Be a hero to dogs young and old
October means pumpkin spice lattes, fall temperatures and leaves turning color, but it’s also a chance to be a hero to a dog in need.
For thousands of years, dogs have been our best friends, our protectors and often our personal heroes, improving and even saving lives. That is why each October for more than 40 years, American Humane has encouraged animal lovers to repay the favor by adopting a dog from a local shelter or rescue group during its annual Adopt-a-Dog Month®.
While adopting a puppy or younger dog is great, we do hope you will also consider adopting a senior dog. The sad truth of the matter is that senior animals spend the longest time at shelters and rescues, and tragically, animals past the age of six or seven are often deemed unadoptable solely because of their age. Both dogs and cats of advanced age have higher euthanasia rates than their younger counterparts since they struggle to find homes. They can often live out the rest of their lives in the shelter, homeless and alone.
There are many reasons a senior animal can end up at a shelter, but most are affectionate, wonderful companions who have just faced unfortunate circumstances. There are numerous benefits to a senior dog as well: they tend to be less rambunctious than younger dogs; they’re often already house-trained; they’re a great fit for people with busy lifestyles; they’re so grateful for a second chance and will give you lots of love and thanks!
Older animals have been lacking in a secure home environment, and once they know they are safe, they will always love and trust their owner. They still have so much to offer, so this Adopt-a-Dog Month, I encourage everyone who is looking to add a new furry companion to their family to stop and say hello to some of the older dogs at the shelter.
Open your heart and your home, and you may just find your new best friend.
Dr. Robin Ganzert, CEO American Humane
Supports Tranel
In an October 1 debate with Monica Tranel, Ryan Zinke described himself as “a man of integrity” and claimed, “I don’t lie.” (Missoulian 10/3/22)
His actions portray a different picture.
While a Navy Seal in the late 1990s, Zinke fraudulently billed the U. S. government for personal travel expenses. His commanding officer cited him for “lapses in judgement,” but Zinke wrote in his autobiography that, “the biggest penalty was being embarrassed for wrongdoing.” (NYT 1/16/17)
During Zinke’s brief tenure as U.S. Interior Secretary, an investigation by the Interior Department’s Inspector General found that “Ryan Zinke misused his position to advance a development project in his Montana hometown and lied to an agency ethics official about his involvement.” (PBS NewsHour 2/16/22)
Now, Zinke falsely claims that Monica Tranel attempted to release a convicted sex offender from prison “to roam our neighborhood streets.” In truth, Tranel represented the man’s claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, which, even if successful, would have resulted in a new trial, not his release from prison.
While Zinke has a long history of deceit, Monica Tranel has displayed integrity and grit throughout her career. Let’s send Monica Tranel to the U.S. Congress. She will make us proud as she fights for all Montanans.
Karen Buley, Missoula
Rising prices – one thing you can do
Reports are pointing to an 8.9% raise for Social Security recipients. While it won’t feel like enough, it may buy you a sack of groceries or a tank of gasoline. This is a big maybe on the gasoline as California reports prices of over $8 per gallon.
Some of our government leadership is crying because Saudi Arabia is cutting their oil production by 2 million barrels a day. This means less oil for everyone in the grand oil supply pool. I don’t understand why anyone in our government would want to do business with the Saudis.
Buying oil from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela or any foreign entity is crazy. Why don’t we use our own oil? I’m all for green energy but we aren’t quite there yet. Make electric cars and drive them. Utilize solar energy and else anything that we can to help preserve this planet and its resources. Regardless, our country still needs oil. As long as we need oil, it would be wiser and much more cost effective to use our own oil. Put Americans back to work drilling our oil and selling it to foreign countries.
Our government has been draining our own oil reserve to try to keep the price of gasoline down. This doesn’t seem to be working very well. Plus, it puts our country at risk. When China and Russia decide to attack us, we need to be able to put fuel in our jets and ships. That would not be a good time to have to go back to Saudi Arabia and beg for oil.
We should utilize a full arsenal of energy from electric cars and a grid to supply the power. Utilize our oil, wind, natural gas and coal. Once our country can do everything without oil or coal, then we can move on from those resources. Being dependent on getting them from foreign nations doesn’t make sense, especially when we have the resources.
A loaf of bread will eventually cost Americans their 8.9% Social Security increase. Ukraine has been one of the world’s leading providers of wheat. Having Russia in control of Ukraine, a major source of the bread supply, along with their major supply of natural gas is bad news for the world.
The Crimea bridge that was recently bombed between Russia and Ukraine should have been bombed on day one by Ukrainians. Ukraine must do whatever it takes to thwart Russia’s ongoing destruction of their country. The news has been filled with fear that Russia will go nuclear in their efforts. When the nations start hurling nuclear bombs you won’t need to worry about gas, groceries and cost of living adjustments because this planet can only take so much.
Keep in mind there is still something you can do to make a difference – vote. Clear your calendar for voting. If you don’t vote then don’t complain about our government, inflation, rising interest rates, gasoline prices and more. I know it doesn’t feel like your one vote matters, but it truly counts. The only way you can bring about change is to clear your schedule, take the time, and vote.
Dr. Glenn Mollette, Newburgh, IN
Re-elect Strohmaier
Please join me in voting to re-elect Dave Strohmaier to the Board of Missoula County Commissioners. Since he took office six years ago, our county government has become much more functional, innovative, collaborative, and responsive to community needs.
Dave has promoted fire protection and resiliency; strengthened the relationship with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; and made major headway on bringing back passenger rail service across southern Montana. He’s advocated for cleaning up pollution in Frenchtown and the Nine Mile.
Also, Dave has developed strong partnerships to help the County respond proactively to the housing crisis. For instance, they partnered with HomeWord to provide hundreds of affordable units in the Trinity project. Also, the Plan creates seven mixed-use neighborhoods west of Reserve with an anticipated 6,000 homes. Instead, of sprawl, people can shop, dine, and work near home in town centers. The City and County worked together to fund the necessary infrastructure and make this happen.
These are just a few of the many examples where Dave showed commitment, smarts, and a cooperative spirit to try to address the critical issues of the day.
That’s leadership. And we need more of it. Please vote for Strohmaier this November.
Neva Hassanein, Missoula
Vote for Tranel
Editor,
We have been blessed with many great leaders in Montana...Mansfield, Metcalf, Schwinden, Bradley, Racicot. Schweitzer, to name a few. All these folks had one thing in common.... high levels of integrity and honesty and a sincere desire to do what’s best for Montana.
Let’s continue that pattern and elect Monica Tranel. She has that same solid good, old-fashioned farm work ethic as these earlier leaders. And her public performance record to date is impeccable. There have been many ....perhaps unsubstantiated ....rumors of Ryan Zinkes’ questionable performance as a public official...the fact they have arisen is problematic and throws his honesty into question.
Why take a chance? Besides....we need more women in government. Men have been messing it up for way too long.
A strong moral compass is more important now than ever. Tranel is the obvious choice
Don Larson, Polson
Vote NO to LR 131
I am a doctor training at the Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana to become a rural family physician, including training in Seeley Lake. Before the birth of my son, we had 13-week “missed miscarriage.” At our second routine ultrasound, I was told, “there is no heartbeat.” We had made it through the first trimester, but for some unknown reason, he had died. When I decided I wanted to hold him, and not have him removed through surgery, my doctor prescribed misoprostol, a medication known for its use in abortions, to make my body let go. I am immeasurably grateful for the chance my husband and I had to hold, name, and bury our baby.
LR-131 terrifies me because it would take those moments away from parents based solely on whether their baby’s heart had, or had not yet, stopped beating.
While the aim of bill LR-131 is to punish abortion, it will affect more women and babies experiencing preterm labor and fetal anomalies. We see this in Texas, where pharmacies refuse to stock methotrexate, the medication used to treat ectopic pregnancies, and providers hesitate to prescribe misoprostol and mifepristone, medications used in both miscarriages and abortions. Many patients who receive terminal diagnoses for their babies are told to continue until the baby either dies, or is born and placed on brief, isolating, and even painful life support.
LR-131 would allow physicians to be charged with a felony, fined $50,000, or sentenced to twenty years in prison if they do not resuscitate any infant born with a heartbeat.
Many doctors fear we cannot provide quality care under these laws. Hospital recruiters are struggling to fill OBGYN slots in states with abortion bans, even amongst doctors who do not provide abortions, because of the extensive crossover between abortions, miscarriages, and ectopic pregnancies.
I chose medication to induce labor to give birth to my dead son for the chance to hold him. I wanted to hold his fingers and see his face. I have one photo of him. He has a soft smile and one arm behind his head; he looks relaxed and mischievous. He is as small as a peach and his skin is too see-through and I adore him.
When doctors and parents already know that the best choice for a family is to NOT pursue intensive medical treatment, I cannot fathom taking away those precious minutes of life to inflict pain on a baby, alone and separated from its parents. As a doctor, I refuse to harm a family like that. As a wife and a mother, I cannot risk prison time. I will leave Montana, if that is what it takes to provide compassionate care.
Vote NO to LR-131 to keep Montana a state that protects constituents right to privacy and decisions over bodily autonomy.
Vote NO to LR-131 to keep Montana a state where doctors feel safe to practice appropriate, compassionate medicine.
Vote NO to allow heartbroken parents the chance to hold and love their non-viable babies.
Emily Young, MD, Missoula
Reader Comments(0)