Wasting taxpayers' money

The following letter was addressed to the county commissioners, sheriff, emergency services, public and this newspaper:

I am sure you are aware of the latest rumor of an orange tiger on the loose in Pahrump, reported by an anonymous caller to the sheriff Oct. 11.

To be honest, I was not surprised since people with agendas, mostly extreme animal rights (AR) fanatics usually report fake big cat sightings across the USA, dump dead exotic animals or actually release harmless baby big cats and reptiles to incite public fear and hysteria before exotic animal legislation.

Note this phantom tiger incident happened only two weeks before a controversial Pahrump animal zoning hearing -- very suspicious timing.

As always, as a responsible big cat owner, I am offering my help with transport and housing in case this turns out to be a real case.

Same thing happened before a proposed Nye county animal control ordinance hearing in Tonopah last September. A properly crated baby mountain lion was found at the door of a privately owned Las Vegas zoo only a few days before the Nye ordinance hearing and it was all over the news.

Although reported to be malnourished to increase the sympathy for the supposed 'plight of exotics in captivity,' the cougar pictures clearly showed the animal was in good health.

In September 2001, a baby cougar boarded a conveniently empty school bus in Las Vegas -- Baby cougar and empty bus to make sure no human got hurt.

This coincided with multiple meetings discussing the draft of a proposed Clark County exotic animal ordinance. This incident was used by the proponents as an excuse to heavily regulate these animals, even though Nevada Wildlife already regulates native species like cougars and bobcats.

Since none of these cougars had a permanent ID (microchip or tattoo) as required by already existing state law, whoever released them did it illegally with a specific purpose. The Clark County ordinance still was not voted on and remains a draft, mainly due to finances -- it would require hiring two more animal control officers.

These baby cats at large or hoax sightings usually happen around legislative sessions. Increases in suspicious dead and live exotic animal dumping or hoax sightings across the country appears directly related to the legislation on private ownership of exotic and wild animals.

By instantly blaming private owners and increasing fear of exotic animal attacks during the legislative session, these staged incidents influence the legislators into passing taxpayers' money-wasting bills at the height of media and public hysteria.

I am sure you all know, according to the FBI, animal/environmental rights activists are considered the number one domestic terrorist threat. Releasing captive exotic animals or making false reports is illegal and should be prosecuted, if you can catch the suspect.

Is there a way to trace the callers of these tiger sightings and find out how legit they were?

This is not any different from somebody calling in a fake bomb scare that creates unjustified hysteria and causes government resources to be wasted on pursuing a nonexistent threat.

Then AR groups, or even hypocritical fellow owners who want to ban others and exempt themselves from the laws they push, create a "list of exotic incidents," which is extremely padded with these unconfirmed sightings and even include foreign or wild animal attacks.

They send it to legislators, sheriffs, commissioners, news, etc., where animal ordinances are proposed or where they want it to be proposed.

This furthers the hysteria to make it look as if there is an imminent threat of the American population being devoured by exotic animals and make sure animals get banned or heavily regulated, with the final goal of all of us being vegetarians and eliminating all animal use and companionship, step by step, exotics first, farmers/hunters next -- then all pets.

Why didn't the caller identify him or herself? Any honest caller would want to help with the investigation and make themselves available for further questioning about the animal and location.

Can this be investigated to find out who started this tiger hysteria and is wasting sheriff's and animal control time and taxpayers' money on prank phone calls?

ZUZANA KUKOL

You're blessed

Sheriff DeMeo and his department should be commended for their hard work and the way they handled the recent missing child case.

The photo on TV was the right thing to do. How fortunate you people in Nye County are to have sheriff DeMeo.

Here in Dallas County we are not so blessed.

DONNA R. BURT

Shaking head in disbelief

Having read the Oct. 12 PVT, once again I find myself shaking my head in disbelief about the shenanigans surrounding the town veterans' memorial.

I was going to rack hard on the dishonest statements that keep being made, but I have become quite intrigued about why so much effort is being expended to get control of the memorial, so much so, I must ask: Why is this two or so acres of land being sought with so much fervor?

What fortunes does it hold? What prominent position in society does it promise? What destiny does it hold for those that control it? What fame awaits those who have their name associated with the Memorial?

There are individuals coming in through the back doors, side doors, basement and windows trying to squirm their way into this project. There are those who are being dishonest to get control of it. There appear to be "wink-wink" deals. There are misleading ads and statements being made to confuse the unsuspecting. There is what appears to be "inside information" regarding when and how to apply for positions of control.

There are those who claim to be in support of our veterans, yet those same individuals continue to publicly insult our war veterans. There are those who claim they are related to a veteran, so they are entitled.

A substantial amount of money has been raised under the assurance the money would be used for the project. In less than two years, there are destroyed friendships that were decades in the making. There are claims of awards received that have never been given. There are offers to help veterans but no effort to follow through.

Then, there are the veterans -- the men and women who do not want control over the memorial, just the opportunity to preserve it for future generations.

Through our service we have had to come in through back doors, side doors, basements and windows in our efforts to defeat the enemy. We have had to be dishonest with the enemy to get control of areas we needed. We have made "wink-wink" deals in order to protect those who needed our protection. We have made misleading statements to confuse the enemy and we have gathered inside information regarding how and when to attack positions.

But what we have not done is publicly insult our enemies, for they fight with the same honor and dignity that we fight. We don't ride on the coattails of our fathers, brothers or cousins, we are the coattails.

We earn little to defend this land which holds so much. We have been forced by our environment in combat to become brothers and sisters to those we don't like but have come to love and rely upon for our life.

We are awarded medals that we earned but our fallen brothers and sisters deserve.

But more than anything, we have always helped our veteran brothers and sisters without having to be asked, without an ulterior motive and without the need for recognition. Our reward was to come home with our brothers and sisters as one, knowing that what we have experienced together will never be fully known by those who don't experience it.

This memorial is not a battleground, it is sacred ground.

The citizens of this community, both those who served this great country in the military and those who supported our military, need to find a common ground and stop this bickering and backbiting. This memorial is for everybody, not just veterans and not just those seeking some sort of fame or fortune.

This memorial should be a place where we take our children and grandchildren to educate them on the sacrifices it took to get them their freedoms.

BOB PLINKINGTON

Managing Director

Homeland Heroes