Advertisement

Many cats, wants amendments

Dear Pahrump Planning Commissioners,

The Feline Conservation Federation supports amending the recent zoning proposal requiring two acres of land for the keeping of any species of wild feline or domestic/exotic hybrid felines to just the seven large feline species: lion, tiger, leopard, jaguar, cheetah, snow leopard and cougar.

Our organization has hundreds of members throughout the country and over five decades of experience in captive conservation of the three dozen species of wild feline.

It is important for you to know that there are many species of feline that are smaller than the average dog, and a few that are smaller than the average house cat.

These captive-born felines are maintained indoors or in an outdoor enclosure. This is for their security.

These felines have a purchase price ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Owners are especially motivated to protect their investment and keep their felines confined and safe from theft or harm. They are not free-roaming animals and should not be a public zoning issue.

Asian leopard cats, sand cats and geoffroy's cats are feline species kept by exotic feline enthusiasts that are about half the size of an American domestic short-hair cat.

Bobcats and lynx are native American species about the size of a cocker spaniel.

Servals and caracals are medium-sized African cats weighing 25 to 30 pounds. The ancient Egyptians originally kept these species. These two feline species are affectionate and intelligent relatives of the domestic cat.

The serval especially is similar to the familiar cat, in that it fills the same eco-niche in the wild, preying upon small rodents, birds and frogs. Servals are not known for hunting mammals.

Captive cats are necessary for conservation for the species. They are also important educational ambassadors acting as links between the natural world and our man-made society.

I urge the zoning commission to remove the small cats as well as the hybrid species from this zoning limitation that requires two acres of land to possess a feline companion. Most likely these felines live indoors and should not be a part of a zoning ordinance, and when and outdoor enclosure is built, it should pass caging standards that provide for the mental and physical health of the feline and maintain aesthetic beauty standards for the neighborhood.

The Feline Conservation Federation is available to answer any questions you may have about the nature of small felines and their needs in captivity.

Thank you for considering these recommendations to amend your recent zoning decision and allow the small and hybrid domestic/exotic feline species to be kept indoors nor out following building codes and safe caging standards.

LYNN CULVER

President, Feline Conservation Federation

(The FCF may be reached at treasurer@fcf.com)

Slim pickins'

The Pahrump Veterans Day Parade was rather slim this year.

Those that participated did a great job. Even the weather was good.

It's unfortunate that very few groups participated and very few Pahrumpians showed up to encourage them and view the parade.

For a community that is full of veterans, and for a town that houses most of Nye County's government officials, this was truly a sad showing of support for our veterans.

My hat comes off to Sheriff Tony DeMeo. He not only showed up but walked with the parade from start to finish.

What ever happened to community support? Where was the high school band? Who ever heard of a parade marching without a band playing marching music?

How sad that our American flag was carried down the street without a sound of music in the air.

Where were the rest of our government leaders? Where was the guy who wants to build a veterans shelter?

I wonder if any of our government leaders are veterans themselves. I wonder if any of them have children serving in the military. I was ashamed for the people that turned out to support our veterans that the support from our local businesses and government was so poorly represented.

How many of the businesses in town make their living from veterans and veterans services? Not one of those was there showing their support.

A Veterans Day parade should last longer than 10 minutes, and our schools, businesses and government officials should pay more attention to our veterans.

GENE LOVAS

Watch for "bullshift"

A lot can be learned from some of the creatures we call dumb animals.

For example, careful observation of a busy bullpen will show that the bulls are never really still but constantly shifting their feet back and forth, and constantly shifting their eyes back and forth, always watching everybody else, often shifting around to try to find a better position then changing their mind about that and shifting around some more for another choice spot.

All day it goes on, continually shifting, just shifting, shifting and shifting around for no apparent reason. Everybody is always trying to get ahead of everybody else.

Everybody knows what everybody else is doing, and in their own bovine environment this is a normal way of life, known to all as "bullshift." They all do it.

This became known long ago to certain Washington political figures and has since become solidly entrenched as routine practice in the political world. As the matter matured, it has been carefully modified to the extent that it is now extremely adaptable and thus useful not only in making things happen but in preventing things from happening, and is an inseparable part of every speech and comment.

You know immediately that what you see and hear is just plain old bullshift. You know instinctively that all their speeches and theatrics are just bullshift, bullshift, bullshift.

If it were not for bullshift, many politicians would be speechless. If it were not for bullshift, the only other way to tell when they are lying is to see if their lips are moving.

Bullshift has become such a persuasive tool that it is now a standard part of the political scene at all levels, right down to grass roots. Those who succeed the fastest are usually those who are the most accomplished bullshift artists.

But those of us who pay attention know it is all just plain old buillshift.

Everything is relevant, one way or another, and politics is an outstanding example. For instance, other related animal stuff and analogies can be seen in some political races, which bear a few similarities to horse races. A major difference is that in a horse race the whole horse runs, while in some political races only certain horses parts run.

In both races the ultimate goal is the same: to make money for their managers and owners. And bullshift is a major factor in defining the winners.

Once in office, the horsing around and the bullshift are really off and running. It's an integral part of everyday life -- where would we be without all that bullshift?

In a normal, sane and sensible world, perhaps? Political bullshift tactics and applications will never allow that to occur. So, irrespective of what you hear in the newscasts or read in the papers, even it is just remotely related to the political world ... it's just bullshift. They even use bullshift to correct "erroneous" bullshift (whatever that is), but we know what that means -- just more bullshift..

CARL BLANCHARD

Her name was Dakota

She lived for a short time at 4501 E. Ashley Ave.

She was a mischievous little Siamese kitten, curious about what was on the other side of the road.

This evening her life was snuffed out by an inconsiderate motorist that left her laying in the street in front of our house.

You didn't even stop to see if she could be helped.

She will be missed.

Hopefully, the next time you drive through a residential area with such disregard, there won't be a child in your way.

RAYMOND RAFFETY