IN PRAISE OF MAN’S BEST


FRIEND


I HAVE read with consider­ able in te re s t the many letters recently published on the subject of dogs, and while everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, the one appearing in last week’s issue w ri tten by “Dog Hater” can only be described as “sick.”


To the best of my know­


ledge, none of your corres­ pondents has yet asked the vital question “What is a dog?” and although I make no claim to being the originator, the following words do express not only my own feelings but those of millions of other dog lovers throughout the country. * A dog is definitely a


character. He is found here, th e re and everywhere. Under the stairs, on your best settee, especially when his paws are muddy, mono­ polising your favourite seat by the fireplace. But mostly under your feet. Children adore him, women croon over him, postmen hate him,


HATE


RECENTLY the national Press carried a story of a pensioner who was beaten up and satv his little dog clubbed to death in an effort to induce him to tell his attackers whether he had any more money than the £11 they had taken from his pocket. No doubt the news of the


dog’s death will make your correspondent "Dog Hater” very happy. A f t e r enjoying your


given the job of aog warden. I could imagine him (or her) getting a great deal of plea­ sure out of destroying the stray dogs which are strays not by choice.


weekly paper for many years, I have cancelled my copy. I don’t want to read a paper willing to print such Hatred. I suggest "Dog Hater” is


ANGRY Morbid


WHAT a terrible creature this “Dog Hater” must be. I suppose he, or she, must be feeling quite smug after expressing such morbid views about dogs. Incidentally, I could use


a full page of this news­ paper to disagree with almost everything “Dog Hater” applies. However, I would just


like to say. “Don’t blame the dogs, as usual, just the owners. Let me live with 50 dogs rather than a person who has so much hatred in his h e a r t for a dumb animal.


DOG LOVER


father sometimes calls him names that are not in the book. He is a pedigree, a mongrel, an actor, a clown, a mystery. He is known as a “pooch,” “poodle,” “pug,” “canine,” “cuddly," “cutie” and answers to many other strange names.


' At times he is sweet, kind,


hateful, horrible, adorable, gentle, tough, snarling, lazy, but always lovable. He is spoilt, pampered, petted, pushed around, kicked, cuddled and ignored.


CHEW He hates cats, castor oil;


anything in the world, of fish, meat, bread, sweets, cigarettes, cakes, buns, rubber, buttons, stones, or whatever is within his reach, on or off the table. When friends call he will


nails, paper, string, golf balls, trouser cuffs, rugs, bes t cushions, mother’s favourite slippers and, of course, your hand. His appe­ tite is never satisfied. As a puppy he will eat


co n d i tio n in g powders, baths, birds and tramps. But, oh boy, does he love trees, lamp-posts, comers of buildings and to sprawl all over you in the front seat of th e car while you are driving. He will chew anything,


Clitheroe Advertiser and Times, February 9th, 1978 3


Make strict


- rules A


certain extent, but often he rounds up roaming dogs and a little wnile later the same owners go and get another puppy and the trouble starts all over again. I have seen it happen so many times. • In fact, I have a mongrel


pleasure there is in owning a dog just to put it out on its own? The company of a dog is


who was tossed out when a few weeks old. We took him in and he is a terrific dog now. The original owner then bought a poodle and that is never taken out on a lead. Can anyone tell me what


second-to-none — they, are a good friend. When 'they wander about and foul foot­ paths please remember they don’t know it’s wrong, the blame should be on the humans. So it is up to the council to


droopy, dreary, doubtful, frightful, frolicsome, fret­ ful, fickle, faithful and worrysome. He can drive you “nuts” in a very short space of time. One look from his sad,


bark the house down. But when burglars call he is generally fast asleep. He is a breeder of large families, but ignores his respon­ sibilities. He adores nannies, cooks, the butcher boy, long walks, his tummy rubbed, any kind of ball and the lady dog down the street. He is dumb, docile,


your heart is empty. With­ out him it would be a rather lonely and s trange old world. For when the bottom has dropped out of every­ thing, your money and friends are gone, you don’t know which way to turn, he is still there by your side, steadfast, loyal, faithful to the bitter end, asking no questions, no reason why, just believing in you and loving you, his master. >


soulful eyes and you’re licked and he knows it. Life for him is one long round of eating, sleeping, running, chasing, barking, biting, loving, fighting, sniffing, scratching, digging up gardens, hiding bones and more eating. Yet when you lose him


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know “All Things Bright and Beautiful, ALL CREA­ TURES Great and Small, the Lord God Made Them All.” So please, as a council, try


try and make some strict rules and make the “couldn’t care less” people realise it is very serious to have a dog wandering about. There is the hymn you


BEING a lover of all dumb creatures, especially dogs, I feel that a council could help to a certain extent by encouraging people to have their dogs spyea. The price is high but in the long run it takes away the problem of unwanted puppies, which causes the stray problem in the first place. A warden does help to a


czCetterd to the ddditc


New town hall cost not to be


FO R ove r e ig h t centuries the people of Clitheroe have managed their own affairs under the authority vested in them by a charter, circa 1147. During that time, without


the somewhat doubtful aid of “central planning,” they have built a town which is the envy of many others in the North West. They also accumulated very valuable and substantial communal assets, like the Town Coun­ cil regalia, not out of rates, but from burghers who were proud of then- town and its heritage. Then, in 1974, at the


b e h e s t of th e Heath Government, their authority


Assurances wanted


SINCE the Ribble Valley Authority (councillors and officials) is suffering appa­ rently from incurable “folie de grandeur,” can it give the following guarantees to the ratepayers? • That increased effi­


do not mean an increase in the number of officials. • That our representa­


ciency is a certainty. • That increased facilities


and do something construc­ tive so that dog lovers and non-dog lovers are happy, without causing suffering to the pet who trusts you. I do happen to know that


Coun. Jones does like dogs but is very worried about the bad situation at Henth- om in particular. While on the subject of


o ld e r should have her sp ay ed now. For cats produce litters on average every 10 to 12 weeks and most of these, sad to say, are unwanted and so suffer. I know because I have rescued at least a dozen.


E


MRS M. SULLIVAN, Russell Terrace, Padiham


Live and iet live


I ENJOYED Rover’s letter and was in complete agree­ ment with all points raised, the view being to live and let live, to enjoy your plea­ s u r e s , b u t always to remember that your plea­ sures are not your neigh­ bours and to act accordingly.


In other words, restraint


and tolerance are two Dual­ ities that seem to be in snort supply with “Dog Hater,” who probably hates children and tne rest of mankind, too, if it does not agree with him.


tion and tolerance could solve the greater part of today’s problems and leave us all a lot happier, including “Dog Hater” and all other haters.


Good manners, considera­ LIVE AND LET LIVE


LETTERS for publica­ t ion must be accom­ panied by name and address as an indication of good faith, even if the writer wishes to use a nom-de-plume.


ets, anyone with a female itten of four months or


men” expected to finance this extravaganza, I would be delighted to receive an official reply in this column. I would draw the attention of those concerned to a brief notice in the “Daily Tele­ g rap h ” of Wednesday, F e b ru a ry 1st, headed “Berkshire shows the way”. What an expensive disas­


tives will stick to the sum proposed despite inflation, ie. cutting the plan to fit the sum if costs are found to rise. As one of the “middle


te r the reorganisation of local government has proved to be.


WILLIAM DOW White Hall Cottage, Grindleton


A ‘play safe’


design


BEING no doubt aware of the criticism and pressure brought to bear on the Hill­ ingdon Borough Council for i t s £9m civ ic c e n tre extravaganza, our local boys are certainly playing it safe with their design for our new town hall! Phrases which spring


readily to mind are “public services warehouse” and “austerity architecture.” (Any more suggestions?) If the twin arch protrusions facing the car park are the Ribble Valley’s idea of architectural features for a civic centrepiece, then maybe they underestimate the ratepayers’ civic pride. Having made the point


that money comes from the ratepayers and that “the ratepayers come first,” will the council be prepared to listen to them before this building is commenced and has the design ever been much fu r th e r than the Borough Architect’s office? One wonders!


B. H. ALLISON 3 Mount Pleasant, Chatbum


that shotgun marriage it is doubted 2 one Clitheronian could be found who would feel that such a claim has been justified in practice. Yet, despite this, similar specious arguments are now being waved in front of us to ju s t ify further physical centrahsation. At a cost which, we are


assured, will be no more than £650,000, at present day prices, we are to have a building which, from the sketch on the front page of last week's paper, will look more like a mid-Victorian institution than a town hall. Does anybody really


believe that the ultimate cost will be much less than


i r ra t io n a l as so c ia tio n between areas such as Langho, Longridge and Clitheroe, was the claim that this would lead to economy and increased efficiency. Nearly four years after


was removed and vested in a polyglot group representing a mongrel collection of areas unconnected with Clitheroe by tradition, topography or loyalty. The justification for this


double that figure, or that once the thin edge of Phase 1


■ has been inserted, the balance of the very thick wedge of Phase 2 will not quickly follow! From the comments in the


believe that any criticism from us “proles” should stop the juggernaut-like progress of the council in this context. He claims that we should spend £650,000 before costs go even higher, unaware, a p p a re n t ly , th a t it is p re c is e ly this so r t of attitude of mind which fuels the flames of the inflation which he fears.


Riding states that, with rates rebates legislation, only the “middle man” would bear the cost of this scheme. Apparently, in his eyes, the fact that people have money is sufficient justification for councillors spending it for them. Coun. Green does not


Council chamber, which you re p o r t , the arguments ra is e d b e a r the same specious or arrogant content we have come to expect from this council. Deputy Mayor Coun. H.


■ He further claims that the present office accommoda­ tion is inadequately heated and lit. Is he seriously suggesting that the council, with its promised increased efficiency, is in breach of the Shops, Offices and Railway Premises Act which deals with such matters? Coun. Gretton raises the


argument that these expen­ sive offices will increase “communication.” He is still unconvinced, apparently, that, in the modem age of the telephone, communica­ tion is more dependent on an attitude of mind than on any close ju x tap o s it io n of offices. Council leader Bill Flem­


Project morally wrong


WE are told we cannot afford any more car park­ ing space. We can’t afford a new town hall, but appa­ rently we are to have one.


At a time when Health Services are being cut and p atients sentenced to death because of a lack of kidney machines and cancer scanners, to name just two instances, I think it is morally wrong to consider such a project.


The town council occupies some of the most attrac­ tive buildings in the town and sur e ly a lot of improvements could be carried out for £650,000.


ing, of Langho, claims that the council must give prim­ ary consideration to the ratepayer and only secon­ dary thought to its staff. He fails, however, to specify precisely what benefits will derive to the ratepayers by this scheme which appears to owe more to council delu­ sions of. grandeur than to necessity. The benefit for the staff,


Dreary village in winter


I NOTE that dances and social evenings are a regular feature in the villages around Clitheroe, such as Tosside, Dunsop Bridge, Bolton-by- Bowland and Newton.


They must keep a happy


and cheerful atmosphere in the villages and give the residents something to look forward to, helping to pass these wintry evenings pleas­ antly. Not so in Chatburn,


village for four years and find it a delightful place in the summer months, but


where the village institute, by the way, has a lovely big dance floor and stage. If other villages can manage one dance a month, why not Chatburn? Why must we travel out of the village all the time? We have lived in the


rather dreary in the winter time. There have only been two dances held in those four years and one of those was on the playing fields during the Jubilee celebra­ tions. Why can’t the village


institute be used more than it is at present? Surely jumble sales and the like are not the only functions allowed? Let us hope that next winter we can look forward to a little more enterprise and a little more social atmosphere in the village.


DISAPPOINTED Legislation needed


SCARCELY a week goes by without there being some ill- informed comment about recent employment legisla­ tion. Now Coun. Fleming and Coun. Green have jumped on to this badly- directed bandwagon. It may come as some surprise to them that the initial legisla­ tion enabling redress against unfair dismissal was part of the Industrial Relations Act enacted by the Conserva­ tives in 1971. These provisions were


retained, with some amend­ ments, when the Industrial Relations Act was repealed by. the 1974 Trade Union and Labour Relations Act. The 1975 Employment Protec­ tion Act made some further amendments but neverthe­


less the basic principles have . now been on the Statute


Book for nearly seven years. The very words “dispose


of staff” indicate the very kind of attitude which has made it necessary to have this kind of legislation. Daily, all over the coun­


try, employees are being dismissed fairly but only when their behaviour or the n e ed s of the business


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enuinely warrant it. These ismissals are in a manner befitting the second half of the 20th century rather than


the first half of the 19th century.


T. MARKLEW, Swanside Cottage, Downham Road, Chatburn


TOP TWENTY SOUNDS


(11) “If I had words” — Scott Fitzgerald/Yvonne Keeley. (—) “Take a chance on me” — Abba. (9) “Sorry I’m a lady” — Baccara.


(1) “Figaro” — The Brotherhood of Man.


(—) “Who’s gonna love me” — Imperials. (—) “Love is like oxygen” — Sweet. (—) “Wishing on a star” — Rose Royce. (—) “For a few dollars more” — Smokie. (5) “Uptown top ranking” — Althea and Donna.


(—) “Mr Blue sky” — E.L.O. (10) “Come back my love” — Darts. (6) “Mull of Kintyre/Girls’ school” — Wings. (2) “Lovely day” — Bill Withers. (3) “Native New Yorker” — Odyssey.


( - ) ( - ) ( - ) ( - )


(—) “Staying alive” — Bee Gees. (—) “Emotions” — Samantha Sang. Just one more night” — Yellow Dog.


“Hot Legs/I was only joking” — Rod Stewart. “How deep is your love” — Bee Gees. “Blue bayou” — Linda Ronstadt.


“Emotions”—Samantha Sang. LP of the week: “The,- Album”—Abba. Chart compiled by Ames Record Bari


Last week’s placings in brackets. Tip for the top:


Jeff sets pace


SETTING an example in trying to keep fit is Mr Jeff Smith, District Principal for Adult Education in the Ribble Valley. Mr Smith has just become


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swimming 20,000 yards over a period of just under four months, compared with the set period of six months. Mr Smith, who swims


the f irs t winner of the Amateur Swimming Associ­ ation’s bronze medal at the Ribblesdale Pool. He gained the medal by


Spate of


petrolcap thefts


FOLLOWING the discov­ ery of a number of petrol caps on Ribblesdale School playing field car owners who live nearby are being asked to keep a sharp eye on their vehicles. Seven caps found by the


groundsman have been handed to Clitheroe police, who believe youngsters to be responsible for taking them from cars. The school’s headmaster


1,000 yards three or four days a week during his lunch break, when his duties permit, hopes to continue and eventually qualify for the silver medal.


Mr D en is M o r t im e r , believes the culprits are those who use the field at weekends and in the even­ ings without permission. “People walk their dogs


and some motor cyclists even ride about on the field at weekends," he said.


with improved private park­ ing space and accommoda­ tion, is more obvious and may lead to the feeling, by some, that this scheme is being introduced under union pressure rather than for any other adequate reason.


FRANK S. L. MOON, 42 King Street, Clitheroe


Wrong time to spend


ALTHOUGH the Ribble Valley Trades Council has not yet reached a decision on the merits or otherwise of the Ribble Valley Council’s p ro p o sed spending of £650,000 plus on new office accommodation for its staff, we are nevertheless very concerned. We are afraid that this


New is not necessarily better — or more conve­ nient. One has only to look at some of the schools, for example, which have been built since the war and are now looking absolutely dreadful.


A scheme which is to use up the area’s reserves, so that we have nothing for ot h e r n e c e s s a r y contingencies (which will surely arise during the next 10 years) and be a drain on the rates for this length of time, is irres­ ponsible.


We are even to have some precious parking space taken away and I am sure no one is much impressed by the proud announcement that there will be parking for an extra 70 cars after office hours.


C. FERGUSSON, Vogue and Value, Lowergate, Clitheroe


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might be another example of unnecessary bureaucratic extravagance to house the seemingly ever. - increasing army of civil administrators inflicted on us since the Ribble Valley authority came into being in 1974. Quite obviously, as trade


unionists we are determined that workers should enjoy a good healthy, clean working environment and it is certainly not to the Ribble Valley Council’s credit that they should have allowed conditions to deteriorate to the extent that is claimed. In the grim economic


climate that has prevailed for the past few years it seems to us a most unfortu­ nate time to spend large sums of money on projects of this sort when there are far more pressing needs, such as reducing the waiting list for houses and other essential requirements in our society. We believe th a t this


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matter should be the subject of a full public debate, meet­ ings being held so that the ratepayers can be given the full facts for themselves.


V. EARNSHAW, 14 Brook Street, Clitheroe.


Served on parish council


A FORMER parish council­ lor at Chatbum, Mr John Shackleton, of Pendle View, Three Rivers Caravan Park, West Bradford, died on Saturday. Mr Shackleton (67) was a


having been a physical education instructor in the Border Regiment with which he reached the rank of sergeant, spending three years in India. He was a member of the Chatbum branch of the Royal British Legion. After completing Army


textile fitter for most of his working life and lived in Barrowford for a long time, before moving to Pendle Avenue, Chatburn, and taking up employment at Stonebridge Mill. He was an ex-Serviceman,


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for five years and was associated with Chatbum Methodist Church. Mr Shackleton leaves a


service, he lived in Whitby and worked as a driver on the Fylingdales’ project. Gardening was his main hobby and he had an allot­ ment on council land at Chatbum. He was a parish councillor


wife, a son and two daugh­ ters. The funeral took place yesterday, a service at Chat- burn Methodist Church being followed by burial in Chatburn Parish Chur­ chyard.


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