What's On Your Mind???

Publisher's note: This is in response to Joann Hager's e-mail that she sent in response to a recent "For What It's Worth"

If something is on your mind that you would like to share, e-mail it to us at mail@thecaroinascoop.com. Please include your name on all submissions.

Dear Ms. Hager,

Thank you for taking your time to submit your comments to myself and my colleagues. While I find it unncecessary that you included other newspapers in your rambling diatribe, we are going to post your comments as a letter to the editor.

The fact of the matter is county leaders have referred to both your operation and Ms. Rauch's organization as an animal shelter. Also the fact remains that with 400 plus animals on your property alone, you may very well be in violation of county ordianances. I am concerned, that you are speaking for Ms. Rauch and not allowing her to speak for herself. Please have her contact me at my office number at her earliest convenience.

Any e-mails sent to me, or any of my staff is subject for publication upon review and editing if necessary.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Jon A. Mayhew, Publisher
The Carolina Scoop
Post Office Box 1698
Lincolnton, NC 28093-1698
704-240-9757
www.thecarolinascoop.com


Mr. Mayhew,

For the record, I sent the email at the request of Ms. Rauch. She had called to let me know that she was being arrested for failure to appear in court EVEN though she had been in court on the day in question and had received a continuance from the DA. She asked me to contact the media. I guess she thought I could help her in some way…that was my only involvement.

You refer to both Ms. Rauch and me as having animal shelters. That is incorrect. I am President of Tri-County Animal Rescue, INC. Tri-County Animal Rescue is a not-for-profit, federally recognized, 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization dedicated to helping animals in need. Ms. Rauch is an individual that sells dogs and cats as her livelihood. Tri-County Animal Rescue does not operate a state licensed animal shelter. Nor does Ms. Rauch operate a state licensed animal shelter.

Ms. Rauch operates as a breeder on her property. Ms. Rauch has stated in the past and continues to contend that she is a breeder. She breeds animals for profit. She intentionally breeds a male and a female in order to have puppies… puppies that can be sold on street corners. Ms. Rauch has stated many times that this is her chosen profession and the primary source of income for her and her family. Ms. Rauch does not spay or neuter any of her animals…not the mixed breeds and definitely NOT the AKC registered animals. Ms. Rauch does not rescue animals. Ms. Rauch is NOT AN ANIMAL RESCUER. Ms. Rauch is in her own words a BREEDER.

I am an animal rescuer. An animal rescuer takes an animal from a bad or potentially bad situation, has the animal spayed/neutered, has the animal vaccinated for rabies, vaccinates the animal to protect against other diseases, provides shelter, provides food, provides love AND cares for the animal until he/she can be placed in a home. A rescuer WILL not allow animals to breed. A rescuer is dedicated to stopping the birth of unwanted puppies and kittens. A rescuer is opposed to the breeding of animals. The county shelters are full to over-flowing with baby kittens and puppies that will be put to sleep because of BREEDING. If the breeding was stopped by mandatory spay/neuter, the animal rescue groups would not be needed.

One important difference between a breeder and a rescuer is MONEY. Rescuers DO NOT SELL animals. Most rescue organizations are operated by individuals that are donating their time and money to provide for the animals in their care. They are NOT paid employees and they do not get income from the county/state. Rescue organizations adopt out the animals for a fee that is used to offset the cost of the services provided for the animals. Adoption fees do not even cover the basic services that have been provided for most of the animals. Most rescued animals need immediate care when they come into a rescue. Many are infested with ticks/fleas, have intestinal parasites, are heartworm positive, need to be groomed (imbedded thorns, burrs, metal, sticks in the fur), and many have emergency medical needs (broken legs, parvo, tumors, infections, etc). Rescuers do not make a living by selling animals… Most rescuers have secular jobs unrelated to animal welfare.

And you are correct when you stated that the animals are the victims…the innocent victims. The animals are the result of un-responsible people. If you own an animal then you become the caretaker and have responsibility for that animal for his/her lifetime. Too many people get these puppies when they are cute and cuddly only to dump them off when they get tired of them. People are to blame for the over-population of companion animals in Lincoln County. We have all got to do our part to STOP the litters of unwanted cats and dogs by getting our animals spayed or neutered!

I had never heard of Ms. Rauch until the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting on 12/17/2007. We were both at this meeting and that is where we met. The only thing that I have in common with Ms. Rauch is the lawsuits filed by Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. THAT IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE IN COMMON WITH MS. RAUCH.

Joann Hager

To read the original "For What It's Worth" Click Here.