Letters, Aug. 8

Where is the love?

Re: The true costs of your pet — for everyone (Think Tank, Aug. 7)

Before I put Jerry Storie’s mean-spirited diatribe at the bottom of the cage of my precious lovebirds, Harry and Sally, they need to tell him that not only do pet birds add joy and song to a household, they also represent love for all in the pet kingdom.

Yes, pets cost money but they’re still cheaper than kids. Pets earn their keep just by being the lovable creatures they are. Even those with behaviour problems deserve our care.

The animal-human bond has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, blood pressure and, most importantly, loneliness. Pets can help children learn social skills and are crucial to society as therapy agents. They get folks out walking and talking to each other. Many unsheltered people have comfort pets, often feeding their pets before themselves. Manitoba Harvest gives out pet food when donations allow, and Bear Clan has held pet food drives.

Animals are sacred in Indigenous culture, viewing them as equal sentient beings, and they remind us that we have a moral responsibility to live with and care for all.

Harry and Sally ask, “Where is the love?” and suggest Mr. Storie hug a teddy bear if his heart is not open to the real thing.

Heather Emberley

Winnipeg

The article about pets by Jerry Storie was so absurd I just had to submit a reply.

My first thought was that someone who “lives pet-free” probably should not write articles about the value of having pets. I get that Mr. Storie doesn’t appreciate or own pets, and I am sure the pet world is extremely thankful for that, but the value pets bring to pet owners cannot be disputed.

But you would have to be a pet owner to know that. When I read the article, I considered that you could exchange the word “pet” with the word “car” and have an equally inane article, with such phrases as:

“Owning a car isn’t about us being responsible for each other.”

“Owning a car is about the owner.”

“Let’s remember that car owners aren’t the only ones paying the price when an individual chooses to own a car.”

“In Canada over the last 25 years, as many as 50,000 people have been killed by cars.” (His number was actually 40 for pets.)

Based on Mr. Storie’s observations, it would seem to me that cars are much worse than pets, therefore we should do away with all of them.

And be assured, Mr. Storie, if it came down to giving up my beautiful and loving furry friends or my car, I would have an empty driveway.

Steve Oetting

Winnipeg

I may not agree with everything Jerry Storie wrote, but he did raise some interesting points.

(Full disclosure: I am not employed in the pet industry, but my partner is and has been for over 25 years. And yes, we are pet owners and yes, owning a pet is about the owner.)

That said — I am offering a different perspective.

Storie says people choose to have pets. I agree completely. We are lucky that we live in a country where choice and the ability to choose is recognized and that choice extends, for the most part, to all. There are of course exceptions, and housing requirements may be a limiting factor for some.

So, when it comes to choice…

First, let’s consider the business of pets. According to Global Pets (globalpetindustry.com), nearly 80 per cent of Canadian households had a pet in 2023. Those pet owners needed food and supplies. In that year alone, the pet-store industry in Canada imported $1.8 billion in pet food and supplies, exported $960 million and generated $3.8 billion in revenues.

What does the industry look like? According to Statistics Canada, there were 6,319 businesses in the veterinary services industry in 2023; 5,900 businesses in pet care; and 3,549 pet and pet supply stores alone.

In Winnipeg, from a retailer perspective, we have major chains such as Best West Pet Foods, Global Pet Foods, Homes Alive Pets, Pet Valu, Petland and Pet Smart, in addition to independent retailers. Add in groomers and veterinary clinics and we have a thriving industry.

Now consider the spinoff.

How many Winnipeggers are employed directly by these retailers? How many other local businesses supply products to these stores? How many landlords hold leases for businesses within the industry, and how many people do they employ? How about pet insurance? Even the banks are now involved, with BMO partnering with Trupanion to offer BMO Pet Insurance, which means our pension plans and investment plans benefit as well. I could go on.

As for investing in dog parks — consider them an amenity, no different to a public pool or library. Some people like to spend time swimming, others like playing with their dogs at the park. Available amenities can influence where people choose to live, pay taxes and contribute to the community either through work or play.

Last, we once again find ourselves in an election year. Eligible voters can decide who they want to represent them based on the candidates past records or what they are promising for the future regarding the management of public funds. Choice.

When it comes to the true cost, one needs to also consider the true benefit.

Debbie Ristimaki

Winnipeg

Transparency, cost and crime solutions

With voters heading to the polls for the Winnipeg municipal election in October, public safety spending needs immediate scrutiny.

As a retired police officer, I view city council’s multimillion-dollar community safety team as a glaringly inefficient unit that wastes valuable taxpayer dollars.

We are expanding a program to 31 total safety officers who will command substantial salaries, topping out at over $100,000, but who possess strictly limited legal authority. When real crime or provincial infractions happen, sworn Winnipeg Police Service officers must still step in. Training these individuals in crisis intervention and first aid is commendable, but creating an expensive unit that cannot independently enforce laws or manage criminal activity is bad public policy.

If this unit’s primary purpose is merely community engagement and referrals, city hall must be honest with taxpayers. This election is the time to demand measurable effectiveness, efficiency and goal-driven safety results rather than blind spending.

Candidates knocking on doors must answer: why are we funding an inefficient, restricted unit that relies on the police to finish its calls? Winnipeg residents deserve transparent answers before casting their ballots.

Doug Grant

Winnipeg

The world is burning

Conscript the oil barons, their executives and boards, their shareholders, from all over the planet, give them all the equipment and fireproof clothing they need, then put them on the front lines of firefighting in Greece, Spain, France, the U.S.A. and Canada.

You can even pay them a very good salary, and then take the obscene profits from their businesses and use that to rebuild what has burned down — including forest rejuvenation.

This planet on fire is their carbon footprint. (A term made up by British Petroleum to try to shame us, the rank-and-file citizens, and then shirk the fact that this is caused by them.)

Margaret Romak

Swan River