We are appalled that animals are abandoned in Clallam County. As sixth grade students, we have researched this issue and have learned that people here can do two things to help.
1. Don’t get animals if you cannot take care of them. We have learned that the three most common causes for animal abandonment are time, energy, and cost reasons (Welfare for Animals Guild).
2. If you do see yourself in a situation where you must get rid of your animal, then instead of leaving them somewhere, try calling or texting one of these animal shelters: WAG (dog rescue), Olympic Peninsula Humane Society (dog and cat rescue), Peninsula Friends of Animals (cat rescue). In addition, there is Forks Animals and Fox Bell Humane Society.
For a personal example (from me, Elliana) last week my mom woke me up because she had seen a momma opossum get hit by a car. She grabbed a box and put a blanket in it, then we went out to the road and picked up the baby opossums that were still alive and put them in the box. We didn’t know what to do, but we knew where to go.
The next day my mom brought them to the Center Valley Animal Rescue. Three out of four were injured and had to be put down, but it was because they were injured and couldn’t live a great life with their injuries. We were grateful that this place existed and accepted even undomesticated animals.
Please take our opinions into account and try to make the world a better place.
Spencer Armstrong and Elliana Ristick
Sequim
My friend and I are twelve-year-old sixth grade girls, from Five Acre School. We’re writing this letter to address the threat of wildfires on the Olympic Peninsula today.
In many places fires are burning bright, and destroying many homes. As kids we are worried about our safety. This is terrible for many kids because it causes stress in our already stressful lives.
Sometimes we wonder how this is happening so often. You might be surprised to learn that the number one cause of wildfires is because of human activity! According to recent data from the Clallam firefighters, humans cause approximately 85-90% of wildfires! Sometimes they’re also caused by lightning, but that happens a lot less often.
We think that one of the reasons wildfires start is because people don’t have enough information.
Caity Karapostoles of the Clallam Firefighters says, “We wish that people knew that preparing the area around your structures before hot/dry weather is the best way to protect them. Cut back vegetation 3-4 feet around structures, keep tall field grass cut short in the beginning of spring, don’t park hot mufflers near tall vegetation, stay with any fire until it’s completely out and have a water source and shovel nearby at all times.”
Today many people are at risk of wildfires, but we learned that if we take the proper precautions against them, then we can live more safely.
Hero Gaede and Cassy Cammett
Sequim
