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

DATE: SATURDAY, April 17, 1993                   TAG: 9304200406
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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DOGNAPPINGS NO LAUGHING MATTER

I WAS completely appalled by Ed Shamy's March 19 column ("Dognappings? TV's barking up the wrong tree"). His lack of concern and sympathy over a situation that merits more than offhand humor and a blase attitude is insulting to pet lovers everywhere. To the individuals and families who have lost a pet, it is a personal affront.

On Oct. 26, 1992, my male Rottweiler (yes, Shamy, a Rottweiler - what a bite!) was stolen. In my humble opinion, only a professional possibly could have accomplished this. I placed ads offering a reward, put up notices, called dog pounds, the transportation department and even the police, all to no avail.

Hopefully, those "reels of footage and hushed stand-up reports" will encourage public awareness, extra precautions and perhaps someone will indeed look into these horrible occurrences a little bit harder. Shamy, I doubt that you have done anything to encourage that. ROBIN CAWLEY-BOWLES BOONES MILL

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