The People News, a free newspaper serving Cleveland Tennessee (TN) and Bradley County Tennessee (Tn).





Of Bradley County Tn.


SEPTEMBER  2008

                            The People News, a free newspaper serving Cleveland and Bradley County Tn.

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Animal Friendly License Plate Can Make A Difference

by Pettus Read

Eleven years ago this past July, my family adopted a two-year old Dalmatian from the local animal shelter. We had owned one once before and kept Biff for nine years until we had to give him away due to moving to a smaller place without fencing. That dog was special to my wife and myself because he was a part of our life during the BC years of early married life. In other words, that was "Before Children" and a time when a dog could get a lot of attention from a newly married couple. When children arrived on the scene, Biff "adopted" them and was a pretty good protector whenever they played outside.

After years of doing without a large dog and moving to some acreage in the country, we put our name on the local shelter's "wish list," requesting that if they ever had a Dalmatian brought to them, they would give us a call. After two years of waiting, and almost forgetting the request, we returned from a trip out of the country to find a message on our answering machine telling us that they not only had one Dalmatian, but two spotted canines looking for a home. It didn't take us long to return their call and headed out to see if either of their two new boarders would be a match for us.

As I have said, that was eleven years ago, and today, Sally is still keeping guard over our farm. Her eye sight is not what it once was, she can't hear real well, her spots have faded, and she now requests soft food for her meals making her a lot thinner than she used to be, but she is still a good companion for walks around the home place and is a real good listener to my problems when no one else cares.

by Pettus Read

- Pettus L. Read is editor of the Tennessee Farm Bureau News and Director of Communications for the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.  He may be contacted by e-mail at pread@tfbf.com

My wife and myself are now in the AC years of marriage (After Children, that is) and have made a complete circle from Biff to Sally. The local humane association's adoption program has worked well for us, along with their spay/neuter program. I would highly recommend both.

Just recently, I attended a special check presentation event at the Nashville Humane Association, where the recipients of a grant in the amount of $190,000 was awarded to a total of 45 different non-profit animal care and rescue organizations.


The Tennessee Department of Agriculture announced the recipients of the animal spay/neuter grants that supports low cost spay/neuter programs in Tennessee and are funded through Animal Friendly license plate sales. The grants ranged from $1,400 to $4,600. "This is a great program that not only helps control the number of unwanted animals but it also provides important animal and public health benefits," said Assistant Agriculture Commissioner Adam Hill. "Last year, with the help of humane organizations across the state, we were able to benefit more than 4,300 animals through Animal Friendly license plate sales."

The sell of the license plate with the familiar happy dog and cat on it can make a difference in preventing unwanted animals which also helps reduce cases of animal cruelty, starvation and lowers the instances of disease. "The spay and neuter license plate grant program provides an opportunity for communities to actively work on a solution for reducing unwanted puppies or kittens that overwhelm local animal control and humane organizations," said Mary Pat Boatfield, executive director of the Nashville Humane Association.

When more than 4,300 animals go through the spay/neuter program, the results are in the thousands of unwanted animals not being brought into this world to be dropped in rural areas or left on city streets. Irresponsible pet owners are still causing major problems and can cause an overload at area shelters. With the help of local humane associations and their programs, there is something being done to slow overpopulation numbers of cats and dogs, but more is needed and the Animal Friendly license plate is a start. Every Animal Friendly license plate sale contributes more than $15 to fund the grants like the ones awarded recently. However, it takes you purchasing them to make it work. Sally urges you to do so.

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