Letters to the Editor

Protect your pet

Fireworks displays evoke fond childhood memories for most, but unfortunately they bring up sad memories for animal shelters across the country. The week of July 4th is the busiest week of the year for animal shelters. Dogs are found miles from their homes, confused, disoriented and exhausted. People call, hoping to locate a missing dog or cat that, terrified, crashed through a window, jumped a fence or broke a leash or chain. Please protect your pet this holiday week.

Most pets are alarmed by the loud noise and terrified of the strange bursts of light from fireworks. If fireworks upset your pet, make sure someone stays with it or keep it on a leash. Visit your veterinarian now for medications to calm your pet if you know it will be upset. Make sure your pet has an ID tag and microchip so that it can be returned to you if lost.

Save your pets from suffering and emergency surgeries by protecting them from hot grills, corn cobs, oyster shells and bones. Make sure your pets are not eating from your picnic trash this Fourth of July. I have seen many impactions after holiday picnics where dogs have eaten corn cobs and tin foil from grills.

Pancreatitis in dogs increases after holidays and can be fatal. This causes various clinical signs but most pets affected by acute pancreatitis have abdominal pain, depression and a decrease or loss of appetite. In severe cases of pancreatitis there may be signs of shock or total collapse.

Be your pet's best friend. Help it cope with its fears and live a long and healthy life.

LUCY MARLOW, DVM

Medical Director

Charleston Animal Society

North Charleston

Recycle more

Recently, both print and television media have presented stories about the abundance of refuse for the Bees Ferry Landfill.

These informative articles have included references to the county's violation of its own ordinance insofar as the size of the landfill is concerned as well as some opinions of citizens living in close proximity to the landfill and elsewhere. Some individuals even offered suggestions aimed toward keeping the overall size of the landfill as small as possible. However, one very simple solution has gone unmentioned.

Although private citizens within the geographic confines of Charleston County could probably do a better job of recycling materials for curbside pickup, retail food and beverage establishments could definitely do a better job in recycling cans, glass bottles and plastic.

The average household in Charleston County does not produce the quantity of recyclable cans, glass bottles and plastic in an entire year that most food and beverage establishments simply throw in the garbage in a single night. While there may well be a few voluntary recyclers among the vast number of food and beverage establishments, the overwhelming majority are definitely lacking in this area of community responsibility.

By contrast, during trips to Canada, I discovered that hotels and motels in the larger metropolitan areas in Ontario actually provide recycling bins in each room for their guests. Perhaps our local lodging establishments could also do a better job in helping to shrink the quantity of garbage produced within the county line.

C. P. LEMPESIS, Ed.D.

Bryjo Place

Charleston

Better plan?

There has been a lot of talk about the health-care plan being put together by Congress.

I have only one question: If it is such a great plan, why are the members of Congress exempt from it?

Let's make it simple. Let everyone into the same health-care plan that Congress has. This will stop all the questions about what is the best plan. Congress will always make sure they get the best, and if we get the same plan, we will get the best.

It is so simple

JAY SCHAEFER

Gross Avenue

Moncks Corner

Wrong choices

My son recently came from orientation at the College of Charleston. He must take a class about how to drink responsibly. The instructor said he knows they will drink. They also told him where he could get free condoms. They never mentioned abstinence as the best and safest choice or even as an option at all. If we teach our kids that sex is casual and expected, why are we surprised about the actions of Mark Sanford and Bill Clinton, and a national divorce rate of 50 percent?

Our state has felt betrayed by Gov. Sanford's immature choices. Can we not teach our children the nobility of abstinence and marriage as a life-time commitment? Why is the mentality of our educators one that condones and even promotes sexual promiscuity?

The sad consequences and emotional trauma continue to afflict society.

AL SCHIRDUAN

W. Hudson Avenue

Folly Beach

Bold hypocrisy

I agree totally with those who feel Gov. Mark Sanford should resign. Not only is there the irresponsible behavior of his affair, but more to the issue is the way in which he disregarded his commitments to this state: the lies from beginning to end about what he was doing, where and why, and the money he spent — our money — for things other than the state of South Carolina's business.

I also think that the amount of time he has spent berating those who previously have had affairs and self-righteously praising his own "family values" amounts to the height of hypocrisy.

We deserve better in this state, someone who takes their position as governor seriously. Mark Sanford obviously does not.

Unfortunately, Andre Bauer is certainly not a good option.

BONNIE SEABRIGHT

Groves Manor Court

Mount Pleasant

Lacks integrity

Gov. Mark Sanford should resign and if he does not, should be removed from office if there is a state constitutional basis for such action. However, the cries of outrage and hypocrisy from the left, who for the most part lack the integrity to admit they are liberals, are specious.

The comparisons of Mark Sanford and Bill Clinton are valid only if you ignore lying under oath to a federal judge and grand jury, conviction of perjury and obstruction of justice.

Set aside those differences, and the charges of hypocrisy are true, as is the reverse: If you defended Bill Clinton, if you felt and expressed no outrage at the governor of New York or John Edwards, if you lionize Ted Kennedy, then you have no standing to criticize Sanford.

JIM STEWART

31st Avenue

Isle of Palms

Bad week

We saw the death of Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, Michael Jackson and Mark Sanford's career — all in one week.

BRIAN BARRACLOUGH

Milano Street

Hanahan

Sanford's folly

This is written with a heavy heart and soul about our state's highest elected offical. I am a retired enlisted sailor and proud of it, and being a government employee for almost a decade and a half, one truth became quite clear during that time.

Anyone, regardless of rank or stature, who abused the system (using government funds for private use) was subject to being discharged. The well meaning idea of paying it back is quite beside the point; the infraction has occurred, and Mr.Sanford has crossed the proverbial line.

Now is the hour for him to bow out gracefully or face the consequences of his actions. God bless the state of South Carolina.

WILLIAM PERPER

Excaliber Place

North Charleston