Dog death in vain

My heart goes out to the couple who lost Kerri, their dog, presumably to an irate neighbour tired of the animal’s barking. When a pet dies, it’s really like losing a close family member and the grief is immeasurable. But when the loss is through neglect or wilful action, as in this case, the tragedy is compounded so much more.

As the article pointed out, a pet was “murdered,” killed by wilful and deliberate action. For the law to consider this merely an act of “vandalism” is surely understating the case. So I can sympathize with not just the pet owners’ incalculable sorrow but with why they’ve now “papered the area with photos of Kerri… hoping for leads” into the identities of the culprit(s), no doubt to bring them to justice.

Yet I cannot help feeling that owners in general could save themselves—and others—a lot of anguish simply by taking a few worthwhile precautions beforehand, for example having their dog trained not to bark when alone (yes, it can be done) and not leaving a patio door ajar so it can go outside and bark.

Dogs often bark out of loneliness and, not being solitary by nature, they protest solitary confinement in the only way they know how, unless trained otherwise.

Now, while the killing itself was unspeakable, there can be no denying that a constantly barking dog can drive one to acts one wouldn’t normally do. It’s therefore up to owners to know when their animal is constantly annoying others. In Kerri’s case, there were “menacing notes” and hurled objects to that effect.

Unfortunately, far too many caregivers disregard warning signs, in fact, couldn’t care less how upsetting their pet’s yelping, mucking up neighbourhood lawns, nipping at children etc., can be. But, as we’ve seen, such indifference can have disastrous consequences.

By acting responsibly, owners could save themselves, their pets and others a lot of anguish. But I’m guessing Kerri’s tragic death might well be in vain.

» Patrick Tee

Respecting elders

Thank you so much for helping to promote À la Carte Express and the amazing job they are doing to raise funds for Santropol Roulant [The Front, May 22]. As you know, Santropol receives no core funding for its Meals-on-Wheels service and so any publicity we can get in the local media is invaluable!

However, I must point out that Chris Barry’s description of seniors as drooling “creamed corn down their chins” was extremely counterproductive. While I understand it was meant as a joke, in one sentence you have managed to powerfully reiterate the negative stereotype of seniors as nothing but invalids that Santropol Roulant has spent the last eight years trying to dispel.

The flippant dismissal of the seniors as full and worthy members of our society upset me personally, and was disrespectful of the many meaningful and positive friendships that exist between our volunteers and the seniors.

I suggest that you perhaps accompany one of our volunteers on a meal-delivery route to meet some of the seniors and, hopefully, to realize that they are vibrant individuals who deserve our respect, honour and friendship.

» Brian McFarlane, Santropol Roulant

Bizarro annoying

I am writing about the two “restaurant critics” who go by the name of “Alice and Yanka” and whose reviews appear every now and then in your paper [Resto Bizarro].

Allow me to be blunt: their writing style is absolutely unbearable. Before they write their articles, they should choose either French or English, not both at the same time. Is this supposed to be cool? Well, it’s not. It’s extremely annoying. They sound like teens who have just discovered drinking. And they obviously don’t know anything about food. I mean, a strip club? Get real!

» Martin Fecteau

Corrections:

In our May 29 theatre column it was written that Peter Hinton was the artistic director of Playwrights’ Workshop Montreal when in fact he’s the playwright and dramaturg in residence. The artistic director is Paula Danckert. Also, the URL for the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies on the June 5 Letters page should have read, “www.cfhs.ca.” The Mirror apologizes for the errors.

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