Fast track county animal shelter renovations | Letters
The opinions in our readers' letters are theirs and not necessarily those of The Palm Beach Post Editorial Board.
Fast-track animal shelter renovations
Why is the [county animal control] renovation project delayed until 2025, when it is already beyond the time to act? County commissioners surely have the funds to start projects now, like air conditioning being provided. Buying additional land adjacent to the center is mentioned, to be used for animals such as cows, horses and other livestock. No mention was made for the current animals on the property. This appears to be one more instance when the commission turns a blind eye to the suffering happening now. Proof is the escalating euthanasia trend.
An adoption counselor, T.K. Kirkley said potential adoptees walk in and walk out, not just because of the heat but the living conditions as well. "It is very sad. Many of the dogs do not have a bed. They sleep on a hard floor." If anyone in the county can donate clean bedding to the shelter, then please do. Tell your neighbor as well.
This needs to be fast-tracked and aid provided to the shelter now. It's obvious these commissioners need to visit the facility for these issues to be proven as a reality. I suggest they have a meeting at the facility in the middle of a typical hot Floridian summer day without air conditioning.
Ritchie McHam, Lake Park
More: Want to adopt a pet? Need to surrender one? Seven things to know.
Ice rink an environmental no-no
Re the Aug. 31 article, "Gardens eyes major recreation projects....": I urge the Palm Beach Gardens city council to reject the ice rink proposal. As climate change progresses, the last thing we need is the massive carbon footprint it would take to freeze ice skating rinks in South Florida 24/7.
Stephen Livingston, Palm Beach Gardens
Medicare price talks a big win
I was overjoyed to see that President Biden and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services included two Direct Oral Anticoagulants, Eliquis and Xarelto, on the list of drugs subject to Medicare fair price negotiations for 2024. People living with atrial fibrillation must take an anticoagulant (blood thinner) to prevent stroke. The anticoagulants invented in 2011 are better than the old drug, Coumadin. They prevent 46% more strokes and are 50% less likely to cause a bleeding complication. But they are expensive. Even with insurance, copays can be over $100.
In 1998 my mother, who had AFib, managed with Coumadin, drove home from her book club and collapsed in her driveway from a brain bleed. From that day she was unable to live independently. Remembering mom’s years of disability, and knowing that 3-6 million Americans have AFib, I feel for those who are at risk. Medicare fair-price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act will save lives, prevent disability, and lower costs by keeping people out of the hospital. We owe it to our fellow Americans to support drug price controls, our members of Congress who vote for them, and our president.
H. Joan Waitkevicz MD, West Palm Beach
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County must speed up repairs at overcrowded animal shelter
