Tuesday's letters: Manatee County chooses pet stores over pets, Healthy Start here to help
Manatee fails to protect animals
Shame on Manatee County commissioners for selling out animals and caving to pressure from pet stores by repealing the ordinance prohibiting retail sales of dogs and cats.
Petland Bradenton − which reportedly had been opposing the ordinance and, along with Petland Sarasota, made maximum campaign contributions to Manatee commissioners − claims that it sells animals from USDA-licensed facilities.
But the USDA’s Office of Inspector General has reported finding dogs at USDA-licensed facilities suffering from untreated injuries, eating contaminated food and being kept in unsanitary conditions.
More:OK to sell dogs, cats in stores
More: How to send a letter to the editor
Pet stores also sell animals that are doomed to suffer lifelong and sometimes life-ending health problems, such as French bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers and other breathing-impaired breeds. And every animal sold by a pet store steals a home from one waiting in a shelter or struggling to survive on the streets.
Manatee County has failed animals, but we mustn’t. If you are prepared to provide a lifetime of care, please adopt a homeless animal. Never support the greedy breeding industry.
Teresa Chagrin, Animal Care and Control Issues manager, PETA, Norfolk, Virginia
Healthy Start exists to aid young families
It was very sad and frustrating to read the Jan. 31 letter, “Good Samaritan stymied by lack of services.” As the chair of the board of the Healthy Start Coalition of Sarasota County, I know we are everywhere in our county to help.
It’s disappointing that the good Samaritan didn’t call us and none of the agencies he contacted directed him to us. By the time our executive director, Shon Ewens, learned about the situation and drove down to Venice to help, the mom and baby were no longer there.
Related:Learn more about Healthy Start Coalition
Healthy Start is determined to improve the well-being of pregnant women, infants and young children in Sarasota County. We partner with agencies throughout our county to provide an umbrella of services to meet the needs of our young families.
Healthy Start staff is ready and willing to help. Our business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call us at 941-373-7070. Our executive director, Shon Ewens, can be reached at 205-506-9914 or by email: shon.ewens@healthystartsarasota.org.
Marilyn R. Lapidus, board chair, Healthy Start Coalition, Sarasota
Students, faculty: React by leaving college
As a retired university administrator and adjunct professor, I am compelled to comment on events concerning New College of Florida.
The decisions made at the Board of Trustees meeting last week have placed a terminal stake into the heart of what was the gem of the State University System of Florida. In my opinion, this highly reputable institution has no future.
More:New College board fires president
More:The 'revolution' has begun at New College - and so have the nagging questions
So the critical question is, “How do the thousands of people who have a vested interest in New College respond to the hostile takeover?” Affected individuals include all current and former students, faculty, staff, supporters and everyone concerned about what New College might become.
My novel solution is based on one irrefutable fact: Newton’s Third Law of Motion states that “for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
Given the despicable actions of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ political appointees, I propose actions equal and opposite. I recommend that all current students transfer out of New College and that all faculty and staff seek employment elsewhere.
Furthermore, all new student recruitment activities for the Fall 2023 semester should end immediately.
With no students, faculty or staff at New College, the governor and Board of Trustees will get what they deserve: an empty shell. They can then start from scratch.
William Anderson, Ph.D., Sarasota
Lost wages owed to suspended attorney
I was disappointed that the judge was unable by law to return suspended Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren to his position. He sued after Gov. Ron DeSantis removed him from office, allegedly for not enforcing certain laws.
The judge said DeSantis violated Warren’s free speech rights, and also violated the Florida Constitution.
More:Judge tosses ousted prosecutor's suit
During the time of the investigation, I understand that Warren was not allowed to practice his profession, the law. I believe that he should be entitled to all lost income as a result, as he did nothing wrong.
Ross P. Alander, Longboat Key
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Shame on Manatee for ending pet ban, students should leave college
