Caring for cats should be county’s moral responsibility

I received a plea from the nonprofit Friends of the Animals (FOTAs) to help with taking care of abandoned kittens in our county.

FOTAs recently received 11 requests for assistance for kittens and cats in a single day. FOTAs has had to expand its Feline Foster-to-Adopt Program because Jackson County, which manages and operates the Jackson County Animal Shelter, has stopped accepting cats into their care.

I recently attended a Jackson County Commissione and staff meeting via zoom and listened to a discussion regarding whether to permanently exclude cats and have the shelter only service dogs.

Apparently, the county is only mandated to support dogs and not cats. This was stated by the county administrator. This decision would reduce costs, but leave cats to fend for themselves. Isn’t there a broader legal and moral responsibility to the animals and the citizens of Jackson County?

My own cat, Butterball, was a shelter cat. I am looking at him snoozing next to me on the couch in his “forever home.”

I encourage cat lovers to make their views known about how they want their tax dollars spent.

Regina Ayars / Ashland

Administrator’s comment doesn’t address jet boat problems

I recently read the article on jet boats on the Rogue River, and I had to reread the comment by Danny Jordan stating wealthy riverfront property owners who have multi-million dollar homes don’t like the jet boats and have the money to organize.

What on Earth does that have to do with the problem of jet boats on the river, eroding the banks of the river which causes some trees to come down. The lack of supervision of speed limits creating possible danger to those who swim, fish, and raft the river.

I do not understand why such a comment was made, how insulting to those who do live on the river, pointing them out. The river is for all to enjoy; I do not live on the river, but I am compassionate to protect our river.

If these jet boats are allowed to continue, I can only see serious problems in the future. Now we have to deal with small jet boats speeding up and down the river. I plan on continuing this fight against all jet boats on the upper Rogue River.

Susan Krupa / Shady Cove

Many have spoken out in opposition to jet boats on the river

In 2022, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department asked Jackson County residents for their opinion on the tour boats that operate out of TouVelle State Park.

Here are just a few stories:

“Remove the jet boats. I still have no idea how it was decided to enrich one person (owner of jet boats) while destroying the enjoyment of tens of thousands of other users of this once great state park.” 

Another wrote: “I was hoping to enjoy a peaceful float, and the jet boats going up and down the river caused me to be concerned for my safety, noise pollution, river pollution, destruction of fish habitats, erosion of riverbanks and flora and fauna in and alongside the river.”

Another wrote: “I witnessed a girl fall in the water and almost drown due to the wakes of the commercial jet boat on park’s property.”

Another wrote: “I’ve seen a fisher person more than once get knocked off their feet because they didn’t scramble to the bank in time to avoid the wake.”

Another wrote: “Why was there a park put there in the first place? Was the intention to give one business the right to impose their will on the river, or was the intention to let the river leave a beautiful, serene impression on the park? We race through this life. Parks are there to slow us down so we can appreciate this life.”

If more words were allowed for this letter, I could share many more stories.

Raina Haddad / White City

Upper Rogue Guardians mischaracterized in jet boat story

While your most recent article on the issue of jet boat activity on the upper Rogue River is ostensibly to let people know about an upcoming opportunity to speak their minds about the topic, it appeared more like an attempt to defend the activities of one company while targeting the Upper Rogue Guardians.

As a member of URG, I found the characterization of the group as “wealthy riverfront property owners who have the money to organize a campaign” to be offensive, biased and inaccurate.

First of all, it sounds like a personal attack and attempt to paint caring citizens as elitists who only care about themselves. Secondly, while some members of our group do live on the river, most of us, like me, do not. We come from many areas of the county, many occupations, and varying socioeconomic groups.

What we do have in common is a love for the Rogue River and TouVelle Park, and a desire to protect it as a natural resource and place for peaceful, safe recreation. Those group members who do live on the river have a front row seat to the effects of the jet boat activity. I thank them for speaking up.

Third, even if the cost of one’s home had any bearing at all on the issue of jet boats, how would our county administrator have knowledge of the composition of our group? I don’t believe that he has attended meetings nor spoken to members.

Lisa M Johnston / Jacksonville