Union letters to the editor

Animal rescue effort shows area’s ‘good souls’

To the editor:

As our rural Iowa population continues to decline and quality of life issues are called into question, state and local governments turn a blind eye to what really matters.

The October 10th Southeast Iowa Union account of animal rescue is a case in point. Apparently, an elderly man in poor health tried hard to care for ninety cats in his Henry County home in a well intended effort at animal rescue. His efforts failed. Henry County has no viable animal rescue service.

Once again citizens stretched to the limit as volunteers are attempting to help.

For years, stray animals have been brought to the Henry County Sheriff's Office, where a paper is signed and the animal delivered to a caring local vet. Hats off to the vet and the Sheriff who one would assume has better things to do with his time.

This all takes place while Governor Reynolds travels the state touting a $1.9 billion Iowa budget surplus and $2.7 billion in Biden administration COVID relief over which she has total control. Tax cuts for the well off and out of state corporations are inevitable.

There seems a callousness to all of this. It is as if this situation and others like it are not a concern of government as problems of care and compassion are simply left to the "bleeding hearts" in our rural communities. These good souls who volunteer at every turn are indeed stretched by the myriad ways they sacrifice time and money for the good of our community.

A visionary government with a giant pot of cash at hand would step in with a public - private partnership to address the problem. Local officials should demand it.

To most folks, animal rescue is an important community service. It speaks to our quality of life. Young people seem to care most about animals and they are the ones leaving the state.

David Helman

Salem

Opinion content represents the viewpoint of the author or The Gazette editorial board. You can join the conversation by submitting a letter to the editor or guest column or by suggesting a topic for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com