DEFENCELESS VICTIMS OF ZONING IN BRAZIL, INDIANA, USA

Sometimes I wondered if so called ordinances in some countries ought to be reconsidered for further amendments. Just look at the outcry of people across the world on the recent case of Rothrocks vs the US Indiana Government. The couples were asked relocated their family business of 20 years just because the government had decided to zone the district of Brazil, Indiana, USA as “a residential and historical zone”. On top of that, the couples had also received a kennel license from the government until August this year for helping to rescue, spay, neuter and vaccinate stray and feral cats at their expenses.

The question remained as a question without any proper explanations. Why would it take the government such a long time to close down a business which had become the livelihood of the couples for 20 years? How are they going to survive after this as relocation means giving up the family home as well as start anew their business which will take months or years to pick up again?

The second question would be as follows. If the property has been labeled as “a residential and historical zone”, why in the first place approved the license and then decided to revoke it, leaving the couples in dilemma as how to relocate all their 31 rescued pets to families who are willing to care for them? If not, they will be fined, adding to their worries of how to survive for the next couple of months.

Now who is at fault? The Rothrocks or the Indiana Government? I was even shocked to read on the reply by Michele Altman, Planning & Zoning Dept, Brazil, Indiana, USA to a concerned citizen on the welfare of the Rothrocks.

“The Rothrock's have not been fined, even though I was within my legal rights to fine them $2,500.00 for the first day and $7,500.00 for every day thereafter until the violation no longer occurred.”

“I cannot speak for previous administrations as to why they failed to do their jobs. I can only speak for myself. I have recently shut down several other businesses that were operating illegally, so I have not singled out the Rothrocks. I will do my job.”

Isn’t it amazing for a person to deny the facts that the ordinance has a flaw and blamed it to the previous administration for not doing their job? Even the Alley Cat Allies, who assisted cities all over the country with stray cat problems, has quoted this:

“Across the country, citizens are being punished for caring for stray and feral cats. These caregivers did not create the colonies of cats -- and they are serving their communities by humanely caring for them. But according to antiquated animal control laws and uninformed community leaders, each of these Good Samaritans deserves to be punished. We must change outdated animal control laws, policies and practices. We must stop caregivers from being punished for doing the right thing. ”

The news had even gone to the media with The Brazil Times and WTHI reporting on it. Surprisingly, all links for the Tammy Rothrock case went missing in the WTHI website. I wondered if someone asked them to keep their mouth shut on this case. It’s a mystery.

CRUELTY BEYOND WORDS

Many of you would have known that China would be holding the Beijing Summer Olympic Games between August 8 and August 24, 2008 but do you know why many countries are planning to boycott the Olympic Games? There are just too many reasons the world leaders have voiced out ranging from human rights, animal rights up to pollution.

Just look at how China’s brutal treatments to the Tibetans as reported by the National Post. It has becomes more overt as the regime's rhetoric becomes more shrill and paranoid. Most cities are under martial law. Roadblocks have been set up to prevent internal travel as well as to keep Western journalists from reporting the truth on the protests and hundreds of deaths and arrests made. Even the Epoch Times reported countless of news on the repression faced by the Tibetans.

On top of the human rights problems faced by China, there were also outcries on animal cruelty from animal lovers throughout the world. As reported by the Daily Mail, “Thousands of pet cats in Beijing are being abandoned by their owners and sent to die in secretive government pounds as China mounts an aggressive drive to clean up the capital in preparation for the Olympic Games.”

The cull comes in the wake of a government campaign warning of the diseases cats carry and ordering residents to help clear the streets of them. Can you imagine how pitiful those furry animals are being crammed into a small cage and sent to some secret death camps? Paranoia is so intense that six stray cats including two pregnant females were beaten to death with sticks by teachers at a Beijing kindergarten, who feared they might pass illnesses to the children. Even doctors are advising their pregnant patients to get rid of their cats as these cats will bring illness to the babies.

About more than a year ago, dogs have fallen victims to the country’s “clean-up” massacre. Now cats become the victims. There were even reports stating that hundreds of cats were sent to infamous restaurants in Guangzhou, southern China to be served in their exotic animals menus.

Although the Beijing government is eager to show the world the city in a good light during the Olympic, but the way the government dealt with animals especially cats in such an inhumane way will seriously tarnish the image of Beijing and the Games.

The concern on the public’s health due to endless pollutants in China is another factor the world’s environmentalists are not happy with. Even ABC News reported a “lost” Beijing National Stadium in haze. China has been ordering polluting factories in and around the city to shut down or relocate during the Games to ease Beijing's choking smog. Drivers are allowed out on to the roads only three times a week. This is just a temporary measurement. What will happen after the Games? Will these factories stop polluting the air? No, they will not. The air would still continue to be bad to the health of the residents surrounding those polluting factories.

China may be the most populated country in the world. It does not mean that killing a few thousands by poisoning them will help in the over population problems. The people deserved the right to live in a cleaner and safer environment. Now you have a clearer picture of the reasons behind the boycotting of attending the Games, reading, viewing and even purchasing products from the Games.