Time to take pet responsibility
It’s time people with unwanted kittens took responsibility for their pets’ breeding. And time they consciously realised what they already know but won’t admit: there is no good ending to dumping unwanted litters on country roadsides. That super-cute kitten won’t survive, have a good life or even have a chance to reach its first birthday.
As the British political philosopher Hobbes put it: life will be harsh, brutish and short. That was the horrible reality of the latest (there have been half a dozen others) kitten dump on the roadside at this farm. When we found the (probably) six week old beautifully-marked tabby it was lying, back broken, near the wood pile and had to be euthanised. Sickening.
The previous dumpings which included one of three kittens ended the same way. Adult cats dumped also have the same ending.
It’s not that the dogs are brutes. They simply protect the property.
The hawks do the same, stripping the carcase to the bare bones, as they do with rabbits and hares.
As we’re just a couple of kilometers from Martinborough town, it’s hard not to suspect that town folks are responsible. We prefer to think that the drive-aways come from further afield. Either way, spaying and neutering are vital parts of pet ownership. While currently there is no SPCA facility operating in the Wairarapa, there are plenty of vet clinics to assist.
But the pet owners who abandon these animals don’t use them because of “the cost.” That’s simply another way of refusing to accept responsibilty for their animals and their actions.
There’s no place for wild cats in New Zealand’s landscape, as Gareth Morgan has so clearly demonstrated. And already too many uncontrolled domestic cats, whichever way you look at the issue.
Ray Lilley
Town Hall
The December, 2015 issue of the ‘Star’ published a history of Waihinga Centre consultation. No one would question the huge amount of work, passion and commitment devoted to the project by Council, the Community Board, Steering Group, Waihinga Charitable Trust trustees and the consultants from Simply Great Leisure.
However, the community continues to be concerned. For some, the concern is the alarming $6.4 million price tag for a town of about 1500 people. For others, it is about public safety issues relating to earthquake strengthening an old building and others see Council relying on the consultants’ and steering group’s advocacy and enthusiasm for the project, rather than carrying out genuine community consultation.
The substantial cost of the Waihinga Centre will involve ALL South Wairarapa District ratepayers who have not been properly consulted about the proposal. Sixty three submissions to the draft 2015 Annual Plan was seen as significant support for the proposal. Sixty-three out of 9,300 South Wairarapa ratepayers? We don’t think so.
We think a new community centre should meet the following principles: practicality in meeting local needs, affordability to ratepayers, public safety – given earthquake risks in this locality, aesthetic fit with the town’s character, and environmentally friendly design.
Council asked members of the Ratepayers and Residents Network for their ideas at a meeting on 2 December 2015. The Network has produced a New Community Centre Concept based on the above principles and asked Council to provide the community with a direct say between the proposed Waihinga Centre and other options such as the New Community Centre Concept.
People are invited to sign a petition requesting that the Council refrain from any further expenditure and explore other options. The petition can be signed at Kitchener St Dairy, Martinborough, or by using the petition slip in Wairarapa Midweek 27 January 2016.
There will be a PUBLIC MEETING at 7pm, Wednesday, 10 February, St at Andrew’s Hall, Dublin St, Martinborough, where all are welcome to hear more and have a say
Martinborough Ratepayers and Residents Network
