Found by Tracey Lofthouse
CALL OF THE WILD: Don’t blame cats. Blame the god who created them as carnivores and humans who dumped them in the bush, while themselves destroying many more wild creatures, great and small. – Meta Sterns, Yarralumla
From: http://www.canberratimes.com. au/comment/ct-letters/if-were- bigtaxing-bigspending-let-it- be-for-the-right-reasons- 20150719-gifoup.html# ixzz3gOt4n8fp
Dog fine laughable: How can magistrate Peter Dingwall find the animal abuse by Annette Banks of Theodore (“RSPCA fury at court penalty for maggot-infested dog”, July 8, p3) is worth a fine of only $350 for disgraceful neglect of both her dogs? Why did this magistrate not award costs to the RSPCA, without which this case could not have gone ahead, and which took over the care of these two unfortunate dogs? How can the magistrate not have banned the offender from owning more dogs, at least for the foreseeable future? Why did the Director of Public Prosecutions in the ACT decide that due process has been followed in this case, and that they are unable to appeal the case on the grounds of a manifestly inadequate sentence?
If the law allows such a tiny fine for such neglect and abuse, then the law is indeed an ass. – Anna Marsden, Murrumbateman, NSW
Yet again the RSPCA is totally let down by another pathetic decision by an ACT Magistrate. The fine dished out to this woman was laughable, and to add insult to injury the RSPCA had to pay its own costs of $1900.
And even worse, this woman could have left the courts and gone straight to a pet shop to purchase another dog.
I am so sick of these gutless decisions by ACT courts. Magistrates should be made to spend a day or two at the RSPCA. – Sue Mcleod, Watson
From: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/ct-letters/builders-time-bomb-20150712-giamuw.html#ixzz3g71Vpi6b
Cruelty to creatures: While the trade in cats for human consumption is deplorable, we should, perhaps, look at our own cruel marketing practices, before slinging too much mud at the Vietnamese (“Cat on the menu: outrage at Vietnamese trade in felines”, smh.com.au, February 6). Go to the Sydney Fish Markets any Saturday morning and witness the abject cruelty of mud crabs trussed up with twine, being kept alive until someone finally puts them out of their misery.
Don’t tell me that these cold-blooded creatures are not affected by this cold-blooded treatment. Most of them roamed wild till their luckless fate overtook them. Then bound up, bound for Sydney, bound for the plate. So don’t call the Vietnamese “cruel” before we first clean up our own deplorable practices. – Michael O’Brien, Newtown
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-letters/coalition-fails-to-see-alternatives-20150206-137elr.html
Abuse of animals: Where is the justice when a woman who can starve and neglect dogs in her care is slapped with only a moderate fine and allowed to own animals again (“Woman who starved dogs fined, but allowed to keep pets” February 6, p2)?
Canberra’s relevant authorities spend thousands of dollars building cases against people who have no regard for animal welfare, in some cases demonstrating the cruellest treatment towards them. The magistrate’s ruling in this case is absolutely useless and will do nothing to deter current and future offenders.
As ACT taxpayers and people who care about the welfare of all animals, we demand much better from our legal system. It has a duty of care to make its conclusions and rulings commensurate with the crime. Any person with common sense would never allow this woman near an animal again. Justice indeed. – Alison Chapple, Macquarie
http://www.canberratimes.com. au/comment/ct-letters/give-up- on-light-rail-20150209-13a155. html
Cats are not at fault: Why blame domestic cats? I refer to the proposed legislation to keep cats indoors.
The greatest cause of loss of species is humankind through destruction of habitat, pollution, over exploitation of food sources and human-induced climate change.
Human activities such as migration and global trade have greatly accelerated the movement of living organisms. – M. S. Amar, Phillip
http://www.canberratimes.com. au/comment/ct-letters/january- 26-our-brigadoon-20150128- 1309eg.html