets penned and leashed. These are the ones who do not care about their pets, neighbors or wildlife.

Don't fool yourself into thinking these animals don't cause problems for someone else.

When you see a dog or cat lying in the street or beside the road you know someone didn't care what happened to their pets (or the drivers who hit these animals).

The animal control officers that I've met were trying to do what was best for these animals. They don't become "control" officers because they hate animals or like to torture them. They have to work with the supplies that are mandated by the state. The lethal injections are one of these supplies. Things could have been handled better at the pound, but with more than 20 animals being picked up each day (average number) things, mistakes in judgment happen.

To the county: Enforce the laws you have and enact stricter laws to have all pets registered with a permanent ID chip implanted. The fees the county would charge could be reduced by half if the owners have their pets sterilized.

-- James Russell, Cordova

'Vick is sick,'

deserves the worst

It is sad that such a gifted football player as Michael Vick feels that he can do whatever he wants. The solution to this problem would be to let him fight his way out of a dog fight. He thinks that he is above the law. You must only follow these stupid football players' careers to see that they feel they can do as they please.

Maybe the Romans were right, throw Vick into a lion's den. Can you believe our football owners gave Vick $152 million for seven years.

I refuse to watch football again. Let's all hope the judge gives Vick the works. Let him sit in jail and rot.

-- Milburn J. Harris, The Oaks

Community sends wrong

message to Dr. Rex

As a community member of Orangeburg, I was disappointed in the number of people attending Dr. Jim Rex's "Back to School Tour" on Aug. 21 at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.

He has spent the summer planning an aggressive approach to education reform, and is eager to visit every community in South Carolina to get public input and support. By our lack of attendance, we certainly didn't encourage Dr. Rex to improve the educational system in Orangeburg or the state.

Where were the Orangeburg County parents? Where were the Orangeburg County educators? Only through the educational system, parent involvement, and concerned citizens can we improve the Orangeburg community, We must come together to achieve a better community.

Our community sent a heart-wrenching message to Dr. Rex: This community isn't concerned about the education of its children.

Parents, Educators and citizens of Orangeburg, you must show up to make a difference.

-- JoAnn Sheler, Orangeburg

No need to go

anywhere but RMC

I have just spent several days in the Regional Medical Center, and I just want to give the hospital some words of praise.

Each time I have been dismissed, after one of my visits there, I've intended to write and say how blessed and satisfied I am with the care I have received there.

I don't understand why the residents of Orangeburg feel that they have to rush off to Charleston or Columbia for medical attention. The doctors, nurses, nurses' assistants and other staff at the RMC are caring and just simply wonderful. They are highly qualified to attend to our medical problems and surgical needs.

-- Celia L. Whaller, Orangeburg

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