Letters, letters, letters

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

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To the Editor:

A letter which appeared in the Wednesday, February 2, edition of The Nugget, states that the cougar's choice of prey is not a moral decision, and conversely, we suggest that human beings have no moral obligation to the panther/cougar, a dangerous predator.

Some of your correspondents seem to place the predator on equal grounds with human beings. What nonsense! Stark reality should sober some of the unrealistic equal ground proponents. The next victim of the panther may be a small child playing out of doors or a gentle woman jogging on a nearby trail.

We, as civilized human beings, have a moral obligation to provide reasonable protection to other human beings. Furthermore, we must protect the production of civilization.

The proposition that a $700 goat killed by the cougar is not worth the life of the killer, is a spurious argument. Under common law and the laws of the United States, the owner of personal property has remedies for the loss or damage of such property. I recall no citation where a cougar was sued for damages.

Furthermore, let us say to those who counsel owners or producers of livestock to move on if cougars bother them, perhaps the counselors should move deeper into the wilderness without the conveniences of civilization and enjoy the predators there.

Some years ago, Oregonians were fooled by out-of-state animal rights agitators. These agitators, spending large sums of out-of-state money, proposed a referendum to protect the cougar from hunters using dogs. Voters narrowly approved this initiative although the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife publicly opposed it. We now enjoy the consequences of that referendum -- panthers in our backyards!

A cougar hunter who hunts with his/her dogs contemplates only marginal success, but the dogs do chase the large dangerous cats into the backcountry and away from populated areas.

With every season of renewal the cougar's numbers increase. We do not live in a Disneyland world of make believe. The panther/cougar is a dangerous predator and should be dealt with as such.

Charles E. Boyce

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To the Editor:

I can say that I know that there are such beings as Guardian Angles.

Last November I moved to Sisters to take on the care of Nellie Zook after her second stroke. It was either my moving in to care for her or move her to a care facility of some kind. I knew that was not an option if there was anything I could do about it.

This 87-year-old lady had spent her life teaching and helping all kinds of people and I knew that if we moved her out of her home of 27 years that it would be the end for her; she would give up the will to continue on.

I was employed with Les Schwab from February to August 1999, when Nellie was put on full 24-hour care. I asked for, and was granted a leave of absence. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work for a company like that.

Now, there is a big difference from logging, driving truck and riding horses to spending all of your time all day helping someone who is unable to take care of herself.

Fortunately, I was blessed with the best caring people, who helped me through all of this. These people work for agencies called Home Health and Hospice. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for what they all did for Nellie and for me. The caring and compassion of these people was fantastic. From the ladies that answer the phone, the field nurses and caregivers that bathe the ill, as well as the social workers, to the people in management that I met -- I take my hat off to all of these people for the love, understanding, and compassion they have for not only the ill but also the respect and care they show to family members in their time of need.

They go totally above and beyond the call of their jobs.

God bless all of you caregivers out there. For the rest of you, next time you get a chance, give a little prayer to help them on their mission in life.

I would like to thank Hospice and Home Health, the community of Sisters, and the dear friends of Nellie's and mine for the love and support. I wish you all the very best; God bless and may he watch over each and every one of you.

Larry H. Dudley