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paced in his hands. Local dogcatcher by Murray Moore Pete Bidan, the owner and operator of Huronia Anima eas is as much a public relations man as a dog catcher. He spends a lot of his time dealing with people whose animals are disturbing other people, or whose animals have gone astray an, "One of the things that really hurts me,"' he said, is the old fashioned image of the dogcatcher that some "'narrow-mind people" still have of the dogcatcher, that of the sneak who ""srabs everything in sight, takes it, and shoots it."' "'T've gol too many things to do to sit on a doorstep and wait to snatch an animal," Bidan says. His territory is Midland, Penetanguishene, and Tiny Township. He started Huronia Animal Control seven years ago after a cutback in production at Midland Industries, where he was a foreman, left him without a job after 15 years of em- ployment there. He lost one of his dogs - today the Bidan family has four dogs and one cat - and had to go to Orillia to an animal shelter to retrieve it. He decided there should be an animal shelter in this area. Dealing with people, some of whom are frustrated and upset, requires the use of common sense and diplomacy. "The more diplomatic you are the easier the job is." "Don't mention my name" ac- companies a complaint about someone else's pet. The first question asked when Bidan goes to the visit the person complained about is, '"'Who called?" He does his best to avoid starting a feud between the neigh- bours and concentrates on solving the problem. People who obtain an animal often don't take into consideration the amount of time that should be spent daily taking care of it: walking, feeding, grooming, for example, Bidan says. Bidan spends a lot of time patrolling when he is not dealing with com- plaints. On garbage day in a par- ticular area, for instance, he will drive through and keep an eye out for torn garbage bags, a clue that dogs are where they should not be. Cats are the only other animal he sees a lot. People who are having trouble with racoons or skunks can rent a live box trap. Bidan will suggest where the animals can be released or taken. Bidan was involved in the disposal of the body of a Rhesus monkey that escaped from the Wasage Beach Zoo and which made a nuisance of itself by raiding gardens and bending car windshield wipers before it was shot by a farmer. Bidan uses his discretion in picking up animals. If a dog is reported as somehwhere where it should not be, and Bidan knows the owner and feels that the owner is a responsible person, he will ask the person who reported the dog, if that person is holding the animal, to telephone the owner and ask the owner to get their animal. But if the animal is often reported on the loose, Bidan will pick it up and take il to the animal shelter, requiring the owner to go to the trouble of picking it up and paying an impound fee, and hoping that the experience will have some effect. "If people are not trying we do what we have to do to teach people to look after their animal." Chess club Check-mate you say. If you're in the mood for a good game of chess, this bunch will accommodate you. They are but seven members of the ESPSS _ Chess Club. This is year one for the chess club which was formed last September under the guidance of Mr. Tony Schulze of the ESPSS staff. To date there are 35 registered members active in the club and some play chess every day. Club president Neil Ladouceur tells us that a chess game can last anywhere from two and one-half pe POE Ded) ie CREDIT, odVe "Ss minutes to two and one-half hours. The club is hoping to arrange a tournament with the Midland Chess Club in the near future. Shown above left to right seated are; Chris Daoust, Neil Ladouceur, President and Gregory Emery, Secretary Treasurer. Left to right standing are Gary Charlebois, Intelligence Agent, Don McNamara, Brian Ladouceur and Joe Senatore, Intelligence Agent. --Photo by Bob Murray The Friday Times Second Class Mail Registration Number 3194 and Friday Citizen Second Class Mail Registration Number 2327 Published by Douglas Parker Publishing Ltd. at 309 King Street, Midiand, Ontario / 526-2283 75 Main Street, Penetanguishene, Ontario / 549-2012 Publisher: Douglas Parker Editor: Douglas Reed The Friday Times and Friday Citizen are distributed free each Friday to households in Midland and Penetanguishene Parker Publishing Limited also publish The Midland Times, The Penetanguishene Citizen and Elmvale Lance each Wednesday in the Huronia market. i J e Fertilizers ©Cedar Rails at home or cottage 830 Yonge Street, Midland CALLING ALL GARDENERS Your Midland Home Hardware @BarkThips eMarbleChips Patio Stonegy e|nsecticides Lawn Furniture ® Tools, etc. ...Everything for the outdoors Home of the Handyman 526-4361 Page 4, Friday, May 14, 1982