ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 20, 1990                   TAG: 9004200710
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

ONE-SIDED REPORTING ON DOG-POISONING

I READ your article about the farmer charged with poisoning dogs. Again your paper is trying and convicting before a court even hears the evidence. And front page, no less!

I doubt that anyone on your staff has ever seen the pitiful sight after someone's pet dog got through playing with a pen of calves. The dog very playfully runs the frightened calves until their hearts and lungs burst, causing painful death.

Many thousands of dollars are lost when full-grown cows are caught in an open, fenced-in field by some of the so-called pets. Just doing what comes naturally, they tear out the cow's throat.

As for your "eager beaver" reporters, I'm not suggesting a muzzle but a leash to bring them up short when they indulge in premature, one-sided reporting.

I'm not condoning or condemning the action. I just wish to point out the other side, which you seem to have missed completely.

Most of us will take any action necessary to protect our livelihood. AL HILLMAN ROANOKE 


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