A cruel and merciless industry

Your article about Mona was heartbreaking (“Rural Confidential: The Mona Story,” Aug. 19 SanJuanJournal.com). The reason she moaned when she was a baby was because she was missing her mother, who she was taken from while still unweaned, and sold in the exotic pet trade.

Mother camels are devoted to their babies; calves stay with their mothers until they reach maturity around age 5 years. Camels are social animals who live in herds. In the desert where she belongs, Mona would be roaming over vast distances, up to 25 miles a day.

Anyone who purchases an exotic animal from a breeder/dealer is perpetuating a cruel and merciless industry that values profits above animal welfare. Readers can learn more at www.WildlifePimps.com.

Jennifer O’Connor, writer

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Animals in Entertainment campaign

Norfolk, Va.

Courtesy fosters cooperation

Oops! Aug. 13, I accidentally left my dogs out in our fenced yard between 7 and 9:30 p.m. while we went to the fair.

I heard them barking when we were almost home, and got upset that they were making noise. I don’t like barking dogs and do my best to keep them from barking, ever.

We were home less than a minute when a neighbor knocked on our door and proceeded to yell for several minutes about the dogs disturbing him. After he left, we found out that he had also yelled at a friend of ours who had stopped by to pick up his truck, as well as at our stepson who had stopped by later. They said he was so worked up he was spitting as he yelled. Neither of them even live at our home.

The next night, I kenneled the dogs and there was no problem. Friday night, I kenneled the dogs, but after we left, the two puppies broke out. My daughter, who had just returned from off-island, didn’t know any better and put all four dogs outside and left for the fair. We came home earlier that night, but heard them barking and thought, “Oh, no!” Within minutes, here comes the neighbor, just rabid, yelling and threatening even worse.

At this point, I got offended. At least half of the people in the neighborhood have dogs, many of which bark, howl or run loose on a regular basis. We do not make a habit of allowing our dogs to bark and we never let them run loose. I doubt if this neighbor runs around to the other neighbors and yells at them like this (but then again, maybe he does, who knows?).

As far as I know, there isn’t any noise ordinance before 9 p.m. The Sheriff’s Department indicated to me that this individual does not have the right to come on my property and verbally abuse and threaten my family and friends. He should know this type of behavior does not foster the spirit of cooperation; it does not make me feel more sympathetic to his sensitivities; in fact, rather the opposite.

I’d never want to cause problems in the neighborhood. If there’s a problem with my dogs, I want to be notified immediately. Notified with some degree of courtesy; I will not accept continued hysteria, verbal abuse and threats.

I will do my best to control my dogs’ behavior. This person needs to start controlling his own.

Elli Gull

San Juan Island

Local efforts complete play area

This summer, the community of Friday Harbor came together and accomplished a wonderful feat: installing a new playground at Friday Harbor Elementary School.

This project began more than two years ago when the elementary school PTA determined the school’s original 20-plus year playground was aging and in need of replacement. More than $50,000 was raised through individual donations and school fund-raisers.

Thank you to all of the donors and to our wonderful sponsors: Island Rec, Friday Harbor Masonic Lodge, Luxel Corporation, Dr.