Your Opinion: System works without Prop. B

Dear Editor:

I would like to commend Ms. Scheulen for her thoughts on Prop. B and the hidden agenda that the Humane Society of America has. I have heard opinions of other people saying, yeah, close them down, put the animals down, put them out of their misery and worst yet, saying I hope they don't feed them and let them starve. That actually was a comment printed in the newspaper, if my memory serves me right.

I know of no responsible individual who raises chickens, hogs, horses, puppies, catfish, cattle, who would agree with this kind of thinking. Even crop growers fertilize the ground that they hope to grow a crop on.

I want to commend the state Department of Agriculture in conjunction with local county deputies for confiscation of 60 breeding animals in southwest Missouri for improper care of animals, on page B6 of the Feb. 20 News Tribune. This was done without Prop. B as it is not in effect to date and the system that the state has in place to remove all animals without proper care to a safe haven is working. End of story. No legislation Prop. B needed.

Through my years in animal health sales I have seen good people who take care of their animals regardless of species and a few people who have not taken the best care of the animals in their control. I know improper care happens, although a very small percentage. In know people who don't change the oil in their cars, when they are supposed to. That too is improper care, shortening the life of the vehicle. I know that is a far stretch from improper animal care but it is a true statement. I probably can't count the number of horses that have been taken off of premises through the years, yet we don't have a Prop. B for them.

We don't need more government in monitoring our growers in Missouri. We have in place the state Department of Agriculture that will respond to complaints from fellow Missourians of improper animal care, whether it be a dog, cat, horse, cattle, pigs, whatever.